The Catch All of Happy Happenings

 Because the start of 2024 has been… shall we say… EVENTFUL…, I have been extremely negligent in keeping up this family history blog.  I intend to make every effort to be more punctual in my blogging, while at the same time acknowledging, this just might be the speed of this stage of life.  In which case, I intend to make every effort to adapt to the current speed of life. 

A little Just Dance— Bethany, Ben, Faith, and her swim friend, Dylan.  

Clark gave Abe a gift card to Red Lobster for Christmas and they had a marvelously messy time eating all the kinds of food I never want to go out for.

Abe’s cousin Tyler Jolley and his lovely wife Jeena have a son who married the niece of our dear friends, the Johansens.  Abe hadn’t seen Tyler and in many years and it was a joyful little reunion.

Temple time is happy time

One of the great joys in my life that I have done nothing to deserve, but am super grateful for, is being invited to go to enjoy awesome live theater with my dear Andrea.  Lucky for me, she loves the theater (and me) and often invites me (along with Abe) to come along.  Six at the Eccles theater was too much fun.

Shout out to this walking QUEEN!  Camille and I brave all sorts of weather year round to get in our “stupid mental health walks”. We are so brave and our “Walkie-Talkies” are so very therapeutic.  Bethany got married two weeks ago.  Camille’s daughter Corrine is getting married in three weeks.  Camille’s sister-in-law, Julie, from Michigan, whom I adore, has two children getting married here in Utah in April— roughly one week apart.  

When Julie is in town for planning purposes she joins our morning walks.  Together, the three of us makeup a very helpful Mothers of the Brides (and one groom) support group.  It’s actually been quite a blessing to feel so supported and understood in this role that is not always fully appreciated by said brides.  

I know I’ve introduced these two I other posts- but Brandon and Rachelle Gonzales are without question so of the most beautiful human beings I know.  Rachelle is my cousin.  They have seven children and recently moved back to Utah from Virginia.  We are thrilled to have them close.  Two of their girls are actually in seminary with Faith and Cannon.  This picture was taken at an art show in Provo where Brandon was showing a new collection.  He is amazing and I absolutely LOVE his style of painting.  I mean, look, we all know I am not a visual artist in any sense— but I know what I like and how it makes me feel.  I love his work and can’t wait to see more.

Abe is really good at catching moments for one-on-one tie with kids.  If often involves getting to eat out.

We recently gathered the extended Cannon family for a night of pizza and dodgeball/games at our church building.  Just for fun, because we could.  Life and schedules get so full that sometimes it’s hard to make time for the people we really love.  

It was a lot of fun with no tears and no injuries to speak of.  That is a WIN!

Awww… It’s their first Super Bowl together.  Ben and his whole family are huge Kansas City Chiefs fan.  

Did Abe, more or less, beg to be invited to Ben’s family’s Super Bowl party?  Yes, he did.  Did he feel any shame in such a request?  No he did not.

More temple time.  More regular time in the temple has been the best thing we’ve done in the last year.

A bachata dancing class date night for Valentine’s Day.  Ooh, la la!

It was a joy to accompany my beautiful niece, Aliyah singing in her Sacrament meeting. What a talented little nut she is! (did you catch the reference from Austenland? Consider this your sign that you need to go watch it.

We take a picture each time we go because it makes me happy and I like to remember it.

Bonnie and Clyde at Pioneer Theater Company.  This was a great show!  I mean, it is kind of a downer.  I strongly suggest knowing the ending before you go, lest you be terribly disappointed by the ending.  But I really liked the music and it was definitely a moving live theater experience.

A date night with Ben and Bethany.  This was maybe late February?  I don’t know— I have lost a sense of time passing.  Bethany told Ben that her parents wanted to go out to eat and “talk” to them.  Understandably, Ben was a little apprehensive at the idea of his future in-laws wanting to “talk”.  Bethany assured him, “No, no!  Nothing like that.  My dad probably wants to just tell us how much he loves us”.

She was right.  Abe just wanted to gush at how much he loved and them and how wonderful they were.  That’s Abe for you.

Bethany played in the orchestra for a four performances of a new Book of Mormon oratorio Converted Unto the Lord.  Actually this week they are professionally recording it.  It was SO GOOD— SO SO GOOD!  I can’t wait for it to be available to stream. If you ever have a chance to go see or hear it,  DO IT!

Oh… uh… don’t mind me—- it’s just us being spoiled at the Eccles theater with MJ the Musical- the Broadway story of Michael Jackson.  I know that he, as a person, is not everyone’s cup of tea— but you can’t deny how great his music, dancing and impact on music has been.  And the TALENT!  Are you kidding me?  I seriously thought I was as a Michael Jackson concert.  I felt the same way at Tina— the show about Tina Turner.  The talent of the actual subject, but also the talent of the actors who portrayed them.

Peter was overjoyed to get to go see Dune with Abe

Uncle Daniel and Clark met them there as well— a little boys night out

Too bad the picture is blurry— but this was a fantastically fun evening spent at Space Camp with the former Stake YM presidency Abe was a part of way back when.  Nate saw that we had done space camp as a family and wanted in on the action.  So the four couples went together.

Naturally, Abe was the captain.  With his physical resemblance to William Riker from Star Tre, it was really a no-brained

The captain’s inspirational speech before the mission began.  So moving.

Oh, look!  It’s Cannon first Choir concert at the high school.  I probably haven’t mentioned yet that Cannon is taking two (three counting seminary) classes over at the high school this semester.  Men’s Choir and a ACT prep/drivers ed course.  He has enjoyed choir and made it into Madrigals for next year.

I LOVE to hear Cannon sing!

Back when we briefly lived in Bluffdale, Bregan Webb was Abe’s assistant scoutmaster.  We’ve stayed fond friends it was sweet to see their sons singing together

Temple time

Ben’s sister Abby got married about two weeks before these two.  It was adorable and an accurate prediction when Bethany caught the bouquet.

Temple time with Cannon and other youth from the ward for an early morning youth temple trip

A beautiful reminder of how good God is

Fiddler on the Roof at Hale Center theater was so wonderful.  I’ll tell you what—- Fiddler hits different at this stage of life than it did a few years ago.  I’ve always felt for Tevye and Golda, but this time around I seriously empathized with them.  

Bethany and Lindsay and Lauryn reunited at Grace’s baptism

Most of us took a little day trip down to the open house of the Manti Temple.  It was so different from more modern-built temple and they really kept the antique beauty of the building and furnishings.  We loved it.

What handsome men-folk they are

It was good we arrived as early as we did because that line grew very long, very quickly.

Baden was was recently in town and a few of the Fox siblings enjoyed a dinner out together.  That's always fun-- loud-- but fun.

Temple time

Dinner at JCW's with the newly weds

And then TEMPLE TIME

Daniel is so sweet and happy and we all adore him.  I especially love that the younger kids get to experience having a baby in the house.