Summer 2009 Trip - Miami

While we were in Utah, Stacy and the children were in Miami. Stacy called to see if Grandma could come to Miami to hang out for a fewdays and then help her on the plane with them. Grandma jumped at the chance, and Jim decided to come with Alex when he came on the weekend. Most of the time was spent on the beach or in the pool, and otherwise enjoying the view of Miami from the condo. It was a fun time playing with the kids and visiting!

Summer 2009 Trip - Evan Baptism and Birthday

Because Evan's other grandparents, Janice and Scott Hartshorn, were visiting in Utah with their families, the decision was made to have Evan's baptism there. There was a short window of time before they left, so his Great-Grandparents made arrangements for the baptism to be held on his birthday. It was a special day for Evan, and both of his Grandmothers gave talks (Janice on Baptism and Nancy on the Holy Ghost). Several family members and friends were there to be a part of the occasion! After the baptism, there was a birthday party-reception at Bryan's Aunt's house. There was delicious food and a birthday cake for Evan. Grandma and Grandpa B were glad to be invited to participate, and enjoyed the chance to celebrate with Evan!

Summer 2009 Trip - Temple Open House

While we were in Utah, Cindy (Jim's Cousin) called. She was in town with Faie (another of Jim's cousins) and her boys. The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple was having an open house and they were attending, so Kristi, Grandma and Grandpa made arrangements to meet them there. It was fun to visit and to see the beautiful Temple!

Summer 2009 Trip - Daniels

Even in Utah, Grandpa enjoyed having the kids ride the cart through Wal-Mart. Jett and Daxton seemed to like it, too, and Daxton loved to drive! After a long day trying to get to Utah from Denver (the flight was cancelled after a mechanical when everyone was on board), Grandma and Grandpa ended up having to go through Bozeman, Montana, to get to the Salt Lake City airport. Kristi was really good to help find a way, and it was nice to be able to fly around the country! They got to see the Daniels' new home, and to get some good cherries and other fruit while they were there. It was also fun to sleep with the windows open and enjoy the cool nights!

Summer 2009 Trip - Reunion

Much as she hates to admit it, Nancy had her 50-year reunion at South High School in Denver, Colorado. Jim made the arrangements to go. Nancy said that she wouldn't know anyone, and Jim said he was determined to find someone who knew her. Sure enough, they found several people who recalled Nan Zabel...and a few she knew, too! One of the fellows there said that he went on a date with Nancy. She asked him where, but he didn't remember. At any rate, it ended up being an interesting experience. The first night everyone was trying to find people they knew, the next morning there was a tour of the high school, and that night there was a banquet. The high school was built in 1929 and is now listed as a Colorado Historical Monument...they have applied to be a National Historical Monument. It was a total of 8 stories high...5 stories of classrooms...and a clock tower. The elevator was being repaired, and Jim was pleased that so soon after his hip surgery he was able to climb 6 stories. Nancy went on to see the clock works and the tower. The lunchroom was on the 4th floor, where there were sandwiches and the choir performed. The 1959 Class at South High School was made up of about 1,000 students and was the largest graduating class in the school's history. There were new schools being built, and the students going there were dispersed after that. Because of its size, the class was split into two sections, one going in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Because of its size, there were several sports and academic records that have not been equaled. Both Jim and Nancy felt that it was a good experience and they were glad to have gone.

Summer 2009 Trip - Johnsons

We drove back to Denver on the 23rd, and met up with our friends, Jim and Karen Johnson. Karen babysat with J.J. when he was a baby, and we used to do things with them through the years we both lived in Denver. The camera was out of "juice", and we forgot about the camera in the phone, so we didn't get pictures. We were able to visit with Karen and their daughter, Elizabeth. for awhile in their home, and then Jim, Karen, Jim and Nancy went to dinner. It was just as though we'd never been apart! It's terrific to know that some friendships will continue even though time and miles keep us apart!

Summer 2009 Trip - Hayden

Curtis' brother, Berneil (Bud) and his wife, Carron, live in Hayden, Colorado, about thirty miles from Curtis and Shirley. We went to have lunch with them on the 22nd, and we had so much fun we stayed for dinner and birthday cake with their granddaughter, Aspen! Bud fixed us a delicious lunch and dinner, and we were able to eat outside on their porch. They have a wonderful backyard with lots of plants and trees. The weather in Colorado is beautiful and cool, and we loved the peacefulness of eating with them and visiting!
Bud mentioned that there was a Museum a couple of blocks from his house in an old train station, and the printing press that Grandma's Dad used when he ran the paper in Hayden was located there. We were excited to see it, so after lunch he took us there. One of the ladies who volunteered there was just leaving, but Bud knew her and talked her into staying to show it to us. It was really fun to see different things about the area and to hear all the stories! Sure enough, the printing press was there, and not only that, but a receipt for a newspaper subscription that was signed, "A. Zabel" (Grandma's Dad). Remember the story Grandpa tells about the baseball mitt that his Dad ordered to be sent in the mail? He found one just like it at the museum!
Grandma and Grandpa wanted to check out the house in Craig, Colorado (about 20 minutes away) where they lived for a short time when Dahra was about a year old. They drove over there and took pictures of the house and headed back. After a detour to take pictures of the grave of Grandma's brothers (stillborn before Grandma was born), they returned to Bud and Carron's for dinner on the porch again. Before it got dark, Bud took us on a tour of Hayden. We saw and took pictures of the hospital where Grandma was born, and the house where her parents lived when she was born.

Bud showed us the new houses built in Hayden and the High School where his son, Troy, is Principal. We also drove by the Nursing Home where a bronze that Curtis did is displayed. We were able to get a picture of it, and then we went back to the house to celebrate Aspen's birthday.

We also were able to get reaquainted with their son, Patrick, who is Hayden with his son, Nathan. We found that he does bronze artwork similar to Curtis. We saw pictures of several pieces of his work, and we shared with him the story of the butterflies that Lora used in her wedding. He was interested in maybe doing a wall hanging in bronze of the butterflies. We really enjoyed getting a chance to talk with him. Again, it was nice to get reacquainted with family and to enjoy the times we spent with them!