Mostly about Utah
Derek and Sarah have been back from Texas since June and staying with family. Yesterday it was time for them to move back into their own home. We loaded the truck and trailer with their belongings that were stored with Steven and Adelaide. The photograph of Paul reminds me of a television show I used to watch a few years ago.
Loading the truck and trailer. Steven is the one with the hat.
Loading the piano. Left to right: Derek, Paul, Jake, and Steven.
Last Sunday the family gathered to the Lakeview Ward for the blessing of Cassandra Willoughby. For my readers unfamiliar with the naming and blessing of children I will explain. Under the direction of the presiding authority (in our case today it was Bishop Macrum), brethren who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood may participate in the ordinance of naming and blessing children (see Doctrine & Covenants 20:70). When blessing a baby, brethren gather in a circle and place their hands under the baby. Normally the father follows these steps:
After the meeting we relocated to Steven and Adelaide’s home to eat. Following are a few of the photographs taken by Steven and Adelaide. Click on the images to enlarge.
I wanted to take my grandchildren camping so I made reservations for two campsites. I then invited the parents to go and before the day was out they were ready for the trip. So last weekend we went to Wasatch Mountain State Park. We camped overnight at Little Deer Creek Campground.
Here are a few of the photographs and videos taken by Steven, Jill, and Rick. Click on the images to enlarge. If you cannot see the videos, click here.
We unloaded and pitched the tents. We were only staying overnight but it seemed like we had food for a week. That’s Jill by the picnic table. The campsites were large, had running water, and some had shade. We had quite a view.
I brought plenty of wood for a fire to cook our hot-dogs.
Aurora was ready to eat…
…just about anything.
After we ate Bryson and Aurora put to good use the local materials that were lying around. Aurora used her truck to level the ground.
We had lots of adults to go around when the grandchildren needed to be held. Here is Sarah with Aurora.
Steven with Cassandra. Steven is the one on the right.
Derek with Bryson.
And me.
We retired to our tents while Jake slept out in the open.
In the morning, before breakfast, Derek took Bryson for a walk.
Jake is a handy guy to have around when you are hungry for some ham.
Sarah appears to be enjoying her breakfast.
Any left for me?
Before noon we broke camp and drove a few miles onto federal land to visit Cascade Springs in Uinta National Forest. The trail through Cascade Springs consists primarily of a raised boardwalk which crosses over a series of clear shallow pools. Calcite mineral deposits accumulated and formed terraces over which the water cascades.
Adelaide holds Cassandra, who didn’t really want to see running water just right now.
Jill loves the outdoors…
…while Cassandra has yet to make up her mind.
I do believe we will go camping again. There is no better way to spend the weekend than with family.
The water coming from the springs has made a long journey from limestone caverns deep within the earth. Forced through cracks and fissures, the water emerges here as “travertine”. The deposits have gradually accumulated to make the terraces for the pools at Cascade Springs. Approximately seven and one-half million gallons flow from the springs each day.
Davis High School Flag
This morning was the Independence Day Kaysville Rotary 12th Annual 10K and 5K Run / 5K Walk “Run for Reading” at the Davis High School Stadium. In 2009 there were 873 participants who entered, beating the previous year by over 200 runners. The proceeds of the $15 race registration will go towards the purchase of “I Like Me” reading books for Kaysville area elementary school children.
I was there to take a few photographs. Click on the images to enlarge.
Before the race
Sarah's with her friend Jennifer and her husband
Sarah, Derek, Jill, and Bryson
Bryson was not too thrilled at the early morning start to the race
Start of the 5K segment
Jill at the finish (39:25:00)
Derek, Sarah, and Bryson at the finish
At 3:49 am Jill received this text message from Steven:
Six pounds eleven ounces. Nineteen inches. Born at three twenty eight. We’re all doing well.
We went to see the new baby for a few minutes. Adelaide said that they went to the hospital at 12:30 and because three other women arrived at the same time, she wasn’t in her room until 1:30 am. Two hours later a little sister for Aurora was born.
Congratulations Adelaide and Steven!
Update Her name is Cassandra.
On a recent visit to Steven and Adelaide’s home I spied some pink computer parts in the driveway. Steven was preparing a surprise for Adelaide by spray painting her computer pink. You can see in the photograph to the right that he partially disassembled the monitor to avoid getting paint on the screen. Steven bought a pink keyboard rather than paint the existing one — very wise.
Adelaide wasn’t allowed outside to see the proceedings and had to keep her eyes closed when the completed project was brought in and placed in front of her. I think she liked the result. I am sure Aurora’s baby sister, due this month, will like it too.
I had a different opinion. I said:
If I had to use a pink computer to access the Internet I would give up surfing.
