July 24th - Utah Style

We have lived in a few states and none of them celebrate their founding as excitedly as Utah does. July 24th is not really the day that Utah became a state, or even a territory. It is the day the first settlers arrived in Salt Lake Valley - of course there wasn't a city, a hamlet, or even a place then. But, no state seems to embrace their beginnings better then folks in Utah. When our children were small (Donna and Jeni) we would participate in Pioneer Day (that's the official state holiday) when we were at BYU. The kids would dress up and ride their tricycles around the Wymount Terrace Quad. Our married student housing was organized with 4 building all facing each other in a rectangle. In the middle was a large grassy area, playground, picnic tables, and the like.

This year we went back up to Spanish Fork for the 2nd time to observe July 24th. When you've been away from Utah you forget how much fun it is - and especially in a small town. It's even more fun when you can do it with family and have a grandson in the parade. There is a festival all through the downtown on Main Street focusing on the city park. Yes, Spanish Fork is one of those wonderful towns with a city park right in the middle of the town. It's not big, but every time I've ever been there it has been busy. The day before the parade people start going down to stake out where they are going to sit and watch the parade. It comes by 2 sides of the park. Chairs and rope and strung so families can have their spot saved. Can you imagine doing that in Las Vegas? I can't, but in Spanish Fork no one bothers your stuff. I didn't realize the science of selecting a spot until Donna explained to me that we were sitting in the best location for maximum shade. She was right too! And even sitting behind families in front of you, there was no problem seeing the parade.

Even before the morning started we were up early - Chris was off at his 10k - and the boys and I went out and put flags in people's front yard. The Scouts have about 40 neighbors who ask them (pay them actually) to put the flags out for holidays. Each boy has a route, picks up their flags from the Scoutmaster, and they are off. In the photo Clayton is in front with Cole catching up. Neither one of the were very awake.

It can't be an official parade if it doesn't have a fire engine and this one was a beauty.

A trick rider on a horse. It really is Spanish
Fork and these girls were great!

10K shoes - maybe smelly

I've been to a few small town parades, but I've never been to one that lasted almost 3 hours. It had floats, bands, big trucks, little trucks, children, adults, roller bladers, clown, cowboys, politicians, and on and on. It didn't feel like it was ever going to be over. For us, the big event was seeing Cole with his Karate group. They were on a big flatbed truck, but he was walking and demonstrating various Karate moves.

Earlier his Dad and I had walked to the start of the parade, which wasn't far from Donna's house, but it was from where we were already sitting and then when the parade was over Chris and I walked to pick him up. It became pretty evident he was a little over heated, but like any good 11 year old he wouldn't drink water, so we poured some on his head and neck and he was fine. We got him back and to sit down.

Like I said, they had floats - and some pretty good ones too!

Cole looks pretty fierce!

When the parade was over I was all set to head for home, but no, there was a quilt show just a half-block from the where we were and the girls all went over there while Chris and the boys went to the blacksmith to watch him work. I sat around and relaxed, picked up all of the chairs and blankets, folded them up, put them in their bags and was ready to go when everyone got back. Bad idea. Donna informed me we weren't done yet and they promptly opened the chairs back up. I clearly don't know the etiquette of small town parades and festivals.

It was a great day and we finally got home. We can hardly wait to go again next summer. Maybe we will decide early to go so we can get Rodeo tickets. We will skip the demolition derby. It's just not our thing.

The next morning it was time to get up and be on the road. I had a meeting down the road, so we didn't leave before dawn - for a change - and JoAnn was glad. I did get to see the sunrise coming over the mountains. It was a great way to start our trip home to Las Vegas.

San Diego

We just got home from the midwest and within 7 days were on the road to San Diego for a Sister's Weekend plus. It was another great year for the sisters and even though I wasn't invited (and yes they reminded me of that often) we were staying for a few extra days to enjoy San Diego and the David and Krissie. Sally did bring Sammy and he was thoroughly enjoyed by all the girls. They all love a baby!

The excitement of the trip had to be on Saturday when a small airplane pulling a banner had its engine quit, drop the banner, make a left turn and land in San Diego harbor. We were there and we watched the pilot make a 90 degree turn to the left and head down. We were too far away to see the landing, but it was in the harbor. Both the pilot and passenger got out okay and were quickly rescued. The airplane sank, but was later floated to the surface. It could have been much worse.

The girls arrived 2 days before JoAnn and I did so they had a great time together. I was only with them on Saturday when we went downtown. They wanted photos. I have posted some photos below of the girls. They are unretouched, so while they are okay, the finals will be better.

It's always awesome to see my daughters (and yes sons too, but I saw them the week before). Enjoy the few photos I have posted.

