Thanksgiving Dinner and Tree and Rowan

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with Kelly contributing two kinds of rolls, one with orange flavoring and frosting and one plain all in crescent shape.  They rose so well and were so good.  

Craig contributed two pies he made, one pecan and the other pumpkin with a streusel pecan top.  Linda made the traditional apple and Gary had made a wonderful pumpkin cheesecake the day before.  All were amazing delicious.

Linda and Gary cooked the turkey in a new flat way with the backbone removed.  Linda made a traditional stuffing and cranberry sauce with the berries and it was all so good.

Someone made the mashed potatoes and gravy, no sure who but so perfect and traditional fresh cooked green beans.

James and Kelsi came over, Craig from LA and Collin was back from the hospital he has been working at.

Rowan was a little feverish so Kelly and Collin took turns rocking him and eating.

Of course, I forgot to take any pictures!!!  But we did decorate the tree on Thanksgiving Eve.

First of all a picture of some of the chefs, where is Linda?

And Rowan is such a doll and smiles for me.

Doing his work, trying to reach and turn over, something!

 

Thanksgiving!

Craig is here for Thanksgiving and everyone is busy cooking but me.  James and Kelsi have been invited and Collin and Kelly and Rowan are here.

I sent out this greeting last night on Instagram and Facebook that I had colored on Happy Color.

James was wondering about putting up the Christmas tree and I encouraged him to do it and said I would help.  So this morning we, James, Kelsi, her friend and I are going to try and do the tree etc!

Turkey for Fuquas

 Gabriella's son Joey!  Eric is teaching him to be a hunter and he is learning well!

Thanksgiving 2021

 Jeanne and I were at Treeo for Thanksgiving and they had a delicious spread but of course, I did not take any pictures.  We could take as many left overs as we wanted also! and I had a second meal at midnight.

Friday we drove over to Dave and Tami's house for dinner with Dave and Tami and Tami's daughter Emily and her husband Ammon.  Emily and Ammon are currently living in St George where Ammon  is becoming an ONP and Emily is having a baby in early July.  They are such a nice couple and so fun to listen to their stories.

Tami had made delicious scalloped potatoes and Dave the carrots that were baked in the oven in a casserole dish with lots of butter.  I did not eat the roll but delicious ham.  For dessert we had a wonderful berry pie baked by Tami.

Again,I forgot to take pictures but their beautiful renovated home that Dave did had all been decorated for Christmas and I should have snapped a picture of the tree all in white and silver and the lights outside were gorgeous.

We had problems reading the street number to know we were at the right house but Emily smiled and said she had met me at Jeanne's birthday party in the canyon and said we were at the right place!!!

I had not cared about decorating for Christmas but I must have been inspired because I got up around 3 in the morning and decorated all I am going to do for Christmas.  It is very cozy and I also got out all my Christmas Cds and I am listening to Christmas all day long.

Several years ago, I made some Christmas mix cds and I am so glad I did.  I would not know how today but it is really a good mix...two of them actually.

Marilyn and I made the Storybook of Christmas stories and songs for all of our grandchildren when I was at her house in 2015 after Arkie died.

Linda had made the mats for me years ago, on the other side is Fall.

The Nativity family I added to my Christmas last year in Rancho Bernardo.  The book beside the family is my life in photo and story.  On the table also is the cd player Linda gifted me last year and so fun to play Christmas songs all day long.

I was going to decorate this little fake tree but just put all the lights on it.  So nice to have Christmas lighting at night!

I took this picture because I want everyone to realize I need updated Christmas pictures!!!!

Also on the floor is my Christmas books with all cards I sent and pictures for Christmas since 1960, the first Christmas with baby Johnny.  Jennifer gave me the Christmas book cover.  I am so glad I have these books to look at!!!  Maryanne gave me the Love Never Melts that she made herself.  I wanted people to see that I need updated Christmas pix of them!!!

Carole's Family at Thanksgiving 2021

This is who was at Jon and Bethany's home for Thanksgiving, Jon and Bethany and twins Sage and Raina and little Finn.  Also in attendance was Dino Dave and Chris.  Carole was taking the picture.

This is Hunter and Toni's Thanksgiving.   Daughter of Toni, Nicole and husband Andrew and daughter of Toni, Cody and husband Axel.

Pictures of renovated house by Jon and Bethany

 

Hardy Family Comes To Dinner

 They came over and brought a lot of left overs and with what I had there was food to spare.  It was all delicious.  Camber wanted everyone to dress in the Elves costumes but I refused so it looks like I have a lot of Elf Helpers.  I like that.

Thanksgiving at Horado Rd

Linda went with her family to St George and hiking at Zion and Maria's family felt they should stay in quarantine so it was just Megan's family who came for Thanksgiving dinner.  I had bought a turkey at Wal Mart and made the dressing, potatoes (mashed and sweet potatoe), creamy corn, and green bean casserole.  They brought two pies (pumpkin and apple) which Matt and Keira made with the help of the others I assume.  And Meagan brought a delicious green salad.  

