Christmas 2012 Park City

 With the Lyons Family, Park City Utah, Karli, Heather, dauther Val with Andee, Jamie, Laura and Dean

 Lighting of a resort entry by Brite Nites, our son in law Dean's company.

The main Town Square. Christmas in Park City would be rather dim without the talent of the Brite Nites crew.

 The entrance to a famous restraunt in downtown Park City, again the work of Brite Nites.

Trip to Castle Rock Colorado

 "Oh those Rollingson boys" Left to right, Auston, Owen and Nelson. (our grandsons) The occasion was Owen's baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Castle Rock Colorado.

 Owen had just turned eight years old and is pictured here with a big grin on his face.

 Baptism was performed by his father Derek Norman Rollingson. Shown here with proud mother Tawnya.

While there, we indulged in a little family bonding target practise with Dereks arsonal collection. "Don't mess with Grandma"

Trip to Vancouver Island

  Boy are we getting behind on our blog posting. We had two excuses to make a fall trip back to the Island. Took the trailer to Antecortez Washington, unhooked and took the truck only through one of our favorite parts of the world, the San Juan Islands. It was a drizly gloomy day but very pleasant watching the whales and the porpoise greet the ferrie..

 Number one excuse was to see my favorite niece Connie Furgason Card.who that day was hosting a demonstration on caligraphy at a local art store in Sydney British Columbia.

Connie lives in Sydney with a view of the Georgia Straight off her balconey although she has since moved to Lethbridge Alberta. Saw many of our old friends at church which was a real treat.

 Second excuse was a visit with our dear friends Karre and Vida Gronnestad just north of Duncan. View of the Island from atop the mountain behind their property.

 Naturally we had to be introduced to her small herd of cows. "Pleased to meet (meat) you.....poop on my shoe and you're between two slices of bread."

While we were serving our mission in Hungary, the Gronnestads were serving in Denmark and recently returned from a humanitarian project in Haiti.

Takeing on "The Wall"

 Our grandaughter,Jaime Lyons, a recent UVU graduate in athletic science has instigated a family fitness program that many of us are victims of. While she is sluffing off and teaching in the Ukraine, we are puffing our way into shape in various locations back here in North America. The way it works is simple enough. Eat right and exercise, go to bed early, read your scriptures and drink mega glasses of water. Our weekly exercise program consists of 6 x 1.5 hours of alternating walking, biking, working out in the weight room, swimming for Heather and hunting  golf balls for Norm.

We have a favorite place close to our house for biking, however till now we were limited as to how far we could go because of "The Wall" ( a steep mile long hill). Last year we had convinced ourselves that our 71 & 72 years and our 7 speed bikes were a limiting factor.

However now that we are perfected in our fitness, I for one have been whitling away at the hill for weeks, just a bit at a time. Today was the day for the full montey. I reached the top in jubilation, only to look back and see Heather coming close on my tail.    

The Wall is a favored route for bikers as it is on the St George Sand Hollow Triathelon route. A sign at the bottom just beyond the cattle guard reads "You Can Do It". About half way another sign reads "Almost There".At the top.......well the picture says it best. 

Here's Norm, the skiney guy in the black and blue jersey. What is all this silleyness doing for me? Well losing weight is good. (6.2 lbs since Jan.1) Doc says the high blood pressure has evaporated. Blood sugars remain normal and life is good.......and yes going back down the hill was a piece-a-cake.

Maja Enchanted Part ll

It was a beautiful fall day in Manti, UT, made all the more beautiful by the marriage of our Maja and her sweetheart, Matthew! Maja looked radiant in a lovely white gown that she brought form Hungary. She said it was made in Komlo.

Norm and I were so happy to share Maja and Matthew's wonderful day as surogate grand parents! Norm and Matthew's father were the wittnesses to their marriage. I just cried with happiness.

The Manti Temple is a very old and lovley ediface built on a hill. We were able to go up the spiral staircases in the towers to the sealing room. Bettina Feketa came all the way from Jersey, England to be Maja's maid of honor. She also took 100's of pictures! Brian Neilsen drove Bettina from Provo and we were so glad to see him there. This beautiful wedding was the long awaited blessing that came form many prayers and the faithfulness of both Maja and Matthew. We are grateful that we were able to share in their joy. The couple honnymooned at Sand Hollow Resort in Southern Utah.

Corena runs "THE BEAR"

 

 

 

 

 In our family we have IRONMEN, TRIATHELETES, MARATHONERS and ULTRARUNNERS.
They say it's in their genes, but Heather and I say not in the genes that we wear. Our third daughter has run several 50 mile races and she just completed her second run of "THE BEAR" It is a 100 mile endurance run from Logan Utah to Fish Haven Idaho  starting Sept. 28th 2012.. No the run is not up the canyon on the highway. This is a wilderness race over the mountains and through the woods. And no this is not a relay. They run the race completely on their own start to finish.......no tag team woosy stuff. Lowest elevation is 4,860 ft. Highest elevation is 9,060 ft. above sea level. And get this. Going over the ridges gives them a total of 21,980 feet of climbing. And no....they don't stop to sleep. Start is 6:00 am and through the day and through the night and through the next day with a 36 hour cut off.

