THANKSGIVING

Dear Family,

We had quite a Thanksgiving this year.  Doug brought Nate, Spence, Tom, Izzie, and Elena. Emily and John came with Joshua, Caroline and Joseph plus John's father Calvin. Mike and Rayanne brought their family with Rachel, Joseph, Emma, Camille and Michael. Suz and Scott came with their gang, Juju, Zandy, Timmy, Tilly and little Queen Elizabeth. Scott brought an coworker from India. Cathy and Pete brought Phillip. Lili, Amelia and little Henrie.Becca and Paul brought their kids, Abigail, Andrew, Anthony, Austin, Alexander and new little Annalise.

I think that was everyone but what I know is that there were little kids all over the place.  Here is a photo of Opa getting ready to carve a perfectly roasted turkey.

A dinner that is consumed in less than a half an hour takes days to prepare.  In addition to the turkey, I picked up some Turkey legs, brined and smoked them for a variety of tastes.  Those were delicious.  Doug brought over a deep-fried turkey. He had another Thanksgiving dinner later that evening.

I prepared the oyster dressing the day before.  Rebecca and her family came a few days early and was a great help. Rebecca, Cathy and Suz made some pie crusts and here is Becca putting on a really flaky top to a mince pie.  I grew up on Mince pie for Thanksgiving and they are hard to find.  This year we baked one.

Suz made a great pecan pie and Cathy had some perfect apple pies.  These were all the preparations in advance.  We had a 23lb turkey and usual baking stuffed called for a 6 hour roast.  So I set the alarm for five AM.  In the meantime, Suz decided to wake up Becca at 4 AM and they went to Walmart,( I think in their PJ's matching other Walmart people) to buy a turkey roasting bag. So we were all up, I stuffed the turkey and we bagged it and put it into the oven.  They cook a lot faster in the bag and it was done by 10:30 AM so we kept it warm till noon.  Then about noon, everyone showed up with their assigned side dishes and desserts and they were great.  Suz organized the list this year and we had great salads of all types, vegetables, various sweet potato dishes, mashed potatoes and a ton of other sides. I sliced the turkey and we were ready. Rayanne brought up some great salads and mashed potatoes Emily brought the pumpkin pie and tons of rolls.

I expressed thanks for all our blessings and especially the blessing of family and church. A benediction was given and then the serous eating got underway.  Parents helped the little kids and the rest got in line for the spread.

Here is a table with the teenagers.  Three kinds of turkey, several varieties of stuffing and all the sides added to a real feast of Thanksgiving.  Mom of course worked very hard to prepare the house and tables and add a little festive decorations.

We paused and Mom had her Thanksgiving play. I did not get a good shot of it but here it is with the little kids dressed as Pilgrims. They we got out the tons of desserts and by then it was time for a rest.  All took off up to Cheryl's in Deer Valley where they did some serious shopping at the outlets. Not enough boys for a football game.

It was a great Thanksgiving and we thank everyone who participated and contributed.

The next night we drove with Cheryl and Paul to Ogden to watch the first performance of the Nutcracker.  Lauren was one of the red soldiers, Mary Claire was one of the party girls, Olivia was the main buffoon, and Emily Eva was a hit as the littlest party girl.  She was great beaming and dancing all over the stage.  I turned and looked at Cheryl and she was just beaming when Little Emilie came out.  They all did great and it is so fun each year to watch them in the Nutcracker Ballet. Cheryl got us front row seats for this performance and it was so enjoyable.

So we are so thankful for family, the gospel which binds us together and am personally grateful to be around to watch all these grandkids grow up and blossom.

May Heaven watch over you all,

Love, Mom and Dad

CAROLINE DOES AIDA (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL)

Dear Family,

Mom and I went down to Spanish Fork to see the Mapleton Mountain School production of a musical, Aida.  This adaptation followed the general plot of the opera set in Egypt.  The score and dialogue was strictly pop .here was a  mini orchestra in the background.

The main reason we went to this of course was to watch Caroline (Emily's daughter).  She is a sophomore in high school so did not have a lead but sang in the chorus as the princess ladies in waiting.  She was stunning!

I got the very front seat in front of the first row and took some shots with the Leica Digilux 5.  They let us snap some photos without flash and the Leica excels at that in dark conditions..

Here she is right in front of me doing one of those Egyptian poses while singing.  She belted out her part and it was so fun to watch her.  Somehow she was the only one I was paying attention to.

Caroline was charming and had a lot of stage presence.  I loved watching her!  She was a star in a JH musical production and I am sure next year she will have a lead role.

Caroline has many talents: she went to the state championship for ladies doubles  tennis and almost won it coming in second.  She is also a great cook, had a business selling bagels she baked when she was eleven.

