Sushi for New Years

Josh Kennedy is a creative cook. He brought homemade flatbread to our Passover Party last year, he steamed his own tamales a few months ago, and he invited us over for homemade sushi on New Years Day. Josh bought the freshest tuna and salmon at Salt Lake City's premier fish market, Aquarius. He bought seaweed, wasabi, and strange Oriental vegetables at a local Asian market.

And then he taught the guests--the Moenches and us--how to layer the rice, fish, and veggies on a mat of seaweed, roll it up, slice it, and eat our work of art.

After supper, the Moenches and Michael played a game of Caton which was so addictive that Nancy dreamed she was a player inside the game!

Goodbye

On January 1, the last of our guests headed home. Dave, Michael, and I accompanied Nancy and Darrell Moench and the Morelands to Wasatch Lawn Cemetery to shovel snow off Dave's dad's grave and leave a poinsettia there.

Joshua Moreland wore flip-flops and had to be carried on his brother's back!

Joshua and Ashley make a very cute couple.

And Michael's handsome, too.

The Spendloves spent a moment in silence by the grave before giving last hugs and going their separate ways.

"We were really comfortable at your house," Janice told me. "Can we come again?" I assured Janice we would be delighted! Except for our group, the cemetery was deserted and beautiful in the snow.

Mt. Olympus was a comforting presence.

Christmas Morning and the Parties After

Dave and Jonny fixed blueberry pancakes, bacon, fruit, and hot chocolate for Christmas breakfast.

The family ate every crumb. Gretta hauled out her Christmas china, and everyone was happy, as we ate, opened presents, and celebrated Christ's birth.

We sat in the living room with the Christmas tree.

The day after Christmas was Sunday. Jonny and Jenny, Lisa and Spencer, Dave, and I attended the Tabernacle Choir broadcast in the Conference Center.

Janice's family arrived Sunday evening, just in time for David's birthday party. We ate tortilla soup and chocolate raspberry torte, and then told funny stories about David. We told all the old favorites--about the Christmas tree in the driveway, the yellow snow, Greta the dog getting spayed....

And then the cleanup!

Cabin in the Snow

Riding snowmobiles, roasting marshmallows, watching movies, and playing board games. That's what you do in a cabin in the winter.

And that's what Lisa had been hoping for during her Christmas trip to Salt Lake City. Lisa and her kids went to the cabin Thursday, December 23, and spent the night doing all that.

Grant even had time to explore his new Droid phone.

In the morning, they were joined by Jonny, Jenny, and Gretta.

Gretta addressed Christmas cards.

Dave and Lisa talked...

the older boys dug a snow tunnel...

and Alyssa made a funny face.

Alyssa and Jonny sipped hot chocolate.

And nearly everyone got a snowmobile ride.