More from Sunny SoCal

Today is our last full day of this vacation. We are sad to have to go home tomorrow. It has been a great break, and a great start to our 40th anniversary year. We plan to pull out all of the stops this year, and this trip is just the beginning.



I found too more images from our raid of the gated community that Bubby wanted me to post. Another photo of the lake. I can't believe I took this one with my phone.



It's easy to imagine that I took this one with the phone, because it is pretty bad. Bubby looks good, though.



Yesterday I partook in a little bit of nostalgia. There is a municipal par-3 golf course within walking distance of our accommodations, and I decided to play it. When I was growing up, there was a similar course (Twin Lakes Golf Course)located a few miles from our house, and Uncle Dave and I spent a lot of evenings with friends playing par-3 golf under the lights. Bubby and I didn't play long enough to have the lights be a factor, and the course is nothing compared to the Sand Hollow course I played at the end of December, but it was fun for me. The best part, 18 holes, $25! Many of the high profile courses here cost in excess of $100 plus cart. I can spin for the golf, but I am not playing well enough right now to deserve it. I need some serious summer golf to get my game back in shape. I spent too much time on the building last summer, and not enough time on Cedar Ridge.



Bubby is insisting that I include this photo, so let me put that disclaimer out right now. This is what life is like in the lazy river. Bubby says it is just her style. My concern in posting this is that it will show up somewhere and lead to embarrassment at some future date, but what the heck. I guess if you dish it out, you have to take it once in awhile.

We are going to start early tomorrow for home, hoping to be in Las Vegas for lunch. I have some things to do in Cedar City tomorrow before I leave for SLC on Thursday morning. One of the things is an appointment with the optometrist so I can get some new glasses ordered.

Buboppy

Checking in from Indio

We are having a terrific break here in Indio. We did have a serious snafu to deal with on Friday, but things have settled down since then. We spent the night Thursday in St. George, did some initiatories in the Temple, had some dinner, and planned for an early departure on Friday morning. Somehow, my aging glasses frames got broken right in the center of the nose bridge. It was too late on Thursday, and we planned to leave too early on Friday, to do anything about it, so we left SGU at 5:30 AM, me driving in my sunglasses.

Once we got here and checked in, we started searching out who might be able to help me get my nighttime vision back. The frames are titanium which means they can't be welded without special equipment. No one had a frame that would fit my lenses, and we kept being told a week to 10 days to solve the problem. Since we are staying only that is not going to work. We finally found out that if we drove to Riverside, about 75 miles away, we could get someone to laser-weld the frames, so off we went. The upside was a great salad and the Cheesecake Factory while we waited for the fix-it guy. We got it done, and were installed in our accommodations for the evening at about 9:30 PM. A long day. Bubby was fried.



On Saturday morning we took a long walk and did some exploring. We were early, of course, for most the stores to be open, but I was snooping for adventure. We decided to have a 99 cent chili dog from the Weinersnitzel (don't ask, it's a memory for us) and I noticed one business with a bunch of cars out front. We walked over to investigate, and it turned out to be a fast food place that serves breakfast, 24/7. It is called Goody's and this is what the store front looks like. We decided to try it for dinner that night, and it didn't disappoint. It reminded me of the great fast food breakfasts we discovered at Angelo's in Oceanside.

Sunday we went to the Bermuda Dunes ward for church, and BBQd on our back porch for dinner. It was fun and relaxing.



Nancy had encouraged us to take a look at the housing development immediately south of our location, and we explained that it was a gated community. No access. We kept snooping around, and finally found out way in. There is a huge lake in the center of the development with a bridge that we walked across.



Of course there are some seriously high-end homes as well, which would be a draw for Nancy. We had a nice stroll around and and snooped everywhere. The lake has fish in it. We saw a kid fishing, but didn't see him catch, or sight any cruising fish (probably bass).



This morning we woke a took a long walk. Bubby was impressed with the little puff ball blossoms on these trees.