I sat there and my thoughts went back to my mission in Austria long time ago.  On one of our preparation nights, we went to the Vienna Opera.  We used to buy standing room for a shilling (about 25 cents), and then would find an empty seat.  One night we went to see Aida in which performance, Leontyne Price made her operatic debut in the title role.  It was a great night.  I looked around at the balconies and saw several famous German movie stars including the famous Romy Schneider.  That was fantastic.

Caroline was elegant and had such great poise.  Emily and
John and the kids were there and we also spoke with Mike and his family.  Love these little get togethers even the brief ones.  I am so grateful I am alive to watch my grandchildren get older and blossom.

Love, Dad

BUSY WEEKEND

Dear Family,

We had a busy weekend some of which was spent in the Salt Lake Temple.  I mentioned below that on Saturday, we attended Becky Christensen's sealing in the Temple which was great.  We attended the luncheon as well.

Following this, we attended Jeanne Pfeifer's funeral memorial service.  She passed away following a siege of emergency surgery for a difficult problem.  The funeral was different as there was  not body or viewing.  It turns out that Utah along with a few other states do not permit the transport of dead bodies on
Sunday so she was sent back to Michigan where she will be buried next to her husband, Jack.  There was a funeral service in Michigan which Bryan attended. The memorial here was visited by the Michigan crowd who have settled here in the west.  Pam and the kids did a great job and it was a very nice tribute/

There was the adult session of our stake conference in our stake house.  We missed the Sunday session because of conflicting meetings.  Sunday morning, we attended the Salt Lake Temple devotional service for temple workers.  We got up early and were in our seats by 7:45.  This was in the assembly room on the fifth floor and we did not have to be in whites.  It was a great service and the music was wonderful.  The main hall was full as one side of the balcony, well over a 1000.  Elder Ballard gave a moving talk presenting history of his families involvement with temple work since the beginning.  I thought it was wonderful.

We drove over to Cheryl's ward for the Primary program. The theme here was "I am a Child of God".  I took this picture of the practice but it is not a good photo.  There is Johnny in the right front.  Behind him is Emmy with her pretty blond hair.  In the back with back turned and in purple is Cheryl who teaches in the Primary.  Johnny was right in front and just belted out the songs,  Olivia, Emily and Johnny did well with their parts.  We went to Cheryl's for brunch.  They showed me how to make Karen's version of "GermanPancakes" and it was good.  Paul made Fretates (?sp).  Paul is quite a chef along with other things.

We then rushed over to Doug's ward where they had the Primary program.  The Title was the same, "I am a Child of God".  The program was great.  They sang that Primary hymn first with ALS signing, the second verse in French and the third in English.  Spencer (now a Deacon) gave a good talk and Tommy and Izzie also had parts.  It was great!

We are trying to keep up with all the family events and as long as we can we will continue this effort. Becca will be coming up to bless her baby in our ward.  Am so grateful I can be around to be part of these great family events.

Love, Mom and Dad

BECKY CHRISTENSEN GETS MARRIED

Dear Family,

Saturday we were invited to Becky Christensen's Temple marriage.

She married James Fairbanks who is a grandson of the noted LDS Sculpture and artist, Avard Fairbanks.  Here they are; I was not quick enough to get the little kiss as they came out.

Becky was one of our great sister missionaries who spent most of her mission in Austria, working in Vienna and Graz.  She was great, effective and a wonderful example to other younger sisters in the mission.  She wrote the best letters each week and they would usually began with, "Wow President!!, we had an awesome week!" 

She went to Simmons in Boston after her mission and received a Masters degree in social work.  She then worked as a social worker helping immigrants and their families in Boston.  Her office was in Newton Center.  She was such a great hostess when we went back to Boston for the MGH surgical reunion.

They dated for a year and a half and this was the culmination.  James finished dental school and started a practice in West Jordan.  He also sings in the Tabernacle Choir.  Fun that Becky will be in the valley.  We have considered her a bit of the family.  We went to the luncheon and had a great visit with her parents.  These two  are well matched couple and  extremely happy.

Congratulations Becky and James, 

Mit Liebe,  Präs. u. Schw. Wirthlin  (Opa amd Oma)

SUZ'S BABY GETS BLESSED

Dear Family,

There has been a lot going on here in Salt Lake and Utah.  Suz brought her new little baby, Elisabeth Mary Paylor to her ward for the blessing and naming.  Here is Dad Scott holding the little tyke.  He did a great job and we are proud of Suz and Scott.  Rick likes to point out that Elisabeth Paylor not be confused with Elisabeth Taylor.

