The YULE bLOG

Through Happy & Sad

Through Good & Bad

Through Sickness & Health...all those opposites.

But if men (women) never knew bitter, they could not know sweet. (D&C 29.39)

January had a sweet beginning.

Shelley stayed through the first week of January before returning to Ohio and her teaching job.

We went shopping at the Mall for the first time since COVID 2020. LIKE:! Lego Eiffel Tower

But in January Mom became ill. Then she just happened to have a doctor's appointment made months previous. She got into the hospital and a change of pills did the trick. Sweet.

In February, we enjoyed our family mostly from afar. Spencer gave Avery bass lessons in his band's rented space. The Curtis' Rands family sent photos of happy times from Escondido.

We were fortunate to travel (up and back in a day) to Gig Harbor to watch Ellie & Maren perform their Silks routines.

March was a big birthday month. Paul turned a young 75. Drew, Courtney & Quentin were there to share it with him. (video clip = blurry)

But the Big Birthday Bash was Mom's 100th. She had 3 separate parties: friends from Wagner Street years, Canby 1st Ward Friends, and a Family Weekend.

April marked a year of having a weekly personal trainer at LA Fitness. We may not look much better but we feel better.

April brought showers and lots of flowers. We got our steps while we "tiptoed" through the tulips at the Woodburn Tulip Farm.

The Curtis Rands Family added another driver!

Sweet Mikaya turned Sweet Sixteen

May was memorable with a momentous Mother's Day weekend in Gig Harbor. We hit it off on Saturday with a Barrett's baseball game in the morning. His baptism that afternoon made him a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had both sets of grandparents & his great grandmother there to adore and honor him.

On Sunday after a Mother's Day treat (pie & cheesecake) following church meetings,

Sandi celebrated her birthday #72. She invited Barrett (who turned 8 on May 1) to help her blow out the candles which he did without hesitation - in one blow!

Sandi insisted the candles be lit again so she could get her wish.

(May we have a happy time at the upcoming family reunion in August!)

Two weeks later we drove up again to see Maren as Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins,

Mrs. Banks Maren (middle w/bouquet)

and then the following weekend to see Ellie dance in 4 numbers in her dance recital

Ellie does a robot move.

and Noah perform on the drums in band concerts on two consecutive nights. Oh the busy lives of our families. We wish we were closer to our So Cal families. In the meantime, we are grateful for ZOOM, FACETIME and STREAMING.

drummer Noah with hat next to hi hat

May was also memorable as Maddie (who turned 19 on May 20) announced her engagement to Brandon Smith.

Maddie & Brandon - Happy Together

Brandon served a French speaking mission (Tahiti) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so it makes sense that they arranged for a July 14 wedding, French Bastille Day!

June featured HS graduate Avery, Award Winners Miles & Cade, and two more birthdays: Ellie and Miles both turning 11.

Avery graduated from high school on her 18th birthday!

Miles (turned 11) earned Communicator of the Year Award

Cade earned Achiever of the Year Award

Ellie turned 11 and friends brought her cupcakes.

July started with Ian playing big league volleyball in Salt Lake where it was broadcast so we brought him into our family room via TV streaming.

But most of July belonged to the Spencer Rands Family with Maddie and Brandon's (Smith) Wedding at the Newport Temple.

Ian was a groomsman

Alayna was a bridesmaid along with her two cousins Mikaya & Avery.

At the reception, Spencer & Maddie sang a touching "good-bye" duet.

It was definitely bitter sweet - the performers AND the well wishers had to push back the tears.

Maddie & Brandon danced to live music provided by Spencer's band.

Uncle Curtis was the MC.

Spencer & Rachel were happy that it all turned out to be a real storybook wedding,

maybe Rachel's July birthday wish come true - two weeks before she could blow out the candles on her cake.

August brought the long anticipated Southern California reunion hosted by Paul & Sandi Rands in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. The accommodations, relaxation, entertainment, food, and most of all, the loving family interactions fulfilled their greatest expectations.

Photo op after church

Where the girls are:

A puzzle a day - a set of 4 minis by Eric Dowdle

Where the boys are...(Holly's in there, too; can you find her?)

