Haley's Birthday Event

We happened to ask our oldest grandchild, Haley (who was turning 9), what she would like for her birthday this year. She said, "I want to go to a play with you and grandpa!" We couldn't find an appropriate play that was playing but we found a fabulous concert of the Duttons. This family usually performs in Branson, Missouri but has made Mesa, AZ their winter home. So we got tickets and took Miss Haley to the show and then to dinner afterwards. Here are some photos of our evening!

Haley and Sandi before show starts



Here some of the Duttons are playing the fiddles. The one on the far left then put his fiddle behind him and the guy on the far right used his bow to play it. They were amazing!

 

Benjamin Dutton (left) played a funny character "Julio" who wanted to audition
for the Duttons and be in the show. He was crazy but he could really play the horns!

 

Here Amy Dutton on the far left, 15 year old Jessica, and 12 year ? sang. The 12 year old has an amazing voice!!

After the Dutton show, we took Haley to the Organ Stop Pizza at Southern & Stapley. This is one famous place. Packed! They have great food, (beware only cash or check!) and an organ that comes up from the ground and the organist plays incredible show tunes or hits. This organ is set up with all kinds of instruments that play with him with a touch of a button. Amazing. We put in a request for Phantom of the Opera and Star Wars. He played both - but the entire songs from each show in a medley! We loved it! 

Haley standing just below the organ while he played.



Another view of his organ.

We had a great time with our oldest granddaughter.  We will have two grandchildren born this year. One in April and one in July...then it will be 14 under age of 9!

Copper - Temple Square - Family

Recently we spent a week in Utah. Curtis had business at the old Kennecott Copper mine which is now called Rio Tinto. His boss from Mexico City wanted to see a Concentrator so a tour was arranged. Rick Newman (from old San Manuel days) now runs the concentrator. It was amazing to see since Curtis was involved with the expansion of it a couple of years ago.  They wouldn't let us take any photos inside,but below is a picture of us as we started the tour. We had to get hard hats, steel toe booties (go over our tennis shoes), vests and safety glasses.

After the tour of the concentrator we had two hours. Mr. Martinez' brother is a member of the LDS church and he told him he needed to see Temple Square. So we were the tour guides. Was so fun. We visited the two visitor centers on Temple Square. It was really nice to see a model of the Salt Lake Temple that had a cut out so you could see what the inside looks like. 



Model of Salt Lake Temple with side cut out
so you can see the rooms inside exactly how they are.

Raul and Sandi at reflecting pond in front of Salt Lake Temple

 We then drove back out to Kennecott and met Daniel Kim who is over the Refinery Tankhouse. Curtis and Mr. Kim used to carpool for YEARS from Tucson to San Manuel. It was so nice to see him again and have him show us around. This tankhouse was almost double the size of the San Manuel one!  By now it was 3:30 in the afternoon and we were hungry. So we headed back to Salt Lake. We decided to eat in the Garden Room - my favorite place!

 This photo was taken from the Garden Room where we were seated for dinner. Great view! We had a great meal - but I sure missed the large hard rolls they used to have. Apparently Nov 1st of 2011 they changed their menu to an italian flare. Still great!

When we came downstairs from the Garden Room we exited through the lobby. Mr. Martinez was curious about Brigham Young so we were taking him to see his house called the "Beehive House", but as we passed this display of the First Vision of Joseph Smith I explained to him who Joseph was and all about it. 

 After the tour of the Beehive House (forgot to take photos!) we walked over to Temple Square again and went inside the Tabneracle. There was a sister Missionary (female) who spoke spanish and was from Mr. Martinez' same town north of Mexico City.  Small world!!! We wrapped up our little tour with the North Visitor center and the Christus statue and a spanish tour of the Family.

After taking him to his hotel, we then drove up to Kaysville Utah to spend the next 2 1/2 days with Curtis' parents. We had a great time visiting with them, Curtis took his dad to the doctor for his checkup, we went out to eat with Curtis' mom's siblings, and we had an enjoyable visit with as many of his sisters we could see. Time was just too short.

 When Curtis took Melvin to the doctor, they had this really cool window with water running down over it. Reminds us of Israel - they had running water in every building. It represents life.

Our last day with his parents, we went for a drive - trying to find John Taylor's cabin in West Kaysville. We found these two LDS Chapels with parking lots, back to back! You can see the 2nd chapel in the background. Wow! Us from Arizona that have a hard time getting buildings, they are in abundance in Utah! Notice the snow on the hills, the temperature there all wee was 32-40 degrees. I nearly froze! Had to buy a new winter coat (it goes down to -12) and lined gloves. I can now stay warm no matter where I am!

Gibb Mountain

Gibb Mountain

There is this huge hill across the street from my parents' home. Ever since they have lived there we have called it "Gibb Mountain".  My dad has spent hours making trails out in the desert. He removes the rocks from the trails and uses them to line the walkway so you can see an actual path to hike. Horses and people from his area all use his paths. As the great grandkids have now started hiking Gibb Mountain and these trails, they each want to know where their special spot is. So dad has named some of them as: Carter's Campgroung, Jaycie Junction, Haven's Island, Christian Crossing, etc...  So as we are out hiking, which ever child is with we go to their "named place" and talk about how great they are and their name sake!

So recently we have made two trips to Gibb Mountain.



At the end of my dad's driveway he has place checkerboard tiles. So it is either the start line or finish line depending on what you are doing. So above is the start of the hike!

 My dad's dog, Ochie, will only let kids near her. Amazing enough she will let Haley hold her. Makes everyone jealous! We are standing on one of the trails and Haley is letting Ochie rest from the hike.




We made it to the top! Even 3 year old Noelle. Notice how she is holding my hand, so I don't fall!

 A couple of weeks later, we took Jason's two youngest out for the hike. Here we are at Carter's Campground. He is so proud of this spot. One day his dad is suppose to take him camping here.

We have been to the top and heading back down. Curtis took our picture while he and Carter were still on the peak. Behind us you can see going horizontally one of the paths dad has made. They are all over the desert there. The other thing the kids love is Curtis is into rocks. The kids know it and ask him every few feet, what rock is that? What rock is that?  He often gets left with the child most interested in knowing "what rock is that?"

We have lots of fun hiking together.