The Godfreys et al.

Alexis Grace

Originally uploaded by haras pilsah

I’m glad to see Abby made it into A.I.’s top 12.

Kris Allen

Originally uploaded by haras pilsah

Jamie too.

I tried to post a photo, but it ended up on my site. Look there.

what does everyone want to do this summer?? for the family reunion, i mean. i am in charge, although we all know i stink at planning so any help is appreciated. i think the best options are to rent a beach condo in San Diego and lay on the beach every day with maybe some Sea World thrown in, OR do the condo in Heber, UT and play in the mountains and maybe float the river, etc. i need some feedback.

My list of the top 25 fun times in Utah this week:
1. Traveling with Neil and Diana
2. Staying with Emily and Steve and Elliot and Aaron and Isaac and Norah
3. Being with Abby and Jamie and Milo and Pearl
4. Arriving in Salt Lake City to glorious winter weather
5. Eating at DoDo’s at Gateway
6. Going to the BYU Art Museum
7. Eating Steve and Emily’s wonderful breakfast
8. Watching the kids while the adults went skiing at Sundance
9. Riding the TRAX to Temple Square New Year’s Eve to see the Temple Square lights
10. Enjoying hot chocolate and sandwiches at the snack bar at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building
11. Running into my cousin Charmaine and her daughter Becky there
12. Naming our 2008 “best of” and “worst of” on the train home
13. Disembarking TRAX in time for Norah to vomit on the platform. Sorry you were motion-sick, Norah, but thanks for the timing.
14. Eating the super brunch on New Year’s Day at the Craigs’
15. Sledding at Rock Creek Park in the Peter Breugel painting setting
16. Surviving the unplanned air ride Pearl and I took
17. Watching various family members excel at/learn snowboarding
18. Eating the great food at the Indian restaurant
19. Walking through the neighborhood to the “Y” trailhead-never did Utah Valley look so perfect!
20. Playing “Settlers of Catan” (really, Emily, I’ll play it again) and Rummikub
21. Enjoying the company of Elinor, Alan, Kathy, Paula, Sabre and Raven at lunch
22. Walking down the hill to The Creamery for ice cream and sandwiches in the perfect crystal nighttime
23. Laughing at Aaron and Papa’s comedy routine
24. Getting safely to the airport in the suddenly descending snowstorm/knowing Emily made it safely home
25. Surviving the airport delay, de-icing and turbulence going home
It was a fabulous trip, everyone. We missed the Philly and Queen Creek members. Thanks to all. Love, Mom

sarah baby book scan 1

Originally uploaded by haras pilsah

Happy Anniversary! You’re the best.

Now that the church production of “The Down and Back Boys” is over, I have time to post a run-down of the “best of” from our S.F. trip with the Sharps, followed by a quick trip to Provo, spent with the Craigs. In no particular order, these were memory-makers:
1. staying in an OK motel a 5-minute walk from Ghirardelli Square (that’s “Gag ‘n Gargle” to Milo) for several hot fudge sundaes
2. eating clam chowder in bread bowls at the Blue Mermaid in Fisherman’s Wharf area
3. being a few feet away from the Blue Angel pilots as they left the motel next to the Blue Mermaid on their way to the fabulous air show
4. walking every day by the high school where O. J. Simpson attended–on the way to F. Wharf (not really a highlight, but hey . . .)
5. finding wonderful city parks in every neighborhood where Milo and Pearl could play
6. attending church in the Bay Ward-friendly members; wonderful soprano soloist singing “O Divine Redeemer”; Abby’s blogging friend met
7. watching the Blue Angels air show from the Wharf beach-pure thrills!
8. happening upon the Columbus Day Parade in Wharf area-representing many cultures of the area
9. eating fried potato chips at a nearby greasy spoon
10. dining with Paul, Karin and Ben at an El Salvadoran restaurant in Mission District
11. dining with Richard and Clare at Andy’s Chinese restaurant in Russian Hill District
12. walking across the Golden Gate Bridge and down into charming Sausalito (4 miles)
13. riding the ferry back to S. F. and being smack next to a Pendleton clothing model shoot
14. watching Milo’s enthusiasm for riding the buses
15. riding cable cars-chugging up and down the steep hills
16. taking buses and mostly walking to Haight-Ashbury District where we ate lovely sandwiches at The People’s Cafe
17. walking to the “Painted Ladies” row houses where Abby filmed her Full House scene
18. enjoying the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park
19. touring a newly commissioned Coast Guard boat
20. seeing the same L.D.S. missionary in the Mission District that we had met in church a few days earlier
21. relying on Jamie to speak Mandarin to the cab drivers and restaurant servers
22. hunting down a Chinese lady in S.F. who was selling cute crocheted animal hats–we heard about her at a park in Sausalito
23. talking to the crew of a boat from China that had just docked after spending 69 days on the seas, replicating a pre-Columbus crossing
24. eating a table full of delicious food at Sam Wo’s in Chinatown, all for just $28
25. eating breakfast at Judy’s in the Marina District and Dim Sum in Chinatown and luscious chocolate doughnuts every morning at our hotel
26. in Utah, driving the Alpine Loop with Emily and Steve & enjoying a picnic at Sundance
27. visiting my niece Kris in her new home in Alpine
28. hiking the Timpanogos Trail with the Craigs and going into the 3 caves there
29. exploring the incredibly beautiful gardens at Thanksgiving Point
30. enjoying lunch with the Craigs and Sharps at Sizzler and a family dinner at the Craigs that night
31. spending time with family-that was the best of all!

Hi. This is really Diana. What does everyone want for Christmas? Food, toiletries, clothes, books, toys, candles? And what sizes do all the kids wear? And who do Neil and I have this year? Please respond promptly. Thank you very much.

I’ve tried to post a photo, to no avail. I’m close to a meltdown, but I’ll take a deep breath and try again tomorrow. Have a great birthday, Ryan. love, Mom