Grandsons and a little General Conference

This weekend Corinne and her family came down for a visit.

It was General Conference Weekend so my preparations consisted of gathering activities for the boys to do during the broadcast of Conference. 

This time we opted for setting up a tent so the three big boys could sleep outside. 

It worked pretty good even though the boys did say they got a little cold. 

 On Saturday morning, Corinne and I went and got our hair cut. All the boys, Ben and Grandpa went down to our neighborhood park to play while we were gone.

Our traditional pizza from Costco was lunch and Corinne and Ben went to Qdoba for lunch.

After Henry had a good nap, we packed the kids up and went to the Dinosaur Discovery Site here in town. http://www.dinosite.org/dinosaur-discovery-site/ Dinosaur tracks were found on this very spot and they basically built this facility around the site. They still do work on the site "in house" so you can watch them work.

 Most of the displays had signs that said DON'T TOUCH.

 Thank goodness there was stuff the boys could touch.

 Here you can see how they build the facility around the actual ground where things were dicovered.

 See the workers stuff left out. I guess these guys don't work on Saturdays.

 After walking through the interior area, there is an "interactive" room. 

The boys were more than content to do the activities here. We still had the outdoor park to check out.

 There were stencils for rubbing and tracing.

 Origami table. It was pretty obviously the guy at the check in who had the personality of a rock, did not bother to go and do any cleaning up during the day. The room was a big mess so I cleaned everything up before we left.

 This room also had lots of artifacts in glass cabinets to look at.

 Digging

 Posing

 Making your own dinosaur tracks

 Here Garrett is brushing through the sand to find the fossils.

 Under grandpa's watching eye.

 It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.

 More fossil brushing

 I printed out copies of the activities from LDS.org for the three big boys. Bought them markers, fine tip markers, and colored pencils. Stickers and candy for Bingo was also included.

The boys were involved in coloring and doing the activities so we enjoyed watching the morning session of conference. Saturday night we also watched the Priesthood Session at home.

 This table and chairs that Garrett and Spencer are sitting at was made for Corinne and Shannon by their Grandma and Grandpa Daly when they were about ages 2 & 4. 

It has had lots of use over the years. Just right for grandkids.

 Henry played with cars and ate his bowl of bingo candy. 

 Since it was a short weekend visit, Corinne and Ben wanted the boys to spend more time playing with us than watching all the sessions of conference. We can all watch and read them again. 

We went to a park that had trees for some shade. It was about 80 degrees on Sunday afternoon. It wasn't as shady as I thought. I sat on the bench in the shade and most everyone else ventured out.

 Henry pretty much stayed on the big toy underneath in the shade.

 Garrett also hung around me in the shade.

 All three of the boys play the piano, but Garrett also plays the violin. He came prepared to give us a little recital. We walked down their Great Grandparents the Dalys to do that. 

So that was our weekend. The boys are at a good age where we can enjoy playing board games and card games too. We played UNO and Richard played Tripoley with his parents and Grandpa. I played Score Four with Spencer. He beat me. 

It was a short visit, but packed with lots to do.

It was a fun time!

This is what makes charismatic people so attractive

I know - Tony Robbins, but a friend posted this on Facebook and it was exactly what I needed to watch Saturday morning.

This is exactly what I do. More often than I like to admit, I get locked into this cycle of what I expected to have happen or expected to have or experience. Then I get so dark in my mind and unable to be happy or content with my life. It's almost impossible to snap out of it until it has run it's course or I miraculously come upon something like this, or something someone says, or recall something that knocks me back into the reality of all the goodness in my life. Then back on the track of my good life I go.

So anyway - copy and paste this link to watch the short clip and put it in your pocket to take out the next time you find yourself having a pity party.

http://www.businessinsider.com/tony-robbins-what-makes-charismatic-people-attractive-2015-11#ooid=t5eHBxeDofz7CwZGCDElKcZsgaPSMr77

My greatest blessing.

Another weekend come and gone

Since we moved here to Utah, one of the biggest inconveniences to adjust to has been how far away and how long it takes to get to the nearest grocery store. We used to live .7 miles away from Safeway. If you needed milk or bread for the next day, you just popped in your car and went. Here Super Walmart is the closest grocery store at 5.8 miles. Doesn't sound that far, but it's like 15 minutes to drive there. You only go when you need to. 

Two years and nine months later, a new Lins Market opens up.

3.2 miles away - about 8 minutes to get there.

Added Bonus: Dairy Queen is inside.

So happy about this new store. I'm totally transferring my prescriptions here also.

Hate Walmart's pharmacy. Hate the crowds of people and the overall feeling of the store.

I won't miss buying groceries there and hopefully not picking up prescriptions there.

I may still have to go to get other things, but it will not be on a regular basis. 

