Our Adventure!

Auger, Akleigh, and Boston spent the night Monday night so Thomas and Dana could go to the temple early Tuesday morning.  That afternoon Anthony, Auger, Akleigh and I left to Longview.

We had a great time visiting family, but the drive to and from was not so wonderful. Traffic was backed up both both days due to accidents and road work, making our drive longer than normal - what normally takes 4 hours took us about 6 hours to get there and 6 hours 40 minutes to get home. Several times Auger referred to parts of our trip as a new adventure, and indeed it was.

My sister's son got married last week and their open house was Wednesday night.

I helped her decorate.  We did something very similar to BJo's graduation so there wasn't too much time needed for the early preparation.

We set up the tent in the front lawn.  I say we, but I didn't do much with the tent - I left that up to a few of my awesome sons.

Thomas and Dana come over to the house often and as we talked about the needs for this reception Thomas agreed to come set up the tent if work would allow..., and it did.  I wanted Connor and Chase to be able to get their hours with the farm work but I wanted to leave Tuesday and come home Thursday.

Thomas' car couldn't fit their children and mine, so to make it work best, I left Tuesday afternoon and took Anthony, Auger and Akleigh with me.  Thomas and Dana (and Boston) brought Chase and Connor with them after morning work was done Wednesday.  They came, set up the tent, attended the event, and then took down the tent and loaded it for me, and they came home that night to be ready for work Thursday.  Those with me stayed the night because I don't do well with night driving.

It was a lovely evening, in spite of the sun and heat.  They had a nice turn out and served yummy ice cream and toppings.

You probably know me by now and are already wishing I had better pictures to show, but these are the only photos I was able to get in my not-so-spare time.

This is the ice cream table and a little corner table behind the line.  (All of the pretty glass bowls belong to my mother.)

The individual tables.

I managed to get this shot from behind the ice cream where I spent my time.  I was so happy to help dish up the ice cream.  This was my first reception I have braved since Terry's passing.  When my sister asked if my boys would want to take turns with that responsibility I quickly took hold of that job (without even asking my boys) and it was the best place for me for the night.  I think she knew that was my place - she was helping me as I was helping her.   One more step forward.  It was all wonderful.

No one is posing, nor is it a glamorous shot, and we don't even see the bride and groom, but it was a quick "get it while I can" type moment.  I wish I had done it again later.  :(

One thing that is not very noticeable is the wall at the right side of the tent.  We knew we needed a few more chairs and we knew it was a warm day.  We thought of leaving that side off, but it didn't look very nice and it was the street side, so it was just not pleasant at all.  So my dad and Thomas got some posts and attached the wall to posts set in the ground about 6 or ? feet away from the tent.  This allowed for the breeze to enter and the travelers on the road to not see in. It kept it private and pretty.

I've spent a few minutes wondering what more to say in this post, but keep backing out.  Maybe I'll post another little bit later, and there will be more events coming up in the next couple months to talk about, so I'm just going to just say this -

I LOVE MY FAMILY!   Every one!

and

I am so grateful for the good days I've had the last couple weeks.

Thanksgiving Day 2014

Thanksgiving Day was a nice day with family here.  We had Anthony, BJo (who came home Friday night last week), and Chase (came home Wednesday), and Brandon, Thomas and Michael with their families = 16 people.   Everyone helped with the food preparation and it was a delicious meal. We had a relaxing day, (to some it was almost to the point of boredom at times) but we were together and I loved it.

A highlight for the day was getting to talk to our missionary.  Ya!  This year in Connor's mission the missionaries being released before Christmas were allowed to call home on Thanksgiving.  :)  This was certainly a tender mercy for him and for us.   The Lord is watching over us and taking care of some of the little things that make such a big difference to us.  Connor will be home in 2 1/2 weeks! :)  A great Christmas gift!

I keep finding it hard to remember to take photos of family when we are together, and I'm blaming it on the fact that being together just makes me so happy that I forget to take a photo now and again. However, I can usually remember to take a picure of the tables since it's just the last step of preparation, so here are a few photos that help document part of our day.

