We Don't Put Plates on Walls!

When everyone was here at Christmas-time, two-year -old Gabbi said a cute thing. She was eating in our dining room all by herself. Michelle walked in to check on her and found her just giggling out loud. "What?" "What's so funny, Gabbi?" Michelle asked. Gabbi, looking up at all the plates on her Grandma's walls, was just cracking up. "We don't put plates on walls!" she giggled.

I guess it is kind of silly, Gabbi. When looking through the eyes of a child, we can see how silly some of the things we do are! But, silly or not, I like the plates on my walls!

24 Hours of Bliss

We do a lot of traveling now our kids are gone. But this time of year- tax season- we pretty much stay put. It's kind of nice. I like normal, day-to-day boring life. So, I'm not complaining. But I do look forward to our one getaway this time of year. Ken does government audits all during the fall and audits a lot of the little towns in Utah. All towns, by law, require an independent yearly audit- and many of Ken's audit clients are the little towns of Utah. His firm does them in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska, California and Arizona. But Ken's are all in Utah. So, then, sometime in December, January, or February he has to travel to those towns and attend their city council meeting and present the findings of the audit. Usually he drives up and presents, then drives home that evening, but the Tropic one is a little too far away and it's on a two lane highway where the deer roam- so it's not really safe to drive home at night. So, we've established the tradition of me going with him on that one each year. We spend the night at Ruby's Inn where we honeymooned and always go into Bryce Canyon National Park in the morning before we come home. This year we left at 1 pm on Thursday and got home at 1pm on Friday. So it was exactly 24 hours. We loved this little trip. It gave us time to talk in the car. Then, I loved sitting outside the city council meeting in the hall and listening to him present. It's obvious that they honor him and appreciate his work. It's fun to hear my husband work. This is the town of Tropic, taken from Bryce Canyon:

We ate at the lodge there at Ruby's Inn. When the hostess sat us at the table, we were surprised to be right next to three of Ken's first cousins. They were there, attending a quilting convention. They are all avid quilters and two of them were even presenting one of the classes. It was fun to see them. I wish I had thought to take a picture. I had the camera right there, but didn't think!

They have THE best food. I think I told you about it last year. It is really, really good food. Ken loves the "bottomless" hot chocolate and has it for dinner and then again in the morning for breakfast: I love the portabella mushrooms with gorgonzola cheese as an appetizer. Oh, my, my mouth is watering looking at this picture.

I was too busy eating to take a picture of the main course of steak. Oh, and the rolls. They are so good. Here's the wagon wheel dessert.

Then we swam off some of the calories consumed in the wonderful indoor pool, and then a soak in the hot tub.

The next morning, we went into Bryce Canyon National park. It is so pristine and beautiful . . . and silent. I think we forget what absolute silence is. We were the only ones at one of the lookouts and you couldn't hear anything except occasional sound of the wind. Peace . . .

We came home rested and renewed. I love our little 24 hours of bliss!

Hinton Family Pictures

When our family was here at Christmas time, we had family pictures taken. Here are some of my favorites:

Kristen and Jared's family:

Shonna and Blake's family

Michelle and Brian's family

Us with our Seven Grandchildren

The Original Five Hintons

Mother- Daughter Shot

Sisters

Three Best Sons- in - Law

And maybe my favorite of all: I just love this picture:

Lucky Rock

I own a lucky rock:

You may remember this guy- John:

From this post: http://kenandkayhinton.blogspot.com/2011/11/tuesday-st-lucia.html

If you don't remember: I was out in the ocean on a boat in St. Lucia last November, and this Rastafarian, John, paddled out on his "water taxi" to sell me stuff (and to get rum from our boat). We got to talking and he and I became friends. That's the short of it. But what I didn't tell you before is that John gave me a lucky rock. After we visited awhile, he reached down in his boat and pulled out a rock. Then, with great ceremony, he presented it to me, declaring it was a lucky rock- obtained from the local volcano. He told me it would bring me luck. I smiled. I thanked him, and when I got back to the ship, packed it in my bag and brought it home. I set it in a basket on my dresser and kind of forgot about it. Recently, I noticed it in there. Hmmmm . . . I thought. I guess it isn't that lucky of a rock. I thought of my teeth (three of them) that have broken since I got home. I'm still seeing the dentist, trying to get two of them fixed. The dentist broke the 2nd one, fixing the 1st one. Anyway, it's been quite an ordeal. I thought of the terrible cold I had last month- and still, I have a clogged ear, lingering from that. I thought of two of my grandchildren who have had RSV- one of them having to be hospitalized. I thought of other disappointments and hard things in my life. "No, that's no lucky rock," I thought. Then, in almost the same thought, I was overwhelmed with how lucky I am: I have the kindest, nicest husband who honors and loves me. I have three beautiful daughters whose greatest desire is to be a good mother and who strive every day to be a better person. I thought of my three fine sons-in-law. And then I thought of each of those seven precious grandchildren (LUCKY!) and how much I love them. I thought of my comfortable home with running (hot) water and a washer and dryer and dishwasher and computer and many, many conveniences that make my life better. I thought of the good people I live near, the opportunities I have to serve and the joy I feel in every day. I thought of my siblings and extended family and of my heritage. I thought of the many opportunities and blessings I have in my life. "Oh, yes," I thought," That is one LUCKY rock." That is a good, good rock. Now, I know you'll all be wanting a lucky rock, too. So here's what to do: Just go out in the ocean near St. Lucia and John should come floating up. Tell him you're there for a lucky rock and that Kay sent you. I'm sure he'll give you one. He's just that kind of a guy. OR, you could just sit down and think of all the ways the Lord has blessed you and guided your life. That might be cheaper, and I think you'd find that maybe you don't even need a lucky rock. I kind of suspect I don't need one either. But I'm hanging on to it . . . just in case!

Grandpa and Gabbi Christmas Duet

Whitethorn Woods

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy My rating: 2 of 5 stars This book was an exercise in frustration for me. I was relieved to finish it. I don't think that's the emotion you should feel when you finish a book. It wasn't a novel, really. It was a bunch of little stories, with the characters all having some connection to a place in Ireland- Whitethorn Woods. Some of the stories and characters intertwine, but it's very hard to keep track of everyone. Though Binchy is good at characterization, I kept forgetting them before they came up again, so I felt like I was always needing to go back and try to find them. I do like some of Binchy's earlier books, but just wasn't crazy about this one. View all my reviews

Patty and Hal come for a Winter Retreat

Last week, Patty and Hal came for a short visit. Hal is now a branch president at the MTC and had a big group of missionaries from his branch leave on Tuesday morning. So he felt he could miss his Tuesday evening responsibilites there. (He got another big group in on Wednesday) We always have such a good time when they come. On Tuesday, the sisters went for lunch at Sakura and had bento boxes. Yum! We were eating when Roger and Hal showed up to "take our picture." I think the waitress and staff there were pretty sure we were famous or something when two guys show up with cameras to take our picture! We then went sister shopping. We always have fun shopping together and talk each other into buying stuff. It's just what we do.

Then Wednesday, the guys went golfing. We all went to Pancho and Lefty's for dinner, then to Pam's for pie after. It was fun to visit and be together.

Thanks for coming, Patty and Hal . . . and thanks for the pictures, Pam and Roger! (I forgot my camera.)