Lins's Market grand opening is today. Fred got to go and buy fun stuff and get free stuff.

 Saturday night we went to a concert at Tuachan outdoor theatre.

It was advertised as BYU Vocal Point (men's group), but we got two for one.

BYU Noteworthy (women's group) also performed.

These are two a cappella groups.

I took our token selfie. I don't know why I always feel kind of embarrassed to do this.

People right in front of us were taking a selfie. I need to get over it. Maybe then I could get a better picture.

This picture actually isn't the current guys. But it gives you the idea of how many.

I thought the girl who does the beatboxing was better than the guy.

Just sayin....but she did come across as a little butch and not as lady like or feminine as the other girls. Maybe that comes with the type of "music" she is performing??

You have probably seen the video clip on Facebook of Amazing Grace that they perform.

If you haven't, here is a link.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=amazing+grace+noteworthy

On Sunday all the wards in Utah did not hold their regular block of meetings.

Salt Lake broadcast the Provo City Center Temple dedication.

What's with the special treatment in Utah? Why not broadcast it church wide?

Safety Vests

Mima and Buddy walk to their mailbox with Brian to pick up the mail.

IKEA provided the perfect safety vests for them.

Aren't they cute?

I told Shannon that she didn't have any babies anymore.

Look how grown up they look!

I'm always so thrilled to receive new pictures. 

It helps the distance not seem so far.

Denver Days

Fred and I flew to see Shannon and her family.

Originally we were going to help her after her scheduled C Section, but then she delivered early and we got to use the week to just play. 

My assigned seat in the car was in the middle next to Mima.

Buddy and Mima are happy helpers.

The first three days, Buddy had preschool in the morning so we ran errands with Mima.

It worked out on this day that we got to pick up Brian from work and go to Freddy's for lunch.

Fred's assigned seat was way in the back with Buddy. 

After school one of the days, we went to this park. 

They have parks everywhere and the kids know which one is which and make their requests.

As usual, Fred came prepared with something special to play with at the park.

This is a little balsa wood glider.

Mima allowed Granpa to help her walk around the wall.

They keep this BIG box in the living room to store the toys in.

This is how Mima goes digging for what she wants.

We drove about 50 miles to Colorado Springs to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

It was windy at this elevation, but it was a pretty nice zoo.

Brian was at work. He got to choose which activity to save for Saturday so he could come along.

This zoo is set up pretty neat. The public can feed the giraffes. 

Mima is getting a kiss here.

On Friday morning was parent teacher conference for Buddy.

This is a slide on their playground. 

Some new design for a teeter totter.

After parent conference, we drove to Greeley Colorado to the Colorado Train Museum.

They have miniature trains and scenery filling the museum. 

This is a small scene that the children can push buttons to activate lights, run trains etc.

Mima is working on the lights and moving the carousel. 

After the museum, we stopped for lunch at Carls Jr. Shannon packed their lunch in case we couldn't find a place to eat that they liked. 

Buddy was not really cooperative for this picture.

Maybe that's why I take more pictures of Mima????

After our big day at the museum, we went to Monkey Bizness. It is filled with bounce houses and stuff for little ones 2-5. Mima is looking the part.

Saturday we drove to Golden Colorado for another train museum.

This one is full size really old trains. Some you can walk inside and look around.

This is a train that use to deliver mail. 

Here is an engine.

Better view at the top.

Going back to the cars.

Happy Family!

Here is our Granma/Granpa pose.

Sunday morning it was gorgeous outside. Shannon sent the kids out to play.

Church wasn't until 12:30 so we had lots of time.

The kids have lots of really great outdoor toys.

They played together really nicely.

Granpa came out for a look.

Shannon & Brian said another family from church said they had their kids jump on the trampoline before church for an hour. By the time church started the kids were so tired that they sat quietly.

So Shannon & Brian decided to try it out. I brought sticker/coloring books for the kids, but I'm too not sure it really helped keep them quiet. 

This missionary greeted us as we went into the chapel. I looked at his name tag and it said "Elder Merkley". Well I totally knew he was from the Merkley family in Bremerton. He looks just like his Dad did when we knew them 20 years ago. After Sacrament meeting, I went up to ask him where he was from. I over heard him tell the people he was talking to that he was from Seattle. So I knew it! Sure enough we confirmed he was that Merkley family. His parents were Shannon's primary teachers AND she used to babysit this Elder and his older brother. So then I got on Facebook and found his Mom and sent her a message and included this picture.

THAT WAS SO FUN!

We had a really nice time with Shannon, Brian and the babies.

The babies fell asleep on the way to the airport. I did say goodbye to Mima before she feel asleep.

Shannon called and said that Mima was pretty distraught when she woke up and I was gone.

That's just what a granma wants to hear!