Bob's sister, Joyce's lovely home in Tucson

Bob and I decided to reconnect with Bob's half-sisters and brothers in Tucson since our temple is closed for winter cleaning.  So we took off and spent the first night in American Fork with Jeff, Natalie and kids.  We really enjoyed that.  Natalie broke her foot and so Erin and Kate joined us and helped us clean so that Natalie doesn't have so much to do when she is back on her feet!  Then we went to St George where we stayed with Rich and Allison Luekenga, our nephew and wife and kids.  Rich fitted Bob with hearing aids--so nice.  Then on to Phoenix with Ross Jr and Heidi Luekenga, another nephew and his family.  We had a good visit with them and left the next morning for Tucson to stay with Joyce, Bob's sister.

Bob with Joyce and Judy, his sisters and Judy's husband, David Vega

Bob's youngest half-brother, Mike and his wife, Vicky

Joyce and Connie at the Desert Museum in Tucson.  Man with Barn Owl

Hawk taking off 

Hawk coming in for a landing

Perfect landing

Bonnie Bird, Connie and Bob

Bob and the Birds at the entrance to Phantom theater at the Venetian

 Bob and I left Tucson and spent a couple days in Las Vegas with Don and Bonnie Bird, with whom we taught English in mainland China.  The weather was nice and warm during the day and we walked and walked and walked!

The staging was outstanding.  Note all the wax figures in the Opera box seating.  The production was excellent .  We listened to a time share presentation from Wyndham and got free tickets to see Phantom and a free breakfast.

We crossed the new bridge that overlooks Hoover Dam on our way to and from AZ.

Bob didn't like driving on the bridge but you couldn't see anything from the car so  we stopped  at the viewing area.

The huge structure that holds up the bridge is something else!

Hoover Dam holds back Lake Mead.  We have fished and played on that lake with Dwayne and Teddie Watson.  They have a huge ranch now outside of Panguitch, Utah.  So we drove from Vegas to their ranch and spent the night.  Then we came home to a foot of snow.  We had a great trip.  Enjoyed family, friends, food and warm weather.

Merry Christmas 2011

Our theme for Christmas Eve dinner and program was THESE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS.  The meal consisted of favorite foods from the kids memories--thus, black olives, grapenuts and half and half in memory of G. Luekenga, cracked wheat cereal, and salad.

We also enjoyed Mom's homemade rolls and strawberry jam, whole wheat bread  for our turkey sandwiches.

We rented the clubhouse at the condos for the 46 of us who gathered.

We welcomed Travis's Mom and his 2 sisters.

All the cousins love getting together to play and celebrate

The families exchanged gifts with one another.

Bob, Mitch, and Matt did the technical stuff for our power point slide show of a few of our favorite things.
The grandchildren loved seeing pictures of their parents as children doing some of the same things that continue as traditions--sleeping under the tree, skiing, boating, sub for Santas, picnics, scripture reading, FHE, etc.  They wanted us to show it over and over.  Tammy had made DVD copies for each family.  It was a great event!

The Windstorm of 2011

Trees fell on houses.

They blocked streets and driveways so no one could get out.

Fences blew down.



Roots tore up sidewalks.



This was the EXTREME Makeover home. 

Sunday the community united and loaded all debris to various dumping sites.

Everyone in the neighborhood had all the help they needed.

The lines to the landfill were miles long.

Then they decided to chop our tree down before it fell down!

It came down, limb by limb.

We are soooo Thankful 2011

Amy and Matt hosted us, Kt and Jeff's families this year

We all brought food and it was so delicious.

Grandpa told all of us about the first Thanksgiving.

We made blankets for Lori's 2 sons, Kate and Travis's sister in law.
We used her husband's shirts for the quilt.  He passed away last year.

Grandma sewed the edges.  It was such a fun project.

Dan Rogers telling us about the synagogue in Nazareth

Mt Vesuvius from Pompeii

My brother , Richard at the base of Mars Hill in Athens

Jewish family coming to celebrate Succoth

More Jewish worshippers on the day of the Feast of the Tabernacles

Mostly Jewish families at the wailing wall.  Note the seperation of male and female

A good father teaching his children to honor their holy days

Our dinner group--Whitlocks, Roses, Adams, Rogers and Luekengas

Mediterranean Cruise 2011

Bob and I were group leaders for 54 LDS people who followed the Journeys of Paul on a 12 day RCCL cruise. We had such a wonderful experience. We were watched over and protected. What a blessing in our lives.

.

Our group consisted of outstanding couples from Utah and Idaho plus my brother Richard and Polly from Richfield. We met each evening for prayer and review of next day. We also held church services and had an additional 12 LDS people join us.

We had excellent guides on each of our days who knew their information well. Here we are in Pompeii.

Another view of Pompeii and part of our group.

This is a view of a street in Amalfi, Italy



You'll recognize Dome of the Rock on the temple mount in Jerusalem.



Just entering the Garden tomb which states "He is not here.  He is risen.

Bob and Connie, Glenda and Lonny Adams with the Sea of Galilee in background.

Bob sitting on the ruins in Lindos overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Bob in "Old Rhodes Town, Greece.

At the site of Mary's home in Ephesus where the apostle John took her to live.

The Acropolis in Athens.  Overlooking the amphitheater ruins.

Attending the Acropolis Branch in Athens, Greece.

Dan and Luana Rogers, Glenda and Lonny Adams and Bob in Crete, Greece

The library at Ephesus

Looking onto the promenade from the 8th floor.

Fish eating her dead skin from off her legs.

Beautiful street in Chania, Crete, Greece