Arizona Cousins

Aunt Mabel and Uncle LeRoss invited all of their children (17) who could, to gather Sunday afternoon

We got to visit with 7 of the 17 siblings......amazing!

Bishop Ison in his casual clothes

We attended his ward on Sunday

Wife, Ada, was at their cabin having a sister gathering

Ray Ison 

His skin coloring reminds me so much of dad 

Wendell stopped by our lunch location for a chat

He was head of a CPA firm, now retired 

He and his wife have been on two missions

 You've probably already watched a video of one of his grandchildren

Dayton's Legs

It touched my heart

Wendell says his daughter, Sherrine (Dayton's mom)  is currently preparing to do an Ironman competition, with Dayton as her partner

He has another married child, Cameo Johnson, who is on a year long travel with her husband and 4 children.   They plan to visit all 50 states
The dad of that family is an emergency room RN
So when they get to a metropolis, he stops and works a few days to earn money to carry them along
Wendell said he'd send me their blog address so I can catch up on their adventure

Harry and Wanda

They are retiring at the end of this year

He works night shift, keeping an eye on a big company's computers, trouble shooting when things go wrong

She is in kitchen appliance sales and bakes a passel of bread at the store every week 

Aunt Mabel cooked in pressure cookers purchased in the store where Wanda works

The crock pot didn't get plugged in while we were at church

Flexible Aunt Mabel pulled out the pressure cooker pans and cooked up the dinner in a hurry

Eloise and Dawnell 

Two of our Sunday afternoon chat fest cousins
Eloise was leaving the next day to visit her son at BYU

Davera and Orlo
8 kids

He travels all over the world bringing together buyers and the products they want

(Example: mining equipment)
 - - - - - - -

We heard stories of my dad teasing his little brother, Lincoln

It had not occurred to me before...... 

I have missed a wide facet of my dad's history 

by not living close enough to his younger siblings

 to know their stories of him
So hearing a few stories was a super treat

What a terrific perk of our weekend.....delightful cousins chats
I feel such a love for my family, where ever they are

Thoroughly Modern Mabel (and LeRoss)

We heard a persistent clack clack clack.....ding!

Hadn't heard that sound for decades

 Yep.....an electric typewriter

in full service 

as Uncle LeRoss made a regular entry in his personal journal

It tickled me to see the contrast surrounding these vibrant hosts

Typewriter

Big screen TV

Laptop and monitor

And Aunt Mable on her cell phone

Watch out.....or they'll leave you in the dust

Family Faces

 Good to see our Arizona family

Hi Tawnya and Maliah

Hi Josh 

There were fabric squares to be made into a quilt later

You could write a message to the bride and groom on your square

 Kyrick needed to refuel

He had been happily cavorting like a wild robot on the dance floor

Check out that Arizona glisten on his skin

Aunt Mabel and Uncle LeRoss were good sports to last the whole evening 

 Alisha, ever the craft princess, scoped out the many decor details

Um-m-m

They could be hungry for cake after an evening of greeting friends 

Kissy kiss

Step into the Light

The new groom and bride

Such a beautiful message shared before their sealing

 Picture taking time

Gather quickly, because it is 112 degrees on this precious day

 Yea for the new life

 together

Ken and Leslie Kelley

Lexie's parents

Delightful, fun, inclusive

and he does a mean bouncing worm on the dance floor

We spent a late night visiting with them

and watching videos of a young Lexie

I loved our whole long weekend

Gracious Ison-Jones Hospitality

Aunt Mabel is such an amazing hostess

She makes you feel like its a privilege to have you

She welcomed us with love

and food

She fixed us delicious bounty from their garden and kitchen

Homemade lemonade at every dinner, from the juice of their own lemon tree

Uncle LeRoss was cheerful about getting up to let us in late at night

We had a splendid visit

hearing new and old family stories

and bonding with these dear family members

I have a great story to share with my sisters....about my dad and Ray's red cowboy hat

Dance With Me, Baby!

 Aunt Mabel wrote a message of love on a quilt square for the bride and groom

 Lexie's dad, Ken, must be taking some dancing hints from this experienced duo

 Can we hear a cheer for a zestful life?

At 87 and 92

Aunt Mabel and Uncle LeRoss are the bomb!

Family dance

Tim/Karen   Alisha/Jason    Lexie's parents: Leslie/Ken Kelley

The groom and bride dance with a parent

Tyrel chuckled, "Do you have any last minute advice to give me?"

Well OK.....

(Keep communicating.....Listen to understand, rather than to convince)

What might your one-liner advice be for your marrying son or daughter?

Arizona Wedding Reception

Here are some glimpses of the wedding reception decor in Gilbert, AZ

Lexie's grandma was the crafty visionary, along with the bride

Think rustic . . . and very coordinated

 Cool signs and lettering, huh!

 Gift deposit station

Don't you just love the vignettes for each function in the room 

 Centerpieces

Burlap on black

Picture frame to boundary the scene

The standing initials inside the book.....so crisp and fun to look at

There is a picture of the new couple inside the apothecary jar

On top...again you see the book-page paper roses Lexie taught us how to make

The Once Upon a Time sign.... a book with the insides ripped out

 Mr. and Mrs.......almost

They chose to have their reception the day before they married

to help with their travel plan on their wedding day

 A beautiful couple

We think they are great together

 My "Mom" wrist corsage

I love the greenish star flower at the top

The layered cake in the middle of the cookie table.... 

And to top it off...."We do!"

Lexie put wedding ideas she liked on her Pinterest page
Her crafty grandma studied that page and kicked into make it/do it gear . . .
with lots of help, she assured me
Aunts and friends made the fruit punch and a bazillion cookies

The whole room was a veritable vison of cute.....and tasty