Checking out the new home

We made our long anticipated road trip to see our new homestead in Aurora, CO.

While the senior missionary couple was out for the day, we went in and 

checked out our new space.

I think my favorite room was the master bedroom. Most likely because it let in the most light. 

I also know the kitchen and dining area are going to be awesome!!

We have picked out some beautiful cabinets and the pantry along the 

dining wall is going to be epic!

Day One we drove up to Winchester to the Butterfly Pavilion.

First we quickly stopped at a Chipotle for lunch. Surprising super delicious.

The kids both ate really good. This is a new thing on the last couple visits.

Pretty cute picture taking op

We stayed in the Butterfly area while Shannon was off with Blake at the play area. He was not feeling super great. Too many late nights with their two new kitties.

Not many of the butterflies landed for long. It was hard to get very many pictures. This particular breed was very stationary throughout the exhibit.

There was also a petting exhibit for fish and octopus and other gross type things.

I made this apron a few months ago and held on to it so I could take with us on this trip. 

It was very cute on M.

When we arrived, M said she wanted us to pet their new kitties and go to Cold Stone. So the first evening we spent a little time checking out their kitties and then Cold Stone. 

It was all very yummy.

The only downside was no eating inside Cold Stone. We had to bring it home. 

It got a little soupy for some.

Fred gave the kids a lesson in coin collecting. These are quarters of National Parks I do believe. M told Shannon she wanted to visit the National Park in Alaska and Hawaii.

We stayed a day longer because M wanted us to watch them at Taekwondo. Shannon had signed them up for 4 weeks. The class moved very slowly and it lasted an hour. I was really impressed how these two actually stayed focused and patient with all the waiting around. As you can see here, it wasn't B's most favorite activity. They won't be continuing.

So cute.

One morning this is what we woke up to. Fred got out there to shovel the driveway with Brother Garns the senior missionary living there.

On our anniversary we ate here. We never go to Five Guys because it is way overpriced in our opinion. But it was a place that was allowing dine in and we hadn't had a hamburger in a pretty long time. It was delicious though. 

Happy 42nd wedding anniversary to us.

It's a long drive to Aurora, but it's worth it. 

Shannon and I got to go shopping and go out to lunch one day.

Then lots of Hallmark movie watching. More for me than her.

Some out of this world delicious steak by Brian. 

That man can cook, grill, bake ~ you name it. He can do it.

 

Balloon Festival Kanab UT

I asked Fred if we could go to the Balloon Festival in Kanab for something new to do. He said yes. 

We went up on Friday afternoon. We arrived around 5 pm and checked into our hotel room. We drove around the town to figure out where we needed to go for the launch. Also walked through the street festival checking out the food and stuff to buy. We didn't buy anything. It was very cold.

We got to the field by 7 am. It was probably around 30 degrees outside. Fred brought hand warmers and they helped a lot. My feet were cold though. We brought lawn chairs, but never set them up. We just walked around.

I didn't put on makeup or even fix my hair because I knew I would be hidden in all the warm clothing. It didn't matter. I don't like how I feel when I'm not dressed for the day.

There were about 25 balloons. I would say about five actually took off and floated up high and away from the field. There were about five balloons that never left the ground.

The majority of balloons that launched hung close to the ground and didn't stay up very long. I imagine they were mostly trying to drum up business. The wind did kick up so maybe that had something to do with it? They were still beautiful.

We took a drive as far north as Mt. Carmel. Along the way is the Thunderbird Restaurant. It has been there since 1931. Created by a couple that settled there back in those days. 

The founder, Jack Morrison, spelled home made pie as ho-made so the letter would fit on the small sign.  It was not until later that the word "ho" got it's current meaning.  The Thunderbird is built on tradition and family and thus the sign and the spelling has remained.

Fred ordered apple pie with rum sauce.

I ordered the Thunderberry pie. I was hoping it was going to be blackberries, raspberries - that kind of berry. It was strawberry with blueberries. Not my favorite, but still good. 

We enjoyed our time together. It was disappointing that it was so cold because I can't handle being cold. I know we are moving to Colorado, but I'm not going to choose to go outside and stand in the freezing windy cold. I'll stay home bundled up nice and warm. I'll send Shannon out to get me whatever I need. She's still young!!

Beginning Days of my Retirement

 My first project was washing the blinds in our master bath. We actually have two large windows, but by the time I finished the first one I decided the second one could wait for another day.

I went overboard I think. It seemed the easiest was to clean them was to totally remove them.

So I washed them in our soaking tub, dried them and laid them out on my bed. 

After that, I had to thread them back through the strings. Way too much work. 

My goal to clean all the blinds will be over a long period of time. I won't remove them either. 

I saw on Facebook an advertisement for a birthstone ring. I ordered one with all of our birthstones on it. It was $30. Now I see why. It is really a beautiful ring and I'm pleased with it except it is SO SMALL. It is sterling silver so at least it isn't just a piece of junk. I wish I would have ordered a 5 1/2 instead of a 6. I forget what size ring I wear.

