A Very Merry and Joyous Christmas

All year I've been telling my family that all I want for Christmas this year is for all the family to be together for Christmas. Lisa and Cameron said they were coming for sure. Andrew would be finishing up his schooling in Pittsburgh and he and Lindsay and Riley would be moving to Albuquerque via Utah. Jessica was all for coming home. The only one that we weren't sure of was Mindy and Jeran. Jeran is trying to finish up his Doctorate degree and is at a critical point. (Something about testing tumors in mice or rats.) 

Andrew and Lindsay made a speedy cross country drive, not an easy feat with a one year old, in order to get home before the big snow storm. They arrived on the 15th. It was so fun to have them here for a whole week before Christmas, especially since they will be leaving on the 27th. Riley has the cutest smile that lights up his whole face when he smiles and he makes everyone else smile. He is the happiest  and easiest going little guy and I have loved watching and playing with him.

Lisa and Cameron and the boys are living in Indiana. They flew in on the 18th. That livened up the house considerably and ramped up the excitement of Christmas even higher. Two-and-a-half year old Benjamin is beginning to get the idea of Santa so that was fun. Five-month-old Riley is such a happy and cuddly guy and everyone has enjoyed holding him. Cameron was a great help in helping get out old washer and dryer moved out and the new ones in place and getting the flat tire on Alyna's car repaired. It was fun to have Lisa's help with all the wrapping and cooking. 

Jessica flew in from Atlanta on the 22nd. She got to meet baby Caleb and they really took a liking to each other. 

On Monday, Christmas eve day, Dennis went to finish up some of his errands and I took all the kids and we went to finish up our shopping. While we were out, Mindy called to see what we were doing. I felt so sad for her, not being able to be here with the family this Christmas. When we arrived home we found a great surprise! Mindy and Jeran were waiting for us. I screamed and cried and laughed and just hugged them. What a great Christmas!

So, even though we've had to share some of the kids with the in-laws, it's been a most wonderful Christmas. 

Our Latest Trip: Part 2: Peru

We flew to Lima and then caught another flight to Cusco, arriving before 8 AM.

Our tour guide, Rigaberto Rojas,  met us and took us to our hotel. We were able to get showered and changed before Beto came back and picked us up to go to church. It was a large ward that we attended and it was nice to be able to attend church with them. I had the lesson materials on my Ipad and was able to follow along. We had a little time afterward to eat lunch and get changed before Beto picked us up again and we toured a few of the nearby archeology sights.

A woman carrying food home for her guinea  pigs.

Cusco

Our guide, Rigeberto, explaining the amazing water collection and irrigation system of the Incas.

These ladies showed us how Alpaca fiber is cleaned, dyed and spun to make
 beautiful sweaters, hats,  and blankets.

The largest of the circles at Moray

"The site contains unusual Inca ruins, mostly consisting of several enormous terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is about 30 m (98 ft) deep. The purpose of these depressions is uncertain, but their depth and orientation with respect to wind and sun creates a temperature difference of as much as 15 °C (27 °F) between the top and bottom. This large temperature difference was possibly used by the Inca to study the effects of different climatic conditions on crops. In other words, Moray was perhaps an Inca agricultural experiment station. As with many other Inca sites, it also has a sophisticated irrigation system."

Machu Picchu: Often referred to as the "City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World.

The Incas started building the "estate" around 1400, but abandoned it as an official site for the Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. 

Machu Pichu was every bit as spectacular and impressive as I had hoped. The skill and manpower that went into building such an amazing city was awe inspiring.

Our Latest Trip: Part 1: Chile

Dennis had a meeting to attend in the resort town of Vina del Mar, Chile. He thought I might enjoy going along and he also decided that it would be a good time to take a little vacation and visit Machu Picchu in Peru.

We flew to Atlanta and then caught a red-eye flight to Santiago. We had a little challenge at customs, which included confiscated dried apples and the threat of having to pay a $240 fine for lying on the customs form,  but were eventually able to leave the airport. We arrived at the our hotel and they were able to get our room ready. We regrouped and got ready to head out. Dennis went into work at the dealers in Santiago and I help in search of the Hop-on Hop-off city tour bus. I spent the day exploring different parts of the city and going to the fine arts museum. There are a lot of interesting new modern building as well as a lot of older, classical ones.

That evening, Dennis and I took the subway into the Providence district and walked a half an hour till we found the temple. Then we went and found an Indian restaurant for a yummy dinner. The weather was pleasant and it was a nice evening.

At 6 the next morning, we were picked up and we made the hour and a half drive to Vina del Mar. We got to the conference center which was the really nice casino in town. We got the display set up and I sat through a couple of interesting lectures on Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonology. I learned a lot but after three hours, I was ready to do something else. I headed out to explore some of the city. I walked along the water front for awhile then cut inland and found a shopping center. The mall I had was shopping heaven, compared to what we have in Cache Valley. There were a lot of the higher end stores that you would find in larger cities of the US or Europe. I had a lot of fun looking but as my suitcase was already pretty full and I couldn't find anything that I didn't love or have something similar to it at home, I just enjoyed being in retail heaven.

