New Adventure in Salt Lake City!

So we have lived in Utah for over 23 years now and enjoyed a new adventure on Saturday as a family. Our first stop was to the Farmers Market at Pioneer Park that we have heard people raving about FOREVER!

We enjoyed breakfast of strawberries and crepes, fresh watermelon and scones. We also bought some wonderful fresh produce and salsa! Then off to our next adventure....the Salt Lake City Cemetary!


Yep! You heard me right! THE CEMETARY! I found a map online that showed where all of the prophets and apostles are buried and Stetson was the one that suggested it. President Hinckleys grave had a gorgeous view! I told Monte I would love to be buried at that cemetary as they all had great views! He kept asking me what difference does it make if I have a view or not....BIG!
Here I am in front of Neal A Maxwell's grave. I truly admired him especially after reading every book he has written. I admire him for sharing his journey of discipleship with us and teaching us the path we must trod too.
This is Orson Pratt's grave who is Parley P Pratt's brother. He and Parley were the missionaries that taught and baptized Ormus Ephraim Bates who is Monte's great great....grandpa and the first to join the church. He also married Ormus's sister.


This is President Kimball's grave. He was the "first" prophet for me that I had a real connection to. I shared with my family the special witness I had when I was a teenager that he was truly a prophet of God....during my interview for the Junior Miss Pageant...you may ask me for more details if needed.

A Celestial Visitor....

We had a wonderful visitor come and spend a week with us! Her name is Willis and she was taught and baptized by Stetson in Tacoma Washington almost 2 years ago. She is 82 years old!

She wanted to be with him when she went to the temple for the first time so she flew down here to Utah. I had the privledge of being her escort which I thought I never would be able to do as I have no daughters!

In the celestial room Stetson said "President Pearson always use to say that this is every missionaries quest is to see someone they baptized go to the temple". We all were so humbled to experience such a sacred occassion.

We were able to call Stetson's companion who is attending BYU Idaho, Elder Gilland, to join us for conference on Saturday. Not only was Willis able to go to her first General Conference, she saw her 2 favorite elders but also heard the former mission president Elder Pearson who is now a member of the Quorum of the Seventy speak.

What a treat!

"THE TALK" AKA HOMECOMING

Elder Bates, now known as Stetson again, did a wonderful job on his "talk" Sunday. We appreciate all the love and support from so many family and friends; especially those who traveled so far.

The night before, (Saturday), we had a special Family Fireside where he shared many experiences, his testimony and answered questions. We then had the family each give a piece of advice to him and share testimonies too. It was so great!

He started working at Mylar Disability Law offices the Monday he was back and is planning on going to Dixie!

Its good to have him home!

WE'RE NOT EMPTY NESTERS ANY MORE!

Elder Bates arrived yesterday at 4:04 PM! We greeted him LOUDLY at the airport and made him blush. He was honorably released by President Mitchell and we then came home to a home cooked meal.

Then he went and played Basketball until midnight up at the church and saw many friends and neighbors. He definately looked a little shell shocked and feeling a bit out of place today.

He is planning on going to school at Dixie and coninue his education in the Health Sciences and feels like Physical Therapy is the direction he wants to go!

We are so excited to have him home!

My Trip to St. George

You may be wondering who this is and why I have a picture of this for my St. George trip. This happens almost on all our trips. We pack the camera so we can capture lots of photos and memories. But then we come home and remember that we didn't take any pictures!!

I just spent 6 wonderful days in sunny St. George with my sister Jami and her hubby Kim. We went to the Parade of Homes and saw many gorgeous homes (no pictures taken). We went golfing (no pictures taken). We went and drove through many beautiful neighborhoods and countrysides (no pictures taken). They even brought their cute dog Binki (no pictures taken).

But we DID go to Dillards and my sister saw this cute makeup girl and wanted a picture of her hair so she could cut her hair like hers! I couldn't figure out what my sister was doing with her camera phone and then she let me know she was trying to get a photo without her knowing.

ALAS! A photo op! I have MY camera I said and even was bold enough to go up to the make up counter and ask the girl if I could take her picture. She of course was very flattered and posed quite nice.

So yes, this is the ONLY photo taken on my wonderful trip to St George and thought I would share it with you!

SO THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN...NEW YORK!!!

January 23, 2009 I was in New York City with my sister in law Mary and my darling niece Allison....this is where it started. They were telling me about this wonderful bakery that was a MUST stop place called Magnolia Bakery.

This picture shows us at Rockefellar Square eating our amazing cake from there. It was such a quaint little bakery that had a very large selection of large cupcakes. We sampled the "birthday" cake, red velvet and carrot cake. The place was packed and I quickly understood why. I thought it was good but according to Allison and Mary it was a lot drier than normal.

The next weekend we had our good friends Brad and Dana Smith over for dinner. She was in charge of desert and brought a chocolate cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. I typically am not too fond of bundt cakes as I find them rather dry. But this was amazing and the frosting was so good but not overpowering. Dana told me that the Red Velvet Cakes are way better.

I mentioned that I have tried several different recipes for Red Velvet cake but they too seem to be dry. Of course unplanned, the NEXT weekend, Monte and I go out to lunch with my brother Steve and Sue to Pei Wei. What do we see? Nothing Bundt Cake right across the parking lot!

So I had to COAX everyone to come with me after eating a huge lunch to get desert there. I really wanted to try the red velvet cake. They sell large cakes but they also serve individual size cakes.

Of course Monte and I got the Red Velvet and it WAS TO DIE FOR! So now I am hooked and on the search! I searched everywhere on the internet to see if they had the bakeries recipe for their Red Velvet Cake and I can't find it. But maybe you can help me.....DO YOU HAVE A MOIST RED VELVET CAKE recipe that you can recommend??? If so please send my way!!!!

So that is where it all began...back in NYC!!!

24 Days For Elder Bates' Arrival!

What better way to begin a family blog then to announce that Elder Bates will be home March 3rd! I still can't believe it has been two years! I always thought it would go slower then it has. Many of you know that he asked for an extension and we found out this week that it was not granted. So he's coming home!

Monte and I have very mixed feelings of excitement, nervous, joy, worry & questions of what it will be like for him to be home again. Is HE going to be able to stand being here since he has been on his own for 2 1/2 years now?

He just sent this picture to us. Him and his companion were out tracting one night and the sunset was gorgeous with Mt Rainier in the background. We love Elder Bates!