However, if one does have a pink computer one must absolutely have these accessories:
Derek, Bryson, and Sarah
Perhaps the title of my post is somewhat over done but to me it seems like Derek, Sarah, and Bryson have been in exile. However, the part that says return is right on. Yes, Derek, Sarah, and Bryson are returning to Utah. Derek has found work in Salt Lake City and the family will be here by Memorial Day.
When Jill heard the news she was just ecstatic. Jill is not an emotional women (sounds contradictory, I know) but this once she was a whoopin’ and a hollerin’ all over the house. You could not find a happier woman in all of creation.
I am just glad it has finally happened, a lot sooner than I supposed. I admit the last month I have been praying every morning for them to return. Why am I then surprised when prayers are answered? Lack of faith I suppose.
One thing is known for sure. We won’t be letting them get away so easily the next time, if there ever is a next time.
Welcome home!
Photograph by Adelaide
Sarah has Cowboys Stadium tickets
Why is Sarah smiling? Because she has Cowboys Stadium Tour tickets. One each for Derek and herself and her parents. Bryson gets to go in free. Tours of Cowboys Stadium allow fans behind-the-scenes access to several areas including the Cowboys Locker Room, Cheerleaders Locker Room, Playing Field, Private Clubs, Media Interview Room and other areas.
The center-hung video display board is the largest high-definition television screen in the world
Jill and Bryson watch the big screen
Cowboys Stadium is a domed stadium with a retractable roof in Arlington, Texas. It serves as the home of the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys. It replaced the partially-covered Texas Stadium, which opened in 1971, and served as the Cowboys’ home through the 2008 season. It was completed on May 27, 2009. The stadium seats 80,000, making it the 3rd largest stadium in the NFL by seating capacity.
A football in the ceiling
Some words of encouragement
The stadium is the largest domed stadium in the world, has the world’s largest column-free interior and the largest high definition video screen which hangs from 20 yard line to 20 yard line. The facility can also be used for a variety of other activities outside of its main purpose (professional football) such as concerts, religious ceremonies, basketball games, college football and high school football contests, soccer matches, motorcross races and rodeos similar to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Derek, Jill, Bryson, and Sarah, on their way to visit the private suites
Derek, Sarah, and Bryson would be enjoying the game in luxury, if there was one
Cowboys Stadium was designed by the Dallas-based architectural firm HKS. Originally estimated to cost $650 million, the stadium’s current construction cost was $1.3 billion, making it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. To aid Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in paying the construction costs of the new stadium, Arlington voters approved the increase of the city’s sales tax by 0.5 percent, the hotel occupancy tax by 2 percent, and car rental tax by 5 percent. The City of Arlington provided over $325 million (including interest) in bonds as funding, and Jones covered any cost overruns. Also, the NFL provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million, as per their policy for giving teams a certain lump sum of money for stadium financing.
Bryson and Derek by Tony Romo's locker
Bryson at the cheerleaders lockers
A pair of nearly 300 ft-tall arches spans the length of the stadium dome, anchored to the ground at each end. The new stadium also includes more than 3,000 Sony LCD displays throughout the luxury suites, concourses, concession areas and more, offering fans viewing options that extend beyond the action on the field and a center-hung video display board that is the largest high-definition television screen in the world. Glass doors, allowing each end zone to be opened, were designed and constructed by Dallas-based Haley-Greer glass systems.
Bryson makes it to the 10
Jill, Bryson, Sarah, Derek, and Rick are in the end zone
The retractable roof was designed by structural engineering firm Walter P Moore and the systems were implemented by mechanization consultants Uni-Systems. These Kinetic Architecture fundamentals will be employed in order to create quick conversions of the facility to accommodate a variety of events. When the design was officially unveiled on December 12, 2006, it showed that, from inside the stadium, the roof will look very similar to the Texas Stadium roof, with its trademark hole. However, it can be covered by the retractable roof panel to protect against the elements.
Cowboys Stadium
Tom Landry, head coach 1960 to 1988, career record 270 - 178 - 6, Super Bowl Champions 1971 and 1977
Photos by Rickety. Text by Wikipedia.
There are a lot of possibilities for funny captions whenever there is a photograph of Steven. Here Steven is at his parents’ home for Sunday dinner with his wife Adelaide. Submit your captions and I will update this post with the winning lines.
First prize are Sweetheart Cookies, beautiful model not included
As judges, mine and Jill’s captions were excluded from the competiton. Thank you all for the funny captions.
The first place winner, Ken, I do believe is not local so the prize passes to the second place caption. However, Derek, who lives in Texas is not local either so the prize goes to the third place entry. And Darrell is definitely local — he lives in the same ward as I do.
First — “Grandad, I don’t want to frighten you but there’s a Giant Shredded Wheat right behind you.” Ken
Second — “You stole the Thin Mints?!” Derek
Third — “Grandpa, I can’t believe how bad our outfits clash!” Darrell
