Wrapping it up - at least until the next event!

September is a busy month - and it's not even over yet!!  Started with celebrating Grandma Helen's 99th birthday!

 

And of course, that means Eve had a birthday too - her 12th!! She had celebrated with her friends a week earlier.

 

Next came the 4th annual Terrill's Ice Cream Social - always a big hit!

 

Grandpa got in the act too!

 

Then it was time for Harry's birthday - always fun to celebrate with cake!!

 

Sadly, all of these events coincided with the death of our dear friend Ry Nebeker.  Harry and I went to Oregon for the service.  This cemetery is in a state park in Warrenton - and this is where Ry's parents are buried also.

 

Jim and Helen Heder came for the services also - it was so good to see Sarah - and to feel all the love that everyone was sharing.  We set off paper lanterns that were carrying paraffin candles - over the ocean.  As they drifted away it looked like beautiful constellations.

 

All three of Ry's children spoke movingly about their dad - and Israel shared a song he had written.  The service was beautiful - it personified Ry perfectly.  So glad that Bonny and Phoebe could come.

Ry's two brothers came - spoke together - it was superb - Ry probably wished he could join them!  You can see the family resemblance I am sure!!

 

Managed to squeeze in a nice long birthday weekend with Eve - we shopped, ate, had our nails done, played games with Grandpa, baked apple dumplings - and got in a little car accident!! Yikes!!  Eve also got her homework and her practicing done!

 

So fun to see Erika, Felipe, and family.

 

As Erika reported, we dined al fresco and had lots of fun and good conversation.

 

I think they inspired Harry and Dawn - who took their kids after school the next day to Disneyland!  (also, it was Marjorie's birthday - Dawn felt she needed to be at the happiest place on earth to get through the day - and I'm pretty sure Marjorie approved!)

 

Then we had Dawn's first official pack meeting since she was called as Den Leader - she's a natural for the job - she's got those boys whipped into shape already!!

 

Other events have occurred, but I've reported them on my blog - tonight some of my current and former colleagues from Clifton had a little dinner party in my honor.  I don't miss the stress of teaching - but I do miss my good friends!

September is not over - but there aren't any big events coming up - of course, then we have October - another chock-filled month!!

Stay tuned!

Fun in Philly!

After a week in VA, Eliza, Ida, and I took a "road trip" to Philly to see Hannah, Robbie, and Rhoda.  Philly is a great city - at least the parts we saw!  Lots of parks and statues and the weather was not too hot and not too humid - we were grateful.  Eliza and Ida stayed the weekend, and Harry flew in from LA - and then drove back to VA with Eliza and Ida to spend a few days before coming back to Philly.  It sounds convoluted, but it worked!

City dwellers may not have yards, but that doesn't stop them from landscaping beautifully!!  I loved walking along the streets and seeing all the beautiful plants and flowers and trees.

We didn't go into Independence Hall, but we take our photo in front of it - that counts doesn't it??  And we saw the Liberty Bell through the window.  We will be back - and Hannah and Robbie will be there for 2 years, so we have time to see all the sights!

Sunday morning at the South Philly Branch - the church is so great everywhere you go - they share a building with an income tax place - the church sign says "visitors welcome" and the tax sign said "walk-ins welcome!!"

Here's a shot of Philadelphia City Hall - with Ben Franklin's statue on the top - pretty impressive sight.

If I lived in Philly, I'm pretty sure I'd get way more than the recommended 10,000 steps daily - here we are at the Philadelphia Museum of Art - featured in "Rocky."  Lots of tourists running up the stairs!! To get here, we'd walked along a river - one that George Washington had crossed with his men during the Revolutionary War - I can tell we have lots of sights to see on future visits!

Here's the Philadelphia Temple - under construction - a beautiful building in a beautiful location!  It will be dedicated the year Robbie will finish at Wharton.

The "Rocky" statue that everyone flocks too as they emerge from the tour busses!

Rhoda was her usual fun self to hang out with!! After spending a whole summer with her, we miss her daily presence!!

Grandpa built a gate for her - so she won't be tempted to go down the stairs by herself!!

The visit was brief - Hannah and I discovered "Fabric Row" and some other delights - like I've said, we need more visits and more time - I may see America yet!

Happy day to Harry F - a little collage of memories!

High school days!

 

Back-packing with his dad.

 

Phoebe's birthday - a fave photo of mine!

 

Bonny's 30th birthday party!!

 

Clifton Marching Band!

 

Drama at Clifton.

 

 With his cousin Dianne.

On his 4th birthday - with his new mailbox lunch box, Fuller Brush hair brush, and his Mr. Roger's style sweater!!

 

With the family in 1984.

 

At the Moore's cabin in 1976.

 

After the first year of college.

 

Working on his bike - 1984 I think.

 

With Noah - 1995 or 6.

A happy day to you my son - you have been a great son - and it's fun to look back at the memories!  May the year ahead be the best ever!!

Still playing catch-up! (The Visit to VA!)

At the end of Hannah's visit this summer, I headed off to VA to visit with Matt, Eliza, and family before I headed to Philly to check out the new city with Hannah.  Here are Theo, Ida, and Lars with the neighbor children and their fort - a great place to play, by the way!

 

I timed my visit just right and got to attend the special Pioneer Day program at the Washington DC Temple Visitor's Center.

 

Eliza is the stake and ward Primary chorister - and she does a great job.  It was fun to see her in action - and Theo and Ida too!

 

Eliza and her family enjoy a neighborhood pool - within a nice walking distance too.  I love how a walk somewhere in Eliza's town usually means a trek through a forest!!  Love all the green!!

 

We checked out a very cool monastery in DC on  our "DC Day" - beautiful gardens and tile work to admire.  

 

Appreciated Eliza humoring me and my wish to visit the graves of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife and daughter.

 

Eliza has a well-planned week each summer for her kids, but I also enjoyed just hanging out and experiencing daily life with the kidlets!!

 

Hannah was with us too for part of the time - always fun to hang with Hannah and Rhoda.  And the eats are always good at Eliza's house - I especially love Thursday night and "Breakfast for Dinner!!"

 

Some more neighborhood fun - a nice treat since VA can be muggy and warm.

I do love visiting our kids and grandkids - and this visit was no exception - loved the TV time after the kids were in bed too - some interesting documentaries and conversations with Matt and Eliza - you'd think I didn't have a TV in my own house!!

Looking forward already to our next visit!

Playing catch-up with the summer of 2014!

It was a crazy, busy summer - and I don't  think I've blogged half of it!!  We got home from Philly and were welcomed by the beautiful Bolander girls!!  They came for a long weekend while their parents had a little working vacay in New York.

Ella was doing a Young Women values' project - so she made dinner for us on Saturday night!  Yum!

 

We got manicures, shopped for birthday gifts, visited Eve, played cards, did puzzles, watched movies, went swimming, and generally had a fine time!!  Grandpa was with us some of the time - but not the times I was taking pics I guess!

 

Esme had a value project too - giving a Family Home Evening lesson on Service - which she did for us at Grandma Helen's.  And she made cinnamon rolls for the treat!!  Ara had returned to Malibu for a game or a practice but she returned Monday night.

 

We played a lot of "Golf" and did plenty of snacking.  It was a fine weekend.

 

The girls had to return Tuesday a.m. for more games, practices, and back to school activities.  Ara's b-day was in January, Esme's was in February, and Annika's was in July - at least we were early for Ella's!  It gets harder and harder each year to get these b-day weekends scheduled, but we're committed!!

Love these girls - and always enjoy time spent with them!