November 22nd through November 27th:

November 22^nd through November 27^th:  Friday morning we got up and got ready to drive to Denver.  Chris’ nephew, Richard Cornwall, is getting married on Saturday.  His young family was involved in a tragic car accident in July 2011 and his wife Jenny, was killed. He was left with 2 young children.  He is marrying a cute young woman who is divorced with 3 girls.  She got her temple cancelation just last week, so they are getting sealed on Saturday and then there will be an open house at Richard’s home. 

The new Richard Cornwall family.

The drive was uneventful, but long and cold.  Stopping to get gas in Wyoming, really makes you grateful for Utah weather.  It also makes us nostalgic for the weather in Cochabamba.  We stayed Friday night in Denver with Bill and Mary Jane McBean, the parents of our son-in-law Alex. It was great to visit with them. The sealing was really sweet.  The mother, sister, brother and one cousin from Utah of Richard’s deceased wife came to support the new couple.  Shaylyn, the new bride, had made dresses for all the girls.  We pray for them and hope they both can find happiness together.  After the wedding we went to lunch with Chris’ brother, Mark, his wife, Linda, and his other 2 children, Carin and Ryan and Ryan’s wife Heidi. We don’t get to see them very often so it was a wonderful occasion to talk and laugh. 

Lunch after the wedding.  L to R.  Carin, Linda, Heidi, Mark Chris and Ryan.  This is Chris' brother Mark's wife and other children and Heidi is Ryan's wife.

We got up Sunday morning and made the drive home.  Monday I started the backsplash.  Glass tiles are a little more difficult to cut than regular ceramic or porcelain tiles.  When they chip out on the back as all tiles do when you cut them, you can see it from the front.  I got all the tiles installed and then Charlotte and I decided that we didn’t like the part above the sink and to either side—too big a gap at the bottom.  So I ripped it all off and cleaned the tiles and the wall.  After more than 8 hours of leaning over the counter top my back was aching.   I go cleaned up and went to work.  Tuesday I reinstalled the tile and changed where I put the uneven part.  It looks much better.  I can’t believe it took me 2 full days to get the backsplash cut and installed.  I did figure out that if you paint the chips on the back of the tiles you can’t see them.

Hard to see the back splash.

Here is a better picture of the new back splash.

The doors just waiting for hinges and to be installed.  Next week.

We are getting close to the finish line.

Wednesday I grouted the backsplash and painted a little and then we drove to St. George to be with John and Jill and their family for Thanksgiving.  They are spending Thanksgiving at Jill’s family condo.  We went to a park to try and get the kids all tired out came home, had dinner and then went to the swimming pool.  Then we had popcorn and watched Harry Potter.  Good  times.

Badger, John's oldest.

Moose or James.  James when he is at school, Moose is all anyone in the family calls him.

Ellie the only girl.

Jake the baby.

The older brothers spinning Jake.  It was so funny. He couldn't walk when they put him on his feet.

John watching his two oldest on a kind of teeter-totter swing.

John and Jill's family swimming.