The HAPPY in Happy Thanksgiving!!!

All the kids and grandkids plus Tammy's sister Sherry and her husband and Baby Michael joined us for our Thanksgiving Feast and Celebration. I have always loved the smells of Thanksgiving. I love that turkey smell in the wee morning hours and the baking of pies smell that is followed by the aroma many other family favorites. It reminds me how thankful I am for the family that I have and for the blessings of health, security, and safety that we share. It reminds me how grateful I am to live close to kids and grandkids. It reminds me of past Thanksgivings and traditions that we share. I want so much to hold onto these special memories that it is almost like my mind is taking a picture of the days events that will last forever. Thanks Craig, Christopher, Valerie, Dallin, Kate, William, Tammy, Madison, Hailey, Michael, Sherry, Jeff, and Baby Michael for a wonderful day!

Spoiled Milk!

Over the years it seems that I have purchased three gallons of milk at a time and sometimes twice a week. This effort really kicked into overtime with the missionaries here, Michael (a straping young lad)living at home,and the married kids and the grandkids showing up often. Since the missionaries moved out followed by Michael...I have been buying one gallon of milk of week. For the first time in years, yesterday, I ended up with spoiled milk. What a shocker and so unexpected! Who would have ever guessed? I guess we really ARE empty nesters! I guess I need to have the grandkids over more often! haha!

Halloween Birthday!!!

I am blessed to have a Halloween Birthday. Generally, this means Trick-O-Treating or at least giving out treats at the door. Usually EVERYONE remembers my birthday because it is a holiday. This year, Halloween was on a Sunday which meant that it was celebrated as just my birthday as we don't participate in Trick-O-Treating or the giving of treats on Sunday. Fall Festivals and Trunk-O-Treating had been taken in the days before by the kids and grandkids and I was blessed to be able to go with them. I have the BEST kids and grandkids in the world.

This year for my birthday, I made a Maple Nut Cake...a favorite from my high school years, which I had forgotten all about until just before my birthday. William made my favorite...Chicken Courdon Blue, yum! The rest of the family made the sides and did the decorating, setting up and tearing down. Thanks so much dear family for making my memories so special. This year, I was blessed with an update of my Grandkid Photo Picture on the piano. I also received a Nana Brag Book, tiny enough to be pulled out in an instant, and this year...a special video of the grandkids. It literally brought tears to my eyes. The only thing missing was Michael who did call to wish me a Happy Birthday. Thanks dear family for the special love you bring. You are all so dear!!!

Our Red Raider Rides in for a Visit!!!

Michael just came in tonight for a long weekend visit. It is so great to see him. We have sure missed him. He sure looks good. College life has been good to him.

Empty Nesters!!!

It seems like just yesterday when we were in the big middle of diapers, school, soccer, band, young men,scouting and endless parenting adventures. All to soon, those days are gone. Today, we just got back from taking our youngest to Texas Tech University in Lubbock Texas. This taking our kids to college thing certainly is not a new adventure for us, but it seems that you remember each and every moment of this parting ritual each and every time. With Michael, we were able to get our student set up in his dorm, purchase last minute needed items, and take him out to dinner one last time before saying good-bye. We also met his new roommate and it seems like they have a great possibility of hitting it off as good friends. We gave him all our last wisdom and advise hoping that we hadn't forgotten anything. The kids ears probably fell off on the six hour trip to Lubbock. As parents, we worry about those types of things as you know...we want OUR kids to have the greatest advantage at a wonderful life. We hope that they can avoid mistakes and pitfalls that cause sadness or dreams that are unfulfilled. Then we send them on their way knowing that now they are in God's hands. We will sure miss Michael. He has sure worked hard over the years and it is our hope that he can take these things that he has learned to benefit him in his future.

Hobbit Adventure!!!

I flew to Rhode Island to meet my sister and mother for a road trip. I just felt that we probably wouldn't be able to do these types of things together for long and that I needed to spend this time with them. The road trip took us to Rhode Island, Boston, Niagra Falls (Canada side), Chicago, Wisconsin, and Minnasota. The thing that I probably remember MOST besides Chicago Pizza,Chicago Hot Dogs,founding fathers grave sites, Niagra Falls,figuring out how to eat a whole lobster looking at you, the farm lands of Wisconsin and Nancy's birth place (our home when we were little), meeting Nancy's family, WAS RIDING AN ELEPHANT. When I think back on this trip I will think back on fun times spent in the car, laughing so long and so hard, AND RIDING THE ELEPHANT. I was grateful to have this time to experience special events with the family that I started out with. I am grateful for these memories as I carry them back home to add to the memories that I have created there. I am thankful for family and dear friends. I have been blessed to have the best! Thank you!

Michael becomes an Elder!

Michael became an elder today. His dad ordained him and his brother William and brother-In-Law Christopher were able to stand in the circle. It was awesome as our whole family was there. The little ones cheered him on. We are all so proud that he would choose this next step in his progression.