Trip to Grenada Jan 29-Feb. 6, 2013

To get Melinda warmed up before she goes off on her mission to Ukraine, we flew to Grenada in the West Indies.  Shane and Kim were gracious to host us for a week.  First thing we did was to go swimming at Magazine Beach.  It was warm and beautiful.  Jeremy didn't like waves but we had fun jumping in them.

The drive up the western coast to Fish Friday was crazy with narrow, speed-bumped roads and cars going every which way.  It's amazing there aren't more accidents.  We tried "oil down," the national dish that Grenada serves.  It had different pig parts in it.  We also had shish kebabs with samples of fish.  In the background the Steel Drum band beat out some good rhythms and pretty melodies.

Fish Friday with the Steel Drum Band

Mt. Carmel Falls

We hiked up to Mount Carmel Falls on Saturday when Shane didn't have classes.  It rained the whole time and the mud was so thick on our shoes.  But even with the rain it wasn't cold.   Shane and Melinda hiked up and got right into the falls.  Then they felt the cold and the pounding!  We went to a smaller falls and slid down the rock into a large pool below.

Great fun sliding down this waterfall into the pool

We swam in the ocean and loved the warm water.  It doesn't get that warm in the States.

At Magazine Beach

Jeremy loves his cars!

Snorkeling crazies !

Church members visiting after church.  The branch was so crowded that many couldn't fit in the chapel. The Grenadians love bright colors, in their clothes and in their buildings.  

View from the church of Grand Anse Beach - Beautiful!

Looking south from St. George's University

Jeremy and Kim at Annandale Falls

 

 July 2012 Tyler's birthday

Dixie Ahlstrom made a birthday cake for Tyler out of large cookies and frosting.   It was delicious.  He is 28 now.  We enjoyed visiting with them.
Luke had to wear this helmet for 2 or 3months to help shape his head.   Unfortunately it was during the hottest weather in Mesa.  It didn't seem to bother him too much until they took it off and then he rubbed his head like crazy.

Luke with his helmet

Dixie and Matt Downing

Grant watches his Dad open presents.

Tending Grandchildren Apr-June 2012

Grant and Jackson are buddies.

 In April, Doug and I were able to babysit Jackson and Hallie while Dave and Jamie went to Germany to see the Harpers on their mission.   Kacey had to drive a car up from Ariz. for a relative and so she was here at the same time.  In June,  we tended Dayton and Afton while Ryan and Mary Ann went to San, Antonio Texas.   We tended Jeremy for short times while Shane and Kim went to the temple or were helping with the Utah Valley Marathon.

 They enjoy riding the horse downstairs.  Luke isn't so sure about it though.

Grandpa with a lapful of kids

Jackson and Hallie ready for church

Aunt Marcie loves her niece Hallie

Kim helps Jeremy feed the horses and Afton looks on.

Visiting the horses that live in the backyard neighbor's house is lots of fun.  The owner, Melinda Burt, also lets us grow a garden in her yard.  The grandkids help me pick produce and then we feed the horses. 

Grandma helps Dayton feed the horse.

 Dayton and Afton love to go visit the train exhibit in the Wes and Ruth Burr's downstairs room.  They laugh as the train speeds around the track.  It almost looks like Thomas the Train.  Sometimes they even eat the cereal and candy in the train cars. 

We took a walking trip down the street to see the sheep and the new little lambs. 

Hallie and Jackson look at the sheep.

Dayton and Afton check on the sheep also.

Fun at Grandma's house- May-June 2012

 We enjoyed the hot tub even though it was warm and sunny!  Jeremy, Dayton, and Jackson love the water. 

 We decided to put a little table up for the grandchildren and they thought  it was so FUN!








Jackson is trying out grandpa's motorcycle helmet and then he got to have a ride with his grandpa.

 Jeremy loves to raid the food cupboard just like his Dad used to do.  I have several pictures of Shane climbing into cupboards and even into the fridge.









 Dayton and Jeremy are having fun with the cars and the raceway set.

  

Doug and Julie trying to capture 7 wiggly grandkids for a picture!!

We were so happy to have the whole Ahlstrom family together for one evening on Memorial Day in May 2012.  We all went out to eat at Cafe Rio to celebrate Marcie's graduation from Lehi High School.  Shane and Kim were here from Grenada for a few weeks during May and June.  Jamie and Tyler's families came from AZ and Ryan's family from CO.  While the boys went on the motorcycle trip, the girls had great times with the grandkids. 

Marcie's graduation from Lehi High- May 2012

Julie,Marcie, Melinda, Kim and Jeremy give congrats!

Brett Bartholomew and Marcie Ahlstrom

Jessa Bates, Marcie and Bethany Leishman

All the hard work pays off in the end!

The graduation was held at the UVU campus.  Doug and all 3 sons were able to attend, but they left before pictures were taken.  They were all loaded up for the annual motorcycle trip.  Mary Ann, Dayton and Afton were also there. 

Marcie's Senior pictures 2012

 These are a few of Marcie's Senior pictures taken by Jamie Bennett in April 2012.  Marcie is so beautiful and very photogenic. 

New Baby or April Fool's Joke?

This is the picture Ryan and MaryAnn sent to us on Sunday.  We were so excited and then we realized that it is April Fool's Day.  Maybe Ryan is just tricking us again.  They claim that it really is true even if the last time they totally tricked us.  Mary Ann just said wait until September and you'll see.  Next we wondered if it was going to be twins and that's why both kids had their little babies.  No!  It's only one, but what fun to find out about a new little one before the birth!  Carly is so excited to have a little cousin so close in age to her baby.  Carly finds out in 2-3 weeks whether it's a boy and girl and of course, Ryan And Mary Ann want to be surprised.  Are we surprised?