Weekend in Yosemite

Pat and I drove to Yosemite Friday morning. Rather than go to the valley we went up to the Tuolumne Meadows area. Pat loves the sights there, I like them okay, but I really prefer the valley. There is just something about Half Dome that speaks to my soul. Sounds corny, but it does. On Saturday we drove across Sentinel Bridge and I told Pat that after we were finished doing everything else I wanted to go back and take a picture from there. It's my favorite spot to view Half Dome...has been since I first when to Yosemite when I was a little girl.

I thought you might enjoy seeing the pictures from our trip, so I am sharing!

This is the view on the drive up to Tuolumne Meadows from the lookout area.

I wanted a picture of Pat, with Half Dome in the back.

It's that little blip up to his right.

  This is Tenaya Lake,

still on the way to Tuolumne Meadows.

It is frozen!

At first when we saw people on the lake

we thought they were

CRAZY!

As we drove down a ways we saw that people

were ice skating on it,

and playing ice hockey!

 On the way back Pat thought we should get out and go on the lake also.

Walk on water? Me? I don't care if it's frozen or not...

not a good idea!

 Pat thought it was a GREAT idea!

I decided I needed to at least try it...

so I went about 15 feet onto the ice.

(I was hesitant since I fell recently

and am still recovering...

or you could say I am a chicken, either works.)

So, I guess we are crazy too!

After we finished driving there we checked into

our hotel...Yosemite View Lodge,

which is right outside the park

From there we drove up to Glacier Point,

to see the sunset.

We got there around 4 PM.

It was 36 degrees outside.

Just a tad cold!

We stayed there for an hour,

and then it began getting dark.

It was really cool to see the sunset,

Half Dome gets kind of a purple haze,

it's really pretty and the pictures don't do it justice.

 Me and Half Dome

 Purple haze...you can kind of see it.

 Sunset on the way down to the valley.

It was gorgeous.

Story - Pat is known in our family for losing his glasses. On the way down to the valley on Friday night he got out of the car to take his jacket off, because it was getting warmer. We stopped at the Sentinel Dome turnoff, he got out took off his jacket, noticed his glasses in his pocket, put them on the top of the car, got back in and drove off. He didn't want to ruin his glasses by sitting on them, so he was trying to be careful, and then promptly forgot about them.

Oh, and he didn't realize until 45 minutes later when we were pulling into the Yosemite Lodge parking lot, where we were going to get dinner. He was pretty bummed about it, I told him not to worry, he had planned on getting new glasses anyway.

So, the following morning before going to the valley we drove back up to where he had lost them. We had a slight hope that someone had found them and put them on a rock. But as you can see from the picture above, it was pretty dark out, it was doubtful that anyone would find them. Still, we wanted to solve the mystery of what happened to his glasses (which were in a glass case, by the way).

When we got there we parked and started looking around the area where we had been parked the night before. Pat and I walked down a little ways, to the opposite end of the parking lot, and he found, in the snow, a lens, that worked for his eyesight. (he has really good eyesight, but bi-focals for reading) Then, a little bit further he found the Costco cleaning cloth that he had in his case. We never found the case or the frames, but we found that. It was pretty odd.

At any rate, here is the picture we took

on our trip back down from the Tunnel lookout area.

My favorite view of Half Dome, off of Sentinel Bridge.

So beautiful. (not me, Half Dome)

We enjoyed our trip immensely.

Not only for the beauty of God's creations,

but also for the time we spent together.

It was amazing that we could travel up to

Glacier Point and Tuolomne Meadows.

Those roads are usually closed at this time, until May.

So, it may have been a once in a lifetime experience.

Jack Austin

Oh my, this has taken WAY too long to post! 

Forgive me Amy and Brad!

Little Jack Austin was born on 

October 21, 2011 in Eugene, OR.

It was a wonderful day...not only because he was born,

but because Amy's delivery went well.

I can get anxious about such things,

seeing how she is my daughter

and this is her third c-section within three years!

So, I was super grateful, relieved, and so very happy

when he was here and they were both safe and sound.

