Saturday, June 3, 2006
Dear Journal,
The last week in May was an eventful one for our family, especially for Derek, who graduated from Westwood High School on Thursday, May 25th. We were glad we could celebrate his achievements with him and our family. We went down to Mesa on Tuesday, getting there just a half hour before Derek would graduate from Seminary that night. We knew we were cutting it close, so we rode down to the valley in our Sunday clothes so we would be ready to attend. We love Seminary graduations because of their spirituality, the clean kids, and good feelings. This one was special because it was our grandson. Derek has been such a great young man who has made good choices, and has been so friendly and nice to us older grandparents. We were proud of Derek for graduating from Seminary, and for being president of his class. Also this was his night to shine because he sang in a small group at the graduation. It was a beautiful song. After taking some pictures for memories, we all were starving, and the yummy cookies didn’t make much of a dent in that hunger. Blaine had taken some Olive Garden certificates from his Discover card benefits, so he took us all to dinner there. It was such an enjoyable experience. We had this nice, little room all to ourselves, and the salad, bread sticks, and soup were so delicious, and so was the dinner, and the visiting was relaxing and fun. There were Janet and Lee’s whole family, us, Shiela and Davin. Mitch had had to work, and no other family members came to the graduation. I love family times together. That Davin steals the show with his cute comments and good manners. We spent the night at Louis and Dawn’s in Jade’s old bedroom. We like that bed, and even though it’s high, we can get on it. We were lucky to get to stay ther this week because Jade is taking that bed next week for their new apartment.
Wednesday was another family day. We went to Mitch and Shiela’s to play with Davin and help Shiela prepare the dinner for the whole family that night. What an enjoyable day! We had fun with Davin, and Mitch fixed us hamburgers for lunch, then Shiela and I grocery shopped and then started in preparing food. We took a break to prepare the game, "Deal or No Deal" for Derek that night at the family party. Shiela’s friend Olivia came to visit and helped us blow up balloons while I made the money chart for the game. We worked together right up till everyone got there at 6:30. Everyone came but Louis’ family; some who were sick, and others tired. Shiela was thoughtful to invite Lee’s brother Mike and his wife Mandy and their kids also. We love these family dinners and especially these ones honoring our grandchildren who are graduating. Shiela cooked delicious food: barbeque beef, chicken strips, her famous twice-baked potatoes, and she broke out the chocolate fountain that Janet and Lee gave them for Christmas. Janet brought strawberries, pineapple, etc. and we had bought marshmallows, a pound cake, and graham cracher sticks, etc. to put in the fountain for dessert. We had a relish tray and used some yummy dip that Janet brought. It was good to get better acquainted as we ate and talked.
The game was rousing good fun, with Derek up front wearing a sombrero and also Shiela, who told us this was a Spanish version on "Deal or No Deal," with pesos being the prize money instead of dollars. Instead of cases with money in them, Shiela had numbered balloons with amounts with money in them. The kids loved grabbing the paper that fell out of the balloons. Shiela knew how to draw out the fun and help Derek have a good time. The commercial breaks were where each of us told a favorite memory or story about Derek. It did take awhile, and we got a kick our of Ryan saying, "Hey, let’s keep this game moving here." And then realizing that might sound like he was bored, said, "Oh, did I say that out loud!" It was a really fun family party. All the ones with little kids had to go home and put them to bed, and Janet, Kelly, Mitch and Shiela, and us stayed up and watched the American Idol season finale together. It was exciting to see Taylor win, which we thought he would after our favorite Chris was voted off. I really like Taylor and hope he will have a great career. Catherine has a beautiful voice and is a beautiful girl; I’m sure she’ll be successful, too. It was a fun show, and fun to watch it with our kids. Blaine, who doesn’t really watch it very much, was patient and let us enjoy it, and he loves being together with his family.
Thursday was Derek’s day, but we wouldn’t be needed till that night for graduation, so we went back to Mitch and Shiela’s to play with Davin and for Shiela and I to get to go shopping. Blaine took Davin to Uncle Richard’s to visit while Shiela and I went to Target. We love to shop, and I especially love to get Davin things. Just like all the little grandkids, I love to get them something they want or need. We found a really cute outfit for Davin:, shorts, a pullover shirt with dolphins on it, and a button up shirt/jacket with dolphins on it, too, to go over it. Of course, I had to get it for him. He loved it, and they were thoughtful and took his picture in it and sent it to me. It was fun to shop together, and we ended up getting some rugs for Janet that she needed. We were tired, and ready for lunch. That sweet Shiela took me to Abuelos for an elegant lunch. It was different, a pretty setting, and delicious food. I had enchiladas, one spinach, to pretend to be healthy, and it was delicious. We had a fun nacho dessert with whipped cream and cherries. Yummy, and such a fun conversation between us. We felt close to each other.
This may sound strange but the most fun of the day was still ahead as I spent the next few hours cleaning and organizing Davin’s toy closet, with his help. Shiela and I had bought some plastic containers, big and small, and boy, did we have fun! I loved having Davin help me and tell me what his toys were and which container they should go in as we sorted them. He is the smartest, cutest little guy ever. I got hot and sweaty, but I loved doing that, and that toy closet looked so good when we were finished.
What a perfect night for graduation! Unlike the night of Jade and Ashley’s a few years ago where the wind blew so hard that it blew dust everywhere and almost blew the diplomas off the table before the graduates could receive them. The night was warm, with a slight wind, and Janet and Lee got us great seats on the front row of the middle bleachers. They saved seats for their friends, the DeWitts, Lisa and her family. Their daughter married Kent and Karen Stratton’s son Damon, and we visited with him a little also. The Brinkerhoffs, Troy and Darlene, were down in front of us, and we visited with them afterwards, talking about books and things. The graduation was actually pretty good, with short speeches, the Honor Choir singing–with Derek in the group, and the diplomas being handed out in record time. Derek was so "Derek" as he received his diploma and looked up for his family to see him at this proud moment. And we were!
Janet and Lee threw the biggest party ever for Derek and about 40 of his friends afterwards. They held it at the entertainment room at their town homes. They provided tons of food and dancing, a fun party for Derek. They always do the best things for their children; they give them their time. We figured they didn’t need us old folks around, so we went back to Louis and Dawn’s to have time to visit with them a little before they headed for New York with Alexa the next day
Friday morning, and we were ready to be home, but we stopped by Janet’s to say goodbye to Ashley who was going back to Utah. Janet had leftover hot dogs from the party, and I asked her to fry us one. We ate hot dogs and visited with them all, including Ryan who was there working. Grandpa had to play "Grandpa" and slip them all a little money for EFY, even Diana. I thought she was going to cry when Blaine said to her, "Are you still my granddaughter, too?" and handed her some money. It was tender. Blaine has such a good heart, especially for kids who don’t have as much as others do.
Well, it’s been fun to reminisce back over that fun week. It’s Saturday night, and it’s been a good day. I got to shop a little for Carolyn who’s having an infection in her leg again. It was fun to talk to Mama and find out she passed her driver’s test this week. Sherita took her, and she did very well. She is so happy about not losing her license to drive. I’d better get to bed. It’s fast Sunday tomorrow, and we’re fasting for rain for our area, and for Sandy Nichols Ashton who has been diagnosed with leukemia this week. We feel bad about that, but she will go to Tucson for treatments next week. We wish her the best. We talked to Janet on the phone a little. They are in Utah picking up Miranda in St. George after her week at EFY in Provo. Life is definitely good. We feel very blessed.