Henry - Shelley Beatty

Ready for the 4th of July

Becca, Caroline and Henry all ready for the 4th of July!

Becca, Caroline and Henry

We arrived in Salt Lake City and knew we would have to wait a few minutes at the airport before our ride arrived. The Salt Lake airport is not a bad place to spend a few extra moments…it is a place you can witness a moment (and secretly share) the joy and happiness of perfect strangers.

We watched families welcome home and joyfully celebrate their returning missionary. These missionaries were returning home after serving a two year mission somewhere in the world for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). They had not seen their families for that entire time. Only Christmas and Mother’s day are they allowed to call home. Weekly emails were their only form of communication. Cheers would erupt as a young man in a suit would appear at the top of the escalator and slowly descend to the waiting group below. The cheering would continue, signs would wave and people would jump up and down. But when the young man reached the bottom, and it never failed, the first person he would embrace was obviously his mother. It was always a long, sweet and very emotional embrace. And then his dad would receive a big hug. And then siblings would “glom” onto him and create a mass hug. Other relatives and friends followed. So very heart warming. We knew no one, spoke to no one, but we witnessed, shared and thoroughly enjoyed, the sheer joy and happiness of perfect strangers watching their sons come home from their missions at the Salt Lake City airport.

Joyful reunions at the Salt Lake City Airport

And then it was on to other activities and a full few days we enjoyed with Jen, Adam and kids in Salt Lake City.

It was a busy time in Salt Lake City.

One of the reasons we came to Salt Lake City was to see the kindergarden production of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. More specifically the Queen in Sing a Song of Sixpence. We had to see her in the parlor eating bread and honey!

The Queen!

The Queen awaits

The Queen shows us her classroom.

We spent a fun day at This is The Place Heritage Park.

First a quick look at the map…

looking at map

One of the things Becca, Henry and Caroline were excited to show us were the baby animals. First stop the baby chicks.

Henry, Becca, Caroline, Bob and Myself viewing the baby chicks at Heritage Park SLC

Becca holding a baby chick

Bob holding a baby chick for Caroline

Henry holding a baby chick

Henry, Becca and Myself at the baby chicks

Becca and myself with the baby chicks

Next stop the baby goats.

Becca and Caroline with baby goats

Becca with the baby goat

Caroline feeding the baby goat

And of course the pony rides!

Craft making:

Making an Easter Craft

Making a craft at This is The Place Heritage Park

Henry’s craft

The blacksmith…

Visit to the blacksmith shop

The rope maker…

Becca and Henry helping make rope

Henry and Caroline watching Becca make rope

Tooling leather…

Becca showing her tooled leather

Henry and Becca working on tooling leather

Jen and Caroline tooling leather

Henry, Caroline and Becca working on their leather.

Train rides…

Jen and Caroline taking a little train ride

Train ride

But we came for gold, so pan for gold we did!

Becca panning for gold

Gold Rush!

Caroline panning for gold.

Henry and Becca hard at work.

Henry finding gold

Henry counting his gold.

Jen, Caroline and Becca at the stream.

And we struck “GOLD”!

Gold!

and Brigham’s doughnuts

Becca enjoying a Brigham doughnut

Brighams Donuts

And then it was time to go.

Jen and Bob

We enjoyed seeing friends.

Lunch with Carole and Sam Cowley

We built recycling trucks at Lowe’s.

Building at Lowes

Becca building at Lowe’s

Henry

Caroline

Building team

Building at Lowes

Henry

Ballet class.

Becca at ballet.

Soccer game.

Henry at soccer game.

Caroline enjoying soccer game.

We checked out Adam’s office.

Daddy’s office

Went to City Creek.

City Creek

And played in the park.

Caroline

Becca

Henry

Caroline

Becca

Bob watching Becca

Adam helping Caroline

Henry and Caroline

Henry

Becca

Henry

Becca

Becca and Caroline

Jen helping Caroline

All in all a busy wonderful time!!

Jen and family stop over in Kansas City on their move to Salt Lake City.

June 24, 2013 by shelley

Jen and the kids (and Izzy) flew to Kansas City and stayed a few days while Adam was driving (and moving their household) to Salt Lake City. Adam stayed the weekend and then was on his way to Salt Lake City. We enjoyed going for yogurt, Prairie Village Art Fair, playing and swimming in the pool.

Kansas City Art Show 2013

A fun visit from Jen, Adam, Becca, Henry and Caroline (and Izzy):

Becca, Henry, Caroline and Jen enjoying yogurt.

Becca and Henry in front of fountain in front of the Cheesecake Factory on the Plaza, Kansas City,Missouri

Me, Becca and Henry and Bob in front of fountain Kansas City Plaza.

Adam, Caroline, Shelley, Becca, Henry and Bob

Henry in the restaurant Blue Moose Antlers, Prairie Village Art Fair

Becca in the restaurant Blue Moose Antlers, Prairie Village Art Fair

Henry at Prairie Village Art Fair

Becca feeding Caroline

Caroline and Jen

Jen, Caroline and Becca swimming

Henry getting ready to swim.

Becca on slide

Becca having fun in the pool

Becca showing us how she can do “cannonball”.

Henry “thinking” about doing a cannonball.

Bob and Carl watching swimmers.

Becca showing us how she can do “cannonball”.

Henry and Becca paddling along.

Jen and Caroline watching Becca and Henry

Henry peeking out.

Decorating for Christmas

February 16, 2013 by shelley

I had just a few days to get ready for Christmas before people starting arriving so I decorated…

One of my favorite nativities is this antique nativity set I found years ago. Supposedly, it was in the window of Macy’s in San Francisco for years and years… but I have no proof of that, but we love it anyway. It was in very “rough” shape when I bought it, i.e. broken and glued etc. But we love it anyway.

Antique Nativity.

Santa by artist Jane Howard.

New decorations this year included two antique Santa faces that I tied to wreaths and placed on the back doors.

Antique Santa faces.

My new Christmas tree this year was a nativity tree, I have a collection of antique postcards, so these were put on a small tree with gold glitter stars and lights. It was quite pretty. Next year I think I will do a little bit bigger tree since I wasn’t able to use all the postcards.

Nativity tree.

More decor…

Kitchen mantle and large Santa, all by artist Jane Howard.

Kitchen counter tree.

I found these wonderful vases this year. They have numerous sizes and dimensions…all with liners. They are on-line at http://www.stemsvases.com/. I ordered them and gave them as Christmas gifts (with flowers). They were a hit!

When Becca and Henry arrived I had little trees for each of them to decorate.

Becca’s princess tree.

Henry’s car and “camo” tree.

First Thanksgiving ever away from home…

February 15, 2013 by shelley

Beautiful baby Caroline.

Becca

Caroline and Jen

Becca preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

For the first time since we have been married, nearly 35 years, Bob and I did not have our Thanksgiving dinner in our home. B.J. and Jenn were heading to Los Angeles, Becca and Carl are in Sweden, so Bob and I agreed to travel to North Caroline. It would be two people traveling, Bob and I, vs. five people traveling; Jen, Adam, Becca, Henry and Caroline. We enjoyed a beautiful traditional Thanksgiving at Jen and Adam’s home.