The best part of course was holding him when he was just a few hours old.

It was love at first sight.

The other best part was taking care of 

James and Gavin, treating them to McDonald's,

and enjoying our time with them.

We also made Halloween Mickey Mouse

Pumpkin Cookies.

Who knew James knew how to decorate all by himself? He did a great job!

We were blessed to be able to be there for 

Jack's blessing and for Halloween,

though not in that order. 

Jack is a joy, really...such a sweet little guy.

Isn't he just adorable?

This is the most recent picture of him taken today,

since Oregon was playing in the Rose Bowl...and won!

Go Ducks!

 I miss my Jack.

Our Christmas Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas!  We so enjoy hearing from you at this time of year. We hope this finds you all well.

Our family ended last year on a positive note with little Chloe Ann Dell joining our family on Christmas Eve day…she is a joy, which is perfect for a Christmas baby! Now she is walking/running and getting into everything! Her big sisters Sadie and Rylee sure love her a great deal. Sam works full time and is concentrating on several children’s books. Linzi continues to try to juggle it all – being a homemaker, a mommy, and finishing up her BS in Sociology. Rylee turned five and is an enthusiastic kindergartner. She loves reading and her family and friends, she is such a love. Sadie loves preschool and just may be the next attorney in our family – she always has a slightly different angle on life, keeping us all on our toes. They moved to a 3 bedroom townhouse this year, and love it there.

In August we were blessed to welcome little Darci Lynn Dell to Craig, Angie and Lucas’ family. She is a sweetie, and is always happy. Craig continues to pursue his degree in Information Technology at UVU. He also works on campus in the IT department, and LOVES his job! He served in his bishopric for a bit, until they dissolved all the student wards. Angie is busy with Lucas and Darci, and will soon be finishing up her AA in English. She also has a restaurant blog (restauranthungry.blogspot.com for any of you living in the Orem/Provo area). Lucas loves dancing to “Mary Poppins” and “Singing in the Rain.” He also loves everything Mickey Mouse and Star Wars! He is our little love, which Darci can attest to! If all of that wasn’t enough they also moved to a lovely 3 bedroom apartment.

Amy also surprised us this year when she announced in May that she was expecting her third. We learned soon after that Jack Austin Westmoreland would be joining our family in October. He is a very sweet chubby little guy who is greatly mauled loved by his brothers. Brad and Amy have had an exciting year – they too moved to a 3 bedroom apartment, decided not to continue with his doctorate (as of today he has his Master’s degree in Economics), had their third son and invited Rachel to make us empty nesters and to live in Oregon with them. Brad was able to find a job in Eugene so they are staying put. Amy keeps busy just running around after 3 boys. James is our little cowboy, Superman, or Flynn Rider (“Tangled”). He loves to quote movie lines and loves everyone. Gavin is our sweetheart. When we talk he excitedly exclaims ‘Hi!’ repeatedly. Jack is our little snuggler; he can never get enough!

If you think their lives sound busy, just wait, I am getting to Rachel now. Let’s see, this year she: opened a business on Etsy selling homemade earrings (paperjayne), went through the Oakland LDS temple for her endowment, began selling Pampered Chef, worked part time at her other job, trained for and ran a half-marathon (GO Rach!), and moved to Oregon in November. Now she is working part-time at Old Navy until she can find another job. She also served in her Singles Ward RS Presidency as first counselor. What a busy girl! We sure do miss her, however, Amy is happy to have another set of hands around in her built-in best friend.

Pat and Sandy have had a busy year as well – with callings, family, and for Pat work. We have travelled to Disneyland (with Rachel), to Utah and to Oregon. Pat also went back to Buffalo to visit with his family. We are, once again, adjusting to being empty nesters.

We are grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ, for the abiding joy that He brings into our lives. We are ever mindful of His life, His atoning sacrifice, His resurrection, and His love for each of us. May we keep Him in mind as we celebrate this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!

Utah fun times!

When we were in Utah it was a bit on the hot side. I didn't realize how much hotter Utah is than California. Their dry heat makes it feel ten degrees warmer than it does when we are at home at the same temperature. Thank heavens we have some humidity here...now there is something I never thought I'd say!