We are having fun in the hot tubs, the lazy river, and much more. I am playing golf this afternoon, Bubby is walking the course with me. We'll have more to report.

Buboppy

Great Happenings

I realize that we are really slacking off on this blog, but we need to check in, anyway.

Bubby and I are getting ready to head out for the first of many celebrations of this, our 40th wedding anniversary, year. We are headed to Indio, CA, for a few days at the WorldMark located there. Our friends, Ron and Nancy, hooked us up when Trisha informed them that she was looking for somewhere warm to get a break from winter. We will post some photos of our adventures there so our readers can see what fun we have cooked up.

It has been a crazy week, as most are aware, when you know you are leaving town for a few days. Dozens of meetings to do before leaving, packing and preparing at home, Relief Society Enrichment, etc., etc. Bubby also has to squeeze in a haircut and piano lesson.

I did receive a good bit of news at work this week. We have been working with a donor for about five years, initially as the major donation for the recently completed SUU Center for Health and Molecular Sciences. For a variety of reasons, we have not been able to get the donation into the bank, but wonder of wonders, two days ago, a check for $3.2 million arrived from the donor, with almost $500 K to follow. We will be naming the College in honor the donor, and the money will go into an endowment, the interest of which we can use to enrich the educational experience of our students. I called the son of the donor to thank him, in light of the passing of the honoree, for whom the College of Science and Engineering will be named. These are great people who love SUU, and the difference it made in the lives of their husband and father. I will have more details to release later, but the whole thing is quite exciting.

Buboppy

A Journal-Entry Sunday

We needed to get to SLC for big business last weekend. I almost upset the apple cart by having to attend a meeting that went until 2:30 PM on campus.

Feeling properly chastened by Bubb and Babsy, we arrived in Sugarhouse in time for chicken noodle soup and cornbread. Bubby then announced that what she really wanted to do was to see the lights on Temple Square. Let me preface my remarks by stating that we were not the only people in SLC that had the notion to see the lights on this particular Friday night.

We had planned to park at the Little America and take Traks up to Temple Square, however Little America was packed with people. There was a security guard directing traffic in the parking lot, and we watched him wave several cars in front of us through, not allowing them to park. When he got to us, I told him our intention HAD BEEN to park in their garage, and just then a car pulled out of the parking structure, and he waved us in! We came in separate cars, and we thought for sure that Babs and Bean would not be so lucky and would have to park on the street. However, once we reassembled, it turned out that the same thing happened to them.



Of course we had to go through the lobby of the hotel and listen to the carol singers and see the decor. Jake and Kate paused for a photo-op.

Temple Square was pretty covered up. We probably didn't spend as much time there as Bubby wanted to, but it was plenty for me, and twice too much for Chee and Maggie. When we returned to the Little America, we stopped for dessert and hot chocolate in the hotel. Jake got to pick one of the three desserts, and he was agonizing over his choices. He saw something called a "chedda budda brownie", and after some thought, he decided to pull the trigger. It turned out to be a peanut butter, cream cheese brownie that was more like cheese cake than anything else. He was very happy with his choice.



Saturday was filled with birthday celebrations for Babs, shopping and preparing, and lunch out at Michelangelo's Italian Restorante, right in Babsy's neighborhood. The photo above is the reason for our trip north. Jake was sustained and ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday. We are so proud of him, and the fine young man that he has become. He will be passing the sacrament next Sunday for the first time.

We had a nice luncheon following the events (cheese fondue and 24 hour roast beef sandwiches). Jake had good support from his two sets of grandparents, his cousin Jason and family, Daniel and Rosalyn and family, and his ward family. His great Auntie Carolyn even sent her best wishes. During the actual ordination, I repeatedly had the impression that Grandpa Lumpy and Granny were there, proud as punch, taking in the scene. It was a very pleasant and lingering thought.

