Over the River and Through the Woods...

To Idaho we go.  We needed to arrive in time to cook the crockpot mac and cheese for Korinne's birthday lunch.  Steve had the brilliant idea to cook it on the way since the pickup has a regular outlet.  We plugged in an extension cord and started the meal when we were about 1 1/2 hours from our destination.  20 minutes later we blew the fuse.  Well it was fun just trying it out.  Apparently the crockpot overloaded the circuit. The kids decorated for the party while the food cooked.  We still had a great birthday celebration. 

 Happy #6 Birthday, Korinne!

 The paparazzi gathered around the star to get just the right photo.

The next morning we headed to Steve's sister's house for our Thanksgiving celebration.  Kathy started the kids out making turkey favors with rice crispy balls, cookies and candy corn.  They looked really cute.  Then the kids headed for other games and fun pursuits leaving their turkeys sitting on the table.

Quinn took advantage of the opportunity to taste the treats.  There were a few tears when someone discovered that Quinn was eating the turkeys. 
We knew that the festivities were really underway when Dustin began the brewing of the homemade rootbeer.

The Thanksgiving feast is prepared by many hands and enjoyed by all.  Dustin makes the rootbeer.

Adam makes FABULOUS homemade rolls.

Kathy makes the turkey, gravy, potatoes, pretzel salad, desserts and lots of different candies.  Yum, Yum, Yummy!

Tawny always brings the green bean casserole with French fried onions.

Jake brought an amazing assortment of fruit including raspberries and watermelon.

Heather brings the fresh veggies, and that just gets us started.  Of course we have yams, stuffing, salads, ham, pumpkin pie, cranberries, and more. It's downright amazing how much food we can eat.

This year we started our bowling earlier.  Kathy reserved 4 lanes at 4 p.m.  We ended up using 5 because there was only one other family there at the time.  We figure that we have been doing our bowling outing for at least 25 years.  The attendant said he's been working there for 21 years and we were at it before that.  That's quite a family tradition.

Steve and Kathy are the king and queen of our Thanksgiving tradition.  I'll bet Bill and June are happy that their family is still getting together every year.

Second cousins become new friends-Elsie and Oakley hit it off.

After the bowling, we head back to Kathy's for fireworks, pinatas, scouring the ads for the Black Friday sales and of course, more food!

The weather was mild so some of the kids never bothered to put on their coats for the fireworks.

Kathy and Brent had 2 pinatas so the kids were divided into younger and older groups so everyone would have a chance to swing hard for the treasures.

Both the food and the company were fantastic!  It was an absolutely wonderful day.  Loved it all.  Thanks, Kathy and Brent.  You are amazing hosts. I wish I had some of that good food right now. 

Laugh Out Loud!

Don't you just love the peep hole in this door?  One of my book club groups met at this quaint little house close in to town where the hostess and her husband are home tending for a couple on a mission.  When we were getting ready to leave someone commented on the peep hole installed on the frame of a mostly glass door.  We laughed and laughed about this one.  I couldn't resist sharing it.

I must say I wasn't expecting a wall plaque for my service as the CRS Education Chairman, but I got one anyway.  Steve is eager to hang it up.  As for me, I don't really care. The best part is that the year is over and I survived.  Next year I will be in charge of the program for 4 breakfasts and someone else is in charge of the classes.  Hooray!

Saturday morning we dragged Hilary's family to the local Greek church for their Christmas festival.  My dear friend, Marlene, had a booth to display and sell her watercolor artwork which includes cards.  They are truly beautiful.  Congratulations, Marlene.  Hopefully you sold a bunch.
After that we went couponing to get Hilary yarn for knitting her hats and all of us some lunch.  We decided after much analysis that we would get more food for our money at KFC instead of the hamburger options.  Chicken it is!

After lunch we headed to Desert Star for the matinee performance of "It's a Wonderful Life".  Steve's nephew's daughter, was one of the starlets.  Cassidy did a great job.  She knew all of her lines and even sang a solo.  Way to go, Cassidy!  We are happy that we were able to see her perform.

When I bought the tickets, they asked if we were celebrating a special occasion.  I remembered that Korinne's birthday was coming up so I said yes.  I'm not sure the attention was appreciated by Korinne, but in the end who doesn't like to be honored for their birthday?  I think she has forgiven me

Happy birthday this week, Korinne!

Included among the other highlights of the week were two Real Tours and getting the Thanksgiving calendar mailer out.  Thanks to Hilary and her family for their efforts in helping with that.  It's always a big relief for me to get that out on time.

We are really looking forward to our Thanksgiving celebration at Steve's sister's house.  Hope everyone has a fantabulous holiday. We are grateful for you so we will be thinking of all of you who can't be with us.  Happy bowling!

The Blessings of Visiting Teaching...

I often reflect on the fact that many of my special friendships have developed through my participation in the visiting teaching program of our church.  I guess that I will give Heavenly Father all of the credit for His plan of helping us take care of each other.  I have lived in so many places and most of the time the opportunity to visit with sisters in their homes each month has helped me adjust and given me the setting to develop friendships.  It has helped me to "bloom where you are planted" or "embrace your place" so to speak.