The day after we arrived in Utah Angie had a granddaughter luncheon to attend. While she was gone we took Lucas to the park. We really went to feed the ducks, but when he saw the swings he wanted nothing to do with them, he wanted those swings! Such a Dell - knows his own mind!

Lucas and Aunt Rachel loved swinging together.

He did actually enjoy feeding the ducks, for a short time! ;) 

He really wanted those swings!

 The following day when Craig's family were napping we took the girls to that same park to feed the ducks. Rach, Linzi and I ran errands while Pat and Sam played with the girls at the park. Like I said, it was pretty hot, so we figured popsicles were in order! Were they happy to have those! We had fun feeding the ducks with them also!

 Grandpa & Grandma with Sadie, Rylee and Chloe.

Chloe isn't usually that serious!

 Grandpa helps Sadie on the monkey bars!

So fitting that they are called monkey bars!

 On a more serious note - 

Pat, Craig and Sam at Darci's blessing

Such handsome guys.

Aunt Linzi with Darci. Linzi loves her new niece!

Finally! A niece!

Darci Lynn Dell

Darci Lynn - so sweet!

Love her adorable shoes. :)

 Mommy, Daddy, Lucas, Darci, Grandpa and Papa

Darci joined our family on August 18th. We had the opportunity of meeting her on September 22nd! She is a little angel. By the time we met her she was already smiling, so I was able to see her cute little dimples. So adorable. 

On September 24th Darci was given a name and a blessing by her daddy. He was joined by her grandpa's, her Uncle Sam, her great uncle, their cousin Brian, their bishop and a friend. She was quiet at first then she found her lungs! Her blessing was short but sweet. It was a nice day for both sides of the family to be together.

Grandma with Darci

 The Mighty Priesthood (holders)

  Lucas loves Darci...sooo much! 

 Grandpa & Darci - love at first sight.

 Daddy and Darci - she loves him! She is all smiles!

I am happy that Angie thought to get Darci dressed up again in her blessing dress. Such a great idea for more pictures! Darci is a sweet girl, but she isn't shy about letting you know what she wants. She is also quite strong and very, very happy. I just love her.

I am grateful that Darci has joined our family - she is loved by all of us and we are blessed to have her in our lives. :)

August

This month has been somewhat busy. I like it like that. :)

Here are some pics of what we've been up to-

 The day before my birthday we went to Muir Woods.

Who doesn't love to see where much of 

"Return of the Jedi" was filmed!?

 It is beautiful there.

 Me and Rach at Muir Woods

 Me and Pat at Muir Woods

After we were done at Muir Woods we went to San Francisco

 and had lunch at Pier 23. 

Then we walked down to Pier 39, 

and just enjoyed being in the city...

which is unusual since Pat doesn't really like SF.

 Pier 39

Coit Tower

And then our family grew! We welcomed Darci Lynn Dell

into the world on August 18th!

We will soon have pictures, then she will get her own post.

But, this is the quilt I made for her.

Our eldest grandchild, Rylee began kindergarten...

she is loving it!

This last Saturday, the 27th, we went to San Leandro

very early so that Rachel could run a half marathon!

She ran the 13.1 miles in less than two hours.

We are so proud of her.

 Excited to be there!

 Getting her packet, with her number! #73!

 Everyone got a shirt that was in the race.

 The beginning...

The end!

We have had a wonderful August.

It was full of ups and downs,

but the ups outweighed the downs!

Kind of like life, right?

Markers

We all have markers in our lives. We have all been through various 'firsts', depending on our age, and our circumstances, of course!

Today was just such a marker for our family. Rylee has the distinction of being our first granddaughter/grandchild. Her first, which she happily shared with all of us, was that she began kindergarten...kindergarten! That fact barely registers in my mind! I cannot believe she is five, let alone in school. It seems like just yesterday I was in Relief Society awaiting her arrival on a warm Sunday afternoon.

I love these types of markers - it just goes to show that our family continues to progress. So fun!

Our little kindergartner!