Annual Utah Trip---Part One

We left July 3rd for our annual trip to Utah. We arrived---all baggage accounted for---courtesy of Delta Airlines. (Thanks Aunt Kathy for making sure we got all those suitcases---Aunt Kathy Klitgaard works for the Baggage Department of Delta). We arrived at Brad and Emily's all safe and sound and we able to stay in their newly finished basement. Brad and Em had been working day and night to get their basement finished in time for us to invade their home. The smell of new carpet and paint was nice. Dad Ladd got to work along side of Brad to finish up the finishing touches---am I rhyming or what.

We enjoyed a wonderful Fourth of July in Park City with the Smoot aunts, uncles, & cousins riding the Alpine Coaster and Zip Line. Toddlers Macey Miller, Brianna Udy, and Keaton Klitgaard enjoyed riding the baby carousel---sorry no pictures---I'm not sure what happened to time. I DID take plenty.

On Saturday, July 5th a Robert A. & Karen J. Smoot reunion was held at the Little Bear River Resort in Paradise, Utah known more commonly as "The Bottoms". We had a enjoy a great meal and conversation and then a tour was given by Uncle Kam Klitgaard of the upcoming haunted forest that will be available this fall at the Little Bear River Resort. Kam and Uncle Kenny Smoot have been working hard to develop and prepare this spooky experience for anyone brave enough to come to Paradise during October. For more information about this event check out the Little Bear River Resort's website. (A little free advertising for you, Ken and Kam)

Attendees:

Grandma Karen Smoot

Sally & Ladd Hall, Heather & Blaine Edwards, Emily, Brad, & Macey Miller, Ashley, Nicholas, Alex, Christian, & Cameron

Peggy & Roger Curtis, McKell

Mike & Angie Smoot, Thatcher, Rylee, Payton

Matt & Cindy Smoot, Zach, Megan, Landon, & Abby

Kathy & Kam Klitgaard, Kortney, Keaton

Becky & Mark Udy, Brianna

(Sorry for any mis-spellings of names)

On Sunday, July 6th we attended the baby blessing of Tucker Nathan Watkins, son of cousin Britni Hall Watkins and husband Nathan Watkins in Ogden. We got to visit with many Hall aunts, uncles, and cousins. The best part of the afternoon was the homemade by Nate's dad's chocolate chip homemade icecream cookies. YUMMY but oh so SWEET.

Immediately following the after-blessing dinner we headed for St. George for a mini-vacation within the vacation. We took the opportunity to stop in Holden, Utah to visit with the Randy & Joyce Coats family. Randy and Joyce traveled to Russia with us some 12 years ago to adopt their daughter, Masha at the same time we adopted our son, Alex. Joyce had prepared some huge chocolate covered strawberries for a snack---another YUMMY but oh so SWEET treat.

We arrived very late that night at the home of Aunt Becky and Uncle Mark Udy who live near St. George in Washington, Utah. A perfect host and hostess and beautiful home made our stay wonderful. Uncle "DR." Mark even diagnosed my pinched nerve/bulging neck disc that had begun to plague me some few days before. After a diagnosis and some wonderful drugs the pain was temporarily releaved so that the rest of the trip could be enjoyed. Cousins Nic, Alex, Christian, and Cameron got aquainted with little Brianna, Mark & Becky's little 2 year old daughter. I have to admit---Christian definitely won Brianna's attention and heart.

Day One in St. George was spent touring the church history sites in St. George: the Brigham Young winter home, St. George Tabernacle, St. George Temple and Marv's. Marv's is NOT a church history site but it's yummy burgers made the long hot day much more bearable.

The Family in front of the St. George Temple.

Cameron, Alex, Nic, Christian---Front Row

Macey, Emily, Sally, Ladd, Ashley---Back Row

Grandma Smoot, Becky & Brianna taking the picture

Grandpa Ladd taking control of Macey

or maybe it is the other way around,

Macey taking controlof Grandpa

Mom & Daughter Moment

Another Mom & Daughter Moment

Nucor in New York

Each June we have the opportunity to attend a steel convention in NYC. It is a time of a lot of fun for me and a lot of work for Ladd. Ladd's bosses wife, Marianne Ferriola is the perfect hostess and always plans a fun time for us. This year we shopped shopped shopped and toured Ellis and Liberty Islands. It was a very emotional day as we heard the stories of these brave immigrants who faced so many hardships and trials to come to the United States. They were indeed men and women of courage. We also took in a Broadway Show---"Young Frankenstein". Sorry Allan and Corinne, I didn't get a chance to catch up with you this trip. Marianne had our schedule pretty tight. We'll be back to watch Corinne when she lands that Broadway role in "Wicked". Keep up those auditions, Lady.

Nucor Ladies Touring Liberty & Ellis Islands

Me, Judy Hill, Marianne Ferriola, Trudy Dickerson, Rhonda Bloom

Lady Liberty in all her glory...

I wonder how many Nucor Employees would work for these wages...

Don't Die Of Shock---The Halls are back a bloggin'

We know, we know, it HAS been a while. What can we say.....we have a very busy life and YES, blogging has not been one of our priorities although we know it needs to be.

Everyone tells is that if we blog we can count it as our journal writing and family history keeping. We are glad there is repentance in this world and with Heather's help we are going to get this blogging thing figured out. Emily has graciously stepped us through each of our previous blogs and done a wonderful job at it. Heather is currently staying with us while Blaine is attending some training sessions in Brunswick, Georgia so she is determined to get us back on line. Stay tune and hold onto your seats----it is going to be exciting. In the words of the most famous southerner ever---Scarlet O'Hara---tomorrow is another day. Catch you then.......