Murder Mystery Dinner

On January 30th, we got to go to a Murder Mystery Dinner at

Lonnie & Penny Mortenson's.

This is what Lonnie wanted for his birthday!

It was so much fun and there was so much effort put into

this evening.  All of Lonnie's kids came and we truly partied!

The food was fabulous and the company even better.

Wynn ended up winning two awards!  

A night to remember! 

MY GEMS!

 I couldn't wait to share some of these cute photo's I have of my Grand babies!

This is Jenna with her baby sister Nora.

Nora is 5 weeks old and Jenna is 3 1/2 years old. 

How I love these girls and miss them so much.  

 This is my all time favorite!

They just look so happy!

Isn't that all we want as Moms, just for our kids to be happy?

Elle is 9 months old here.

 We watched the kids one week end in January so Steve and Brooke

could go to Utah to see Brooke's Brother-in-law perform in his

band.  The kids were so good and we had a ball.  I can't believe

how big they are getting.

I guess it was my birthday week-end that we had the kids. because when

Steve and Brooke got home, we had a party!

 As usual, I am not my own birthday fan.  But, Emily sure 

brightened my day with this picture she drew me.

Simply warmed my heart.

l got so many nice gifts and Mom had us to dinner at her place for

my birthday.  I always feel so spoiled.

 Our little Elle enjoying her bath.

Standing on her own.

It won't be long, she will be walking!

We are truly blessed!
I feel so grateful for all my many, many blessing.

January get away!

Friday, January 8^th, 2016

            Wynn and I headed for Syracuse, UT.  We went to Dave & Colleen’s new home.  It was simply beautiful!

            We went to dinner with Dave & Colleen and Leslie & Blaine.  It was fun to get caught up.  We even played some cards!

            We stayed the night with Dave & Colleen.

Saturday, January 9^th, 2016

            We had yummy omelets at Dave & Colleen’s for breakfast and then headed for Las Vegas.

            We got to Matt’s and Kayla’s around 3:00 p.m.  So good to see them and our little Elle.  She is so adorable.  She just squeals and smiles when you talk to her.  She warms my heart.

            That night we went down to the strip to the Venetian casino.  We had dinner at a nice restaurant right there in the casino.  It was fun to go someplace new.  I had Asian nacho’s.  They were good but a little too sweet.

            We walked around the casino shops after dinner.  It was all decorated for the Chinese New Year.  2016 must be the year of the monkey.  Lot’s of monkey’s and oh, so cute.

Sunday, January 10^th, 2016

            This morning we got to go to my nieces baby blessing.  Erica, my brother’s oldest daughter had  her 5^th child blessed.  Ava Beth Reynolds.  I thought it was so neat that we got to go attend this blessing.  Ava looks a lot like Erica did when she was a baby.  I remember because Erica was my first niece and we were all smitten with her. 

            Sunday evening at 6:00 we went over to the Reynolds home for a dinner celebration.  Mike & Charissa were there too.  It was fun visiting with them. 

            Erica’s husband’s family was there too.  His brother is the lead singer of the Imagine Dragon’s singing group.  Yup, we had dinner with a celebrity!

            Erica gave us a copy of Robert’s new book, Unstuck.  We listened to it the next day on our road trip to San Diego.  We enjoyed it, it was really good.

Monday, January 11^th, 2016

            Monday morning we left Vegas and headed for San Diego to visit Wynn’s brother Mike and his wife Karen serving a mission there.  WE got to their place around 2:00 p.m.  We had a yummy lunch and then headed out sight seeing.  We went over to the coast to La Jolla Cove to see the seals.  We then went to the Mormon Battalion.  We loved it!  We were the only ones there.  I was so impressed with the sister Missionary there.  So in tune with the spirit and so cute!  It was fun panning for gold!  Mike & Karen knew the missionaries there so that made it so much “more” fun. 

            We then walked around Old San Diego and had dinner at a Mexican Restaurant.  We also enjoyed some Hispanic dancing.  Wynn had a horrible headache and didn’t have too much fun.  L

            We stayed in a hotel.  Mike and Karen place is pretty small. 

Tuesday, January 12^th, 2016

            This morning we visited the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier.  Mike had connections and we got free tickets!  Wynn loved this.  He could of spent a ton more time there.  It was fun crawling through this whole place.  We spent most of the day here.  We called Wynn’s Dad and sang Happy 91^st Birthday to him.  So Fun!

