On Saturday, May 29th, we had a hailstorm. Looking out from our dining area at the accumulation of hail in our backyard. The deck got covered. Looking at some hail in our flowerbed next to the front porch. Note the bleeding heart and potted flowers on the porch. You can't see the hanging flowers. Gayle says we'll show that on another posting. The hail wasn't as visible in this shot of the lawn, but it's a nice view of the berm so we threw it in. Avril frequently gets baths at our house. Check out the bunny ears. Shelby, Jesse's brother, graduated from Logan High School on Thursday, June 3rd. A group of his relatives (and us) gathered to eat at Mandarin Garden just before the ceremony. Here he is with Alicia and his cousin Ally. Ally is a twin to Annie. Here's Carme and her brother Dick, in the back. Annie and her cousin Jesse are in front. Ally's and Annie's parents couldn't make it, but Dick, their uncle, was able to come. They all drove down from Montana. Gayle and Jared The two grandpas (Spencer and Bryan) and Avril Here's the group at Mandarin Garden. Another bath event for Avril in our kitchen sink. Note the wild hair after taking out the pigtails. Bath time is fun!
It's been a cold and wet May. On the 7th Gayle and I drove to Sandy, UT to Hoopes Vision to get a follow-up checkup on my laser eye surgery (PRK). The original surgery went fine, but it's not 20/20 and I'm pushing for a touch-up job to improve it. I've only had one eye done and use the other (left) eye, which is near-sighted, for reading (mono-vision). We had Japanese food down there afterward, and did a little bargain hunting at the local Deseret Industries store. On the 13th, Alex, youngest child of our good friends the Mortensens, married Kelli at the Riter Mansion. They'll be sealed in the temple once it's been a year since Kelli's baptism. The Riter is where Alicia and Jesse got married. Here are some of the girls throwing petals in advance of the bride. It was cold and a bit rainy, but all went well. Dave Mortensen and his two girls. Brent, Alex, Kelli, and Margaret Jared caught up to his high school buddy, Robert Mortensen, who now lives in Salt Lake City. Spence, Avril, and Alicia Avril met Amy and Travis's daughter, Laurel. The weekend of the 21st and 22nd, Jared and I went with ward men up to a Fathers and Sons camp-out to commemorate the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. It rained during the entire ceremony around the campfire, and proceeded to rain all night until about 5:30 a.m. Unfortunately, while we had a nice tent and ground tarp, we forgot the rain fly. We improvised with several ponchos. We only had one puddle in the tent and slept more or less dry all night. It got pretty cold during the night but we were toasty in the tent. While cooking pancakes in the morning it hailed off and on, in between snow squalls. But a good time was had by all. Colton Parker even snagged a duck a hawk had killed at first dam and cooked it up and ate duck that evening. Yesterday and today (27, 28) we took some vacation days to get the landscaping going (our annual effort). It's raining right now, which is why our outdoor activities have stalled and I'm able to finally do another blog posting. Earlier today I gave Avril a quick ride in the wheelbarrow. As it rained, Avril got to practice some soccer moves in the garage. The following video clip shows a bit of this.
April continued with our usual busy schedule. Gayle and Alicia went to a luncheon bridal shower for Alex Mortensen's fiance, Kelli Danielle Harris. Gayle thought Margaret's decorations and food looked like it came right out of Better Homes and Gardens. From Kelli's bridal shower. Amy, Laurel, and Alicia. Margaret and Kelli. Alicia and Gayle. Full length.
From April 19 - 24 I was at my annual meeting in Manhattan. We stayed on Times Square again and walked each day to the Javitts Convention Center. I didn't take any pictures this year. Been there and done that too many times to really show anything new. Still, I enjoy the diversity and big city; and the dining options too, of course. Good to get home, however. Alicia held a recital for her piano students at our house. We rounded up lots of folding chairs in advance and had treats after the performances. About 35+ attended. The pupils did well and I got to tend Avril while it was going on. We were upstairs, but Avril clapped most of the times the audience clapped at the end of each piece. Our neighbor, Jordan King, was a star performer. And Madison Olsen did a super job too. Samantha Eliason was brave and went first. She did well! Kary Ausen is the daughter of Alicia's bishop. She did more advanced pieces. Avril loved the treats, and even wore a bit of them on her face. A good time was had by all!
