Here are mom and Kate. Yes, we were all crying.
Annie and Hyrum hugging Grandpa!
The grandkids were so excited to see grandma and grandpa again! (Davy and Hope hugging a very happy grandpa!)
This was my favorite: "Joseph, meet your grandpa!" He reached out with both arms to give grandpa a great big hug, and he had a huge grin on his face. :) Dad got to meet 8 new grandkids (I think).
Dad and D.J.
Here is a somewhat brief chronicle of what we all did together...for the shorter version, see the bottom. :)
July 1 Kate picked me up from the airport, and we enjoyed an afternoon together around Temple Square (complete with a meal at the Lion House), and preparing posters for mom and dad's arrival later in the day. We all had a yummy dinner at Annie's house. Aunt Mary, Uncle Mark and their families came, as well as Ken and Tina Ray. Finally, we let mom and dad rest!
July 2 What would you rather do right after you got home from 3 years in Ukraine except go bowling and eat ice cream at the Wilkinson Center?? 3 years away, but dad still beat all of us! We had a fun picnic up at South Fork Park, and although most ended up soaked, none of the grandkids drowned.
July 3 Andersen family reunion at posterity park, complete with limericks. :) Later, another delicious dinner at Annie's house, as well as a firework show out front.
July 4 Carlos arrived!!! Carlos and his family got to meet dad for the first time. (and I don't even have a picture). We all enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Tucanos. That evening, the whole family came up to Carlos' house in Alpine for some more gourmet food and games! We all had a blast. Of course, the evening would not be complete without more fireworks! (Instead of fighting the traffic in Provo, we enjoyed our firework show, courtesy of Pleasant Grove Junior High).
July 5 Mission reunion with mom and dad's missionaries at the family park in Orem. We all had fun visiting together, and there were only minor casualties (Sean's goose egg). Mom and dad loved getting to catch up with all of them. It was fun to see the missionaries, and even catch up with the ones I met almost 3 years ago. We had fun playing Frisbee with the grandkids, and trying to keep them out of the irrigation.
July 6 Carlos had to return to MA (sad day) and D.J. and Julia's baby Lucy was blessed. She looked beautiful in her homemade dress--what a cutie. We all attended "our Orem ward" and enjoyed more family time together.
July 7 The drive to AZ with Mom, Laura and her 5 youngest kids. The kids were great, and I tried my best to behave as well--of course the stop at Wendy's and listening to Inside Out's "Primary Jamboree" helped. :) Dave and Tricia's Liberty was born that afternoon weighing in at a whopping 8 lbs. 14 oz. After two big boys, they got their big girl! She is a doll! Hooray for more girls!
During the week in AZ we had a blast eating and swimming at Laura's house, as well as dining at Costa Vida and Marble Slab. It was great just to relax and catch up. Mom and I got to go to lunch with Sister Ritchie (who set Carlos and I up) so I got to tell her all about our courtship--we are so grateful for sweet Sister Ritchie!!!
July 12 Anna (Mari's oldest) was baptized. I think our family took up at least half of the chapel. The grandkids did a great job singing, and Andrew, Maddie and Laura played "Be Still My Soul" beautifully on the cello, violin, and piano. Dinner was at Mari's house (we love to eat--can you tell?)
July 13 Spent some time visiting with one of mom and dad's missionaries and his wife before going to church. Mom and dad both gave inspiring talks during Sacrament Meeting. It's always good to go back to the home ward and see everyone in Mesa. Ate some gourmet fajitas (my all-time favorite food) at Laura's house and had some very neat experiences there. In the meantime, Carlos was in a car accident driving home from church in MA, and our car was totaled. Fortunately he was ok--minus the whiplash, poor guy. (more on that later) That night we went to an open house the stake put on for mom and dad (they're probably not supposed to do that, but it was very sweet of them). We stayed up way too late talking, but enjoyed being all together with mom and dad!!!
