All Those Little Moments . . .: March 2024

March started off with a trip to Vegas. For Christmas Kelly and I got ourselves tickets to U2 at the sphere. Ellie came along for the quick weekend trip.

We arrived Friday night and left Sunday. We stayed at Treasure Island and had a view of Trump tower.

I started the morning with a run down the windy strip and back.

I enjoyed the warm sunny weather.

Later we spent time walking the strip where we spent time in Ellie's dream of shoes

Chinese New Year

Some time in a replica town of Hawkins, Indiana and visited some of the key locations from the show.

Lost dad for a few minutes and then found him here.

The sphere was so cool!!

We walked from TI where we left Ellie to hang out on her own. We warned to not open the door for anyone and suggested she watch Ocean's Eleven or similar.

The Venue was seriously extraordinary. Felt like there really wasn't a horrible seat.

So many cool features throughout the show the pictures just don't give it justice.

We embraced the moment and enjoyed every minute. Took pictures to try to keep the memory as much as possible. Definitely worth the high priced tickets.

There was the feeling you get when riding Soaring the World in California adventure like you're right in the middle of what's on the screen. Again, just have to go be there and experience it.

Later in March we were heartbroken to say goodbye to Great Grandma Larson for a time as she left this Earth to be with Great Grandpa. It was about year since we said goodbye Great Grandpa.

Why is it that we have to wait for funerals to gather families together?

Twinning is Winning with Aunt Kimberly

Morning run in Boise

Checking on our old house(first home for us).

Great Grandma's funeral service was at the Veteran's Cemetery in Boise.

It was a nice service for Great Grandma. Each of the eldest granddaughters said a few words and unfortunately the service was cut off as there is a strict schedule and everyone is given only a certain amount of time. We missed a song to be sung, but the words shared about Great Grandma were a beautiful tribute to the life she lived and the influence she had on so many. We love her and miss her. Until we meet again.

We received a photo album from great grandma and as I was looking through it I came across dad's missionary picture. I had to double take as I thought I was looking at Ethan. I always thought for the most part Ethan looked more like me. I stand corrrected.

The evening after the funeral we were at Great Grandma and Grandpa's where the grandkids and great grandkids were able to take a few things that might be special for them. Dad got this hat of great grandpa's.

Our teen driver Ellie, getting her hours in.

Heart shaped rocks.

They are there when you choose to look and see them.

Sunday stroll. He totally missed the duck/geese walking

Sacrament sketching on St. Patrick's Day

Ellie made a bunch of bracelets and sent them to Ethan to give out to kids.

They finally arrived and Ethan was able to share them.

Lot's of pictures from our missionary. Doing well sharing the Gospel to the people of the Philippines.

Also being a 20 year old boy at the same time.

Missionaries in charge of the bulletin board.

visiting a fancy resort and not being able to take advantage of the amenities.

Manila Temple

Meanwhile Ellie back in the states getting an X-ray for her hip that has been bothering her for quite a while. We never did get to the bottom of things, but ended up with several weeks of physical therapy.

In March I had the opportunity to join a team made up of professors and educators from Utah State, Logan district, Wasatch district and Ogden district to visit some schools and state people in Mississippi to learn about the work they have done in increasing literacy and learning in their state over the last several years in regards to the science of reading. We flew into Memphis staying just outside the city and then we traveled south to Oxford and visited school districts surrounding.

When we first arrived we ate dinner at a popular BBQ restaurant in downtown Memphis.

After dinner we were able to do a drive by of Elvis's Graceland and only had time to stop for a peak through the gate and a picture.

We were up and at early the next morning. The sunrise on our way to our first school was beautiful. This picture does not do it justice.

Our first day we visited two elementary schools in two different school districts. They were very different than the schools where we teach. The were small communities and they were implementing a new state curriculum. I was enthralled by the heavy southern accents of the teachers and students. It was such a unique experience and opportunity.

In between the two school visits, we ate lunch at a popular restaurant in a small town where they served cabbage rolls and some other specialties foods. I tried them, but I cannot remember the name of the food, the restaurant or the type of food that it was (it was not the normal southern food). This is what happens when I journal about this over a year later.

Made it to Oxford where we walked around the campus before a meeting with our hosts, state people from Mississippi and then had dinner.

We got to stay at the Inn at Ole' Miss and it was a beautiful, elegant hotel with southern charm and beauty that one would think for a legendary place that generations of Ole Miss Alumni might frequent to use their season tickets for games and such. Ya'll it was definitely out of my league and I only wish we had stayed more than one night and I could have had the opportunity to enjoy the accommodations longer. Who needs two bathrooms in their hotel room?

I took advantage the next morning and toured more of the campus on foot with a jaunt around Ole Miss Campus. I generally love college campuses and this was no different. The history and ambiance of the campus in the early morning was awesome.

The next day took us to another school to visit and short walking tour of the town of Oxford.

We finished the day with dinner at the famous Taylor Grocery and Restaurant which is said to have the South's best cat fish. It definitely was a unique place and was kind of in the middle of nowhere.

Our group had it's own room and was given a choice of several dishes to choose from.

The wall is covered by names of all who have visited. I loved that I found the names of my kids and this particular name looks just like how Ellie once wrote her name.

E.K. and Coop

Of course I had the catfish and hushpuppies. They were quite tasty.

I loved my visit to Mississippi and am grateful for the opportunity I had to join this group. I never would have reason to go to Mississippi otherwise. It definitely intrigued me and I would love to visit more of the south one day.

Back to the snowy spring of Cache Valley