LOTS OF SNOW!!!

Dear Family,

As many know, we have had a ton of snow here in Salt LAke City and especially here on the foothills.  We were gone when there was about 3 feet of snow and Suz and Scott had to deal with the driveway.  Our neighbor, the Prices, always do the sidewalks with the snowblower.

The backyard is also full of snow.  Scott and the grandkids built this gigantic snowman in the backyard.  It is Kosmo, the BYU football mascot. Scott managed to get a BYU shirt and shorts on him and he is holding a football.  Neighbors said it was a good thing it was in the backyard as all are UofU fans here.  Here is Mom next to this 6'5" snowman.  Now that it is melting a bit, the shorts are almost half mast!

Snow is piled high along the street.  When Kaley came to look at their rental, she had to use my Toyota FJ cruiser to get through all the unplowed streets.  She is coming here with John and two boys this week, leaving sunny Tampa Florida for good.

Suz and I drove past their rental today and it is a cute house north of 39th South not far from REI and Smiths.  Can't wait to see those little guys again but am not sure our house is insured with Timmy, Johnny, Grantli and Garret on the loose here.  It will be fun as these cousins get together

Lots of snow in the backyard.  Scott built a snow run o the lower level and the kids had fun going down on sleds.

The skiers in the family are having a ball as well.  Suz is going to ut two of her daughters into a ski school sponsored by their school.

Well off to California to see Rick on his 50th birthday.  All the sons will be there along with the Dad.. 

Love,  Dad

CATHY STARS ON TV AND MOM HOSTS THE DUP

Cathy appeared on TV!  She was invited to talk about home internet security about which she is an expert.  Her site is securemomma.com.

She appeared on channel 4's "Good Things in Utah".  She talked about internet security and protection from all the internet smut that is awash in our society.  She did a good job but I thought she should have had more time.  Cathy is a TV star now! She of course is the best looking one on the right!

Mom joined the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and is secretary of the local chapter.  They get together quite often and it was Mom's turn to host them in our home.  Most of the members make a really big deal out of this and Mom was nervous.

They serve a luncheon so Mom decided to make crustless Quiche.  Click on that link to get the easy recipe from Suz's blog.  Mom had the recipie and Suz helped her cut the ham, broccoli and Suz did the measuring.  The Quiches were perfect!!!

Here it is in the oven.  (Notice how clean the oven is!  It was a hit with the ladies.

There were some left over and we had another mini reunion that night.  Roy and Jim Pack were in town and Doug came over, Suz was already here so we visited in my study and polished off another Quiche.  Roy said, "This is the best thing Mom has ever made!"

I did not stay for the luncheon but went with Suz and Cheryl on a power shopping trip.  These gals are fun..they decide how long we stay in a store and set their iPhone alarm to go off when we need to split.  I took them to Cabelas for a short visit and then it was to the new outlets just behind Cabelas in Lehi.  We went to the Le Creuset outlet where they have those enamled cast iron pots that are so expensive and between the three of us, we did much damage.  The alarm went off so out the  door but we found we had a few minutes so it was off to Amerigo, the place where they have inexpensive bulk food and produce. That is a great place to shop!  Well it was an interesting afternoon.

There was one more event I should mention.  Doug invited some Chinese guest to his home.  There was this neurosurgeon whom Doug was training in vascular surgery, Dr. Wang (my age) and his daughter and son in law.  They wanted to show us how to make Chinese dumplings or potstickers.  Theymade 100 - 200 dumplings.

It was interesting to watch.  They were highly skilled and used only chopsticks and a Chinese knife.  It was amazing to see them work the dough, make the little wafers for the dumplings and stuff them.  There was left over dough so they simply stretched it by hand and made noodles for a soup.  Really good!

Well Catherine comes over next week for her Patriarchal Blessing. The guys will have a Father and Sons party at Ricks ranch in the Sierras celebrating his birthday. It looks like all will be there including me. Should be fun.  Next family event will be Oma's valentine party.

Love you all, Opa

MADELINE GETS HER MISSION CALL!

Dear Family,

Madeline H. received her mission call!  She is our second granddaughter to apply after the drop in the qualifying age.  She put in her papers and we were all excited when she received her call packet.

We were up in Spokane so were not there for the opening of the letter event.  But she read her letter and she is called to serve in the Scottish-Ireland Mission.  She reports to the London MTC on May second and will not spend very much time there. Here she is with dad Paul and Mom Cheryl.  Cheryl, can't believe you are starting to send out missionaries. as they say in German, Zeit vergeht!

We are so excited for her!  She has a little Scottish blood through Mom's Mc Entire line.  That clan has it own tartan and colors.  It would not hurt to mention over there that she does have a wee bit of Scottish ancestry. Also her late great grandfather, Elder Haight, served there as mission president.  That mission is apparently doing well and they are expanding their Sister Missionary complement.  These mission presidents are very lucky.

