My Surprise

 After everyone left and I was putting the kitchen back together, I notice a new decoration sitting on the wall table in the front room.  Annie made this and left it as a little surprise for me.  I love it.  It is beautiful!  Thanks Annie.  Your crafting ability never ceases to amaze me.  

Thanksgiving Day

 Again, and I repeat, this is my favorite holiday of the year.  Just so many memories of Thanksgiving when I was growing up.  It is just a warm holiday and I love it.  Families gather together and enjoy good food and good company.  

We started the day by going bowling at Fat Cats.  Maren made arrangements for reserving lanes for us.  We all got there about 11:00.  Cutlers:  Maren, Greg, Taylor and Boston.  Gertsons:  Jeff, Andrew, JC and Jenny (two good friends of Jeff and Annie), Alex and Hayley.  Neal, Tucker and me.  Hintze's:  Robert, Mindy, Ryan, Izzy, Maddie and the new little family member, Logan.  

We had a fun time bowling and then all headed back to the house to prepare for a delicious Thanksgiving spread!

Families for dinner:  Cutlers, Gertsons and JC and Jenny.  Everyone brought something and the dinner was absolutely delicious.  It was a traditional dinner.  We also celebrated Neal's birthday, which is Monday.  And, I also was quietly celebrating my mother's birthday.  She was born on November 27th and I don't know how often it comes around but every now and again her birthday lands on Thanksgiving.  She was born in 1906.  She would have been 119 this year.  She has been gone 23 years.  That is hard to believe that it has been that long.  

I didn't take a lot of pictures this year at dinner but thank goodness Tucker grabbed a couple.  I did get this cute picture of Andrew sharing the chair with Santa!

Around the table:  Jaden, Greg, Maren, Alex, Hayley, Andrew, Mallory, Jeffrey, me, Annie, Jenny, JC, Neal, Tucker who is taking the picture, Taylor and Boston.  Such a fun group. 

I had to take a picture of Tucker's creation.  Very fun.  He was in charge of bringing a fruit plate and he went above and beyond.  

After dinner we played games, took a break and had pies and then back to games.  Maren and Lynda Ann had to leave around 6:00.  Both had to work but most of the group stayed and played games until after 9:00.  I loved every single moment of Thanksgiving.  Thanks to all who came bowling and to dinner for making it an amazing and fun filled day.  Makes me very, very thankful for family and friends!!!  We were thrilled that JC and Jenny (Jeff and Annie's close friends) could join us for dinner and games.  

I'm going to add here that Neal and I did something different for Christmas this year.  We gave each family $200.00 and asked them to come up with a service project of some kind using the $200.00.  We don't need to exchange gifts this year.  We don't need anything and we would rather have the family do some good for someone else rather than spend money on us.  When we get together in December then instead of exchanging presents we will have each family report on their service project or what they did with the $200.00.  Neal and I are also going to do something.  

How Much Would You Spend?

 What would you pay for a Christmas Tree?  Something I've never thought much about.  Neal and I have had an artificial tree since the second Christmas we were married.  I've never been one for a real tree.  I like the convenience of unpacking, putting it together and turning on the button to have all the lights lite up.  Definitely my kind of tree.  Neal and I were at Modern Display getting some white decorations for our tree and when we walked in the door we saw a tree that so made me think of Ron and Judy.  I took a picture of it and sent it to Judy.  She asked how much it was and I told her I had no idea.  I knew it far beyond anything I would want or would pay for so didn't bother to check out any prices.  Judy text me later and said that she had called Modern Display and it was over $10,000 dollars!!  Yup, $10,000.  I just assume that was the end of that.  Well to my surprise, we went to dinner at Ron and Judy's on Sunday and there in their dinning area was the tree.  This is the tree at Modern Display.

This is the tree in their home.  Fits in the little alcove just perfect.  They did a lot of measuring to make sure it was going to fit there before they bought it.  It is gorgeous but the question remains, how much would you be willing to spend for a tree?

Sunday Surprise

 Went to sacrament meeting this morning and as Neal and I walked in the chapel and sat down, there on the stand was President Oaks!!  What the heck?!  Of course I sneaked a picture!  

The meeting went as it normally would.  After the sacrament there were three speakers and a special musical number.  All the speakers only gave part of their talks so that there would be time for us to hear from our newly ordained Prophet.  When he got up he said: "Let me answer the question that is on everyone's mind.  Why is he here?"  Of course everyone laughed.  Then he went on to say that often if he doesn't have an assignment he likes to just pick a random ward to attend.  Security doesn't want him to give any notice so he just shows up about 10 minutes before the meeting.  He said it was his opportunity to be with the members on a normal basis.  He doesn't get that at Stake Conferences or General Conference.  Then he proceeded with his message which was "Trust the Lord".  He said those three words are the answer to every question anyone has about the gospel.  "Trust the Lord".   He only talked for a few minutes, had his wife bear her testimony and then he left.  He mentioned that they had another assignment to be to.  When they left we had a closing song and prayer.  I'm sure this meeting will be talked about and remembered for a very long time.  

President Oaks is the 18th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He is 93 years old.  

Finally finished

 I'm not sure when I started this project, but I know it was a long time ago.  For some crazy reason I have not been interested in doing any counted cross stitch for the longest time.  Then last week I got in the mood and finally finished this Christmas stitchery.  I have three or four more projects waiting to be done.  I need to get going on them.  I have to decide which one I will start next.  I'll keep my decision posted as soon as I decide.

I had to post this picture that I took at Annie's.  Lynda Ann bought this coconut carved into a monkey head, for Andrew.  He decided to give it some personality and put a rolled up piece of paper in the monkey's mouth.  He looks like the God Father of the monkeys!!!  Very funny Andrew man.

