T and A Chin Puppets

We have been doing chin puppets in this family since the '70s. I think it is a good tradition to continue. Now, we need to get some of the adults involved. Any volunteers?

Alaska Cruise

In May we took a cruise to the inside passage of Alaska. We went with my brother Lorne and his wife, Brenda, Brenda's mom and my mom. We upgraded to a veranda cabin and will never be satisfied with an inside cabin again. We all met in Vancouver and sailed from and returned there.

The Indonesian staff were wonderful, the food was great and the scenery was awesome.

Here are some pictures which don't do justice to the views, especially the glaciers.

Gracie is Sitting Up

Gracie sits up by herself and Thomas and Audrey had fun baking with the Easy Bake ovens (two of them bought at garage sales. This was a Grandma and Grandpa fun babysitting time, Friday January11, 2008

Happy Gracie
Taking a break from TV miniature golf
Frosting the goodies
Audrey's vanilla and chocolate layer cake with lemon frosting and orange sections
Thomas's chocolate and vanilla cookies with lemon frosting
Still Happy!

Mixing with the Muckety-Mucks-again

After volunteering at the Capitol, Jim and I went to the Inauguration of the Salt Lake City mayor, Ralph Becker, the following Monday. Jim had donated money to his campaign and volunteered on the telephones. So we went to the inauguration which was followed by yet another delicious buffet (although not so grand), both of which were open to the public. Over 700 people showed up. The inauguration was held outside but it was not too cold and there was no wind and anyway, we got there early and sat by the heater.

In the evening we went to the Inauguration Gala, by invitation only, tada. This was held at the University of Utah Rice Eccles Stadium Reception Tower at the Spence and Cleone Eccles Scholarship Box. The invitation said heavy hors d'oeuvres (which meant a dinner, really), dancing at 8:00 and festive attire. They had a jazz band, then a salsa band with salsa instruction. Surprise, surprise, Jim and I actually did a little dancing. Jim has come a long way in the dancing department the past few years. It was FUN!

The rest of the month is going to be very boring and we will actually have to cook!

Outside the Utah City and County Building-Beautiful, also restored, building

Ralph Becker taking the oath of office

Former Mayor, Rocky Anderson

Arriving at the Mayor Ralph Becker Inaugural Ball

View from the 5th floor

With LaVonne (The Mayor's Treasurer and Jim's friend) and Arturo

Salsa dancers

Jim in his new Nordstrom's overcoat (made in Canada)

Helen in "festive" attire

Links:
Courtney www.davidmpike.com
James www.wwwdavidfamily.blogspot.com

Re-dedication of the Utah Capitol Building Jan. 4, 2008

On the balcony, watching the Tabernacle Choir practice

Mike and his friend, Rick were in charge of the volunteers for the re-dedication of the Utah capitol building and for the tours the following week so Jim and I were fortunate to be able to attend the volunteer appreciation Thursday evening and see the rehearsal of the three choirs -the International Children's Choir, another children's choir and the Tabernacle Choir in the rotunda of the Capitol Building. The acoustics of the rotunda were amazing!

We also were able to be volunteers at the re-dedication of the building, which took four years to renovate and cost over 200 million dollars (an amount that many people thought was excessive, but the building is now earthquake proof and gorgeous!). The event was by invitation only. Jim and I were ushers in the section where the Governor's family and the state legislators were seated. When the ceremony began the volunteers went up to the fourth floor balcony to observe. We were behind (and above) the dignitaries but we were able to see and hear it all and watch the tele-prompter scroll up. President Hinckley was the only person not to use the tele-prompter for his remarks and dedicatory prayer. They used the same program as the original dedication in 1916 including the opening prayer by a Baptist minister from Ogden (he used the tele-prompter). In fact, President Hinckley was alive at the time of the first dedication.

After the ceremony, we were invited to partake of the buffet provided for all the invitees, over 2000 of them. So we ate the shrimp and smoked salmon, antipasto and roast turkey sandwiches, fruit and veggies and crackers and yummy, yummy cheeses, salmon pate tartlets, and of course, an exquisite array of sweet little goodies, and rubbed shoulders with senators and representatives and former governors and had a wonderful time.

Later we stood outside the Gold Room to aid visitors, visited the governor's office (Jim sat in his chair) and I sat in the chair President Hinckley had sat in during the ceremony.

The fireworks at the end of the day were fabulous, the best I've seen, except for the July 4th fireworks on the beach on the Outer Banks, NC. A wonderful experience to be a participant of Utah's history.

Before the fireworks

The front of the Capitol Building

Capitol cookies at volunteer appreciation evening

Bells that were rung at re-dedication (all invitees had one)

Ice sculpture and remains of the shrimp

Sitting in President Hinckley's chair

Helen with former governor Olene Walker behind

As ushers, in front of the International Children's Choir

Rick and Mike

Click on this to enlarge and see President Hinckley's back.

Jim in the Governor's chair

Winter is Officially Here

On the first day of winter the weather sent to me, ten inches of snow and on Christmas Eve, six inches more. But today is sunny, all the cars are released from the ice and it is cooold. Yep, it is winter alright.