CAFE RIO for Lunch

Monday, March 29, 2010 Today Greg and Niki and Alexa and Gavin met Jim and Corey and me at Café Rio on 123rd for lunch. For my part it was quite by accident. I had gone to Southtowne Mall to walk and afterwards drove into the boy’s parking lot since it was nearby. I was sure they would all be gone to lunch since it was after twelve o’clock. As I was driving by their building, Greg and Corey were just walking out the door and waved me down and invited me to eat with them. We had a good visit. Alexa and Gavin, as usual ate very little, and as usual, Gavin was down out of his highchair and running around though today he stayed near our table.

CHRIST IS RISEN

Sunday, March 28, 2010 Today was ours and the Seventh Ward’s choir’s combined Easter program which went off very well. It all started when Judy and I ran into Fred and Chris (Christina) Finlinson in Costco a few months past. They used to be in our ward. We got talking and Judy (or was it Chris?) mentioned that it would be nice if our two wards could get together and do a combined program. The Finlinsons, and many members of their ward where in our ward prior to a realignment. Chris is now the choir director of their ward. Fred said, “I can arrange that. I am now the bishop of our ward.” One thing led to another and soon they were having meetings, picking out music and arranging a cellist and getting our Jim to play the flute. Judy played the harp for one hymn. That almost fell through when she cut her finger and got a blister on the end of another one; but she figured it out, persevered and made it work. We had many practices, sometimes combined and often in our respective wards, Judy leading ours and Chris, hers. Judy put in so much energy today, leading, that I wondered if she was going to collapse from exhaustion. Of the eight numbers, Judy led five and Chris led three. Judy played her harp for one of those. Today we sang in our ward first at nine a.m. then the seventh ward a one. One of the choir members from the other ward came up to Judy after the second performance and said how much he enjoyed singing under leadership. He asked her if she was a professional conductor, and Judy laughed. Nevertheless it made her feel really good. She has been conducting for over thirty years.

YE OL' CUPCAKE PARTY

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010 Niki threw a cupcake decorating party at four this afternoon for Alexa and some of her friends. Niki called and asked if I would “come over” and help take care of her kids while she cleaned house and finished getting ready for the gala. In the last little while Gavin has gotten really clingy and whiny and Niki is finding it difficult if not impossible to get anything done. When I got there Alexa was at pre-school and Niki and Gavin had gotten some yellow and some pink snapdragons. I put some in the two planters on her front porch. I put yellow ones in the center and the pink around the edges. They look nice. With eight of the remaining pink flowers, I put one each in some cute, cup-sized pails Niki had gotten from Shannon, Greg’s sister. They have pink ribbons on the outside and really look cute. There are still a half dozen or so pink snapdragons left over, though two of them are dwarf sized and have no flowers on them. From there, I picked Alexa up from school. She squealed when she saw me and chattered all the way home. I think if she had it her way, I would pick her up every day. She had a little toy doggie in her bag and we talked about what to call it. I suggested “Kitty” but Alex(She prefers Alex to Alexa) thought that was a lame idea. She kept sticking it out in my direction then pulling it back, saying, “No doggie, don’t bite grandpa!” Alexa announce that she has a ten-year old sister named Rock Star. She said that on her next birthday, Rock Star will be seventeen. On the way home we got a Little Casers’ pizza and some breadsticks and dipping sauce. I tried to take care of Gavin while Niki cleaned etc, but he screamed and screamed and finally Niki put him in her lap and sat on the couch and tried to get him to go to sleep. I left at that point so who knows how that turned out.

EPHESES, (ISMIR) TURKEY

MORE PICTURES from OUR CRUISE

EGYPT PICTURES

A CUP of COFFEE PLEASE!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010 Tonight Corey called and said he had talked to Judy and that we were going to Won Won Wok to eat. I got there first and stood outside the door until they drove up. Bailey had her window rolled down and was waving and yelling. As they were pulling in, Jayden the consummate comedian saw the coffee shop sign next door to Won Won Wok and said “Let’s see, sushi or coffee. Hmm I’m tired. I think I need a cup of coffee!” and laughed. When they got out of the car he started walking to the coffee shop to get his “cup of coffee.” Bailey, wanting to get in on the act; knowing Jayden was joking, grabbed the back of his shirt yelling “No don’t go in the coffee shop.” while he of course insisted on going in. It was really quite the comedy act, watching the two of them. Corey and Stacey just stood there, watching, shaking their heads in bewilderment. Jayden wolfed down two California Rolls in record time but when asked if he wanted more he admitted he was stuffed. I mentioned that I haven’t heard anything recently about Jayden and girls. He and Stacey (I think it was) said in unison, “Isabelle is crazy. Nicole is crazy. And Issie is just weird!” I guess that answers that.