Our first cruise!

Asphalt Zipper had a great year and so they treated all their employees to a cruise! Spouses were included for the full time employees. We were so sad that Amanda and Nate couldn't come because she was a week or two TOO pregnant at departure time. And Joel was part time so he would have to pay for Kristen to come. Both kids opted for the cash. We wanted our kids to be with us! We tried to enjoy our time without them. It was a sacrifice...our trip included air fare and all taxes and tips! We flew from Salt Lake to Long Beach and caught a shuttle to the ship. It was docked right next to the Queen Mary. Our cabin was cozy and we got dinner every night in the fancy restaurant with the other Asphalt Zipper employees. It was delicious and fun. I was so nervous about getting sea sick but except for a little queasy in my stomach a couple of times I did okay! The best dessert was the chocolate lava cake. I had it every night! It was fun to watch the ship pull out of port. It had so many stories and huge water slides and so much stuff! How does it float? Every evening there was a new towel creature on our bed from the young porter that was in charge of our cabin. Dave was starting to get sick the day before we left. Scritchy throat and a slight runny nose. Nothing huge, but it ended up making the cruise not as fun for either of us. I did NOT like the swaying of the boat while we tried to sleep. Our cabin was close to the front of the boat and we swayed head to foot, not side to side. Everyone else loved the "rocking" and felt like they were being rocked to sleep. Our first stop - Catalina Island! I am writing these posts after the fact, but want to date them for each day that we were on the cruise...

Sweet Jeannie Wilburg...

I was so sad to learn of Jeannie Wilburg's sudden passing. I have been her visiting teacher (now ministering sister) pretty much since I moved into the Lindon 8th ward. She is the sweetest soul ever. She was having a lot of health issues and even called me on day crying because she was in so much pain. Ted Hansen and Dave went over to give her a blessing, her husband was there (he is out of town a lot) so he and Ted did the blessing. I had offer several times to bring dinner but she said no, she has a daughter living there and her husband, they could take care of things. Jeannie was also raising her two grandsons. One used to play with David all the time. They were good friends. The older one was in Amanda's math class at Oak Canyon. Jeannie would do anything for those boys. I enjoyed all my visits with her (with my companion Lisa Bezzant) and was just so shocked to hear that she died. It had just been her birthday and I had sent her a birthday text but she never responded.  She didn't feel well enough to celebrate really, and one evening her husband had taken her shopping for some new clothes (She is the Relief Society Secretary and that has been the best to see her staying for RS and getting to know the women) and when they got home, they went straight to the hospital. There was something behind her liver and she had internal bleeding that they just couldn't get to stop. And like that, she was gone. We are all in shock and just can't believe it. I volunteered to help with the funeral luncheon. I didn't do much except bring dessert and help set tables. Everything looked so beautiful. I do have to say, she didn't not look herself in that casket. I don't know why, but it just hardly looked like her. Those two grandsons were crying and it was just so, so sad. The funeral was very nice and I hope her family all could tell how much we in the ward loved her! I did not know she wrote poetry! The one they put on the program as so good. I wish I had known that about her. I hope maybe some of her family will start coming to church more now. I know her husband will see to her temple work. She was taking a temple prep class too. I was sad to have moved out of the ward and not being her ministering sister. I also feel like over the years I didn't do more of what I could have for her. She has suffered a lot in her life with cancer and other problems. I do give thanks for the fact that we know where she is and that she is out of pain. Love you Jeannie! Rest in peace sweet lady. 

(Update 2020 ...every time I drive by her house when I am in that neighborhood, I feel so sad again and still can't believe she is gone). 

Utah State Capitol...

After the aquarium we met Ashley and Kristen at the State Capitol. I was excited to be there as I have always wanted to go! It is an amazing building, as are all the old buildings around there. I had to take pictures of the prettiest ones! There were some great statues outside and of course the one inside of Phil Taylor Farnsworth...we HAD to get a picture of that one! It was cool to see the different rooms and how ornate things are. Looking up into the dome was pretty awesome too. There was a fun room with lots of information and things to look at and a lion you can sit on (they frown upon you sitting on the lion statues outside the front doors!). I think it is a room they bring school classes into when they do tours. It was fun to just look around and see everything. We had a wonderful day being with Ashley and Kristen and are so happy they could have a weekend get away! We took them to dinner at a burger and ice cream place not too far from the capitol and then we had to say goodbye as they headed back to the airport. Thanks for coming girls! We love you!!

Ashley for President!

A quick and fun visit!

Ashley and Kristen had a fun weekend getaway planned to Salt Lake. They had a schedule all figured out of fun things to do. They told us what they were doing each day and we could join them if we were able. We all figured out a time to meet up with them and do some fun things. They arrived on Saturday and went to a Jazz game that night. Joel and Kristen met up with them there. Eric and Randa were working the game (they shoot the flames when the ball players are announced) and hoped to get to see them, but they never got hooked up. Sunday the spent in Park City (I don't think they realized it is still winter there...ha ha). We tried to have a family dinner at our new house but it didn't work out. We were bummed about that. Monday we met up with them at the Aquarium. Dave took half a day off and joined us for the rest of the day. Amanda and the kids came and it was great fun. Amanda is pretty pregnant at this point, so for her to load everyone up and come was a big deal. But she did it because we love our Ashley and we wanted to see her! The kids enjoyed the aquarium a lot. I enjoyed watching them enjoy it! They liked the touching pool, touching the sting rays etc. I think we all enjoyed the penguin exhibit the most! Lilly was the only one who wanted to walk across the rope bridge. Maybe the boys did it, but I never saw them. Rachelle (Ashley's best friend from Clovis who lives in Utah) joined us too. It was an enjoyable afternoon! Amanda took the kids home for naps and Dave picked me up and we drove to the state capitol. Stay tuned...

More painting...

Dave started painting his office, I started painting the guest room, paint, paint, paint! This whole house needs painting and little by little we are getting to it. The blinds in the guest room and Dave's office are so horrible...we went and bought new ones (more trips to Home Depot!). Walter loved playing on the boxes. He also loves hanging from the chair rail like he does the bars in the closets. Dave's office will be copper and cream, the guest room is a light green (hard to tell by the picture). We have been in this house a month now. Still a lot of work to do...

Some fun in between painting...

David's class did a wax museum. Walter and I went to check it out. Such a fun idea! They pick a person and dress up like them and make a poster to go along with it. Then when you come to them, they have a speech prepared that they tell you about "themselves." He did a great job! It was so fun to see all the different people. I mean Wax Figures...

Then our favorite Hale Center Theater put on Newsies.  We HAD to go to that! It was very good as we knew it would be. A little different from the movie so that was fun too. They all did a great job and I think all the kids loved it! I love sharing culture with my grands!