July 14 I returned to my injured husband in MA who was sweet enough to get a rental car to come pick me up in New Hampshire despite having spent most of the previous night at the E.R. by himself. And he even felt good enough to go to our favorite BBQ place Famous Dave's.
And that is what we did in the 1st two weeks that mom and dad got home--to sum up: they got home, met Carlos, had Lucy's baby blessing, baby Liberty was born, Anna's baptism, spoke in church, Carlos' car accident, and now we're all back home.
July 2 What would you rather do right after you got home from 3 years in Ukraine except go bowling and eat ice cream at the Wilkinson Center?? 3 years away, but dad still beat all of us! We had a fun picnic up at South Fork Park, and although most ended up soaked, none of the grandkids drowned.
July 3 Andersen family reunion at posterity park, complete with limericks. :) Later, another delicious dinner at Annie's house, as well as a firework show out front.
July 4 Carlos arrived!!! Carlos and his family got to meet dad for the first time. (and I don't even have a picture). We all enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Tucanos. That evening, the whole family came up to Carlos' house in Alpine for some more gourmet food and games! We all had a blast. Of course, the evening would not be complete without more fireworks! (Instead of fighting the traffic in Provo, we enjoyed our firework show, courtesy of Pleasant Grove Junior High).
July 5 Mission reunion with mom and dad's missionaries at the family park in Orem. We all had fun visiting together, and there were only minor casualties (Sean's goose egg). Mom and dad loved getting to catch up with all of them. It was fun to see the missionaries, and even catch up with the ones I met almost 3 years ago. We had fun playing Frisbee with the grandkids, and trying to keep them out of the irrigation.
July 6 Carlos had to return to MA (sad day) and D.J. and Julia's baby Lucy was blessed. She looked beautiful in her homemade dress--what a cutie. We all attended "our Orem ward" and enjoyed more family time together.
July 7 The drive to AZ with Mom, Laura and her 5 youngest kids. The kids were great, and I tried my best to behave as well--of course the stop at Wendy's and listening to Inside Out's "Primary Jamboree" helped. :) Dave and Tricia's Liberty was born that afternoon weighing in at a whopping 8 lbs. 14 oz. After two big boys, they got their big girl! She is a doll! Hooray for more girls!
During the week in AZ we had a blast eating and swimming at Laura's house, as well as dining at Costa Vida and Marble Slab. It was great just to relax and catch up. Mom and I got to go to lunch with Sister Ritchie (who set Carlos and I up) so I got to tell her all about our courtship--we are so grateful for sweet Sister Ritchie!!!
July 12 Anna (Mari's oldest) was baptized. I think our family took up at least half of the chapel. The grandkids did a great job singing, and Andrew, Maddie and Laura played "Be Still My Soul" beautifully on the cello, violin, and piano. Dinner was at Mari's house (we love to eat--can you tell?)
July 13 Spent some time visiting with one of mom and dad's missionaries and his wife before going to church. Mom and dad both gave inspiring talks during Sacrament Meeting. It's always good to go back to the home ward and see everyone in Mesa. Ate some gourmet fajitas (my all-time favorite food) at Laura's house and had some very neat experiences there. In the meantime, Carlos was in a car accident driving home from church in MA, and our car was totaled. Fortunately he was ok--minus the whiplash, poor guy. (more on that later) That night we went to an open house the stake put on for mom and dad (they're probably not supposed to do that, but it was very sweet of them). We stayed up way too late talking, but enjoyed being all together with mom and dad!!!
July 14 I returned to my injured husband in MA who was sweet enough to get a rental car to come pick me up in New Hampshire despite having spent most of the previous night at the E.R. by himself. And he even felt good enough to go to our favorite BBQ place Famous Dave's.
And that is what we did in the 1st two weeks that mom and dad got home--to sum up: they got home, met Carlos, had Lucy's baby blessing, baby Liberty was born, Anna's baptism, spoke in church, Carlos' car accident, and now we're all back home.
1 comment:
Sending you some love! Thanks for the pictures and writing about the happenings after Mom and Dad got home. Love you!
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