I'm slowly sorting through treasures.

This was made by a woman my Dad taught on his mission back in the 40s.

At the time, I don't think she was baptized, but years later they met again when my parents went back to the same area to visit. 

Some years later when my parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, this woman sent this doily to them. Dad had it framed.

Here are a couple pictures of my parents when they were in their 20s. 

I ordered these little bears from Home Interiors so many years ago. I used to buy all my home decor from this dealer. I asked Linda Nyland to write our names on the bears. I can't part with them. It's like my people. I haven't had them hung up since we moved here, but I'm still keeping them.

I'm pretty much known within our family to be at the sink washing dishes all the time. When I found this little card from Scott, I laughed that he already noticed I washed a lot of dishes.

I found my Primary bandelo. I was sure proud of myself back then. I could memorize anything.

When Scott was a preschooler, he attended Speech classes. Each day they would work on a new sound and make an index card with a picture of it. For "K" they made a card with a little hole and a tissue pulled through it. It was always one of my favorite cards in his box. I saved that index box for years and I think I finally parted with it. When I came across this picture that I had drawn as a little kid, it made me laugh.

I think I will stop here for the day. I don't want my post to be too long. I'll be back with more in a week or so.

My Dad's Military Honor Service

We planned a Military Honor service for my Dad at the 

Tahoma National Cemetery. 

Our children all wanted to attend. They did not like the idea of having no kind of memorial for their Grandpa. 

I was very relieved that Corinne and Fred organized it.

Fred and I flew out of Las Vegas. We took a late afternoon flight so we had all day to get ready. We parked at a hotel and took their shuttle to the airport. There were no other riders with us. 

We got to the hotel very late - Scott and Jess were walking in right ahead of us. That was fun and totally not planned. Our rooms were next door to each other and Corinne's room was three rooms down.

All of us made our own plans. Shannon visited two of Brian's family members and then stayed the night with Elizabeth Spurlock in Port Orchard. On Sunday we drove over to Bremerton and met up with Shannon. Shannon and I wanted Taco Time. We miss it. There is just something so delicious about Taco Time in Washington state. 

Unfortunately all meals were eaten in the car. No restaurants were offering dine in.

I got my favorite - Chicken Taco Salad. 

The three of us drove around Bremerton and Silverdale. Stopped in to visit with Gerry and Linda Nyland for a little bit. Then we drove Shannon back to Elizabeth's in Port Orchard to pick up her car. Here we are together in her home.

We got to meet her fiance Brian. He seemed wonderful and we are so happy for Elizabeth.

Monday morning it was quite beautiful out although pretty chilly. I was happy to see the sun. The day Dad passed away it was gloomy and cloudy. This made up for that. We were all staged in our cars to follow a golf cart back to the covered area.

 We were brought to this nice covered area. The program was surprisingly so lovely. I did not have high expectations, but it was so appropriate and Dad would have felt honored. I know I did. Two Navy soldiers folded and presented me with this flag. 

The Navy Chaplain shared a few words and poems that were just right.

There was the gun salute and a bugler that played Taps.

This cemetery is quite beautiful. You can feel a reverence throughout.

Everyone was so respectful and involved in placing the flags for their Grandpa.

It was so nice to watch them all participate.

Fred is the one who thought bringing flags to decorate the grave would be a good thing to do. It was perfect.

Jess picked out some flowers from Pike's Place Market to decorate the grave. That was another perfect touch. Here is our family.

Corinne and Ben brought their children. They involved Grandpa in so many of their activities and had him in their home a lot. 

Scott and Jess were able to leave their boys with her sister Kristin and her family. That worked out perfect so they had time for Scott to be tour guide and show Jess around his childhood places.

Here we are.

Shannon came solo. She enjoyed visiting with Brian's family and a couple of her best friends from childhood. We all had a wonderful time together.

Isn't this just right? The kids all did such a great job displaying the flags and flowers.

Mom and Dad's gravesite is right off the road which is convenient so we don't have to walk through too many other sites to get to them. The headstone will be placed soon.

After the service, we had Jimmy John's deliver lunch to the hotel. It was nice to be able to sit and visit and enjoy eating NOT IN A CAR.

Garrett made a colossal mint oreo cookie.

Scott and Jess and Shannon had to head to the airport. We offered to take Corinne's family on the Great Wheel on the Seattle waterfront. It's their birthday gifts this year. 

Taking a picture of taking a picture.

It was beautiful up there.

Corinne's family took off to visit a couple of Ben's siblings so we drove around. Fred wanted to drive in the new tunnel along the waterfront.

I wanted to drive up to the temple. It was spectacular the way the sun was shining through the clouds and illuminated the Temple.

We stopped and picked up Panera for dinner back at our hotel room. Fred went out and bought us some ice cream at Wal Mart. After this big trip, we are headed to better eating habits so we wanted to live it up. 

It was such a wonderful weekend to spend with our children and part of our grandchildren. Nothing could have been better. I'm so thankful that we were able to honor Dad with this weekend of celebration.