I got to go ALONE to St. George and visit my mom and dad and be with them on the morning of their 50th wedding anniversary. It was so nice to enjoy being with them, and getting them all to myself.
Also, traveling alone without worrying about the children was amazing.
We need an updated family photo from our last 2010 professional photo.
We've changed a little bit in 13 years!
This summer is our planned extended family photo, a gift to mom and dad from all the kids.
Mom and I got to go to Water aerobics, Zumba and a Silver Sneakers Weight Training class
We also visited the Tabernacle for a concert
The choir and orchestra were exquisite.
St. George Tabernacle
I got to visit Nancy and Jon at their St. George home as well
Nancy took me to lunch at the clubhouse and showed me the neighborhood.
It was great to catch up!
I didn't get a photo, but I got to catch up one night with my dear friend, Lisa Flack, who lives in Bloomington. I loved seeing her home and hearing about the last 15 years. We worked together as newlyweds and had our first babies around the same time. We both have husbands who are professors and got their PhD's. We had some similar experiences forging our families and supporting our husbands in their career goals.
St. George is also known as Utah's Dixie, because it's the southern part of the state and because they grew cotton here for a time.
The Spring blossoms were out!
The St. George Temple looks complete but is not quite finished with rennovations.
Our favorite place we ate was Aubergine.
They have some great dishes and everything is fresh and healthy.
This was Dad's belated birthday gift.
Mom and Dad hosted a game afternoon with their Highland Rams friends.
I made smoothies and we all played games and talked the afternoon away.
Two of their friends had lived in Ann Arbor in graduate school just like Scott and I, and had also lived in the Northwood V apartments. They had been there when they were brand new.
We made it to the GUNLOCK waterfalls, at Melissa's recommendation.
Absolutely beautiful
I got to visit for a quick half hour, my friend Sabrina. We were close friends in Elementary and Middle School. She lives just 4 minutes from the Cedar City Temple, so we stopped by on our way to visit the temple.
Cedar City Temple.
Mom and Dad treated me on a trip to Valley of Fire in their van!
This is Elephant Rock
Trying a Crow Pose
The Valley has very similar areas to "the Wave" in Utah.
And some fun slot canyons
The Rock is so pretty
So narrow!
Star Trek Generations was filmed here, as well as "The Professionals" and "Electric Horseman.
These were by fare the best preserved petroglyphs I've seen, and they have made them so accessible to see up close.
Goodbye Valley of Fire!
It was fun to hang around Mom and Dad's house and see things from the extended family, pictures, and objects I recognized from my childhood, etc.
Loved moms cousin, John White!
I would love to know who this artist is and what the painting is called.
Mom and Dad with Scott, Kent and Melissa
Don't they have a great set up with the Ping Pong Table?
These are some of their friends from their Highland Ram days, and some of these same friends came to their house the week I visited. So cool that they were able to stay in touch with so many high school friends for so many years. Many of them have similarly retired to St. George, or have vacation homes there.
Talking to my kids on Zoom, Cora
Tim and Aaron
Ollie and Tim
General Conference was coming up. I loved this sign at the Seagull Book :)
And the shot glasses Dad was laughing about at the airport.
"They sell shot glasses with the temple on them! hahaha!"
Farewell St. George! It was WONDERFUL to be with you Mom and Dad Parker!