This week Heavenly Father gave me the chance to serve in a most intimate way.  Recently in our ward, there have been a lot of changes made in the visiting teaching assignments.  I had suggested repeatedly that whatever changes they made, they needed to allow me to continue visiting Aryls, a sister in her 90's who is not able to attend church.  I felt strongly that we were developing a comfortable relationship and that it might be difficult for her to have a change.  I learn so much from her "down to earth" wisdom and her tenacity in tending her flowers and maintaining her home.  She lives with a wayward daughter in her 60's and a son who has some mental issues.  Through our consistent visits, we have made progress with the daughter and the son is accepting of our presence.
In fact last month when I stopped by, the daughter loaned me one of her favorite books which indicated to me that we were making real progress in developing a friendship.

I had a very busy week planned with a few large committments.  Tuesday, I pulled into my driveway about 4 p.m. after going non-stop since before 8.  I received a text from our R.S. president that something had happened to Arly's daughter.  Could I check it out?  It was beautiful to see the Lord's hand at work.  I sent off a couple of important emails and hopped in the car and went to Arlys' house.    Apparently, Arlys' daughter had some kind of a brain anyuerism earlier that day.  Arlys had called the paramedics and they had taken Maralee to the hospital.  By this time Aryls was confused and had no idea what hospital she had been taken to.
 
It was nice that I had leftover food from the event I had hosted earlier in the day.  I put it in their fridge and headed home to switch vehicles.  I didn't think I could get Arlys in the pickup which doesn't have  a runnning board.  As soon as I arrived back with the car, I loaded Arlys in the car and we headed to the University hospital.  We spent the next 3-4 hrs there with Maralee, who was totally unresponsive, waiting for Maralee's daughter to arrive from Las Vegas. She was grateful her mother was still alive when she arrived and that her grandmother was being cared for and comforted by visiting and home teachers.  I know that it was a great comfort for Arlys to have a friend with her during this difficult time. I was also grateful that the Lord allowed me to provide some meaningful service to one of his children. 
I hope that the Lord will continue to guide me in assisting Arlys.  I honestly don't know how she will get along without her daughter's help.  But I trust in the Lord and His guiding hand.  He is truly mindful of each of us.  I saw it so impressively this week and I feel honored to have been an instrument in His hands for good.

There's a lot of sickness going around...

our office.  We are all fine and healthy but during the last week our printers got printertitis.  And much to my frustration and surprise, it is deadly.  Tiffany and I were busily working on my files when both of our office printers, first the black and white workhorse and then the color flyer special, quit on us.  Steve was out of town, but luckily I was able to figure out how to connect my laptop to the fax/printer in his office.  Phew!  We were back at work.  We were grateful that the oldest of the three machines was still  operational.  That printer is over 10 years old.  Well, a couple of days later, that one jammed.  Now it is dead too. 

 Here's our new Costco special.  We now have one printer to do the work of all the others.  All I can say is it has been a sad goodbye.  On the bright side there's a little more room on my desk now. 

Monday night we had family home evening with Abigail and Tiffany.  The time just flew by while they were visiting.  They left the next day to find some sunshine farther south.  

 It was time to prepare for winter around here since we've already had several snow storms.  Steve winterized the lawnmower and prepared the snowblower for service.  We both worked on the flower beds, removing dead flowers and mulching the perennials.  Then I hurried and planted some bulbs and pansies all the while the wind was howling and the light snowflakes were falling.  This next week we will probably have beautiful weather again now that I have finished my gardening chores.  Just my luck!

 Sunday we drove north to have dinner with Hilary's family and pick up my Thanksgiving calendar mailers that she has been preparing for me.  This is the week to get them mailed.  Here I enjoyed a snuggling hug with Jenna and Korinne.  That was worth the drive!

Abigail's Birthday Visit!

 Abigail celebrated her 5th birthday several times this past month.  We drove north to visit with Hilary's family on the first day Tiffany and Abigail were in town.  It was sunny but chilly and the kids still played outside a little bit.

 The next day was Abigail's official birthday.  We had some errands to run including the local bookstore.  That evening we had the Groupon special at Chucky Cheese.  Abigial had a ball and Tif got to visit with her friend Jessica who was a real sport.  Abigail was so excited to finally be 5 years old.

 On Friday, I took Abigail south with me to show some houses and visit with Great Grandma Ann.  Fortunately, we had time for Abigail to play in the park.  She had a lot of fun running around in her new tutu, trying new tricks and yelling "This is the best day ever." 

 Saturday morning we woke up to quite a bit of snow.  Abigail loved the soft, white stuff.  She helped Tiffany and I shovel and made snow angels.  In the afternoon, while Steve and Tif were gone, Abigail and I made her first real snowman.  Pretty cute, don't you think?

 Sunday after church, Tiffany, Abigail and I went down to Temple Square while Steve napped and caught up a little from a rough week of work and travel.  Abigail sang to the a set of sister missionaries.  They were kind enough to take a picture for us too.

We only have one day left to finish our work and fit in all the other errands and fun that we can.  Time always flies by when Tif comes to visit.