Congratulations Maddie, we know you will do well.  Now the exciting period of preparation.

We love you Maddie,

Oma and Opa

JANUARY TRIP TO SPOKANE

Dear Family,

We went up to Spokane this last weekend to see Jeff and Tammy and Rob and Eva and their families.  I also visit Rob's Spokane Eye clinic where I have been getting treatments to the left eye.  I receive an injection in the left eye for macular edema and it works immediately.  I only trust Rob to do this.

We stayed at Jeff and Tammy's this time but there were frequent visits in both places.  They have these 'dinner wars' and both put on the best meals and treats.  This is a combined breakfast at Rob's and there are all the kids.

We had a dinner at Rob and Eva's one night.  Rob cooked the rib eyes perfectly.  I think one can get better steaks at home than in a restaurant.  Eva made a great salad and garlic potatoes.

The next day, Jeff and Tammy put on a lamb roast that was so great with homemade mint jelly.  I lost my appetite during a recent strong bout with the flu but the appetite returned on this trip.  They always go way out to please.

This was a hobby trip after the eye injection.  We went to Cabelas in north Idaho about 6 times and checked on gun stores in the area.  We went to one in Cordelane and it was busy and even the
Mom's were getting involved.  Everyone was stocking up!

Well, I did a little looking myself.   I have been a little depressed after the last presidential  election and one way to get out of a funk is to purchase a new rifle for shooting at the range.

We went to Cabelas in North Idaho (only a few mile from Jeff) and even though my eyes had been dilated and still blurry, I spotted a Pedersali 1886 45/70.  Had to make a snap decision and told them to hold it with a down payment.  When the salesman looked at my license, he turned to Rob and asked if he were a doctor.  Rob said, "yes".  "Do you have a office in Liberty Lake?" " No that is my brother Jeff; this is my Dad and we all three are doctors!"  "Well Dr. Jeff is treating my stepson and doing a nice job!"

With thatI was able to get quite a good deal on the purchase.  I call this the "Jeff Rifle" and here is Jeff at Cabelas.  And yes it did help with the post election blues!  We got Jeff set up to reload ammo and it was all fun.

We combine as much as possible with these trips.  Julius turned 12 and we participated in his ordination to a deacon.  I also gave him his Patriarchal Blessing which is always a very special time and event.  Julius is doing well and I am proud of his progress.

We have to up again in April.  I look forward to it as it is always an adventure.  Oh I should say that the guys were fooling around, Mom and Eva took the kids to a special science museum to which Rob and Eva contribute.  We went to church in Jeff's ward and they are all very nice.

Lots of action here at home.  Suz and the gang are fun all the time.  John and Kaley and kids comes up the first week in February.  They rented a home in the Millcreek area and he will begin his new job at a law firm here in Salt Lake City.  Lot's of family action here.

Love, Dad

GREAT VISITS

Dear Family,

Well the Christmas tree is put away, all the decorations are stored again and we begin a New Year.  We hope fr a year of activity and good health.

We had some visitors who dropped by.  It is always great to have our former missionaries stop by and bring us up to date.  Pete and Courtney Longhurst were visiting in Utah and stopped by for a quick visit.

Pete was one of my great missionaries; he served in the office for a long time as secretary and also served as an AP.  He was a little older in the mission field and the Elders referred to him as "Grandpa".  He was solid and a great example to the other missionaries.  He married Courtney and now they have a little baby, Ezekiel.  We did not get to see little Zeke, but I'll bet he is as good looking as his Dad.  Pete and Courtney live in Minneapolis, headquarters for General Mills where he does Human Resources work.  Good looking couple!

Shalayne Davis was in town visiting family and dropped by.  She was one of my great sister missionaries in Germany.  Shalayne went on to graduate from BYU, also get a masters degree from BYU and has decided to study law.  Shalayne is in Richmond VA in her second year of law school. She will be great!

She loves Virginia and may stay back there.  She is a very talented person and will make a great impression wherever she goes.  The only things is that we will not see her much back there in VA.

Well the biggest thing is the arrival of Scott and Suz and their four children, dog and parakeet.  Scott took a job with a Salt Lake firm.  I believe his expertise is in credit card account management but I am not sure.  At any rate they packed up and are coming to Salt Lake City.  They have the apartment downstairs and it is fun to have family around.

Here are the kids during a quiet moment; Julia (Juju), Alexzandra (Zandy), Matilda, (Tillie), and Timothy, (Timmy}  They are cute and full of energy.  Timmy is always coming up and checking on Opa to make sure he is getting over the flu.