I put all the food on our craft table and set the table with the good china and goblets.  For some reason we forgot to take a picture of all of us together but Meagan sent over what she had.  Nothing I took turned out at all!

The food was all delicious and we had a lot of fun!!!

Eden, photogenic as always.

 We had fun playing a game that one of Matt's friends created and it is being sold through Amazon.  It takes a little strategy and these kids are good!!!

Thanksgiving Week 2016, Christmas Letter

I flew to San Diego on Tuesday the 22nd and stayed at James and Camber's house in Del Mar for a week.  It was a lovely time.  We had the White Elephant Christmas party with the Masseys and Pulsiphers and Hardys.

The Hardys all dressed in their Ugly Christmas Sweaters.

Eden patiently waits her turn while Keira hopes to hang on to her prize, which she did.

I think I ended up with the puzzle that is in Matt's hands.  I didn't get too well acquainted with Nico yet.

Amy got the Ginch Costume and looked so cute in it.

 I look like a feeble old lady the way I am holding my hand...don't know why I did that!

Camber posed this picture and it turned out really cute I think.  Grandma with 6 of her 15 grandchildren and 3 of her 7 great grandchildren.

 On Thanksgiving Day we had Maria and Johnny, Camber's parents and her niece and a cousin, and James' Assistant and his mother plus the missionaries.  It was a great dinner and Mary had a fun question and dart game for us after.    

Above was sent out with the Christmas goodie packages that got mailed to some.

Thanksgiving

We have been eating our Thanksgiving dinner everyday, now and still have some left and I have gained 5 lb s.  I need to get back to not eating  sugar again.  We made a lot!!!! 

Strangely I have not had too upset a digestion system but I do make my yogurt and eat it every day, helps so much.  I made pumpkin bread twice for give aways and peanut brittle which was really good, too and a new recipe for cchip cookies and ginger snaps which were both good, a lot is in the freezer but I haven't had so many goodies around for a long, long time.  Marilyn has a bad back so I do most of the cooking but except for raking up some leaves, outside work is minimal.  I bought a puzzle which we finally finished but now I have another and it will really be hard.

It has been very cold here, too, and the snow is still on all the trees and it has snowed a lot and is not melting this time but the roads were pretty clear from here to Marilyn's Ward which is fairly close, so that is good and shopping is near.  Sadie has not had a walk outside for about 4 days but she has the nice back yard and continues to spot a bunny or two  which makes her run a little.  Marilyn's granddaughter was here on the weekend, she lives in Colorado Springs and had a challenge with the roads, luckily she missed the big pile ups there on Saturday nite and Sunday.  Marilyn keeps her home very warm so that is nice and not having to worry about wood and making a fire is good so it has been nice here. I have been wearing my long johns to bed and threw on an extra down quilt the last few nights.

It snowed and was very cold for the Bronco, Patriot game on Sunday and I stopped watching it when the Patriots were 14-0 so surprised the Broncos won, wow, amazing and with out Peyton Manning, too.

Have only seen one movie since coming and Marilyn only likes happy endings so watch a lot of Hallmark, and I try and keep up with my regular shows by ON DEMAND, she does not use a recorder but has 4 tvs!!!

I miss my home and my movies and seeing everyone at home but time is going fast.  I hate to fly but I am flying to San Diego on the 30th for Amy's Temple Wedding on Jan 2 and then I am flying back here on the 8th, hope that all goes well.  I hope all is well at my house.  All of Maria's boys are in San Diego and helping to rebuild the Rasimas house in La Jolla.  Will be like a duplex kind of when completed.  But it had to be gutted and plumbing all redone and they are adding a deck and new windows and all new inside except for a few walls of paneling and flooring that was still good.   

Happy Thanksgiving Letter

I sent this to my family by email.

Happy Thanksgiving Family!

Hope you have a wonderful week! 

How are things wherever you all are this week?  What are your plans for the holiday?  Marilyn and I will be alone except for Marilyn’s granddaughter who works in Colorado Springs will be coming for the weekend.  Neither one of us want to fly anywhere, her family have all been here recently.  Between the two of us we have family scattered throughout California, Nevada, Texas, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, and North Carolina, but we are alone, ha.

We have had three snowstorms but the sun comes out and it is gone soon, it is cold at night but the sunshine shines in the day.  We stay off the roads until it is all melted.  The sun is so bright and close.  Hope you saw my recent pix on Instagram, the sun was amazing at sunset.

We have made too many goodies for Thanksgiving but she has some friends she wants to take some things too.  I am doing most of the cooking but am enjoying that.  She has a lot more aches and pains than I do but Sadie is still getting a lot more walking between the two of us than she did before.

