Summer Time This and That:

 One of the best ways to spend a lazy summer evening is with family at a Luau and dance recital.  Our youngest granddaughter, Racquel, above, has been taking hula lessons for the past few months and last night was her first dance recital.  The lady who teaches the group is from Hawaii and teaches all forms of Polynesian dances, right down to the flaming batons,  We joined the family early and got front row seats.

Summer in Utah:

The summer is in full swing in Utah.  While June was rather mild for a Utah summer, July has seen most days in the high 90's or 100.  Hot yes, but given great summer reasons to get out and do, the heat is more something to endure than avoid.  July 4th parades abound in every city small and large across the states.  The Centerville parade is one we have visited on and off throughout the last two or so decades we have lived here.   There are the clowns, school bands, horses (not so many this year though), along with a number of "advertisement" floats and decorated cars for local merchants.  I mean Wallmart drove a big semi down the street!! Our grandson, Ethan, was in the parade this year as he participated with his cub scout troop.  A few boys in the troop came first  carrying the flag.  Ethan followed with a banner naming fallen solders from the local area.  He is on the right.

This And That Again:

The Months of March and April are big birthday months around our house.  March has Roger's, Evan's and Ethan's while April has Racquel's, Ingrid's, Daniel's and Ana's.  The grandkids are starting to enjoy (prefer) going with us to buy their birthday presents as they get exactly what they want.  Take little Pokie above.  She had visited the store earlier that day with her Mom and decided exactly what she would ask us for before we arrived to drive her to Target.  She knew the isle and the number that were left on the shelf. Her pick was a "Frozen" plastic sleigh suitcase filled with a few pieces of dress up items. It is so fun to watch their excitement and anticipation as we look for their presents together.  The innocence of childhood is wonderful to be part of.  

Getting Ready!

 Yesterday was my birthday and while I was out Allison, Rob and girls dropped off some cards and my birthday present: a 12 pack of diet coke (what else could it be).  The card above is from Livi and Allison challenged me to figure out what it meant.  I assumed a birthday candle - wrong.  Livi told her mom it was a quilting pin because whenever she comes over to Grandma's house, that is what she finds on the floor. Totally unkind and untrue (?)

Tis The Season:

 The Christmas Season is here and with just a week to go, I am finally getting into the spirit of things.  Last night, following Ana's Christmas recital program we drove to the local park to take pictures.   I wanted to roll down the window, but Roger insisted that I actually do the work of getting out of the car and into the cold. 

Kim's Got Me Beat, But.....

 OK, I must admit that I haven't seen any outdoor Christmas displays going up around town, but by the looks of Target (above), Home Depot and JoAnn's, (below) Christmas is right around the corner - like next week!

Another This and That Post:

 As you all know by now, we live in the foothills north of SL overlooking  Antelope Island and the Great Lake.  While I have gotten used to the amazing sunsets we get here (below), one morning I got up to see the moonset, above.  It was a full moon, huge and so amazing hanging over the island that I had to run and get my Coolpix from my purse.  I was able to get a few shots before it vanished behind the island. 

T'is The Season:

 Racquel (aka: Pokie), age four and our youngest grandchild has started playing soccer this year,  Grace told us that she had missed the deadline for getting all three kids on teams, so in her desperation she promised, via phone message, that she would coach.  Well be careful what you ask "beg" for.  Grace is now the coach for Ingrid and Ethan's team which plays on Tuesday night and Racquel is on the mismatched jersey team of pickup players.   It doesn't matter how, why, or if the jerseys don't quite match, Racquel had a ball and showed that she has learned a lot from her older siblings. 

A Perfectly Lazy Summer:

 While Roger and I have planned a number of great vacations (holidays for you Brits) and short road trips this summer , all of the "in between" time is spent around family, cabin and, yes, quilting.

Our home is a great destination spot for our five grandchildren and we often meet them at the park across the street from us, in the back yard for trampoline time or for the most part on the front drive way with the grandkids turning it into a canvas for their chalk and water art.  We adults pull up our lawn chairs, grab our beverage of choice, gossip, solve the world's problems and simply enjoy an amazing Utah evening.

What I Did on Memorial Day:

 What happens when you combine five, age eight and under, grandchildren with an adult sized croquet set and minimal instructions?  Oh, yes, and add a playing field that practically looks over the edge.  You get a great evening of entertainment!

April Showers:

April is always unpredictable in Utah.  Last year it was hot, hot, hot by the end of April.  This year we have had ups and downs - rain, snow, winds, you name it.  We (Roger) have done some yardwork and gone on a few hikes, but basically it's been stay in the house or do family things. 

Taking Care of The Chickens

Daniel, Grace and the grandkids (Ethan, Ingrid and Poky) have just returned from a fantastic vacation and family reunion in the Philippines.  Grace had not been back for a number of years and so obviously this was the grandkids first exposure to where their mother was born and raised for the first eight years of her life.  They loved seeing new things and playing with new found cousins.  While they were gone, Roger was asked to tend to the "farm" needs back home.

A Spring Trip to Antelope Island

This week is spring break for the school districts around Utah so while Daniel and Grace have their kids in the Philippines for a family reunion, we thought a day out with Ana and Livi was in order.  The best time to visit Antelope Island, situated in the Great Salt Lake, is either in the spring, before the bugs hatch or in the fall when they have disappeared.   The grandkids hadn't been there before so we gathered the normal picnic fare, hiking shoes and cameras and off we went.

Chinese New Year and Quilts

Monday night we were invited to a Chinese New Year celebration sponsored by the  Kindergarten through third grades at Jenny P. Steward Elementary.  Ethan, who is in second grade and Ingrid in Kindergarten are participating in the Mandarin immersion program which has them studying 2/3 of the day in Mandarin and 1/3 in English.  They are thriving and all the classes put on a wonderful cultural exchange program including the first and second grade students (Ethan) showing how a dragon dance is done with enthusiasm. 

School Program

I assume you thought when we started this blog it would be mostly about travel and sights from our new homes and locations, maybe even about interests such as quilting. But I am a grandma and grandmas have the right to be proud and show off their grandchildren. I have done it in the past, and I'm sure you'll see more of it in the future. Well, the month of February is President's month in the U.S. and Ana's (my daughter Allison's daughter) class along with the entire first grade put on a program on patriotism this afternoon. Ana is the one in the middle with pigtails.