The kids have started school close by and have made a lot of friends already.  Timmy started preschool and I asked him what did the teacher say?  "Don't look at Johnny!"  Timmy is in the same pre- school as Cheryl's boy, Johnny and the two of them are really a pair! They are best friends and play so well together.

It has been great to have the kids here.  Some of them come up and eat with me.  Suz and I have been shopping as well.  So much fun!!!!

Well we go to Spokane tomorrow to see Rob and Jeff and family and get an eye treatment.  I will give Julius his Patriarchal Blessing and he will be ordained a deacon as well.  Then John and Kaley and their two boys move to Salt Lake.  John has accepted a position with a law firm here in SLC and it is so wonderful to have them close by.  Their boys will fit right in with all the cousins.

We feel so continuously blessed.  We wish you Heaven's Blessings as well.

Love,

Mom and Dad

CHRISTMAS EVE SPECIAL

Christmas Eve is our big family gathering lately.  Christmas is celebrated in each home but we like to go all out on Christmas Eve.  We have a dinner and this years we said be here at 5:00PM which in istelf is a miracle for most but we did start early.  We roasted a ten pound Rib roast with the bone in.  One has to cook meat with love and concern and this year it was perfect.  Everyone brought sides and desserts.  Doug, Emily, and Mike and their families were there.  Doug brought Dr. Lee, his Chinese surgical shadow as well.

We all sat around and sung Christmas carols. Then we had the Mapleton  Bells performers from Mike and Emily's families.  They are getting pretty good and it was delightful.

We then read from Luke 2 and the kids performed the nativity.

Here are Mary and Joseph and a charming donkey.  We interspersed the scripture with Christmas carols and all had a jolly good time.

Here are the Three Wise Men; Joseph, Michael and Spencer,  Sometimes I wonder about doing it but the kids learn the story so well and so look forward to playing a part.

Here they all are.  Following the skit, we had Oma's White Elephant Gift exchange.  Everyone bought a gift, slightly daffy but still a good gift.
One of the kids picked out a really nice Pogo stick Mom's was a set of Reindeer Antlers which was popular.  It was fun!

As this was going on, John slipped out and got into his Santa Outfit complete with pillows and beard and came rollicking in with another bag of gifts.





He placed each person on his lap and did the pre Christmas interview...,"Have you been a good boy/girl this year?".  Here is Emily getting the questions by Santa, (her husband).  One of the teenagers asked Santa for a car which brought forth a lot of Ho Ho Ho's from all.

As this Santa was leaving, a second unannounced Santa appeared.  It was wacky Cathy with a huge gift saying, "I heard Opa was good this year!"

Each family gathering seems to get better with so much joy and love around.  What a great time of the year and how special it is to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We wish you all the best in the new year!

Love, Mom and Dad

AL AND PAUL VISIT FROM MICHIGAN

Al and Paul and baby Charlie came to visit.  The other seven kids stayed home.  Paul has this job with a Salt Lake investment firm and his role allows him to live wherever he wants so it was back to Michigan on a small working farm in Munith, complete with sheep, goats, cows, ducks and chickens.    Paul came out for the business Xmas party and do do some work.  They stayed with us and it was fun.

Here is Al and Mom shredding cabbage for the German  Sauerkraut jug, seen in the background.  We make the best Sauerkraut!  We did about 5 - 6 kg of shredded cabbage and will wait for a month before checking the result.

We went with Al to the new outlets by Cabelas.  There was a La Creuset outlet and I got Mom a large oval pot.  Al had brought a fresh leg of lamb from one of her lambs and she planned a delicious roast.

Mike, Rayanne, Johnny and Jenna, Mom  and I accompanied Al and Paul to the Salt Lake Temple to some work work for Paul's family.  It was special and sweet.  Following this we had the roasted lamb dinner and it was great.  They had to go back the next day,

We had out little missionary groups Xmas party.  The old Swiss Austrian group has been meeting since 1958 several times a year.  We had it at Dave and Ann Wirthlin.  Naturally we had to wear a little of the traditional dress.  We had echt Kaesekuchen as it is made in Switzerland and it was a lovely evening. They give out "white elephant" gifts and I was surprised whn someone got my Sig bottles that Mom secretly wrapped.

Well we are getting ready for Xmas.  We need to get out the cards.  We have been preparing the house for the arrival of Suz and her family who will occupy the basement apartment.  Scott took a job with a Salt Lake Company and he is her now.  Mom has been gutting out.

We may also get a  visit from John and Kaley from Florida.  Suz has to sell her homes in Phoenix but there is a lot of real estate action going on here.

Next event will be the Xmas eve dinner and pagent with several families in attendance.  Lots of fun, lots of joy and there is always rejoicing.

Love, Dad