            Right next to the Midway is where I took the pictures of the Huge Sailor Kissing the Nurse.  Right by that was a tribute to Bob Hope and how he loved performing for the sailors.  We ate right next to these two things right on the Marina.  Of Course, we had fish & chips. So yummy!

            We then got to go to the San Diego temple.  This was the highlight of our trip.  Such a beautiful temple.  I loved the way the temple makes me feel.  I find myself striving harder and wanting to do better when I go to the temple.  Helps me evaluate myself and to count my blessings. 

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

            This morning we went and visited the Institute where Mike & Karen serve their mission.  It is right next to the Grossmont College.  They love their mission.  So fun hearing their stories and all about being missionaries.  I think I could do that!  They made it look very appealing.  They are strong, willing and able missionaries that love serving the Lord.  They loved showing us around the institute.  They are truly happy!

            We then went to Balboa Park.  Balboa Park was built for an exposition in the early 1900’s.  It is so beautiful!  There are lots of museums, botanical gardens and lots of thing to explore.  WE walked through the gardens and then to the cactus gardens.  WE didn’t spend a lot of time there but was fun to see what was there.  This was a good time to visit because there was not very many people and the weather was perfect.  Probably long pants and t-shirt weather.  Beautiful blue skies and a little humid.  My hair held -0- curl! 

            We then traveled over to Coronado Island.  WE drove down Orange Street and looked at the cool houses.  We then went to the famous Hotel Del Coronado right on the beach.  This hotel was built about the same time as the Lodge in Yellowstone Park.  T was so fun to walk on the beach.  Wynn found me several unbroken Sand dollars.  (Although, they didn’t make it home in one piece.  I only have one whole sand dollar.)

            We enjoyed the beautiful sand castles built on the beach.  So interesting!

            WE then traveled to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in Sunset Cliffs Park.  I love lighthouses and this one was not a disappointment.  I loved it!  Something about there nostalgic beauty lures me in.

            We watched a movie at the visitors Center on the Cabrillo National Monument.

            WE then stopped at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.  I could not believe all the head stones there.  They just went on forever.  It pulled on my patriotism part of my heart.  Such a sight seeing all those head stones so beautifully placed right here on the coast.  So beautiful and so tender. 

            We ate dinner at the Boathouse restaurant right on the coast again.  We all had Lobster!  Wednesday night special – Lobster for $12.99.  So cool – I haven’t had lobster like that before. 

            We then went to Mike & Karen’s apartment.  They made us one of their famous milk shakes.  They took a milk shake maker with them on their mission.  They make lots of milk shakes for the youth of the institute. 

What a great time we had in San Diego.  So much to see and do.  Mike & Karen were great tour guides.  Everything we did was perfect and so was the weather.  Hard to believe we were getting snow back home.  WE loved our visit to San Diego. 

Those are poinsettias growing right there!  

Thursday, January 14, 2016

            We headed back to Vegas today.  Such a beautiful drive.  I couldn’t wait to see little Elle again.  She is such a sweet, good baby.  I have never seen a baby with as much personality as Elle has.  I miss her already.

            We went to the Mac Shack for dinner.  It is so good!  We then went back to Matt & Kayla’s.  They made an apple pie and invited Kayla’s parents over.  WE played cards and enjoyed each others company.

            So glad Matt married into such a wonderful and strong, close knit family.  An answer to my prayers!

Friday, January 15, 2016

            This morning we got up and drove to Death Valley National Park.  So totally not what I expected!  It was beautiful in it’s own special way.  It was a long day in the car for Elle.  She is such a good baby.  We did hike around a bit and enjoyed the scenery there.  Wynn could of spent more time there but I was done!

            WE didn’t get home until after dark.  The kids were getting ready to go to the temple on Saturday with Brandon, Kayla’s nephew who is going on a mission.  I hemmed his pants for him!

Saturday, January 16, 2016

            We got up early and headed for home.

Such a fun trip!  Wynn and I love to drive and go for adventures.  When we hit about Ogden, it started to snow.  The roads were terrible all the way home.  Malad pass was so bad.  Cars were off the road all over the place.  We were so glad to get home and to sleep on our bed!