Trip to San Diego and Good News

These are pictures from our trip.

Last Wednesday, March 18th, Dick, Billy, Ryan and Spencer all headed off to Arizona to meet other male Dalebout clan members for Spring Training and to have some male bonding time.

So, Jenny said to me: "Mom, why don't you and I take my three kids and drive to San Diego to see Amy and her family." I consented even though I really don't like driving eleven to twelve hours in a day. Early Wednesday morning, Jenny and I started to drive to San Diego. Twelve hours later, we arrived in one piece, much to our relief. It was really beautiful there--around 65 to 70 degrees for most of the time we were there. Zack wasn't feeling too well and had a fever for a couple of days, but that didn't stop us from having some fun.

All the girls and Zack went to Knott's Berry Farm on Thursday. I haven't been there since my kids were young. It has changed a great deal--a lot more thrill rides (several roller coaster-type rides). The Ghost Town I remember seemed smaller and kind of quiet. It was a great day to go to Knott's Berry Farm, because there weren't a lot of people there and we could get on rides pretty fast. So, it was fun. Poor Zack. We ran his little legs off and he wasn't feeling well. but, he was a really good sport.

The next day was a slower day. We attended Ashlynn's choir performance and watched her do her air guitar solo. The choir was really good and we loved watching Ashlynn's enthusiastic performance. We had to stay for two performances so we could see her do it again. It was fun.

That night, Scott, Amy, Jenny and I went to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic." It was pretty funny. Scott was really a good sport to go with three women to a chick flick. Ashlynn and Ali tended the little kids. They were so cute with them and played games with them. Then, they gave each one a report card telling how well they behaved and how well they went to bed. I'm happy to say that Milly got a 9.5 on her report card, the highest score. She was a real trooper.

On Saturday we went out to the beach and rode bicycles along the beach path. There were a lot of people walking up and down the path and it made for some interesting bicycling (nine bikes). But, we had a good time. After the bike ride, everyone wanted to go out to the beach and play. It was FREEZING! But, all those little kids got in their swimming suits and ran out in the cold water. Burrr! Then, they played in the sand for a while. I didn't even get in the water and I had to have a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, along with my jacket. We then went to eat at the Soup Plantation and finally got warm. It was a fun day.

The drive back home to Utah was a "white knuckle drive" through the Beaver area, as it was quite a blizzard and I was driving. Everyone knows how much I dislike driving the freeway, and especially in the snow. But, despite it all, we made it home in eleven hours. We had a great visit and the kids were really good and had a great time together! Amy, Jenny, and I had some fun time together also.

The "Good News" is that our mission papers are finally turned in. We had our interview with the stake president on Tuesday night and he submitted them that night. But, because of April Conference, we probably won't get our call until mid-April. Again, we'll just have to be patient.

Two Days of Clogging Competition

Dick and I spent Friday night and Saturday morning attending Ali's and Zack's clogging competition at Thanksgiving Point. On Friday night, Ali's team performed and won four 1st place awards. They were competing with mostly older kids, even high school age. So, they did very well. They did "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," and here is Ali in her costome. Isn't she cute.

Here is a partial picture of her team.

Friday night, we brought Spencer and Milly to our house to sleep over. Ali, Zack and Jenny stayed at Larry and Geri Wood's for the night, so they could be closer and get to Thanksgiving Point the next morning. Ryan was in St. George at meetings for the City, so he wasn't here to help her.

Saturday morning, Ali did some solo dances, which means two people dance together for about a minute. She and her friend got 2nd place in both dances. In the evening, Ali won three 1st places in freestyle and something else. Zack's team placed 1st in its events, and he placed 1st in his solo dances. Clogging is so fun to watch, but especially Ali's team and Zack's team. That's probably because they're my grandchildren. Here are some pictures of Zack, Milly and Spencer at the competition.

Doing My Brother's Temple Work

I've waited for a week before posting this because I thought I would have a picture to put on my blog, but I haven't received the picture. You see, I did take my camera, but the battery was dead, so I didn't get the pictures I wanted.

Last Friday at 12:00 noon, Grandpa Dalebout, Billy, Dick and I went to the Draper Temple open house. The temple is a very beautiful temple, about mid-size. It sits up on the hill above Draper. It overlooks the whole city of Draper and even into the Salt Lake Valley. The granite on the outside came from China, and the cherry wood inside the temple is from Italy, I think. It has one of the largest sealing rooms in the Church. They do not rent clothing, and most of the evening sessions require a reservation. I think the afternoon sessions are open.

We went up in two cars. Billy drove Grandpa Dalebout's car, and Dick and I took our car because Dick and I were meeting Budd and Jenny Yates at the Jordan River Temple so that Budd could go through the temple for my brother, Bob. Budd is Bob's stepson. Because Grandpa had a handicap parking sticker, Billy and Grandpa drove right up to the temple and parked by the door. Dick and I had to go to a church about a mile away and wait in a long line to take the bus up. Because time was at a minimum, I talked to a nice young lady and asked her if we could skip the 15-minute video and just get on the bus so we could meet Grandpa and Bill and not be late for our appointment at the Jordan River Temple. She checked and was nice enough to find a brother who said he would drive us up. We arrived in the temple just as Billy and Grandpa left the video room. So, we were able to go on the tour of the temple together. We saw Gloria Barrick ? and husband and grandchildren there. Gloria said they lived about two blocks away. She looks good.

Afterwards, we all drove back to the church where we parked our car and then went to a Subway and ate lunch. Grandpa and Billy then drove home.

Dick and I went on to the Jordan River Temple, where we met up with Budd and Jenny. They are a really nice young couple and I'm glad we were able to get to know them better. We had a very nice session together. Afterwards, we went into a sealing room and Dick and I stood in proxy for my parents, and Budd for Bob. I felt a very special feeling and know that my parents are very pleased. I truly hope that Bob accepts his work being done. I think he will.

We then went out and Jenny took a picture on her cell phone. She hasn't sent it to me yet, but when she does, I will post it. We called Ruth (Bob's wife) and said we'd all like to go out to eat. So Dick and I went over and picked her up, and Budd and Jenny met us at Applebee's. We had a great visit and ate good food. I think Ruth was very pleased about Bob having his work done. She gave permission to have it done. I wish she would become active and do her work. Maybe Budd's influence will help her. But, I really don't see it happening in this life.

All in all, it was a very pleasant and rewarding day.