Marilyn has a lovely large home so it is like living in a nice hotel where I am the head chef.  We have only seen one movie so far but have lots to watch on TV.  We have been out to lunch at least twice a week or more since I arrived.  I like the Montana Grill and Bonefish the best.  She belongs to two groups from her last ward and her new one and one goes to lunch and one has potluck.  Montana Grill is Ted Turner’s place and the beef was to die for!!!

Friday we went to “Tuesday Morning” and I bought a round puzzle which will keep us busy for the holidays, it is hard!!!  And then she has two Hallmark channels so that, too.  I also brought Roku so TV’s are busy!!

Send pix on Instagram and love to skype or get emails or phone calls, miss seeing everyone, love you all!!!

The tree is up!!

Replica of Glendive, there is the Andersons Store in the middle with Hagenstons, Meissners Grocery Store, Rose Theater, the Railroad, and our house on the hill!!!

Thanksgiving

I remember Maria telling me to take lots of pictures and yet this is the only Thanksgiving picture I have!!

Matt came and I had made the whole traditional Thanksgiving dinner with Maria's cream corn, and Marilyn P's Sweet Potatoe Souffle and both Pumpkin and Apple Pie.  The missionaries had been by earlier to get down my Christmas Decorations and asked if I was going to be here for Thanksgiving dinner and I told them I was and my grandson was coming.  They said they could go to two dinners so I invited them.

It was fine.  Matt made the green bean casserole, I had the frozen pistachio salad and Matt did a great job of cutting the turkey.  We had put the stuffing inside.  I used the Bridgeford frozen rolls from Holiday and they were really good!  The missionaries especially loved the corn, never had anything as good and they ate the pumpkin pie.  We ate at 1 so they should have hungry for their dinner at 4:30 with the Martins.  We almost forgot the mashed potatoes, Matt and I were each using a pototoe peeler to get them in the water fast!

Matt and I watched the ballgame and he made a great fire--as usual it got so warm we had to open the doors.

Sadie loved having Bruce around.  Matt only stayed the one night and we went to Verizon the next morning, on his way back home, to discuss the Samsung Galaxy 5 Smartphone.  My contract has another two months so we didn't do anything but Melissa says I can get it totally free if I do the Galaxy 4 with A T and  T.

Anyway it was a lovely Thanksgiving,   Matt loaded my wood before he left.  My electric bill has been going up because often I will turn the electric heater on when I go to my bedroom for the night and don't bother with a wood fire.  Options are good.

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2008

We have been Christmassing in Park City. since 1976 but this year the only ones there for the early week are Maria, her children Mike, Matt, Melissa, Mitch and me sharing the unit. 

I was released from SBA duty on December 19 in Sacramento, picked up Mike from college and then drove to my Lake Almanor home and met Melissa and we drove straight to Park City the next morning. 

 Martin, Richard's brother and Kathy were also there early waiting for their children's families to arrive. They were fun to visit with, only time I ever see them is Christmas, it seems. 

 We like Christmas in Park City because it is simple, we play games, eat ski or snowboard, have a 

Christmas program of sorts and always the white elephant gift game.

Maria brought her portable Christmas Tree!!!!

White Elephant Gift Time

Dinner is always good but not time consuming. I remember one year especially when we put the turkey in the oven before we went skiing, bought a Christmas tree really cheap on the way home and had Christmas dinner that evening. It is always good no matter who is there and what we eat.

Matt was the only one snowboarding. Mitch and Mike spend time on their computers and the girls shop and usually sit in the hot tub. And we always have fun playing games, going to movies and watching tv.

This year the hot tub was not working so that was a great disappointment. 

I also enjoyed watching from our window the construction work going on in front of Meagan's unit, which is why they went to Hawaii this year. Maria was also doing some dating on the side, so that was an interesting sidelight!

 

Matt in his snowboard gear. And he showed us how he can board down stair railings, too.

 Mike kicking back from school and watching tv when he is not on the computer.

Maria's family poses for a picture together. It is hard to get family together in this crazy world so we appreciated this time. 

Melissa all ready to go shopping, shopping, or looking, looking since everyone was saving money for college this year. Mitch and Maria ready to go for an outing also. Maria and Matt pose at Temple Square.

 

We always make our trek to Temple Square. It is always bustling with visitors, Christmas trees, the Nativity Scene and beautiful, beautiful lights. It was a good Christmas! Thanks, Valkos, for letting me share Christmas with you.

Thanksgiving 2008

For Thanksgiving Maria and her four children had Thanksgiving in my hotel room in Sacramento.  I was still working for SBA.  This trip was quite lonely except that Mike was in Sacramento, too, so I would often pick him up to eat.

Maria brought the creamed corn and Melissa had luscious spinanch dip but the turkey I shared was not too great.  Maria say, ""the turkey is the part of it," and that is so true.

After returning from Christmas I had my slippery slide down my front steps and didn't do any blogging for almost a month so here goes Christmas 2008. By the way I had no time to get Christmas cards out in 2008, maybe 2009 will be the year for cards.