Berry Days of Summer

Oh -- I just couldn't wait for July's special cookie flavor from Ruby Snap. Raspberries. I love berries in summer, and berries are healthy for you! Well, I'd like to introduce you to "Memphis". Worth all the waiting, and dreaming, and anticipating - it is....well....like nearly all her other creations, indescribable! A vanilla dough with hints of lucious raspberries...
Did I mention I LOVE berries, particularly fresh berries? I eat a lot of berries (mostly frozen) but they just taste so much better in the dead of summer (or the beginning, or the end), or maybe that is just how I feel! Anyway, while I was waiting in line to be introduced to "Memphis", I decided I had to have another one of my favorite cookies for the road - and it hit me that it also has berries, well cherries. Hello "Judy", for those who don't know about this cookie, it is an almond dough with dark cherries and dark chocolate chips, drizzled with chocolate. I like it warm, in the dead of winter.

If you can't make it to Ruby Snap for some of her lucious, memory making cookies (and trust me, you shouldn't go very often!) berry or not, my grandkids introduced me to another summer taste treat from Nabisco -
These "Berry Burst Ice-cream" Oreo's are really good! Almost a bit "too" good. I was surprised. Not one to purchase store bought cookies of any kind - I would buy these again. I LOVE berries of any kind in the dead of summer (or beginning, or end....)

Ezra turns *4*

Our incredibly handsome grandson Ezra turns 4 today!

As the first boy born into our little family - we were really excited, and he's been a thrill to watch grow. He is all boy - is the BIGGEST tease (!!!!), LOVES watching DVD's, eating candy and cheetos, playing the Wii and his DS, going to Primary and snuggling! Like all the grandkids, we think he's pretty darn special!

Here is the monkey I made for him -

Happy Birthday little buddy!

An affair of the heart ----

No, no big confessions here -but did I get you interested? I know some of you will recognize that title from a song of one of my favorites --

Rick Springfield

Oh, yes! Reliving the 80's again. Rick came to the Peppermill Concert Hall and I had to go see him. Kathy and I used to go see him in concert so when I saw the advertisement he was appearing at the Peppermill Concert Hall in Wendover, I had to go! I have my favorite tunes from Rick on my playlist and hear him constantly, but nothing beats up close and personal! Here's another picture -I'm putting a shameless plug in for the Peppermill Concert Hall, if you haven't been there and someone is coming that you want to see, GO. The concert hall only holds about 1,000 people so every seat is a pretty good one, the hall is very nice, the ticket prices are reasonable and we haven't been disappointed with a show we've been to yet (we've been to several). During the song "Human Touch" Rick came down into the audience and we got extra close (hey, it's Curt's phone taking the pictures, so they aren't the best, but the best we had at the time).

It was SO lively - reminded me of yester-year FOR.SURE. Old screaming women (not me of course) all over the place! It was such a kick! When I told Brandon who we were going to see he said "do you mean Bruce Springsteen?" I told him "NO!" He didn't know who I was talking about. Poor guy must have blocked Rick Springfield out of his memory, for some reason. It couldn't be because his music blasted across our stereo constantly and his movie "Hard to Hold" was viewed by all of us on a regular basis could it?

Oh well, here's one last picture - for old times sake, enough to last me until the next time I hear that Rick Springfield is coming to town!

Kathy couldn't go with me to the concert so Curt was a good sport and came along (THANKS Honey!). He liked it, said it one of the most entertaining events he's been too - oh and the music wasn't too bad either!

100 Year Celebration

We were invited (along with millions of people- including you!) to celebrate the 100 Years of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
It is a most beautiful building, a stunning landmark for Salt Lake City (and now the Church)

Built in 1911, this building started out as the Hotel Utah. A wonderful resort for people of all over to come and celebrate any occasion. In fact, every President of the United States from 1911 until it's closing in 1987 has stayed at the Hotel Utah. One of the first was President Taft.

Here's a picture of Pres. Kennedy at the Hotel Utah (I LOVE the tile floor). Since my sister Kathy started managing the Garden Restaurant, we frequent this place quite a bit so we had to be part of this special 100 year celebration -

Chef Pedro of the Roof is a master of the culinay arts and tonight was NO exception (Chef Scott from the Garden is also fantastic)

In honor of the celebration, the Hotel lobby had displays and memorabila from 1911, complete with the Hosts, and Hostess' all gussied up in time period attire

Kathy has shared many special things with us about her love of this building. I hope I don't get anyone in trouble...but I have to say thanks to her we have climbed around in places, and seen parts of the building very few ever get to see! I remember one night she showed us accounting books she had found of the old Hotel Utah and signed by President Joseph F. Smith - in his very own hand writing! Priceless! If you haven't eaten dinner on the 10th floor in the dead of summer when the atrium is open to the beautiful star filled night - or caught the views of the Temple or Temple Square (ANYTIME) but particularily at Christmas time, or visited the beautiful, special Chapel or the Legacy Theater - well you simply haven't been part of Salt Lake City! If you came and celebrated on this special night - not only did you take away more memories, you also received a special gold coin -

I know it looks silver - but my camera isn't the best, trust me, it's gold, and it's beautiful! As we were leaving that night, we also caught a glimps of the program and festivities, including Pres. Monson cutting the ribbon - the lobby was PACKED (can you see the siloettes of the people up on the balconies too?)

It was a wonderful, 100 year celebration. Congratuations to the Beautiful Joseph Smith Memorial Building!

A busy, busy weekend

We took a little trip to Denver over the Memorial holiday weekend because the Jr's were moving into a new house and we wanted to help out. So, while they were busy hauling boxes, moving heavy furniture, etc. Curt and I took the kiddies to do a few activities of our own

Our first day we headed out to the Zoo, it was such a grand idea we soon discovered EVERYONE else in Denver had the same grand idea! We changed our Plan A to Plan B and hit the Science Center instead. Once inside Berlynn and Ezra manned the Control Center and we blasted off into space - Once on the moon, Berlynn tried her hand at moving the moon rocks (including commentary)
So did astronaut Ezra
back on earth - we headed into the pre-historic era and excavated for dinosaurs

The kids were even captured by Pirates

but after paying a heafty "ransom" to get these two back we were on to other activities...
like watching DVD's in bed - Mainly this one (over and over) While munching on popcorn - Other activities consisted of swimming, shopping, playing at the Hotel and entertaining ourselves how ever we could!

On Memorial Day we headed over to the Downtown Aquarium Can you see the sea otter?
Get a load of this 400 LB Grouper, it was HUGE! They said this species of Grouper can get up to 1,000 LBs! Oh my goodness -
The Denver Aquarium has Mermaids, yep - 3 of them


Look who popped up in the shark tank!
Berlynn loves to show everyone the "fish with one eye!"
See...
where's Nemo????
Can you tell what Ez is standing on?
This fella -
There were beautiful jelly fish -
and lots of moon jelly fish
Oh, the Mermaids made an appearance on land -
Our very handsome Nixon -
Berlynn even got a Mermaid painted on her cheek!
Ez loved chasing the big bubbles from the bubble machine
while Berlynn made friends with this creature
All while their amazing parents (tired as they were from moving), ran the Boulder Boulder 10K (can you spot them?) Thanks for the fun weekend, and have fun in your new home!