Madison's Baptism; Spencer Turned 11

It is not often I am the shortest one in a group, but that was definitely the case when we went to dinner at Goodwood with Kent and Karen McBeth. 

They lived in the Escondido Stake in our mission in California and were called to serve in the Utah Salt Lake City West Mission. Since their release, they have continued to live here while their youngest son finishes up his senior year of high school. 

We enjoyed meeting with them and hearing about their experience as mission leaders--especially how they and their missionaries fared during Covid. 

Madison Golden invited us to her baptism. She asked Glen to speak and she asked me to be the pianist, which also included playing a piano solo. 

Madison's Grandpa and Grandma Golden.

Madison's Great-grandpa and Great-grandma Ward.

I noticed there is no picture of Madison's Grandpa and Grandma Thomas (us). I guess it was because I was busy playing the piano when those photos were taken.

After the baptism we made it into the group photo. 

We had precious cargo in our back seat driving from the stake center to Madison's home.

There was a lot of good food for us to eat for brunch. 

Madison and Caroline had friends there that day.

I was so happy Ben and Kade attended the baptism. Haley was in New York with Levi visiting her family. I know it really made Caroline's day to have at least one of her babies there that day. 

Ben ended up staying for quite a long time because it was so nice Kade was happily playing with his cousins.

Dallas and Rebecca took my parents and Nani on a tour of their recently-finished basement. Their home looked exceptionally beautiful that day. 

Then we were off because we had tickets to Hale Centre Theatre to see Treasure Island. 

Although it definitely wasn't our favorite play, it was very well done as usual, and the various elements of the stage were entertaining--especially when the actors started falling into the water one by one.

The five of us went to Red Lobster for dinner after the play. We had gotten to the play just in the nick of time, so we weren't able to stand in front of the decorated wall advertising the play we were attending. So, these car photos were taken instead.

Spencer turned 11-years-old and he requested we go to Golden Corral for his birthday dinner. We ended up going there the day before his birthday. But, never fear, we all enjoyed ourselves that evening.

The gigantic blue plastic gloves reminded us of what we had to wear at our family reunion at mealtimes while we were at Aspen Grove.

The next day was present day. Looks like the birthday boy was very happy as he had a great birthday celebration.

Quotes of the Week

 There are so many things in this world that can distract, divert, deceive us if we do not go to the source of perfect truth. We are agents unto ourselves, so when prophets give us direction we can ask God and know the truth for ourselves.

-- Jean Bingham

Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increases your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest.

--Russell M. Nelson

When we become other-oriented, or selfless, we develop an inner beauty of spirit that glows in our outward appearance.

--Susan W. Tanner

Breakfasts; Buffets; More Basketball

Not sure which team's fan this tackily-decorated vehicle belonged to, but it was sure an eye-catching eyesore every time we walked past it on our way in and out of the casino to forage for food.

The buffet system in Las Vegas as we once knew it no longer exists. So many of the buffets have closed down. Take, for instance, the buffet that we used to enjoy in the very casino we were staying--The Orleans--which is where the arena hosting the WCC Tournament is located. Used to be so convenient for us!

We used to be able to go right down from our room to the breakfast buffet each morning and load up on food before our first session of two women's basketball games. 

Then we would go out once each day to a buffet at another casino which would be our other meal of the day and then hurry back to The Orleans to watch the two men's basketball games. 

Now, with the buffet closed down entirely at The Orleans, and people standing in long lines to get into one of the restaurants for breakfast, we went out every morning to eat breakfast. Not nearly as convenient for us!!

We got into the MGM Grand Buffet for an early dinner the first day shortly before it closed down for the day. It makes me wonder what all the people in the casinos do for regular dinner when the buffets are closed so early.

We were searching the internet to find which buffets were actually open and the hours they were open. It appears the information we read about the Bellagio was not correct. The buffet was closed when we arrived for our early dinner. SAD!!

But happy for me because we [I] got to enjoy a [very] quick walk through the hotel and the Bellagio Garden to see what theme was depicted there. 

Glen was in a hurry to find another place to eat, but [patiently] waited for me to snap a few [rushed] photos as we [unleisurely] walked through the display.

The Year of the Tiger was being represented at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens with a festive Lunar New Year display to share the culture and stories of China and Asia.

We ended up going back to The Orleans and ate at a restaurant there. We got seated right before a line started to form. This allowed us to be back in the arena in time for the evening session of basketball games to begin.

Glen would have liked to see BYU as champion on both sides of this bracket chart, but alas--neither team won the champion spot. Gonzaga won both the Men's and the Women's Bracket Championships.

The Wynn was one of the few that had a later buffet dining option. It was a beautiful setting, not too many people there, beautiful food displays, and we must say we enjoyed our delicious meal.

My favorite displays were in the dessert section. There's Glen standing at the rotating ice cream station.

Yes, we did find room in our tummies for some dessert. LOVED that meal and that dining experience!!

We ate at a different breakfast restaurant every day. We went to BabyStacks Cafe one of the mornings in honor of Sarah who requested that restaurant on her birthday. The strawberry pancakes were DELICIOUS!!!

Our last dinner was at the All-American Bar and Grill Restaurant in the Miracle Mile Shops attached to the Planet Hollywood Casino.

I realize my rendition of our Las Vegas trip included lots of food information and photos. That's the part I enjoyed about the WCC Tournament. Now if Glen were giving his rendition of our Las Vegas trip, he would give you play-by-plays on every one of the basketball games we attended.

If you prefer Glen's version--contact him personally and he will fill you in on all that I missed reporting about.

We left home with no snow on the ground and the temperature warming up to feel like spring weather. We came home to a LOT of snow on the ground, in the trees and bitter temperature making it feel like we're back in the depths of winter.

We came home to a snowless driveway thanks to Grant who had used our snowblower to clear the snow off both his driveway and ours. With that much snow, we are pretty sure he was happy to use a snowblower instead of a shovel.

It appeared to have been a very heavy snow as we noticed we had several broken tree branches on the ground and more broken ones still in the trees.

We are thankful for all the moisture. We are mostly thankful we were in a sunny place when the snow was falling!