Jonny at 40 (12.17.23)

Jonny turned 40 on December 17, 2023.  He spent the day at Universal Studios, rewarding his son Thomas for reading 100 books.  The photo above documents the moment at which Thomas won his reward, sitting on a bench outside Universal Studios!  

Jonny and his boys have set the goal to visit all the U.S. national parks.  They drove from Los Angeles to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park.

Jonny's birthday celebrations stretched into Christmas, as Jenny's sister's new husband treated the whole family to Christmas on a Fijian island!

Jonny's family flew to the island on a little prop plane that could land on water.

The view from the treadmill at the resort.

Jonny went deep sea fishing and caught a huge tuna!

Santa and Some Strange Sweaters (12/16/23)

Dave welcomed Santa to the Hilltop Ward's Christmas Breakfast on December 16, 2023.  As bishop, Dave is the host at ward parties.  

Ben Schreiter is the Chair of the Activities Committee for our ward who planned this annual event.   Ben's vest, sweater and tattoos are a pull-on combo that won him the award for "Best Christmas Sweater" at his work party.  His day job is project manager on LDS temples around the world.  He has worked on temples in the Congo, Ivory Coast, and the Phillipines, as well as in Ft. Lauderdale.

I ran into a friend from Rotary who is Jewish but lives in the neighborhood and wanted to meet some of his LDS neighbors.  I introduced him around the hall, including an intro to Jan Schreiter in this photo.  

The parents of our son-in-law, Kyle Flindt, attended the party.  JoDee looked pretty in her bright red Christmas dress.  

Kyle's two sisters, Kisti and Laura, were in town from Mississippi and Bountiful, respectively.  

The Flindts got their picture taken with Santa.

Our neighbor, Nancy Monson, is a member of the Relief Society presidency, and so was one of the worker bees for the party.

 

The Joy of Fire and Explosions (12/13/23)

Once a year, the University of Utah sponsors the Faraday Lecture and Chemistry Demonstration.  It is a flamboyant affair, with lots of smoke, fire, and explosions.  This year's event was held on December 13, 2023.  Jonny invited Dave and me to join his family for the show.  Sam and Henry came along, as did Jenny and her father, Dave Leatham.  

The event was held at the Henry Eyring Chemistry Building, named after my uncle, Henry Eyring.

As we watched the experiments, with a packed auditorium of other lovers of science, we learned a little about chemistry and physics and had a lot of fun.

Henry's Good Decision (12/10/23)

Henry turned eight this fall and was baptized by his father, Jonny Spendlove, on December 10, 2023.  Henry was then confirmed as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was a family event, at the stake center for Henry's church.  Henry's Grandma Shelly Leatham and Grandpa Dave Spendlove gave talks, Grandpa Dave Leatham acted as witness to the baptism, and Grandma Gretta Spendlove showed a newly acquired talent in leading the music!  

Henry's whole family dressed up and turned out to support him.  Sam was baptized, himself, two years ago.

Henry's Uncle Mike was out of town, but his Aunt Heidi attended the baptism, bringing Audrey and Calder.

Audrey was both shy and curious.

The Eberts came en masse to support Henry, including Annie's new boyfriend, Mason.

Events as important as a baptism require a party to celebrate them.  Henry's parents invited Henry's relatives home for hot chocolate, lasagna, homemade rolls, salad, and pie.

Sam and Henry quickly shed their suits.

Henry's grandmas enjoy seeing each other at family parties.

Henry's Grandpa Leatham and Uncle Danny talked with Grandpa Spendlove.

And everyone honored Henry for his good decision to be baptized and become a member of the Church.

The Wave (12/8/23)

On December 8, 2023, Jonny took Sam and Henry on a hike to the Wave, one of Utah's iconic red rock places.  Jonny was lucky to be able to get a permit for the trip.  A couple of Jonny's friends and their boys came along, as well, using the spots on Jonny's permit.

The Wave is a spot, northeast of St. George, where the earth curves in big swirls.  It is a ten mile round trip hike to get to the Wave.