Thanksgiving Point and Beyond

I just happened to send out a blog post on the Sunday after we first arrived in Salt Lake City back on the 16th of April.  Bryce, Jim’s brother, noticed we were going to be there for awhile, and since they were coming down from Calgary the following Friday, we decided to meet and spend some time together.  Janet, Jim’s sister, works at Thanksgiving Point and she’s often told us what an incredible place it is, so we all decided to meet there Saturday afternoon for the Tulip Festival.  Jim had to twist my arm a bit to get me to spend an afternoon with more flowers, but  hey, I can be obliging every once in awhile.

Well, we just happened to be related to the right people, because as an employee, she was able to get us all in to the gardens and Tulip Festival for free.

 

We weren’t the only ones there, and even though we had to circle like vultures waiting for a parking spot to open up, the gardens were so spread out, you never felt crowded.

Isn’t it lovely when siblings grow up and still enjoy each other’s company?

 

 

 

Megan, Sandy’s daughter, and her husband, Jared,  and their son Logan, also met us there.

Logan was rather impressive for a little guy his age, as he would generally perform on command.  He had a repertoire of faces that he could make given the right signal.  I wish I could remember what they all were. 

 

This Four-Star Bird Hotel appeared ready for occupancy.

 

Happy Grandma, happy Logan.

There were a tremendous number of flowers that had not opened up yet, being only about two weeks behind because of the weather, but the ones that had were sure worth the visit.

This “face” he gave us had a name, but it escapes me now.

 

These flowers had an interesting name as well, but beats the heck out of me what it was.

 

 

This is my “If You Don’t Hurry and Take the Stinkin’ Picture, I’m Going to Smack You” face.

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Lot’s daughter.  She was such a nice girl.

Terry was feeling a little more cooperative than normal.  I was impressed with how few silly faces I got before I was able to get a “respectable” picture.  He definitely has to be one of the reasons why Janet ALWAYS has a smile on her face.

 

 

Bryce and Sandy.  They’ve sold their big beautiful home and acreage in Okotoks and are moving to the far side of Calgary where  they will be just two minute from the new Calgary Temple (once it is built.)  If we want to know how much hair Jim will have in five years, we just look at a picture of Bryce.

 

 

Megan, Logan and Jared.

 

This place was just one beautiful surprise after another.  Turn a corner and there was something else you just weren’t expecting.

 

The Rose Arbors minus the roses plus one Jim still equals cool place.

 

Grandpa and Logan feeding the Koi.  I gave them two pictures on my camera and left.  I think they are the ultimate in disgusting.  (The fish, not Bryce and Logan.)

Welcome to the “Secret Garden.”  I would love to come back when everything is in bloom.

Jim is talking to Aubrey on the phone.  Nice place to ramble and rant.  Actually, I can’t picture Jim ranting, but it was still a nice place.

I had to give myself some credit for getting him to remove his BYU sweatshirt for a picture or two—or else there’s magic in this place. 

Enjoy his hair – it won’t all be there in five years.

 

Actually, there WAS a feeling of magic in this place.

 

 

According to Bryce, you are looking at “Flowering Quince.”

 

 

There were at least five waterfalls, and if I remember right, Janet said they were all man made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can only get a True Blue-blooded Cougar to remove his BYU sweatshirt for a picture so many times in one excursion.

 

We had an amazing Barbeque dinner at Jay Ann’s house in Saratoga Springs after our afternoon at the gardens.  No less than five salads to go with the juiciest of hamburgers and all manner of chips.  I took one big bite of dessert and then had to share the rest with Jim, though, as it was infested with raisins.

It doesn’t appear that Logan liked the raisins either.  Actually, this is one of his “On command” faces with the name I can’t remember.  In fact,  this may possibly be the look you got when you said, “Give us “The Face.”

Scott and Alisha and their little guys, Molly and Foster, came down from Kaysville and joined us there for dinner.  You’ll just have to imagine Alisha and Molly – I put my camera away so we could eat and run, (now how polite is that) and committed the unpardonable.    We had to get gas before making it down to Provo for the BYU Men’s Volleyball game, and someone was in too much of a hurry.

He does look a little rushed, doesn’t he?  Grand pianos -  one of those things he slows down for that I forgot to mention.

This concludes part 2 of 3.