Here is Suz and "Juju" (Suz's clone) with baby Elisabeth.  That baby with three older sisters is getting total attention and she rules the roost.  Since she rules, she is known as Queen Elisabeth.

She was put 79th grandchild and is a joy. She even has started smiling when she sees me.

Suz made chicken salad sandwiches and we had pretty good sized family group over following the church service. John, Cathy, Mike, Doug and family were all there.  

This has all been a great blessing for all of us and the joy was was all around.  We are grateful for new life when it is possible.  These are the treasures and blessings of Heaven and there are none greater.

Love, Opa and Oma

ANTHONY GETS BAPTIZED

 Dear Family,

Always behind with these blog posts as sop much is going on. We drove down to St. George to be with Becca and her family for Anthony's baptism.  Scott drove our van and brought Tilly and Timmy.  We were grateful that Scott drove.  When we arrived in St. George, I checked the GPS report: 310 miles, average moving speed,78.4 mph, max speed, 93.4 mph.  There is a 80 mph speed limit when you get below Nephi so he made good time.

Anthony was baptized at  a Stake baptism and it was packed.  Luckily his ward went first. Here is a shot of Paul and Anthony in their whites. I love baptisms; Paul did a nice job and Anthony was great.

There was a large group down there for this event.  Cathy and Pete brought their kids as well and we all stayed at Rebecca's.  Here is a shot of the baptismal party with Paul's parents as well.

Becca and Paul are troopers and took such good care of all of us.

We had a great get together at Becca's afterward. She made these cookies of Anthony and they were almost too pretty to eat but they were all gobbled up.

I love to watch Rebeca cook.  She loves each step and does it so carefully and thoughtfully.  She made these beautiful chicken pot pies for all and feed the entire group.  Here is Becca with the  pies.  We went to church on Sunday and then drove bak home with almost the same performance.  I found it better just to put my hat over my eyes and try to relax.  We did appreciate Scott's driving and the kids were really good.

Congratulations Anthony and welcome into the Church.

Love, Opa and Oma

BACK TO SPOKANE

Dear Family,  We had a great visit with Jeff, Tammy, Rob and Eva and the nine kids in spokane this last week.

We travel on Thursday, get a great lunch with Eva and the little kids.  I get dropped off at Rob's Spokane Eye Clinic where Rob does the eye injection.  He injects the anti-angiogenisis medication (that was discovered my friend at the MGH, Judah Folkman).  I am not so nervous when he does this if I do not see the needle coming.  This drys up wet macular edema and I can see better but it needs repetitive injections.

After this we go to Jeff's where Tammy had laid on a gret feast.  They flew in Lobster again and that was just great.  Tammy is getting real good at cooking lobster.  All her kids love it as well.  Simply divine!

The net day we try out the eye at the shooting range.  Rob and I re getting ready for a Texas Deer Hunt in December.  I did pretty well at 100 and 200 yards but will take a rifle that is a bit more inherently accurate.  Jeff is a member of this gourmet shooting range as well and he and Julius had a good time zeroing some rifle.

After this we found an authentic German restaurant (Das Steinhaus))run by a chef from Stuttgart and it was super!  Julius had Geschnitzeltes Fleisch (stroganoff) on Spaetzele and he was in heaven.  We we stayed until Monday, he asked, "Opa, if you go to the Steinhaus again, can you take me out of school?")

Sunday we all went to church in Jeff's Liberty Lake ward.  Rob and Eva came with their kids who like Primary.  For Sunday School we went to the new "Parenting Class".  I kept very quiet and listened to what the teacher had to say.  It was funny to sit there with two sons, one a child psychiatrist and listen to potential errors of parenting.  It was a good class and Jeff held his tongue pretty well.

That evening we had a family night activity with all nine kids cutting pumpkins.  I helped Luke cut his but it was about 4 inches thick.  We did not have the proper equipment, (little kit with serrated saw that you can get at Walmart) so it was tough going.  Here we re scooping the pumpkin guts.  Tammy made great roasted pumpkin seeds.  We had a great trip and it is so much fun in Spokane!!!!

When we got back to Salt Lake, Rick and Gemina and little Luken stayed over night for a visit. Here are Mom and Gemina and "little" Luken who is built like a football linebacker in the 95th percentile in most measurements with his he'd in the 99th percentile, (Rick's brain?".  He is one huge little guy for his age and built pretty solid.  He was just  great little guy, looking around and trying to figure out what was going on.  Rick and Gemina are great parents.  We had a good time with Rick and Gemina going out for lunch and just visiting.We have the best grandkids in all ages.

We go to St. George for Anthony's baptism.

We love you all so much,

Dad and Mom