Baby Logan

 Update picture from Mindy of baby Logan who was born October 31st.  He is now 2 weeks old.  Boy, he sure has Ryan and Jeffrey's look!

Super Saturday

This past Saturday was a Super Saturday in Lynda Ann's ward.  She is in charge of these craft Saturdays twice a year.  Mallory and I decided to go out and support her.  It was fun to watch her in her element.  Creating is what she loves and does expertly.  It was special for a mother to watch her daughter giving service to others.  She was at every table helping every sister every step of the way in creating their particular craft.  Here are some of the crafts she had.  I wish I had taken a picture of her creating the bows.  It was genius to say the least.  

She is working on making a bow for someone but the process that I didn't get a picture of was amazing.  

Mallory and I stayed to the bitter end.  We did two baby quilts to keep ourselves busy.  Then after the day of crafting was over we help Lynda load everything up and cart it all back to her house.  I can't say enough about how proud I am of her sharing her talents with others.  She is amazing!
 

Susan's Special Gift

Last Friday Lynda Ann and I drove to Heber to meet Susan for lunch.  When we walked in the restaurant, Susan was there at the table and sitting on the table were two fir trees with a note in them that said, "Merry Christmas in remembrance  of Lila Mae.  There were two pictures inside the red truck envelope.

The tears ran freely.  We all miss her so very much.  We all feel like we should be sure and pull up an extra chair for her sit with us.  And, we all feel like she is with us every time we get together.  Lynda Ann, Susan and I are determined to keep getting together every month for as long as we possibly can.  This tradition goes clear back to when Lynda Ann was 3 or 4 years old.  Thanks to Susan for making this lunch extra special for all of us.  

Singing in a Quartet

 I seriously keep thinking that I'm getting too old to be singing in groups.  Voices lose their clear and intense sound as we grow older.  But, I keep getting asked to sing, which I love.  Music is such a huge part of my life.  We had an evening of Abundantly Blessed.  We found a song in the new hymns that we thought would work perfectly.  The song is "I Can't Count Them All". These are the words:

    The Lords loving mercies surround me, so many I can't count them all.

    Like dew drops they sparkle around me, like treasures from Heaven they fall.

    The Lords loving mercies surround me, so many I can't count them all.

    Like stars without number above me, his mercies shine bright through the years

    These blessings from one who so loves me, dispel the world 's darkness and fears

    Like stars without number above me, his mercies shine bright through the years.

    The Lord's loving gifts are unceasing, and thanks ever more will I give.

    My gratitude ever increasing, I'll offer so long as I live.

    The Lord's loving gifts are unceasing, and thanks ever more will I give.

From left to right:  Diana Alvarez, Paige Janzen, me, Tree Curtis and our pianist - Sally Curtis.

Happy to be able to sing another time.  We actually sounded pretty darn good!

SUFF

 I was invited to a play at Rice Eccles.  The play is called SUFF and is about the suffragettes, women working for the right to vote.  The play was a musical and if I were to rate it, I would probably give it a 4 out of 10.  Just not my kind of play.  But it was fun to be with Sally and her daughter Brenda for the evening.  We went to dinner and then the theater.  

Left to right:  Brenda Curtis, Janet Barton, Sally Curtis and little old me!  Very fun evening.

New Christmas Decoration

 I bought two large acrylic deer at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant a few weeks ago.  I really didn't know how I would display it.  I just thought the deer were gorgeous.  Lynda Ann stepped up and said that she would create a decoration for them and that could be my Christmas present.  I was elated.  Annie has such an eye for decorating and how to decorate.  She came by on her way to work and this is what she created.

This is looking down from the balcony.  

The decoration sits on the grand piano and is absolutely gorgeous.  The pictures don't really do it complete justice.  When you walk in and see it in person, it is breath taking.  I would never have come up with something as gorgeous as this.  

She also created this decoration to go in the entrance hall.

We are all set for Christmas.  Even been playing Christmas music!!

My New Christmas Platter

 I'm always looking for a new dish for Christmas.  Neal and I were at Modern Display picking up some more white decorations for the Christmas tree and I spotted this platter and Neal and I fell in love with it.  

Amazing Annie

A few weeks ago I bought some gorgeous deer.  One standing and one laying down.  Not sure what I would do with them or how I would decorate around them, but fell in love with them.  As I usually do, I turned the project over to Lynda Ann.  As always, her talents shine and she comes through with another amazing Christmas decoration.  My house is beautiful and mostly because of Lynda Ann.  She came by tonight on her way to work and brought her creative ideas and this is what she did.  This decoration (that she made) sits on the at the entrance to our home.  She has lights in the glass.  So gorgeous.

Hard to get a good picture of this decoration with the lighting.  

She created the tree that stands between the deer.  She added decor around the feet of the deer and the tree.  The tree has the little fairy lights running up the middle.  The whole thing is absolutely incredible.

I took this from the balcony.  

Neal said that he thought Annie should open up a craft store.  She would be amazing.  I totally agreed!  Thank you Annie.  My house is beautiful because of your talent in decorating.  

 

Christmas Lights

 Maren, Boston and Tucker came over to the house this evening and under Neal's supervision, put all the lights on the tree outside the front porch.  They worked on them from about 3:30 until around 6:00.  Boston and Maren were up the ladders and also up in the tree.  Tucker was also climbing all over stringing lights.  

Being silly!  

Neal sitting in his directors chair.  He is still dealing with issues with his back.  So he did what he loves most - directing!

After the tree was completed we all went in the house and had lasagne, salad and ice cream for dessert.  

Thanks to Maren, Tucker and Boston for decorating the whole tree.  It was such a fun afternoon and evening.  You guys are great!  Love you all so very much.