Avril Comes for a Visit

Today was the the Oquirrh Mountain LDS temple dedication and all stakes in Utah were able to watch the dedication services over satellite transmission, so it superseded regular meetings, including the extra leadership sorts of meetings. The program was very uplifting. This event was also great from a family standpoint because it afforded us more time with each other than a typical Sunday. Alicia brought Avril over so she could go back and do some cooking and other tasks at home, unfettered so to speak. The great new thing this week is that Gayle bought Avril a "Bumbo." This is a special seat for infants who can't quite sit up themselves or are unstable. Avril loves it and it allows her to watch everything going on with the adults and feel a part of it.

Avril, watching us get ready to make some lunch.

A clip of Avril, who doesn't eat solid foods yet, but puts everything in her mouth nonetheless. She really enjoyed chewing on this barbecue potato chip bag.


Bath time is a lot of fun for Avril. She flashes a big smile near the end!
And here is Alicia. The next two shots are for comparison.

Note the dress, shoes and bracelet.


And here's Avril with the same dress, shoes, and bracelet (not very visible in this shot).

Tanner and Katie's Folsom Reception

On the 14th, dad and mom Parkinson traveled with Gayle and me to the SLC airport. We flew to Sacramento, rented a car, and drove to Folsom to our hotel. We helped do some decorating for Tanner and Katie's reception with Susan and others (including her brother Dennis and his wife, Ruth Ann, and their youngest, Stacey) that afternoon and evening. Saturday we went to a couple of malls. Here's dad resting while we visited the outlet mall a few exits away from where Steve and Susan live in Folsom.

Kicking back at the mall.

This is in the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights (I think). Later we went to the family luncheon over at the ward building we had decorated in Folsom.

The couple of honor, Tanner and Katie Parkinson.

Elizabeth and Kelsey at the reception.

More of the Muncys: Dave, Nancy, and bishop Brandon Muncy.

Joni and Drake flew in too. Drake was full of energy!

The matriarch posing for a shot.

Mom and Dad with the reception colors showing.

Smiling for the camera.

Susan and Stephen, with another child happily married.

The well matched couple. Both served Spanish speaking missions and worked at the MTC in Provo.

The four Sacramento Parkinson siblings.

The current residence of Steve and Susan. They sold their home in Fair Oaks when they went on their 3 year mission. They are renting this home while they evaluate things. This was taken after we had attended church with them at their ward up next to the Sacramento temple (really in Folsom, or out that way anyway). By the way, I also got to chat with Eric and Pauline Clyde, friends of mine from the old Logan High School days who live in Folsom and attended the reception.

Various of the group bidding farewell on the driveway before we headed off to the airport.

Ward Picnic in the Park

On the 12th the ward held an adults picnic in the park. Avril could come because babies were exempt from the adult rule.

Avril, Jared, Jesse, Alicia, and Gayle, about to get in line for the good food and fixin's. We had good acoustic country music performed after dinner too. It even included two fiddles.

"I'll have condiments with that hot dog, please!"

"How'd you like to come to my house to play sometime?"
(Meeting a new type of being. The doggy was more afraid than Avril.)

"Hi, Isabella. I just love your outfit. Why don't we do lunch on Tuesday?"

Three generations.

Family Night on the Patio

The boy scouts and priests were at scout camp and high adventure activities this week respectively. Our Elders Quorum decided to serve the scout master's family by dry walling several walls and part of a ceiling, texturing and painting the master bedroom ceiling, and painting a hallway and the bedroom. These were needed because of a roof leak earlier this year. I was able to help a bit a couple of nights after work. On Thursday we held a family cook-out followed by a DVD about Christ. This was the night we could gather together this week. Jesse's schedule is unpredictable, but we try to fit in a Family gathering weekly. Saturday Craig Mortensen and I did a Deja Vu performance at the annual concert series at noon at the tabernacle. We had fun and had added a few tunes to our repertoire.

Alicia, Jesse, and Avril. Gayle said I should have had Alicia remove the spit cloth first, but this way looks more natural.

Jared with a hot dog about ready for a bun. We cooked on our patio in a little portable fire pit.

The grandparents and a table of fixins for the hot dogs, etc.