Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet

Zack had his first Blue and Gold Banquet on the 28th of March. He did a skit with the troop and earned two red beads for his uniform. He loves going to Cub Scouts and has the best Den leader and friends.

Getting his beads...

Our Cub Scout...

With the troop...

If you can't quite understand what they are saying, this is the gist of it all...
(And I missed the first part of the skit on the video...)
The first boy came in and sat down on an invisible log. The next boy came in and asked: What are you doing?" The boy responds: "Sitting on this invisible log." The new boy then asks: "Can I join you?" "Sure!" And they sit down on the log together. More boys come in repeating the questions and sitting down. Then Zack came in and asks the same thing. But when they say they are sitting on the invisible log, Zack says: "No you're not. I moved it over there." Then all the boys fall (off the log that isn't there now.) Appropriate for cub scouts I think.

The Garden

While I was gone to NM for the funeral, James and the kids worked on getting the garden planted with early Spring items, such as spinach, peas, and lettuce. But we've had such hot weather, that some of the plants were looking pretty sad. Half the peas and spinach, just didn't make it.

A bigger BYU fan than me?

On my recent trip to Albuquerque, I was reminded that my cousin's husband is the ultimate BYU fan. In Corrales, NM they fly a BYU "Y" flag from their flag pole. As you enter their home from the garage there are big vinyl letters that say "Enter to Learn" and when exiting the home into the garage it says "Go forth to serve." In their home they have a full size raquetball court that also has a basketball hoop where they can hang out and play. It's called the Christiansen Center and they even have the BYU Cougar logo painted on the hardwood floor and it was painted by the same guy who painted BYU's Marriott Center floor. They go all out. And that's not all. Every vehicle they own has a hint of BYU somewhere it seems...

Steve's Red Porsche...

Complete with this Y on the license plate...


Their son Cameron, who is off to BYU in the fall drives this white Jeep Grand Cherokee...

Jimmerd License plate on Cameron's car...

The Red Truck to haul the speed boat...

Has this Cougars plate...


A metal Y that can be found on just about every car the Christiansen's own.

The Suburban my dear cousin Jen let us drive while we were there, to save us from renting a car. It came in handy helping to move furniture and belongings from Mervil's assisted living home.

Their New Black Jeep...


My cousins are wonderful. They also let us stay in their guest house while we were there. We appreciate their kindness immensely. It was great to be in their ward on Sunday morning. Steve Christiansen was released from the Bishopric and called to the high counsel in their stake. Both Jen and Steve were called on to give spur of the moment comments. It was wonderful to hear their testimonies and feel of the spirit. I've got some good stories to use now when needed. Done! Yes Happily!

Phew, I made it. BARELY!

I don't travel that often, and we've made our suitcases last a long long time. I got all my stuff packed inside my suitcase and headed to the airport and from there to the security check. I was bringing home some questionable items (a shell casing from the honor guard rifle firings at the burial and some old matchbooks that my G-pa had saved from his travels). I pulled these items and my baggie of liquids and gels to go through security and wouldn't you know it, when trying to get my stuff put away and zipped back up, the zipper broke completely off. The more I did to get stuff secure, the more it unzipped. I finally asked security if they had anything to help and they gave me some tape. Feeling unsure that the little bit of tapethey had given me would hold if I had to check my bag plane side, I asked United for more. They indeed were able to find some and This is how I traveled! Thankfully, I made it home with ALL my belongings. Phew!

Sandia Peak Tramway

Most people left on Sunday from New Mexico, but to save money, I stayed until Tuesday. Thankfully my brother was still there too. We got a tour of Intel from my cousing Neal Komadina Monday morning and then we headed to the mountains and took a ride on the Sandia Peak Tram.

The tram car has arrived.

Stan, Niko and Xander on the tram.

Views on the way up...



Niko and Xander on the ski lift at the top that takes you down the back side. The ski season had ended a few weeks before.

Me at the top with a view of the now closed for the season ski slopes.


The view of Albuquerque from the top.

View off to the right side.

Niko with the tram car coming up to the top.


Sign found at the top of Sandia Peak.

G-pa Mervil Hanna's Funeral

My Grandpa Mervil Hanna died on February 29, 2012 just two weeks shy of his 95th birthday. He lived an amazing life, and he went peacefully in his sleep. My G-pa was half Japanese, and even though the Japanese Americans were put into camps during the war for a time, he was willing to fight for this country and did so twice. And since he was "from" Albuquerque, NM he was often thought as Hispanic rather than Japanese. It was so very wonderful to gather with family and friends (many that I don't get to see that often, but who are amazing and incredible people I am proud to be related to)to honor the life of my dear G-pa. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity. [Thanks to my husband for holding down the fort at home and to friends who helped out with Sidnie.]