Other recent events included a High Priests fireside on "grand" parenting, given by a former general authority, Glen Jensen. And yesterday, after we held a three ward meetinghouse and grounds cleanup project, our elders quorum sponsored a golf outing. Jared and I teamed up with Runar Andersen and Tom Weyarts in a scramble competition. Although we had fun, we also had to brave high winds, hail, snow, and very cold, wet hands. On one green the hail was so thick we didn't actually putt, we just figured that out of four tries, one of us would have sunk the two foot putt under normal conditions. Today, May 2, was Fast Sunday. We enjoyed the testimonies and also seeing Alicia, Avril, and Jared for awhile. Then we returned folding chairs to mom and dad Parkinson's house. Yesterday Jesse drove with his dad, Bryan, to Idaho to play in a Stampede football game. They won, but he was bitterly cold with only his football uniform to keep him warm in 50 mph winds and snow/hail. We look forward to a real spring sometime this year!
With frequent babysitting, work schedules, and church callings, we're just having a hard time keeping the blog up. But we're going to. Here are many shots to try to catch things up a bit. We start off with some video clips of Avril taking some steps. By the way, not all the shots are in order below. I'm packing for a business trip to NYC and did this post in short order given its size.
Here Avril leaves her walker and takes some steps on her own.
And here she shows her skills with the walker. Jared and Gayle at Angie's. Alicia and Jared took Gayle to a birthday luncheon (with Avril, of course). Avril liked the food too. Angie's gives a complimentary cinnamon roll for birthday celebrators. All four couldn't even finish it. Alicia and Avril at the lunch. Gayle posing with her new hairdo. Cute! Still looks young. The weather was still cold, but the sun was out and Avril wanted to be near the next door kids. She gets a wagon ride from Jordan and Madison. Avril and friends Gayle gave a Relief Society lesson on the Fall of Adam and Eve. This was what she used for her table display. The Yargers after Jesse's game. More game shots are further below. Adrian, Ray, Brit, and Arleen at the Baby Animal Days event. Some of the rest of us at the Baby Animal event. Avril, of course, loved the animals. Jared and his mom. Gayle, gazing at the baby animals. The Historical Farm sits below the Wellsville Mountains, ever so scenic. It's April, but still cold up in the mountains. Some of our girls. A Yellowstone cub. Avril pulling another face. Jared, about to stroll with Avril Papa Spencer with Avril Avril and uncle Jared Our attempt at a family photo - the sun was in our eyes Brittney and Avril - the two granddaughters going for a walk Checking out the big workhorses Watching the sheep riding event Mom's birthday dinner. Note that our photos are not in chronological order. Olivia, Carly, and Kristen about to enjoy Sizzler. Us. Grandma with her birthday root beer float One of our many four legged visitors - photographed through the window of our TV room Avril loves toys The Easter Bunny visited Brittney and Avril The two cousins Watching a Stampede game Ali and her father-in-law, Bryan, with Brit Adrian and Arleen, relaxing at the game Yes, that's snow on the field in April. #11 is Jesse. Staying warm in a Mexican poncho Avril likes stories. See her skinned up nose from a fall on the pavement at Jesse's football game. Another story The Easter Bunny made it to Logan to find Brittney Group lunch between Sunday's General Conference sessions Enjoying the meal A happy couple Steve, Susan, and Dallin joined us too Three generations Another happy couple Tri-birthday celebration. Adrian, Arleen, and Jared all share April 16th as their birthday, seriously. And they all got the traditional root beer floats Another attempted family photo
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