Some 250 of the best ultra runners from U.S. and Canada were entered.  166 completed in the 36 hour allotted time. Interesting too is that Ultra Runs have no divisions, classes or gender separation. All entrants are equal and on their own. Corena placed #60 with a time of 28 hours 35 minutes  This time was better than 10 minutes faster than 4 years ago when she was 4 years younger.
The above photo was taken as the trail passed through a recreational lake area over a man made groomed dam. Trails in the wilderness are not this way. They are raw and hazardous strewn with logs, rocks and the occasional bear, wolf or mangy moose.

 Every runner has a back stage / pit crew. This is Corena's support crew. Cassie, Norm and Heather.

Corena's Pacers were borrowed from the Star Valley High School Cross Country Team. Hannah, Hailey, Cody and Ben. Corena is the assistant coach of the team. Ty Drayney the coach placed an impressive 5th in the race.

Great Grandchild # Five and Counting

  Oh Canada, the true north strong and free! It has been at least 6 years since I have spent more than a day in my native land! The sky was blue and the wind was blowing just as always when we crossed the border!

 Sheryl loved holding her new granddaughter, Clair. We are all excited that we have a girl at last! Clair must be wearing one of her older brother's sleepers because they are blue not pink!

 Here is our 4 generation picture; Grandmother Sheryl, Mother Shelyn, daughter Clair, and great grandmother, Heather.This was taken September 2 on Clair's blessing day, in Calgary, Alberta.

We managed to get all 5 of our great grandchildren still enough for a picture at Gigi Deyholos' home! the 4 boys from left to right; Deizl Huckins, Andrew and Nathaniel Olson, and Wyatt Huckins with baby Clair Olson in the middle! We are very blessed to have such sweet great grandchildren. I had a wonderful time visiting family and friends during this fun trip to Canada with Sheryl, Taylor, Alanna, Jenae and her boys.

Missions Accomplished

Had a plethora of homecomings and mini mission reunions the last few weeks. Here is the homecoming of Jake Weston, pictured here with Brian Nielson and Tyson Hinze. A week later was Mason Gallands return and get together. There we were reunited with more ex missionaries, some with wives and some with girlfriends. Good to see Mullen, Clark, Braman, Jackson, Runnels, Crandall, Davies, just to name a few.

Next day was a gathering of the seniors with the Baughmans. I got whooped at dominoes with the Baileys, Begozis, Haslems, Gudgells, Garners, Faye Wade and Ruth Harris. A few just days from arriving home from the Budapest Hungary Mission. We were eager to meet with the Baileys who replaced us in Pecs. Got caught up on the latest news of our Hungarian friends in the Pec Branch.

Rachael and Luke Wed

 

Two little love birds atop the wedding cake symbolizing the union of two nations in marriage. 

 

 

Our Granddaughter, Rachael Kelsie Lyons was wed to Luke Scott Walker for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 25, 2012. Luke is from the UK. They met while attending school at Brigham Young University Idaho in Rexburg. Luke served his mission in the South London Mission in England.

Shown here with the brides family. LtoR sisters Laura, Jamie, groom & bride, sister Karli, mother Valreia, sister Andee and dad Dean Lyons

And a whole lot of friends and family. Grooms father is seen in the grey suit on the left and mother is beside the groom. Reception was held in Halliday at the fabulous home of friends of the grooms parents. The couple honeymooned in the Bahamas and will resume their studies at BYUI in January.

A Garden Reception for Jacob and Kelsie Clark

 Tis the season for Garden Wedding Receptions. Jacob and Kelsie were married August 18, 2012 in the Salt Lake Temple. Reception followed in Jacobs Grandmother's beautiful back yard.

 These return missionaries from Hungary sure know how to pick their wives. It was good to see Lazerbeam Mullen and his wife Sunbeam. Ryan's wife is actually his MTC companion Lundeens cousin. Ryan kept pretty busy all evening as Best Man and Master of Ceremonies.

Wouldn't you know it Mission President Baughman and Garner sit down to discuss old mission business.

 Sister Garner and sister Baughman share recipes for Hungarian Goulash.

All theses missionary weddings provide a great opportunities for mission reunions. Just a few that were present are pictured here.  Faye Wade, Kaye Garner, Lynn Garner, Gary Baughman, Marilyn Baughman, Rebeka Johnson and Ruth Harris. Others present Norm and Heather Rollingson  Tyson Hinze and Elder Larsen.

 I have no idea where this tradition originated. A very romantic and solemn ceremony of cake cutting.......

 ......soon deteriorates into the couples first altercation.

Mullen and company decorate the honeymoon car. Are those Root Beer cans I see? How appropriate'

Grandaughter Andee Lyons baptism

Star for the Day of the Lyons girls was our grandaughter Andee Jade Lyons who was baptised by her dad a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints on August 19, 2012 in Park City Utah. Here with her sisters Rachael, Jamie, (Andee) Laura and Karli.

Wedding of our Grandneice

 I am getting behind on my postings. On August 11, 2012 Megan Peterson was wed to Brian Cook in the Logan Temple in Logan Utah.

The brides sisters came to support their sister. Krista from Vienna Austria, Angela from New Zealand, Megan the bride and Mandy from Logan.

And the proud parents of the bride Alan (my nephew) and Shauna Peterson of Hyde Park, Utah