Southern California Welcomes Us Once Again

I love it when the whole family travels together. It is always a lesson in patience, communication and leadership skills. I would like to think that out of 20 of us SOMEBODY has the ability to round us all up and point us in the right direction within a reasonable time frame. Instead we do a lot of standing around. We stand around waiting for someone to speak up. Eventually Dave can't take it anymore and tells us all what HE is going to do. Then we all follow after him. We always find out that Dave has terrific ideas.The Angels game was a great "Dave" idea!

Strand Beach was a great idea also. As a bonus the boys got a lesson
from Dave in how to effectively boogie board. Wise words from the
master.


This is how you gracefully beach yourself after a monster wave:

A Gift For Four Generations

My Extraordinary Grandparents

At least once a year our whole Utah family of 20+ travels to
California to visit our grandparents. These trips have always
sparked fond memories of our childhood summers. Grandpa
would remind us of our adventures in the Sierra Mountains,
Grandma would laugh about our exploits at the beach. Even
better were the stories they would tell us of their own amazing
undertakings. Their epic tales of adventure always kept us
enthralled:
Treks through the Amazon, White water rafting the Colorado,
Flying their plane through the Grand Canyon, Landing their
plane at night on an unlit landing field in Mexico, Deep sea
fishing, Skiing the Alps, Hiking to Machu Pichu and so much
more.
However, this year's visit was bitter-sweet for us all. Perhaps
it is because we know that our 86 year old grandma will be
leaving us soon. Perhaps it is that we are nostalgic for the past.
I think we all have a sense of subdued celebration and awe for
a life well lived. My grandparent's quest for adventure has
always been a cornerstone in our memories of them. Now
those stories are coming to a close.
As four generations of women stand side by side I can't
help but feel that each one of us is extraordinary in our
own way because of our grandma and her lust for life.
Thank you Grandma, Thank you Mom, Thank you
Hailey for being a part of my life.

great grandma, grandma, mother, daughter gather at the piano.
What a gift!