Family togetherness
Quen's favorite word: hot tub!

Cousins - they liked it, too.

Father & Son Time

Men in Charge of dinner

Checkmate

Scooter Dude

Noah on Old Fashioned Video Games

Accomplishment of the Day

Microwave S'mores

Lunch Layout

Jamming Sessions Galore

Noah tries out Miles' new drumkit

Spencer even brought his piano.

Curtis plays "The Star Spangled Banner" to begin the show. Paul & Sandi end the show with a swing dance "Picture This."

Let's eat cake

It's the end of a beautiful day and a promise for a joyful tomorrow!

August continued:
Two weeks after the reunion, Cade turned 8 and was baptized on his birthday by Curtis as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Curtis Rands Family - all together now! (Missing but in action - Coral and Connor, busy with work and academic pursuits in St. George UT.)

Wishing for Happy Times Ahead

The aftermath - 3 generations at the car show

Spencer in the pit - 42nd Street at the Twilight Open Air Theatre in Vista, CA

Quentin introduced September by turning 2 in Cleveland with Courtney's family.

In September we drove to Gig Harbor to see Noah run in a multi state Cross Country meet. He was almost out of the picture but we caught him on camera just in the nick of time.

Paul found the Glendora CA team by accident and posed with his old alma mater.

We had a picnic on the rocks on the waterfront.

October: Spooks and Characters came out of the woodwork to entertain us.

Here Paul is Dooley in Pink Shoelaces and Sandi is Wednesday Addams. We learned the dance from YouTube as our after dinner exercise routine. Paul showed off his skills at the Ward Harvest Party. Sandi admired his courage from the sidelines.

Curtis vacationed in Kawai with family

Quentin showed off his skills on his balance bike with an occasional wheelie.

Here he sports his CARS getup with his cool parents along side.

Quentin: "These adults do the weirdest things for fun, but the candy's not bad."

October brought two birthdays: Ian turned 17 on Friday the 13th - what luck for us to have Ian in our family! Noah turned 16 on October 14 and started driving.

We tied up October with a big bow - or maybe "bow" by two different performing groups two weekends in a row. First we were mesmerized by the Cirque Vertigo "Cirque Noir" performance from the front row balcony at the Oregon Symphony.

The following weekend, the fabulous BYU ballroom team entranced Paul, Mom and me in Vancouver Washington, just across the Columbia.

As I write, November is upon us. It started out with a visit from the family newlyweds, Maddie & Brandon Smith. We felt honored that they would brave the rain and the dark stormy night to travel from Boise for a quick visit. We headed first to the Pittock Mansion, (home of the first editor of the Oregonian,) and had the venue practically to ourselves, taking our time to note every elegant detail of design and architecture. What a visionary he was!

The rain stopped while we explored the home and premises. Downtown Portland drew us in with a stop at VooDoo Donuts where the line was only 8 persons long. From there the Saturday Market beckoned with display after display of artist created products, the artists on hand to explain their craft. What a variety of beautiful wares! Maddie and Brandon chose some custom fragrances. Paul and I were tempted into the Duck store on the way back to the car.

We picked up marionberry jam and syrup at Lee Farms.

We admired the showy fall colors enroute home where Mexican Delight, a family favorite, awaited us for a Saturday evening meal.

Sunday after church - a little duet concert took place while dinner was being prepared.

Photos of course before this cute couple can head for home. What a memorable weekend!

For Thanksgiving we headed to Gig Harbor to count our blessings with Holly's family.

December marks birthdays we never forget: Stuart's on December 1st; Courtney’s before, Shelley’s after & Holly’s on Christmas. "Little Coral" was also a Christmas Coral on the 10th. (Could you already be 30!)We are grateful for December! …for a wonderful 50 years of marriage, a wonderful family, and the love and sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate this Christmas and all year around. We are grateful to all of you, our family and our friends, who continue to touch our lives in wondrous ways during our journey here on earth. May you have a peaceful Christmas 2023 to carry you into a Happy New Year 2024.