The mornings always started out foggy and chilly. Everyone heading to work and school
are wearing coats, hats and boots.

By mid afternoon, the fog burned off and people were able to go out and enjoy the  beach. 

I planned on going through the Rose Palace. It was all locked up but right next door
I found this familiar looking building.

There were a lot of things to see and I did 4 hours of walking everyday. In the late afternoon, I would head back to the hotel to rest for a bit and then go out to the beach and read until Dennis was finished around 6:30. We would go in and get ready to go out to dinner.

This was my view from my reading bench.

A carriage ride tour of the city

We finished up in Vina and had a few hours back in Santiago to grab a bite to eat before heading to the airport. One of the amazing things I noticed in South America is that flights come and go all night, unlike our SLC airport which is pretty quiet from midnight to 5 AM.

Aaah, Autumn

(I wrote this a week or so ago but never got it finished so here we go)

 This week, I was able to get up in the mountains a couple of times.

I took our friends, Samantha and Tyson up Blacksmith Fork Canyon to look for good camping area for them that weekend. It's been years since I've been all the way up to Hardware Ranch so it was nice to see it again. Maybe we'll have to get up there this winter to do the sleigh ride and see the elk.

The next morning, I headed over to Bear Lake to meet Coy Mickelson. As I drove through Logan Canyon, the angle of the sun on the leaves in all their different light colors was breathtaking. I kept stopping to take pictures. 

I met Coy at her cabin. We spent the day 4 wheeling up Fish Haven canyon and down St. Charles canyon. It was such a perfect day. The temperature was cool in the morning but it warmed up nicely during the day. It was so beautiful!

These are some of my favorite shots of the day.

We stopped for a picnic lunch at the top of the canyon and then drove into the backside of white pine.

When we got out of the mountains, we drove to north beach and spent some time being wild and crazy as we zipped up and down the beach on the 4 wheeler. We took off our shoes and socks, and rolled up our pants and walked along the water edge. It felt so good, the cool water, the soft sand, the warm sun. The day was perfect. It was all the things I think of that represent summer, time in the mountains and playing in the water. I'm so glad I was able to get it in before the summer was really over.

At home, I got out the season decorations. Sam and I had a fun afternoon putting together some floral decorations. Sam did the one for the front porch while I did the coffee table one.

I'm so glad to live in a beautiful area and enjoy all the good things about changing seasons;

 the sights, smells, colors, feel and tastes.

Caleb James Pace

Lisa, Cameron and Ben welcomed a new baby boy to their household. 

He was born Thursday, July 19th. 

I was able to spend five days with Lisa, Cameron and Ben before the baby was born. 

We went to parks, the Wunderlab (a science discovery kids museum), and to some new and different place to eat. It was lots of fun to watch Ben in action.

Caleb was born at 4 PM. He weighed in at 9 pounds 3 ounces and was 21 inches long. He was the same length as Ben but weighed two ounces less.

Cameron, Ben and Grandma and Grandpa Pace enjoy meeting baby Caleb

We are so grateful to have a perfect, healthy baby join our family.

We now are the proud grandparents of 3 little boys!

Albuquerque

Last month, Dennis and I were able to fly down and visit Andrew and Lindsay. They lived in Albuquerque last summer but we weren't able to get down to see them so we really wanted to go down this summer and visit.

It was a lot of fun. We enjoyed getting to know Riley better and had fun watching all the new tricks he could do - like sitting up by himself and putting things in his mouth.

We went to Old Town and enjoyed seeing some of the historical and touristy area of Albequerque. 

                                                  We went to a session in the LDS temple.

 We took a tram ride up to the top of Sandia Peak and watched the sun set.

 

It was wonderful to get to see where Andrew, Lindsay and Riley are living and where Andrew works. It was nice to meet some of their friends and ward members. 

I guess it will be an okay place for them to live once they finish school.

Best of all, it's only an hours flight or a days drive to get there. 

Guy's Wedding

Last weekend, I got to fly to Reno to attend the wedding of the son of my good friend, Lori.  25 years ago, we lived in Scotts Valley California and had some great neighbors, Kirk and Lori Yates and their children, Angela and Guy. We had so much fun together and we became affectionately know as aunts and uncle to each others children.  When we moved to Utah, we each made the trip to see each other a couple of times but then our kids grew up and got involved in activities and our visits petered out. We stayed in touch with Christmas cards but I hadn't seen the kids in years. Last summer, Dennis and I flew out to Reno and were able to see Angela but Guy was working in Idaho so this summer was the first time I have seen Guy in about 15 years.

Guy has really grown. Me with Lori and Dave and granddaughter Lillian.

Lori, Guy, Summer, and Dave

Angela with her family -
Bob, Kylee, Jasmine, and Lillian

The nieces were darling flower girls

Guy and Summer as they exchange vows

The cakes were made by Guy's cousin, Jenna.

It was a beautiful wedding and a nice weekend. It was fun to be able to spend time visiting with all the extended family members and enjoy this happy event with them.