Programs and Pioneers

These past few weeks we have attended some delightful programs.  First we met Pam, Roger, Stacy, Missy, Ellie, Mindy, Jeff, Josh, Jake (Sydney's boyfriend) and other family and friends of Stacy and Tom - and were treated to the Young Ambassador's program "Heartsongs of Love".  Sydney Young (a freshman at BYU) is a member of the Young Ambassadors and she was the featured soloist in two of the program's numbers.  The group of just 20 elect performers sings and dances with a fast paced show that involves a live band, special staging, lighting and lots of props and many costume changes.  Sydney has such a beautiful smile, that she truly lights up the stage when she performs!  She sings and dances like a seasoned performer.  We enjoyed the show and the opportunity to share this special evening with Pam and Roger's family.  They can be very proud of Sydney!

Many of the group with Sydney after the show

Hal and I with Sydney - the star!

The second and third program we attended was "It All Started With A Mouse" - a dance show featuring music from Disney movies.  With 4 grandaughters performing, we couldn't miss this program and we actually attended two of the performances!

Here is Violet as one of the baby mice dancing in the "Working Song" from Snow White.  She loved being in the show and did a great job with her dance!

Dorothy danced in two numbers: "Step in Time" from Mary Poppins and "Little Mermaid" from the Disney production of that show.  I was so proud of Dorothy as she danced the difficult steps of her dances and did her parts perfectly! She shows great promise as a dancer!

Sareya also danced in "The Little Mermaid" and she took the part of 

"little Belle" in the Princesses' dance.

Here, Sareya is dancing a solo part to the theme from Beauty and the Beast. She was graceful and confident as she performed!

"Little Belle" and "Belle" dance a duet.  This was such a lovely way to feature young dancers with some of the more advanced students. We were so proud of Sareya as she danced this special part of the show.

"Belle" and "Little Belle" take a bow.

Posing with some of the stars after the show

Aleeya (like Violet) danced as a baby mouse in the "Working Song" from Snow White.  She did a great job dancing her part with a big, happy smile!

The fourth program was Kyra's choir concert with music from many countries of the world.

Kyra is a member of  the Salem Junior High Concert Choir and serves as section leader for the sopranos.

Kyra looks so pretty in her blue formal.  Her choir performed a cute song from Africa, an American ballad and most fun for me - a Russian folk song.  I am proud of Kyra and her musical abilities!

Lunch and the Pioneer Museum
Grandma, Daughter's and Grandaughter's Outing

We began with a delicious lunch at Sizzler.

The girls always love it when they can choose just what they like from the salad, food and ice cream bar.

After lunch, we headed for the Pioneer Museum in Springville.  This museum is sponsered by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and included lots of photos, artifacts and interesting items from the early settlers of Springville and Mapleton.

 Here are Violet, Kyra, Aleeya, Sareya and Dorothy in front of the museum.

 Allison, Lillian and Ella inside the museum

 Kelly, Alleya, Violet, Tricia, Kyra and Dorothy

The DUP volunteers were so nice to us as we looked at the museum and then they called one of the board members to come over to direct the activities for kids ( these are available in the basement of the museum and usually you must make an appointment to participate - but they made an exception for us!).  First, the girls dressed in pioneer clothes and had a chance to pull or ride in a handcart.

Then the sweet volunteer taught the girls to make pioneer dolls and baskets from scraps of material and yarn. She also told them pioneer stories as they worked on their crafts.

The dolls were so cute!  Violet loves her pink doll!

Here, Dorothy is putting her doll together.

 It took lots of weaving and tying to make the little baskets.

 The girls were so pleased with what they created.

Working hard on their crafts - the moms helped the younger "pioneers".

 Sareya and Lillian worked carefully on their projects.

 Kelly helped Aleeya and Allison helped Ella learn to weave their baskets.  Grandma and Tricia helped Violet with hers.

 Here are Aleeya, Kyra, Lillian and Ella posing for a picture with one of the statues (Mark Twain) in front of the Museum.  They are holding their dolls and baskets.  It was a fun day to be with my daughters and grandaughters and make some happy memories!

Jessica, Gigi and Hailey - we all wished that you could have joined us!!  

Narnia and Visit to Saint George

Narnia

While Hal and Evan were on their trip to Dubai and Tanzania (that will be a future post) I attended the play  Narnia  featuring : Alex and Lillian.  The play was well staged, rehearsed and presented.  I was really impressed with the level of excellence of the Spanish Fork Youththeatre.  

Alex played the part of a wolf and he did a great job!  He really seemed to enjoy portraying his character.

 Alex is the wolf on the left.

 He especially loved the sword fighting scenes!

