September Trip to SLC--Began and ended with a Bang

Sidney, Mike and Caroline Christensen--my chauffeurs

Back in the long ago past when I needed a ride up north, and Dad couldn't go, I'd call KUTA and have them announce I was looking for a ride--and I was always successful, even finding a ride to Idaho a couple of times.  Nowadays, it's e-mail and Facebook that I use to hitch a ride, and still find Blanding people so kind and accommodating. 

I traveled with the Christensen's this time, and it turned into a 12 hr. ride, starting with a serious blowout on Soldier Summit.  Luckily, Mike controlled the car well, and we had room to park on the side, with a good view to the very steep slope and canyon below.  We felt very blessed and protected, though inconvenienced.  Unluckily, the spare was flat too.  Luckily someone stopped and took him down to Helper.  Unluckily the canned gas he bought to inflate the spare was defective.  Luckily, there was enough air supply to allow us to limp along, back to Price, where they ended up buying four new tires.  It was 9 PM by the time we got to Tooele, and Nathan's home.

After a quick crash course on Brendan and Laurie's schedules, eating patterns, homework, house rules, and gizmo-gadget instructions, I was ready to start a very fun week of tending.  I walked the kids to school each morning, and also walked them home--not that they needed it, but I wanted to keep on target with my own exercise, and encourage theirs as well.  I droveTammy to the airport, and learned the idiosycrancies about their van that morning. Drove up to Autumn's before heading home and helped her a bit on kitchen patrol.  Also got some shopping done before I headed back to Tooele.  Found some great bargains at the new grocery store in Stansbury Park.   Cream of chicken for .59 a can--so got several cases, as well as other food storage items.

That night the kids and I did a major cup-cake decorating project to help Autumn with the bake sale part of the Cub Scout fundraiser Friday.  We had a lot of fun creating weird  Halloween Ghouls.  Shown here: the kids celebrate their accomplishment.  We saved about 10 or so for next week when Grandpa and their parents returned. 

The next day I started my history project for my brother Clinton.  I want him to be remembered as more than a birth and a death date. So decided I needed to do something about it.  Over the week, I got all of Dad's letters to him scanned, and about 3 months of Clint's mission letters typed up.

We all packed the night before, for our "sleepover" trip Friday night at Autumns.  I picked the kids up right after school, and we got there in time to help cleanup the "creative cake studio" that had been going on all day at the Jeppsons.   All of the cousins had fun playing together, and talking instead of sleeping!

These are Autumn's two cakes which were prize winners; they brought in over $50 for the Cubs.

We all had a lot of fun at the Cake Auction, and I donated about $50 to the ward, to feed our sugar addictions.  The cake on the left is a delicious cheese cake I won, and the Sunflower cake was bought by Theron.  We became well acquainted with Misha (girl in red shirt on the left) who was baptized the next morning.  Autumn had fellowshipped her for several months, first inviting her to go to Girls Camp this summer.  Then inviting her to church, and then to hear the missionary lessons.

 We hadn't planned to go to the baptism, so hadn't brought clothes, so after the auction we made a flying trip to Kohls bargain racks at 9 PM to find something for all 3 of us to wear.  So Brendan got an early birthday present.

The next day we went to Misha's baptism, and helped Autumn get the refreshments ready. Theron left Friday for a Mountain Bike race down south.  He took 1st place.  The baptism was really nice, and her relatives from Idaho came down for it, as well as her parents.  We hope she will be an influence for reactivation of many people in her family. 

We had an hour or so, to wind down and let Hinckley take a nap before we began the next Sat. activity at Gardner Village.  We met Andrew and Amy's family there and had a great time, as we pursued a gaggle of hags dressed as witches.  They were scattered all over the Village, so it was pretty fun and a beautiful day.
Once the kids had identified a dozen or so specific witches, on their scavenger sheet, they got a bargain cookie at the bakery. 

 There were many, many photo ops during the day and the kids had a lot of fun I think.

We finally got back to Tooele about 6 PM.  After getting things put away, some supper and the kids to bed, I watched the General RS Women's conference, which Tammy had set to record.  It was really the end to a perfect day. 

Sun. -Tues. were pretty calm days.  I worked on my brother's project, visited most of the intriquing stores in Tooele, got a pedicure,  and we  played games each evening.  I finally beat the kids on Wii bowling.  The kids are very good to settle right down after school and do their homework and reading.  We had a good time together. 

Both Nathan and Tamara flew home on Wed. after having spent a great week together in Washington DC.  Dad also drove up on Wed.  Thursday we drove to Kaysville and stayed with the Andrew and Amy. Steve even got to eat hot lunch with Madison and enjoyed it very much.  I spent most of the day making a wide variety of peace jams: (orange, jalepeno, raspberry mix) and eating as many of the fresh peaches as I could.
    On Friday we did a little shopping for the B-B-que Sat., then went to Autumn's.   Steve stayed and played with the kids, while I met my BYU college roomates at the Cheesefactory for a great lunch visit.  We roomed together my Senior year.  Judy (next to me) just got back from Greece in June and lives in Fruit Heights. Ann lives in Payson, and Marsha lives in So. Jordan -- I think.

I rushed home, and the got ready for our mission reunion which was held at the U of U Institute building.

Friday Sept. 20 we attended our mission reunion and saw quite a few of senior couples that we met on our mission. On the way back to Autumn's we listened to the last three minutes of BYU- USU football game which was a pretty exciting comeback for the Y.

Jessica and Paul Ziel's family came down from Idaho and stayed with Autumn as well. They went to a reunion of his law school class, and also went to the game. Autumn watched Audrey for them. We had a good time catching up on their lives.  Though we were saddened to learn of the sad death of our cousin, Darrell Marley on Sept. 27.  He was 51.

Nathan and Tamara and kids came in for the delicious rib BBQue that Steve fixed, Everyone brought something delicious and we had a fun time visiting, and the kids played.  Nathan and Steve went to the Priesthood session, and the Ziels headed back to Idaho.

Saturday we all listened to all sessions of conference. This time I typed my notes onto my lap top which helped me focus, and usually stay awake!   On the other hand, the kids had all kinds of fun things to keep them awake:  Shown here: Peyton, Matthew, Brendan, Laurie, Hunter, Isaac, and Hinckley and Audrey below.

   Anthony brought Logan over Sunday morning early, so she could play with the kids, and after morning conference he came back and visited for a little bit.  He's staying in Altamont helping the in-laws during his fall break.

We drove to Provo during the last part of afternoon conference, and helped celebrate Kylee's 11th birthday.  We had a good visit with Chris and Pam's family. 

Left Monday morning. We got home about 2:30 pm.

 The patio is finished, the side walk is poured and they are just finishing up the siding on the garage. It is completely covered so you can't see any of the old wood. Every thing looks real good and we are happy with the work Dave and his crew did.  ("ll do a separate blog on that remodel job.)

 

Can't wait to get some of that yummy Cake!!