May 8, 2016 - Mother's Day

Enjoyed wishing our amazing moms Happy Mother's Day!

May 1st--John's Birthday!

I surprised John the night before his birthday (which happened to fall on a Sunday this year) and we went up to Deer Valley to the St. Regis Hotel. You have to pull up below the actual hotel and ride the venicular to the lobby and rooms while the valet parks your car since the hotel is located in a private community. It's the off-season so we were upgraded to a suite which was the size of the main floor of a modest home with full kitchen, 2 baths and a TV inside the master bedroom's mirror--very cool.

We had time to go to the spa for the steam room, sauna and whirlpool before we went to one of our favorite restaurants down the road in Midway, Taurahumara and its 30-salsa bar!

The hotel had all the items to make s'mores when we got back for dessert.

Our kids joined us for John's birthday dinner on Sunday and he was served all his requests--steak, homemade potato salad, roasted broccoli, watermelon and a cotton-candy cherry cake.  (It tasted better than it looks)

Happy 54th John!!!

50 STATES--Accomplished!! (and a mission tour besides...)

Completed my 50 by 50 goal this week when I accompanied Hailey to visit her mission areas. We flew into Memphis, TN on Tuesday, April 19. 

Took the bridge across the Mississippi River to visit Arkansas which gave me just two last states to visit.

Alabama really was beautiful and very green...

And I have to admit I was partial to Tennessee because of its beauty AND people...

Mission Area #1 = Murfreesboro. Had to stop in Lewisburg which was on our way so Hailey could visit the sister she trained and her last companion--Sister Cook. Hailey couldn't get ahold of her on her cell so she texted Sis. Cook's mom for the address just in case they were at their apartment in the middle of the day and we were blessed because they'd had a late District meeting that morning and were home eating their lunch at 2:30 pm! Sister Cook was thrilled to see Sister Tebbs!!

Hit up the Slick Pig for a quick BBQ snack in Murfreesboro before a delicious dinner at Hailey's favorite Thai restaurant with a cute couple who were in her YSA ward and have since married.

Mission Area #2 = Bellevue (West Nashville). Went on a hike with a fun member who helped the missionaries a lot and then lunch with another cute member and her daughters at the Loveless Cafe. Had my first taste of Chess Pie and LOVED it!

Surprised an investigator of Hailey's named Michelle and she cried and cried when she saw Sister Tebbs had come back to visit.

Checked out downtown Nashville on Broadway and had the best time at The Listening Room with 4 amazing singer/songwriters who have songs on the radio and ate a delicious dinner as we listened to them perform.

Finished seeing a few more things in Nashville on our way to Clarksville. The Parthenon was lovely, Vanderbilt University campus was beautiful and we enjoyed lunch, Sprinkles Cupcakes and Jeni's Splendid ice cream on 12th Street.

SO happy to reach my goal and accomplish visiting all 50 states before I got older than 50!

 Mission Area #3 = Clarksville. We took Ann (one of Hailey's baptisms) to dinner and met up with a Southern BYU-lovin' family that loved Hailey--especially their older son Bryce :) We also went over to the church so 7 other families and groups could chat with Hailey since Clarksville covers a lot of area and it made it easier for all of us.

Saturday we were able to spend the whole day with the Cluff family. They were so kind to let us stay at their home. We'd leave each morning early and get home late in the evening so we were happy to hang out with them uninterrupted for the day. 

We started our morning at the Franklin Farmer's Market and experienced delicious food trucks and Five Daughters Bakery. Watched Elijah play soccer and saw the temple. Drove all around beautiful Franklin, ate lunch at Burger-Fi and ended up at the Franklin Festival in historic downtown and ran into Heather, another friend from the Murfreesboro YSA ward that Hailey taught and baptized!

Last stop that evening was a quick visit with President and Sister Anderson.

Mission Area #4 = Sparta. We drove to Sparta Saturday night since it's almost a 2-hour drive from Franklin and we wanted to attend 9 am church on Sunday. Brother and Sister Crosby were gracious to host us in their home, fed us a delicious breakfast and lucky to hear Sister Crosby teach Relief Society on Sunday. 

Hailey was thrilled the Sparta branch had moved into their new building the week prior. She had a part to play and with 20 more members, the Sparta branch will become a ward.

Recent convert Benny was SO happy to see Hailey!!!

Hailey was able to see everyone she wanted at church and hug and visit with them. The Jim Grissom family had us over for a delicious lunch and two kinds of pie--chocolate cream and Boston cream.

Jimmy Grissom (Jim Grissom's brother-in-law) and his daughter Laura and her family fed us Key Lime Pie for an afternoon snack...

Had dinner at Sister Hickey's house... chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh beans and tomatoes, cornbread and MORE PIE!

Such an amazing and memorable trip--I may even love the South as much as Hailey!!

SATURDAY... What a day!

 Busy day started at 6 am when I had John follow me to SLC to park my car close to the finish line and drop me off at the start of the Salt Lake Half Marathon at the U of U. There were lots of roads blocked off and the bicycle race started earlier so we almost didn't make it in time. I ended up getting in my corral at 6:50, 10 minutes before the start of the race.

 

I moved up to the 50-54 age category this year and ran a minute and 15 seconds faster which earned me both a 1st place in my age category and 1st place of all 50 and older females which they call the GrandMaster winner. I was shocked! Age does have its benefits!!

After the race I hurried to WXHS to watch Grayson play in an 8-team tennis tournament. WX ended up in 2nd place--runner up to the tournament.

Grayson got a whole hour to shower and change for the Prom. He took Bailey Passey--a close family friend which he's known since he was 6... They looked great together! They were in a group of 32 couples so they were able to do lots of fun things like rent out the So. Davis Rec. Center for their day activity, pictures at the Capital, dinner at Tucanos Brazilian Grill and indoor soccer after the Prom. He loves hanging with his best buddies...