Following the luncheon, Bubb and I drove home to Cedar City. We love our family! We're so glad we were able to be in attendance at the ordination of our oldest grandson.

Buboppy

Just for Our Jake

Because he was expecting Our Jake to be in attendance, Jon brought two of his adorable Britteny pups, just to be held. They are super cute, as you can see. There are nine in this litter, and the entire litter is sold. If you are looking for a quality pup, check out Jon's website. He'll be glad to talk to you, but you better move fast. These things are in-demand.



Josh with the little girl pup. She is super sweet.



Evelyn was really curious about the pups, but a little reluctant to get too close. After a lot of talking, Bubby was able to get her share Bubby's lap with the puppy. You can tell by her expression she is still pretty uneasy with the entire concept.



This is the little boy pup, and he was fat. We were wondering if they could be away from Mom this long, and Jon just said he brought the fattest two for the occasion.

Buboppy

PS Jake, wish you could have been there. You are the "Puppy-Whisperer".

The Families at Dutch Christmas

This was a T-shirt year for Dutch Christmas, we were all "powered by mousies".

I won't bother to mention names over the internet. As I said previously, if you weren't able to be at this event, you were missed! It was quite a party.

Dutch Christmas, 2012

I want our readers to know that this is a daunting task. I took a ton of photos at this year's celebration, some good, many not so good. Due to the limitations of the Blogger interface, I am not going to bother putting all of the images in chronological order. I'll just post the photos and give a brief synopsis. Let me just say that this was a great Dutch Christmas, and all of our family members that were unable to attend were sorely missed. We love you all!



Daniel and Rosalyn were in charge of organizing the program that accompanied our celebration this year. They entertained us with a rousing rendition of Rudolph, including a verse written by Rosalyn specifically for this event. They will go down in history for sure (Like Columbus!).



Auntie Nell and Uncle Rol, with the able assistance of the chime holders presented "Sinter Klass kapoentje".



I just love this kid, but Diggy spends a lot of time being plain old cranky. What a funny little guy.



Kelsey played a lovely rendition of "Up on the Housetop!"



Jackson (or is it Jaxon?) was part of the resplendent Father Christmas play, dressed as Sint, himself.



Brent's youngest, Tony, stole the show during their handbell performance. If time it was his note, they would patiently wait for him to ring, and then the song would move forward. He is a cute little guy.



Sint is mounted on his beautiful white horse for the trip through town. Note Zwarte Piet in the background.



Eric demonstrated proper wooden shoe loading in preparation for Sint's annual visit.



Kat as Sint's beautiful white horse. Now you know who the carrots are for.



The entire cast of the play, including Uncle Jim as the narrator. A wonderful performance.



A close up of Zwarte Piet (aka Ammon). He was loving the spotlight.



Hannah recited some classic poetry. She is getting so tall, and is a very accomplished fishe-woman. That makes us kindred spirits.



Max also recited. I hardly recognize him without his cast or his hop.



The Sim Fam Six, during the early stages of their presentation. Lots of fun.



Because there was a microphone, there were several impromptu acts, including Joshua.



The best pat of this photo is looking at the expressions on the family's faces. It is obvious that they ALL enjoy Cody, the proclaimed end of the line.



Because no one else who could was around or willing, Rosalyn pitched in during some impromptu carol singing.



Now there is a smile on Diggy's face. I guess all he needs is a mic.



My old pal, Sam. Love this boy.



Not to be outdone, Miss Sarah gets into the act.



Auntie "B" also pitched in, impromptu, and led us in the carols.



Because the annual children's parade was cancelled due to awful weather, we had a lot more gathering time at the church than was originally planned. Flo entertained the kids like a trooper while the rest of the cousins arrived.



Miss Sarah arrived in full costume, and Uncle Rol, couldn't resist the opportunity to have a photo opportunity with her.



Another shot of the games in progress. What a fun time the cousins all had.

I have broken this post up into pieces, so as not to overwhelm.

Buboppy