On the Road Again.........

We don't need much of an excuse to go visit "our Kids" in Rocklin so when Christopher Ditty sent us an invite to his wedding we were on our way :o).


We took a detour just before Wendover to visit one of those places where we always say, "one of these days....." this was the day.


BIG DEAL!!!! but at least we went.

When you are the only car on the road it is a good bet you are in Nevada...and we were. A beautiful day!!!!!


Isn't it great to see the Reno Temple in the middle of the mountains.


A brother was with his sister.


And a sister got to be with her brother


And we all got to be with another brother's family

Here is Lilian with her daughter Erin and Brooke's two daughters



After spending the weekend with Alan and his family we "got" to take Tara to school in San Francisco, an unexpected bonus was to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge.


Then on to Pacific Grove.


The ocean was "wild" and we loved every minute.




We watched this Giant Egret (so we were told) hunt for Lizards for his lunch. As you can see he was successful. Poor Lizard.


Goodnight Sun, say hello to Elder Nielsen in Cambodia for us.....


Then time to go home...California was green in the Spring rains


2000 miles...we were tired....thinking twice about another "road trip" but after a few nights sleeping in my own bed aaahhh!!! we'll see...

Maybe Oregon?

Adventures await.......
"can't wait to get on that road again...."

The Titanic

This month is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.
It was built in Belfast and my Grandfather Henry (Harry) Mullen who was a blacksmith helped build it. This is my Grandfather with his daughter Agnes.



He was my mother's father and my mother (Lilian Mullen) watched the ship launched. She was only 6 years old but she was there. :o)



Apparently the shipyard workers on hearing of the sinking said, "she was alright when she left here".

In 1962 when we were planning on coming to America, I knew I would be travelling with 3 children as it was the plan for Alan to come first and get a job etc. I was planning to come by boat but..... 1962 was the 50th anniversary of the sinking and there was a program on the radio about it and I thought, "I can't go by boat!!! suppose something happens?



I have two hands and three children.... so it was settled, we came by plane, which is another whole story.

More Old Pictures

This was at 123 in 1959 I am pregnant with Archie



Uncle Joe's new house



This The Place Monument. Evidently Lilian is the baby.



Do you remember this day? On top of Francis Peak



Our first trip to Zion 1971, I was pregnant with David





I think this was 1972 Remember Sacrament Meeting?



I think this was 1973 but Lesley will remember



David's Blessing Day



Memories. I will have more pictures.

ZION........

We just got back from two days in Zion. I didn't want to leave. We love Zion.

I love Zion in The Springtime



I love Zion in the Fall

I love Zion in the Winter when it drizzles


I love Zion in the Summer when it sizzles

Why do I love Zion?
Because my love is here :o)


And a few other reasons....

We went into the Park in the evening and had spectacular views of the nighttime sky...which included, the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter


The Watchman at sunset. A different angle but the Watchman nevertheless

New Old Pictures :o)

This is me with Michael Ditty in 123 Orby Road. This is the dress I was married in. Not the sweater.


This was also in 123, taken on your Dad's 20th birthday. He was just home from Egypt


I love this dress, I made it for you.


This is a treasure, I haven't seen it before. This was taken at 807 Kensington.


This evidently was a later date look at his mouth full of teeth :o)


This is also I picture I have never seen :o)


Hooray for other people's cameras. :o)

Beauty and the Beast

I have posted before about the Drama dept. at Bountiful High School and what a GREAT job they do. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and this past 2 weeks again they proved their ability. Especially when my favorite Chelsea and favorite Derek are in the production. IN THE PRODUCTION? they MADE the production!!!!!!


Chelsea was cast as Belle and there isn't a better.
She was beautiful and her voice was outstanding.



Her biggest fan club were these beautiful women. We only have beautiful women in our family

Interestingly, Derek had the same strong fan club :o)



What a grand job he did as LeFou. He took a lot of "abuse" from Gaston but was resilient. And when he jumped 6 feet of the stage and kept on running to get away during the village mob scene I was impressed to say the least.



what handsome men to go along with the beautiful women.

This was the best cheering section we could muster on Saturday night. But on Monday night there was over 50 family members to enjoy the show, including Christine's sister and brother-in-law who came all the way from Michigan. I asked Chris how she was able to reserve so many seats, the teacher said she could if she would guarantee a receptive audience. US?????



We look forward to more shows.

Christmas.......December thru the Years

A few things that have happened in my life in December:

1941 My brother Bryan was born. I remember going to see my Mother at the
hospital with him.

1954 I got engaged on Christmas Eve.
First time we saw "White Christmas"

1956 Alan was cruising in the Mediterrean (courtesy of HM Queen) on HMT Dunera
my Dad and Bryan went to England for Christmas and I was home all
alone.

1959 Archie was born.

1962 First Christmas in America. I remember doing the same things I had in
Belfast, being tired as a result on Christmas Day, looking forward
to Boxing Day and getting up on the 26th to find Christmas was
over and some people's trees already in the curb for pickup.

1982 Timothy and Margie got married in the Jordan River Temple.



1985 Lilian and Cory got married in Salt Lake Temple.



1985 Lesley held first family Christmas Party.

1988 Ammanda born day after her Dad's birthday.



1989 Our Christopher passed away unexpectedly.
What a terrible Christmas.



1997 Went to York Minister on Christmas Eve. We were serving in the
Birmingham Mission at the time. Actually we were gone two Christmases.



1998 Jeffrey left to serve a mission in Seattle.



2010 I had cancer surgery.