Welcome!

I'm so glad you're visiting. I'm participating in BooMama's Christmas tour. The homes I've visited are delightful! I hope you enjoy mine.


We have a Winter Wonderland outside, I wish you could see it! I collect Nativities, this is my first ever! It's now over 30 years old.
We have a Christmas tradition of sharing books. Each year I buy a book for each of my children's families and try to find a small memento that will go along with it. It's usually a Christmas book, but it doesn't have to be. This year our book is an illustrated collection of Christmas stories, I have a small nativity for each family to go with it.

Merry Christmas To You!

Is Santa Real?

Logan doesn't believe in Santa anymore....

That's okay, we've wondered how long he would. Here's the conversation he had with Ashley yesterday.

"Mom, is Santa real?"
"Why wouldn't he be?"
"Well, how does he get all of that stuff in his bag? I mean last year he brought Ashlynn a "Rose Petal Cottage", and Rylee a desk, there's no way he could carry all that! So how can he be real?"
"So what do you think happens?"
"I don't know but it couldn't be Santa - who does it?"
"Well.....if you promise to be a big boy and not tell your sisters...."
"I Promise."
"Santa isn't real."
"Who is it then!?"
"It's mom and dad!"
"Oh.....I guess I'm not getting the Dune Buggy I asked for."
"I guess not."
"But I'd better get the Bike!"

Another "rite of passage". I wish I could keep my grandchildren at their age right now for a few minutes longer......

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great. All of the kids came home and Grandma Dot was with us. What a blessing. We have a traditional pheasant hunt in the morning for those that want to go. This year was one of the best - thanks to Cam and his generous offer to treat everyone at his Hunt Club. The turkey was perfect, it looked like it came out of a Norman Rockwell picture, thanks to Jerry. We tried a new chestnut dressing - yummy. I got to roast chestnuts - although not over an open fire. We ate until we were rolling out of our chairs. The Bingo Game was so fun, everyone got a prize and Chad - the caller won the Black Out prize. We watched a movie and ate pie and pudding 'til we couldn't breath. I really think the day was perfect.

My top ten thanks:
10. Contentment
9. Holidays
8. Laughter
7. Warm Home
6. Good Food, Plenty
5. Health
4. Grandma Dot
3. Children close
2. Grandchildren
1. Family and Jerry

HALLOWEEN PARTY AND SPOOK ALLEY

We had so much fun doing the spooky alley and putting the games together.Everyone got into the "Spirit" of things and had a good time. Besides the spook alley, we did a fish pond and cake walk.

We have a Gorilla costume that gets mileage every year. The kids worry about where it is and who's in it...they really keep track of Chad and Jeremy. Ashlynn kept saying, "That Gowilla wealwy Fweaks Me Owt!" Jerry made a great "Chick Magnet". Kyler is Mickey Mouse, he Loved his costume. The girls were so fun because they were all fairies and a unicorn so they could play together, the boys are into Star Wars and ninja - anything with a "shwowd"(sword) or "life saver"(light saber). Ashley made the cupcakes - they were so good, "I could eat just one of them!"

Our "Grand" Adventure

Over Fall Break we went to the Grand Canyon.
Day 1 - We drove through Cedar Breaks and on to Kanab and spent the evening exploring the town. We listened to the BYU/TCU game via computer stream.....a good thing. Did you know that Kanab has a quilt store (very, very small) and a golf course?

Day 2 - We drove to the North side of the Grand Canyon and hiked to the Bright Angel Canyon overlook - INSPIRING! It was so fun to see Jer's reaction....he was in "Awe"king most of the next two days. Did you know that the North Rim is the only place on earth the Kaibab Squirrel calls home? I loved the little cabins that overlook the canyon. They were so quaint with their rockers on the porch. Then we drove to the South Rim. Wow! it looked like the same canyon! We did a little site-seeing, and overlook peeking at Desert Point. The Tower was impressive to see and the sunset beautiful. We were surprised at how chilly it was.

Day 3 - The great thing about the South Rim is it's so well developed. It's easy to get around, lots of "reststops" and restaurants. We hiked the Rim Trail and a little of the Bright Angel Trail. We saw Mountain Goats and so much beautiful scenery. Then we ate at one of the lodges - very good. We went to the IMax and saw the Grand Canyon movie - AMAZING! How do they film things like that?

Day 4 - On to Bryce Canyon via Lake Powell. I forgot how beautiful Lake Powell is. It looked so peaceful, like a picture postcard. Bryce canyon is such an amazing place. And there is so much to do! We stayed at Ruby's Inn. On day 5 we got up, swam and drove home through Panquitch.

It was a perfect trip. The weather was great, the scenery was beautiful and we saw something new each day.