L-R Donna, Sally, Suzanne, Jeni, Krissie, JoAnn and ignore the first 2 showing
off their Disneyland bracelets

Hiking in Red Rock

A couple of weeks ago Tim was in town for the weekend. We went to Death Valley on Friday and on Monday before he left we got up early and went for a walk in Red Rock. It was Martin Luther King Weekend and we stopped by on Saturday afternoon and that was a bad idea. It felt like half of Las Vegas was present. Tim went on a short hike, but wanted to do more, so on Monday morning we took off. It was a cool and windy morning and we decided to take a moderate trail. I hate to think what a difficult hike would be like. I don't climb quite like I used to, but we took off on the short hike. It was a beautiful hike. For January the weather had been unusually warm.

We started off up the trail, which is a stream when it rains, and the trees were green and there was sand to walk on. As we went up the trail we began to get to the rocks. In some instances there were stairs that were obviously created by moving rocks around. They fit nicely into the environment.

Tim and I, however, sometimes had to find the trail when it wasn't so obvious. We got sidetracked by rock formations, beautiful scenery, and just plain curiosity. We took lots of photos so we didn't make good time, but it wasn't about making good time it was about enjoying the place and each other.

When we finally go to where the trail took us it was a deep bowl that obviously filled with water when there was rain. It wasn't real impressive from a beauty perspective, but from a geological perspective it was pretty. However, Tim and I thought there must be something better to see so we hiked a little bit further and all of a sudden we had a 270 degree ranging from Las Vegas around to all of Red Rock Conservation Area. It was the real frosting on the cake for a great morning.

We found our way back, although we got side tracked a couple of times and then got Tim to an airplane. It was a great morning.

Looking South East towards Calico Basin and Las Vegas
in the distance

I'm just overwhelmed by the beauty of this area. It is just awesome.

Climbing the Valley of Fire State Park with my Oldest Son

It's not very often I have a son come to visit us, but we sure enjoy him when we do. Tim has a conference next week so he came to town Thursday evening for a few days with us. I can't tell you how much we have enjoyed having him (of course we enjoy having all of our children visit - alone or with the whole family). JoAnn had a quilt workshop already scheduled and she is doing things that I can't even begin to understand, like sewing in the ditch. That alone brings all kinds of alternative visions to my mind, none of which I care to repeat, but I would love to take a picture of her sewing while sitting in a ditch. Somehow I just don't think that's the right idea. I've digressed enough. On to the real story.

I was always shooting up because I was the
one who was always behind.

This morning Tim and I took off for the Valley of the Fire State Park. It's about an hour north of us and if Red Rock Conservation Area is beautiful, then this is stupendous! It also provides opportunities for casual climbing, except in those areas where it specifically states "no climbing." Today we climbed and climbed and had a great time. If I had doubts about my back today put much of that to rest. I only didn't make one climb - although I didn't try to make all the climbs Tim did.

One of those areas was at Mousse Basin, a desert water trap. You could peek into it, but not get into it. Tim climbed up the wall to the left then across the top so he could look straight down. There was another family there with an 8 or 9 year old. She found a way to climb up to a point. I was watching and wondering when her parents asked where she was going (I think that's what they asked since it was in a European language I wasn't familiar with. Where is Craig when you need him?). She pointed to the rock across the way where Tim had been standing indicating that was the place she was going to. It was clear from the tone that the parents were not the least inclined to let her do that. With a disappointed look she turned around and came down. A few minutes later Tim appeared again and I had to inform him he was a bad influence on the younger generation.

I'm not so high. By this time I was starting to get tired!

The next time family comes to town, if they want a fun adventure we can go to Valley of the Fire State Park. They have great climbing - almost all easy (although not for little ones) and wonderful campgrounds. The campground we drove through Tim said it was the very best he had seen - mostly because so many of the spots were isolated.

That was a staircase we both had to turn
sideways to get up and I didn't as the
step was too tall for me, but not Tim. He
is at the top in the sun.

It was a good day and now we have stories to tell Mom when she comes home from her quilt workshop. Thanks for sharing your Dad, Joshua, and your husband, Lonita.

Daughters are special...and granddaughters too!

Last weekend we had all of our daughters in town for sisters' weekend and while I'm officially uninvited I still hung around this year. For me the joy comes from seeing how our daughters have grown and matured. I still remember them as children and while I try not to treat them that way, they are always special to a dad and always his little girls. I love each one of them individually and collectively. Individually because of their own unique and special qualities (and quirks). Collectively because of how much they love and support each other. There are still friendly competitions between the girls, but you can sense their love for one another. JoAnn and I can sit and listen to them for hours. Of course, with 5 girls all talking at the same time it can get a little loud, and always has.

When we sit back and reflect about not many years ago when they ranged from a few months to 14 and the photo below taken when Krissie must have been about 3, you can see how similar and different they are. The two older girls are in their teens and have earrings and at least one necklace (I think JoAnn would call those earrings and necklace "bling-bling"). The others are watching and developing their own personalities. Our home was never dull, not with all those girls and 2 brothers. I sometimes wonder how we survived.