My Dad's father was a bomber pilot in WWII that went down with his B-24 on his 23rd mission. So he is someone I've never met in this life. Even my Dad never got to meet his Dad. My Dad's mother remarried and thus the Olson Hanna connection was formed. G-pa Mervil was the only G-pa I ever knew and he represented the others well.
Here is what the funeral program said as a brief look at Mervil's life:
"Mervil was the oldest of six born to Joseph Hanna (Junichi Hanaoka) of Midori, Hiroshima-ken, Japan and Clara Dee Wad of the Narrow, Ohio County, Kentucky. He played football for Gallup High and Albuquerque High, graduating in 1935. He rose above the status that some ascribed to him as "the son of a Jap cook," and became the neighborhood grocer for hundreds of people who shopped at Smiling Food Market, where he became manager, and the three stores he owned: Bandelier Market, Hanna's IGA Foodliner, and Corrales Market. He received honorable discharges from the Merchant Maries and Army. After WWII, while at Smiling Food Market, the handsome manager with het-black hair and a big smile attracted the attention of Peggy Marie Pollack Olson, a widow who came from Utah to visit her sister, Marjorie Komadina. They married in 1948. [They had three children David, Suzanne and Phillip.] Dad, in our hearts, we will keep your love of music and movies, your passion for politics, your charity to the underdog, and your ability to make friends in coffee shops all over town. We are grateful for the many miracles in your life, and that the Lord preserved you for the example of determination, love and wisdom you gave us."

Mervil's viewing...

Mervil in coffin...


Waiting for burial to start...
Xander and Niko in G-pa Mervil's bow ties...

Hanna cousins (Scott, Beth, Angie, Melanie, Ben)...
(The were even in order youngest to oldest.)

Kelly and Beth...

Steve, Mom, Charlee...

Komadina's before burial...
(Dwayne Victor, Neal and Theresa Komadina with Collin and their daughter, Penny Komadina and Taylor Christiansen.)

Pallbearers: [Not in order] Aaron Schalk, Michael Schalk, Bryan Richardson, [In order] Scott Hanna, Ben Hanna, and Stan Olson

Pallbearers with coffin...

Pallbearers bringing coffin...

Pallbearers almost there...

Pallbearers set coffin down...


Uncle David, Aunt Charlee, Aunt Suzie, Dad...

Coffin with flag...

Soldier's salute coffin...

Honor Guard...

Honor Guard firing...
Fold flag...



Fold flag into triangle...


Soldiers and casket...


Presenting flag to Suzanne Midori Hanna...


Soldier march away...

Soldier leaving...

Honor Guard leave...



Ben...
(You probably can't see the tear rolling down his face, but I was touched by my cousins heartfelt love for our wonderful G-pa.)

Steve and Penny Komadina with Mervil's children and their spouses:

My INCREDIBLE Dad...

Some of the Komadina Family...
Hanna Family...

Hanna Family-Scott making faces...

Kelly with Flag...

Hanna's and Suzie with Flag...

Suzie with flag...
Neal and Penny...

Steve Komadina...

My brother Stan with his wife Amy, and their two oldest sons Niko, Xander Olson...

Some of the Olson Family...

Gentry Appleberry...
(A veteran himself who helped watch over Mervil while he was still living by himself.)

The funeral luncheon at El Pinto's
Calvin Appleberry...
Gentry's brother who played the music on the keyboard at the funeral and luncheon.

My nephew Xander...

Nephew Niko...

Niko's toothless smile...


Those who didn't speak at the funeral were given the opportunity at the end of the luncheon to make some remarks. My brother Stan did a great job with his remarks and was the favorite apparently. Here are a couple of shots I took of the comments made...

Uncle David...

Terry Olson...


Kathie and my cousin (Dr.) Angie Hanna...


Mervil's headstone...
(I was told that G-pa Mervil ordered his headstone and had it made after his son Phillip died back in 1978.)

My Uncle Phillip Hanna's headstone/grave (G-ma Peggy and G-pa Mervil's son)...

Joseph Hanna (Junichi Hanaoka) headstone/grave...
(Junichi Hanaoka was Mervil's father, but he was known as Joe Hanna.)
Clara Hanna's headstone/grave...