Thanksgiving Day officially begins

Our day began with the traditional bowling activity while the turkey cooks.  We all met at Fat Cats at 11:00.  We had five lanes side by side.  Those able to come were:  Gertsons, Tucker’s family, Cutlers and Goss’s along with Derek and Debby Vanetti (one of my co-workers and friend).  Hintze’s weren’t able to join us for the festivities and we missed them.  We usually get a group picture but by the time we were all done and everyone was ready to go we had children scattered all over in the arcade area so that idea seemed too impossible to do.

Of course we had to have a picture of Lyndsy who is ready to deliver Mr. Desmond Neal any day now.

Everyone had a great time and we noticed that there is competition going on at all ages.  Annie and I always have a bet for the best accumulated score – the winner gets treated to an Ice Berg Malt in the summer.  I won this year and am already licking my lips!

The day before!

Lot’s of preparation goes into hosting a family our size for Thanksgiving or any other holiday for that matter.  I know that I get a little obsessed with having to have everything looking nice and festive and the food on the table at the appointed time.  The emotions of the preparation and the day of the celebration always come to a climax for me when I take my place at the table and look around at all my posterity.  Our journey together hasn’t been easy but then whose journey in this life is. 

The day was spent going on last minute errands with Jamie, picking up the girls in Woodscross, finishing the home made bread, getting the tables and chairs set up and the tables set.  We now have three tables to set up for our size family.

 

In the evening we drove out to Marens to see her knew home.  We met her at Café Rio and had dinner and then to her home.  We spent the evening visiting and being entertained by the grandchildren.  Mostly the girls who performed dances for us.  Peyton had to do hers twice because Pa wasn’t paying attention. 

Of course the boys wanted part of the attention so Brock and Boston had a sword fight with Peyton in the mix.

Neal and I left about 11:30 and headed home so that I could get the Turkey stuffed and ready for baking.  There isn’t anything much more fuzzy for me than waking up to the smell of a baking turkey. 

Of course when I went downstairs this morning at 6:30 to get the potatoes peeled and all of the condiments opened and in bowls, covered and put in the fridge, I immediately noticed that my perfectly set table had been messed with!  Gee, let me think who that could have been.  I had to go around the table and straighten the plates and silverware.  Now that I think about it, I didn’t notice if my glasses were facing the right way!  I’ll have to check or it will drive me nuts!  TUCKER!!!!!!  Really Tucker, you turned my plates upside down! 

There will be much, much more to post.  We have a full day ahead of us.  Bowling at 11:00, dinner at 1:30 followed by games and visiting.  Happy Thanksgiving to all and God Bless Everyone!

Making bread

The first thing Peyton said to me when she came upstairs this morning was, “Hey Gam are we going to make bread?”  I told her we sure were.  I had not planned on making bread this morning but how can you turn down a request from a grandchild!  So began the bread making experience with Peyton.  Lexi and Jordyn Lyn had stayed over night at a friends home so it was just me and Peyton.  She helped me with every step of the way.

When the girls got home it was time to shape the dough into loaves.  Each girl had their own piece of dough to shape as they wanted. 

Finished and ready to bite into a hot piece of home made bread.  Yummm!  I don’t think there is anything that smells more delightful than bread cooking.  The smell just fills the home with love !

Thanksgiving week and I’ve a lot to be thankful for!

I’m most grateful that Derek arrived safely from China and Tucker, Jamie and girls arrived safely from California.  We just have CJ and Justin coming in from Washington on Thanksgiving Day.  I’m so excited to have our big family all gathered together this week.  What an event!  We wish Spencer and Walker could have been with us.

I was in my bedroom just watching TV when Peyton came running in and jumped on the bed.  How fun to have these darling grandchildren with us.  I miss them immensely and relish every moment I have with them. It just never seems like enough!

 

Is this child absolutely beautiful or not?  How I love her!  I look at her and see a mini Jamie.

I have to add here that I interviewed for a new position at the county and yesterday was offered the job.  I was so very happy.  Nice to be in the admin department and not have to deal with money, taking payments, answering continual phone calls and not being able to leave my desk unless there was coverage from the other secretary.  I was going to have to work Christmas Eve so that my co-worker could have a turn having it off, but now that isn’t an issue.  I also got a nice raise in pay! 

A funny post!

I was driving home from Jeff and Mindy’s ward last Sunday.  Mindy teaches relief society and gives excellent lessons on the gospel and had invited me out to hear her lesson!  On the way home, I noticed a car just in front of me and to the side.  I kept seeing a dogs head pop up out of the sun roof.  I got laughing so hard and had to snap a picture.  Hard to do going 50 mph, laughing and trying to keep your eyes on the road and the camera somewhat focused.  It was one of those moments that just made me happy all over.

Moving day for the Cutlers

Right after Derek, Neal and I watch Maren finish her last event, the three of us headed to her house to help them move.  We spent 2 1/2 hours moving their belongings into a huge U-Haul.  Greg spent most of is time hauling loads of ‘stuff’ to the dump while Derek and Neal loaded mattresses, tables, chairs, dressers, etc. to the U-Haul.  I completely emptied out their closet, boxed and bagged clothing, emptied out dresser drawers and anything I could find laying around in their office and in the master bedroom.  What a task.  By 2:30 the truck and my Jeep were loaded to the max!  Not an inch to spare.  We then drove over to their new place and began unloading everything we had so neatly packed!  It was amazing how fast we were able to unload everything.  Maren got to the new place as we were unloading and Greg had pulled in from just getting back from the dump.  A couple from Greg’s work showed up to help along with Dan and Sylvia.  It only took us about 30 minutes to unload everything into the garage and the kitchen.  The carpets had been cleaned that morning and were still wet.  Maren and Greg have a huge job ahead of them trying to sort out the piles and piles of boxes, crates and bags in the garage.  I don’t envy them.  You’ll see that Brock and Boston even got involved.  They moved the twin bed mattress out of the house and to the truck all by themselves.  I was amazed.

A very busy Saturday

The started with Neal and I heading over to Lyndsy’s to pick up Derek.  The three of us were on our way to see Maren compete in her Cross Fit event out at the Equestrian Park.  Maren’s day started with a three mile run at 7:30 a.m.  She ran a mile, then had to pick up two buckets full of bricks and run another mile and then trade the bricks for a bag of sand for the last mile.  Because we were not there for the run, Derek stepped up and showed us what she had to do.

As we entered the building we found Maren and wished her luck!

Her first competition was lifting weights

Next came the calorie burner.  She had to pull tension ropes for so many times and then jump up and off a huge block of wood for a set number of times, then back to the pull and then back to the block of wood.  I wasn’t able to get a good picture of her participation in this even but you can see to the right of the picture the pull bars and also the huge blocks of wood.

After this event she had an hour break before the last two events began.  Maren and Derek visiting and horsing around.

Her last two events were pushing and pulling a heavily weighted sled across the dirt, then running back and forth with a heavy log and climbing a rope to the top two times.  The first two pictures give you an overall view of what the arena looked like.

When all was said and done, Maren was exhausted but in high spirits.  She loves Cross Fit and loves the competition.  We were proud of her and glad that we were able to be there for her and see her excel in such a strenuous sport.  It was a bonus to have Derek here to share in the excitement.  We were proud of you Maren and very happy that you invited us to come!