 Lillian took the part of a leopard that was frozen into a statue by the White Witch.  Lillian has her gloved hand to her face in the photo above.

 Lillian did an awesome job of staying in character throughout the play.

 This photo shows the burial scene of Aslan with leopard Lillian looking on.

Sam sat with a friend during the play and watched intently.

 Alex - our "wolf star" after the play

 Alex and Sam showing their power

 Our "leopard/statue star" Lillian (with Alex photo bombing the picture)

Three happy kids!

Visit to Saint George with a day trip to Las Vegas

In Hal's absence, I also took a trip to St. George to visit Pam and Roger and Kay and Ken.

 Pam always prepares delicious meals, and dinner was ready when I arrived!  It was tasty Shepard's pie with salad and pretzel rolls.  We had Nelson's Frozen Custard for desert - I love that yummy treat.  Pam and Roger are the perfect hosts and made me feel so welcome.

The next morning, we went to Las Vegas for shopping and lunch.

After a stop at the Fashion Show Mall on the strip, we were ready to eat!

 We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Mon Ami Gabi (the French bistro at the Paris).  I had the ahi tuna salad nicoise, Pam had the duck breast sandwich and Roger also had a delicious salad.  The food was great!

When we arrived at the restaurant, I told our server that it was Pam's birthday lunch (her birthday was February 14th and she had already celebrated it there a week before- but not with me - so it was legitimate) of course they brought her a cream puff with ice cream and chocolate sauce for dessert and she was nice enough to share it with us. 

 Roger was always the photographer and so we missed having him in the pictures. 

After lunch there was more shopping at the outlet malls.  It was starting to be dark when we left for the trip back. Roger knows all the best routes and roads to navigate Las Vegas and he quickly took us wherever we wanted to go.  On the way home, we stopped for a hamburger at In and Out.  It was a wonderful day together.  That night, Pam and I stayed up until 3:30 AM talking and talking - just so you will know - we solved many of the world's problems.  We had a lot to catch up on after being apart for 1 1/2 years. 

The next day, Kay came over - this was the first time I had seen her since we returned home from our mission! We went to lunch at Players Sports Grill for their famous wedge salad.  I can't come to Saint George without having that delicious treat!  This was Kay's first time trying one and now she is a "true believer" and wants Ken to try one too!

After lunch, we went back to Pam and Roger's home and spent time visiting and working on our genealogy.  I always love spending time with my sisters - we never seem to run out of things to talk about.  

 That evening, we met Ken for dinner at Rib and Chop. We enjoyed a delicious meal and spent a pleasant evening together. 

The next day was Sunday and I had the opportunity to attend Pam and Roger's branch.  The Sacrament Meeting speakers, Sunday School and Relief Society teachers were all exceptional.  They have a uniquely talented branch with many seasoned and spiritually mature members.  Everyone I met told me how much they loved Pam and Roger and what wonderful people they were.  

On Monday, we met Kay at Sakura for lunch.  Roger dropped in to photograph the event.  Our server thought the paparazzi had arrived!  Last time we ate lunch there together (2 years ago) Roger did the same thing!

After lunch we had time for some "sister shopping" at some of the cute shops in the Ancestor Square area of Saint George.

That evening, we all gathered at Pam and Roger's for an awesome dinner of barbequed ribs, German potatoes with cream, carrots with dill, rolls and fresh berries on honey almond cake.  It truly was the best meal I had on my trip!  Roger was once again the photographer, so he is not in the picture - we need to do something about that!

 The next day we met Kay at Dixie State University for the Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show.  It was a beautiful display of artwork with many varied themes and use of art media.  It was fun to share this experience together and then after we had viewed all the entries, to choose our favorite for the "People's Choice" award.

After the art show, we had lunch together at The Habit Burger Grill and then discovered Charming Charlies - a really fun costume jewelry and accessories shop.  Kay was so cute when we entered the store, she said: "I think this is what the Celestial Kingdom will be like or... maybe it will be like this in the kingdom I go to."  Kay truly loves pretty jewelry and this store has an overwhelming inventory of beautifully displayed items.  We had a wonderful time together!

Later that afternoon, I went to Institute Class with Pam and Roger.  The skillful teacher taught us about Mark and his New Testament gospel.  It was an educational and inspirational lesson.
For our evening meal, Pam and Roger made waffles with strawberries and brown sugar, peppered bacon for dinner.  It was yummy!
On Wednesday after lunch, I said my goodbyes and drove home.  It was a wonderful visit with lots of time to catch up with my sister's lives and enjoy their company.  I feel so blessed to have three sisters and one brother - all of whom I dearly love along with their spouses, who are wonderful people too!  I am so glad that families are forever!