The epic bike ride

Wes and 4 other guys from our ward set out to bicycle from Sacramento to San Francisco.  It is about 110 miles.  They took bikes trails and back roads and finally the BART to cross the bay from Oakland to San Francisco.  They rode along the Embarcadero and over the Golden Gate Bridge to end their epic ride. 

 It was a foggy weather at the bridge. 

 Dieter and I (along with our friend Rachel) went to pick up Wes.  I was so proud of him!    

These are all the guys that went (Eric, Jeff, Scott, Bill and Wes).  After 110 miles they were exhausted, but they let me take their picture for the history books!  

for kicks and giggles

 My brother and sister-in-law (Jeff and Victoria) found this funny binky for Dieter.  I let him see himself in the mirror after he had put it in his mouth and he got a good laugh out of it. 

Salt Lake and Such

 We stayed made it to Bountiful to watch my niece and nephew in their musical "you're a good man, Charlie Brown".  It was fun to watch.  Lizzie played Lucy and Chris was a townsman.

 Gabby loved playing with Dieter.  She wanted to do everything for him: change his diaper, feed him and bathe him.  She was so nice to let him play drool on all her toys!

 We went to temple square to finish our Utah Church History Tour.  We took a tour of the Beehive House.  Dieter got hungry and so the sister missionaries made it a quick tour. 

 We got the little one fed and he was happy as a clam for the rest of the time! 

 After temple square we went to my sister's house to visit with her.  My mom was there too. She had been up for the play plus some school board meetings.  We got to see Tiffany's new tutoring center.  We then went back to Jeff and Victoria's to play games with them and Charles and Angie.  We had so much fun playing "Time's Up".  What a fun game!  By the end of the night we were laughing so hard our cheeks hurt. 

 Our week vacation came to an end and we had to head back home.  I sat in the back and tried to entertain Dieter for the 10 hour ride.  I got him to sport his new BYU hat.  I also tried to hide his binki from him.  He found it.   And then started laughing at me (picture below).  We couldn't have asked for Dieter to be a better trooper on the drive.  I think he might be genetically wired for traveling!

 

not the regular drive to Provo

 We took the back roads up to Provo.  The valleys along the way are really pretty.  We stopped at the Manti Temple (another place Wes had never been).  Dieter was all too excited to get out the car.  He didn't care that it was so, so cold. 

 This is Dieter's introduction to statues.  He was absolutely intrigued by them.  He wasn't quite sure what to do with them around.  It was really funny!

 Once again he got his chance to touch the snow.  He was really trying to figure out how to get it in his mouth.  What a cute little rascal!

 He warmed up to the Brigham Young statue.  He especially liked his cane.  This was his first college tour, and I think he liked it well enough to apply there!

 The Opp boys in front of the Law Building

We dropped in to see the ladies at the bookstore and very few were there (they were out of town on fun bookstore business).   I hardly know anyone there any more, but I guess it has been about 9 years since I worked there.

snow and cove fort

 We woke up to SNOW.  Snow in April-what the what?!  Anything can happen in Utah.   Dieter was amazed by the white stuff and couldn't wait to get out there to touch it. 

 Wes had never been to Cove Fort and ever since we were dating we kept saying we need to go.  After all it is only about 20 minutes from Beaver.    It was the first of several stops that became part of our Utah Church History Tour.

tax day

 Ah, April 15 (rather, ARG!!! April 15).  It comes around so quickly each year.  Since we were in Beaver for the big day, Wes and I (and Dieter) helped my dad with some last minute stuff.  The post office in Beaver closed promptly at 4:30pm.  We had some things that had to get in the mail past that time, so we took a drive to Cedar City and popped in the post office there.  All the while, Dieter was a good sport and helped us get the work done.

Grandma's Funeral

 My grandmother's funeral was beautiful.  There was plenty of crying and plenty of laughter.  I think she would have wanted us to have more laughter and less crying.  All of her grandchildren were there and we all got to give tribute to her during the funeral service.  It was fun to hear and remember everyone's memories of grandma.  She is truly going to be missed by all that knew her.

 These handsome boys are just three of my nephews

These two little girls have captured Wes's heart...I'm sure of it!

 My two oldest nieces that are growing up way too fast!!  They need to stop, they are making me feel old.  Dieter was a trooper.  We drove from Sacramento to Beaver on Friday (all. day. long.)  Then we woke up early to go through a long, emotional day of the funeral and burial.  He was so, so good!

 One of the traditions grandma had was whenever we left her house, she would chase us as we drove down the street.  The  funeral director was kind enough to let us chase grandma as he drove to the cemetery.  I think grandma probably got a good kick out of that!

 It was fun to get together with all the family.  We got to share so many stories and laughs as we remembered grandma.

 

 We all got to lay a flower on her casket to end the day. 

 

 Grandma's husband, Max was extremely sad.  Wes and I got to visit him before we came back to California. 

 It was an emotional day for all of his.  We are going to miss our grandma dearly.