Miscellaneous

Today Jesse, Alicia, Jared, and the great-grandparents (Joyce and L. Spencer) attended our ward to see Avril blessed. Later Gayle, Spencer (K.), and Joyce all bore testimonies. We didn't get any shots of Avril all decked out, but later maybe we'll dress her up and shoot a photo to post.

Alicia's putting together a photo history and wanted one to show me reading, since I like to (but don't do it often). Here I am, posing with a collection of Faulkner's writings (which I have not read yet). Note my St. George Marathon shirt, which is now 11 years old ('98 marathon).

Steve, Susan, Joni, and Drake visited in late April and I forgot to post a few shots from that evening. We had dinner at the folks' house. Here are Steve and Susan.

Jared also joined in the dinner.

Here's Joni helping in the kitchen.

And of course we can't forget Drake. By the way, that kid's table thing must be many decades old and sure has served the family well.

Jared's Birthday/Avril's Big Trip to California

Grandpa and grandma took Jared and us out for Jared's birthday dinner.

Jared, Jesse, and Alicia seated at our table prior to Jared's dinner at Sizzler.

The older folks - Spencer, L. Spencer, Gayle, and Joyce.

Jared with his free root beer float - compliments of Sizzler because of his birthday.

The uncle and his niece, Avril.

Alicia, Jesse, and Avril drove down to California after Jesse's Stampede football game in Ogden (which they won). Here's Brittney holding her first ever cousin.

Another shot of our two granddaughters (and only grandchildren so far).

Arleen with Avril, Brittney, and Adrian - all at Sandy and Richard Maxson's.

Daddy and Avril relaxing on a bed at the Maxsons' house.

Kristy Large Risser had a baby, Cali, born shortly after Avril. Here are the two girls at Kristy's house in Castaic (part of Santa Clarita).

Avril went with Jesse and Alicia to visit some of the families of autistic children that Jesse and Alicia had tutored. Here's a shot of them while at one of the homes.

And here are Richard, Sandy, and Avril.

Mainly Avril

Well, when you have a new baby granddaughter living with you, she tends to get most of the attention! We look forward to Brittney, our almost 12 yr. old granddaughter, coming up from California in a few days to share in the limelight. Meanwhile, Avril gets most of it.

Here is great grandma Parkinson holding Avril as Alicia (mom) looks on.

Nancy Muncy (Spence's sister) came by over LDS Conference weekend with some of the family for a visit from Elk Grove, CA. Here are Nancy, David, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Christopher, and Benjamin. Jessica is married and Brandon was up at the grandparents' house.

Nancy and clan at the sofa looking at Alicia's photo album.

Avril smiling.

Grandparents with Avril outdoors. Remember, it's still cool in Utah in early April.

Another pose with a smile.

Can't get enough.

Once in awhile she's quiet and peaceful.

And here's a video clip from April 12, 2009. Remember, she was born on February 24, 2009.

David Archuleta Concert/Jesse's Football Game/Avril's Baby Shower

Alicia's friend, our former neighbor (now married) Alycia King Rickords, helped host a baby shower for Avril last Saturday at her parents' home next door. Also organizing were Cheri Murdock, Janet Garn, Diana King, and Lindsay Grover (Alycia's sister).

Alycia and Alicia.

Janet Garn, one of Gayle's best friends and a great 8th ward member, helped at the baby shower with great food.

Margaret Mortensen, one of our best family friends, also came. Here she's with Alicia and Gayle.

Here's the star of the show, asleep on her mom's chest. She's not a party girl!

All dolled up in her jeans for the baby shower.

Yesterday (Saturday the 28th) Rob, Kristen, Carly, and Brandon visited after coming from Grandpa and Grandma's house. Trish and Kelly also dropped by. During the week, Gayle and I took Grandma to a birthday lunch at the Olive Garden. By the way, Grandpa spent a couple of nights at the hospital this week to recuperate from pneumonia. Fortunately he's back home and doing well now.

Shelby loves to hold Avril too!

Jesse plays football for the semi-pro team the Stampede. They won their season opener yesterday against the Davis Vipers at Woods Cross and Jesse caught a touchdown pass! He was written about in the Herald Journal (see below).

From the Sunday, March 29, 2009 Herald Journal.

Number 11 with his helmet off. The chin thing (a "soul patch") is whiskers, by the way.

#11 pointing to something from the line.

OK -- The highlight of the week for Gayle and Spencer was going to a David Archuleta concert at the E-Center in West Valley, compliments of Tara Jensen (birthday gift to Gayle). We loved it. I've been to many concerts (mostly in the 60's and 70's) and Archuleta is the most gifted of any vocalist I've heard. He's also a talented instrumentalist for that matter. His vocal interpretation, improvisations, phrasing, and clear tenor voice are amazing. He also writes good music, and he's barely 18 yrs. old. And the adulation doesn't seem to have ungrounded him. It's refreshing to see talent with humility and wholesomeness.


This is a video clip from our "point and click" digital camera from the song "Somebody Out There." I like his ballads best, with few instruments and simply done.


Here he sings a Kara DioGuardi (a current American Idol judge) song with just him on the keyboard and his violinist (who also sings harmony). The song is "To Be With You." Listen starting about 1'30" into it as he goes up into his higher register.

Spencer's New York City Trip

I was in Manhattan (flew out Sunday and back Friday) for the annual Interphex meeting ( a biopharm convention) last week. Tuesday, the 17th, was St. Patrick's day, and I was able to catch part of the parade after the tradeshow.

The parade went up 5th Avenue for 40 blocks or so. From what I could tell, various "clans" marched.

I caught a couple of bagpipe groups. Here's one.

After we left the parade we swung by the Rockefeller Center to see the ice rink next to the NBC building. We were en route back to our hotel on Times Square.

They've added the red steps over the ticket booths at the north end of Times Square since the last time I was there (I think). Here I'm standing next to Father Duffy's statue. The electronic billboards in the background are on the Renaissance Inn (a Marriott property) where I've stayed a time or two in the past.

This is a shot from my room on the 20th floor of the Marriott Marquis hotel adjacent to Times Square. Again, that's the Renaissance Inn all lit up.

This is from a slightly different angle, showing some of the other lights around the square.

B-I-N-G-O!!

Since Alicia has access to our blog site, she occasionally adds stuff on her own. Thanks to Alicia for this video clip of Avril!

More Avril/Jared's New House/Kenny and Dolly

Well, Gayle had her 60th birthday since our last posting. Here are some recent shots:

Grandma holding Avril, who is sporting a bow, while Jared shares his affection.

Different pose, same setting.

Great grandma Joyce, Avril, grandma Gayle, and mama Alicia.

The bibb says it all. Except that she also loves mama, grandmas, grandpas, aunt, cousin, uncles, etc. The feeling is mutual.

Kenny and Dolly after their popular performance at the 8th ward talent show.

Full shot so you can see Dolly's boots.

The southern accent was real. Other things weren't. See if you can figure out what wasn't.

Jared's own house. He has to shovel his own driveway and take out his own trash and recycle bins now. It has been fixed up inside and is quite nice. And the neighborhood is very peaceful.

Adrian and Arleen sent Gayle this bouquet for her birthday. It is beautiful and she's still enjoying it.

And grandma gave Gayle these lovely orchids.

Jesse holding the new mama.

Kenny and Dolly Perform at Logan 8th Ward Party!

Yes, it's true. Directly from Dollywood, Dolly and Kenny arrived at the Logan 8th ward to perform Islands in the Stream (written by the BeeGees).

Gayle and Spence in a reprise of their Dolly and Kenny spoof from about 8 years ago.