And yet here we are, now almost 6 years as empty nesters and some children gone for almost 20 years. They have husbands, children, families, different friends, live apart (most of them), and yet, when they get together, they are still best friends. Better than just best friends they always invite their brother's wives because they want them to share in the fun. This year our newest daughter-in-law came and was initiated into the "sisters' weekend." This is also the first year we had babies attending (I think, but then I wasn't present last year).


As JoAnn and I have sat on the back patio and talked about our daughters we have realized, once again, what a great family we have been blessed with. They are all good kids, working hard to raise their own families, even if it is just a husband and wife, and knowing that they are never alone. Between Facebook, email, and telephone calls this has got to be the most connected our family has ever been.

Thanks for coming girls and for sharing our two youngest granddaughters. I can hardly wait until the granddaughters are old enough to join sisters' weekend.

The Perfect Weekend

There are lots of ways to describe weekends and perfect is a term that is used frequently. In fact, perfect is an overworked term. For example there is the "perfect game", the "perfect storm", the "perfect tense", and so forth. The term perfect is defined as, "having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be." That's how I would describe this past weekend

We had all of our children with us in Boise, ID for our youngest son's wedding. It is always an event when we all get together and we all enjoy one another. What made Friday and Saturday special was that our family grew by a whole new family, not just a new daughter-in-law. We made new friends, strengthened family, and on Sunday as everyone was leaving we all felt great. Of course we were all so proud of Mike and Allison and the decisions they made. The daughters have already accepted her as a family member. The Newlyweds even showed up for an informal getting-away dinner on Saturday evening. I would never have done that as a newlywed, but they did, signaling to us just how important family is to them.

Youngest daughter and I drove to Utah for Sunday evening and early Monday morning (still the weekend) we took off for Las Vegas and hadn't gotten too far down the road when the first text message came in. Daughter 3 was in the hospital for the birth of a little girl (Hattie). By 2 pm MDT she had accomplished that miracle and as I talked to her later and asked how Hattie was doing, her response was "Perfect!" And so, you see it was a perfect weekend.

PS - I would be delighted to share a photo of Hattie, but the one's I have are just not cute enough.

Grandma's Fan Club

This morning JoAnn received an email from Meagan saying "Please email me soon!" I saw the tag line, went into the bathroom where JoAnn was preparing for Church and said, "You have an email from your fan club."

A few moments later JoAnn responded with, "I didn't know I had a fan club?"

My response was, "Yes, and it's pretty big." Then I remembered a photo I had published on flickr and Jeni commented on, "Grandma with all of her granddaughters." (less Charlotte who couldn't be away from her Mom) and I realized my statement was more true than I had first thought. Of course this photo only shows the girls, but they do have a special bond with their grandmother.

The granddaughters with grandma!

The photo was taken in Frisco, CO at an historical center that all of the granddaughters, grandma, Krissie & Jeni went to - via bus. The girls absolutely loved the bus. When they got back grandpa treated them to ice cream. I realize I've got to buy my fan club. Grandma gets her fan club just because she is grandma. But, I'm not above a little bribery.

Sydney & Bonnie enjoying their ice cream

The OCD Connection

Tuesday I flew in to Utah to attend a dinner at Brigham Young University that evening. As part of the trip I scheduled an afternoon with my oldest daughter. We had lunch and enjoyed ourselves talking about all kinds of things, including "Baby" (I use her blog name for the youngest). It appears he loves to buy Legos and especially Star Wars legos. The evening before I arrived they went out on a quest for a specific Lego set and found it at only the 2nd Wal-Mart. Better yet it was purchased with Baby's own money. Donna said the bags were all numbered and all Baby had to do was open one bag at a time and get what he needed to build the space vehicle. It was late and the boys were supposed to be in bed, but when Donna checked on him he had all of the Legos out of the bags and on the floor of his bedroom. Donna was a little upset, but got over it.

When I got to their home I realized all of the Legos had been moved to the kitchen table, more or less in a large and scattered pile. Donna went off to get the boys from school and I took it upon myself to "organize" the Legos by color and shape. See where I'm going. We all accuse Donna, and some others, of OCD. One look at the table clearly showed I have some OCD tendencies. Go figure! I do lists and lists of lists. I have a form that sets long term and weekly goals at work along with daily tasks. I guess I'm guilty. I know it drives JoAnn crazy sometimes (maybe all of athe time).


Sorry kids, I guess it is inherited - and not just from me. It's a Merriam trait which has become a McLean trait. Thank goodness not everyone is infected or it would be crazy when we all get together.


Bottom line - Baby and I had a great time working on his Legos. He put it together and I helped him find the pieces. I had to leave for the banquet and when I got home it was all done, and looked great. I have provided a couple of photos below of Baby's hard work. I would have more, but he wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get a photo. He is always moving. Just ask his mom.