The tables:

I had an idea a couple months ago ...
I thought these figurines would make a great Thanksgiving tablescape so I did some searching on ebay for a few of these things.  Most were very inexpensive, but this happened to cost more than any other set because it is so beautiful and a bit more delicate.  It is my favorite set!

I thought I would pair these things with some greenery, but I got rid of all my greenery at a yard sale this year and I hadn't purchased any to replace it, so I had to come up with a different idea.  I just started looking through what I had and came up with this.  It worked!

I had enough to put two sets of figurines on each table and this smaller set was on the back side of my favorite set shown above.

I didn't do a very good job of centering that photo did I?  I was kinda hurrying when I took these photos and it is really quite noticeable. OOOPS!

I loved the set of the older couple gathering their crops.  I loved the corn and the basket of potatoes they had gathered.  Whether gathering for a feast or for winter storage it fits the holiday beautifully.  I am grateful for the gardens we have in the area that provide such wonderful meals for us and for neighbors and friends that gather their food to share with others.  We have been the recipients of such beautiful bounty.

Another favorite was of this couple who had a goose and a chicken at their side.  They seem so thankful for their bounteous blessings of food and of providing for themselves.  I am grateful for a husband who has provided for us so well over the past 34+ years.  We have much to be grateful for.

Auger, Akleigh, and Elsie helped set the tables.  They seemed to enjoy every minute of it.  It created a beautiful setting.  I am partial to it partly because the table cloths are the cloths we used at our reception in February 1980.  I have had them sitting in my hope chest all these years and wanted to use them again.  It seemed that this year they were the perfect addition to the look I was trying to create.  My heart loved the look and feel of the day!  (even if some of the colors did clash a bit)

I saw that Chase took a photo of the buffet table that we had in the kitchen.  After bringing out so many other dishes to wash I decided to be frugal with my dish washing time and just serve the food out of the pots and pans they were prepared in.  Ug!  Sorry!   But, there were no complaints!  :)

Everyone helped make the food and it was very yummy stuff.  We have some great cooks in the family.  Chase also took this photo, and then apologized to me.



One last photo for the day - 
Elsie loved to help push her grandpa wherever he needed to go.

Thanksgiving is now in the past and we look forward to the wonderful Christmas season ahead. 

May our hearts turn to Him, our Savior, Jesus Christ

at this most wonderful time of year

and remain with us forever.



found here

Father's Day

We had a nice Father's Day yesterday ...

Thomas & Dana and Michael & Tawnee and grandchildren came for lunch and a visit.  We did enjoy our visit, and lunch was wonderful too.

Last week I asked Terry what he might like to eat for Father's Day meal and of course he said whatever I wanted to do would be fine.  I encouraged him to help me decide on something that he might like since I know his taste buds don't work very well (due to meds).  So after some thought he shared his meal plan with me, and this is what it was -

meatloaf in cupcake tins
mashed potatoes (with butter and sour cream)
creamed carrots
grape salad

 

I mixed up the meat loaf ingredients and prepared the carrots and grape salad on Saturday, so Sunday was pretty easy just putting the meat in the pans and cooking them and peeling the potatoes and cooking them, and then warming the carrots.   The girls brought their husbands favorite or chosen desserts and we had a lovely meal.  Michael chose a graham cracker pudding dessert (don't know the name of it) and Thomas chose brownies.  Yum!


It is always fun to be with family.

And, for me,  it's always fun to set a table with the mismatch china and stemware. 
I purchased nothing new for this meal and tablescape.  I had everything already, though some of the items had not been used before. 

 

I chose the table cloth from my limited supply and then used some linen napkins that I had purchased a while ago but never used.
I set the plates on and then chose the stemware to go with them.  I was trying to keep it masculine so I stayed away from any pink and purple, and I tried to use plates without flowers.  I did make an exception with my plate ..., it did have a pink flower in the center of a grey/blue edge. 

I loved using the colored bottles for centerpieces, and tried to keep those colors in the same hue of the stemware I had chosen.  Everything was earth tone and I was pleased with the final results, especially since it wasn't pre-planned.

 

I thought I was done, but then remembered I had purchased some Chick-o-Sticks for something - maybe it was for Easter, but I forgot to use them, so knowing that they have been among Terry's favorite candy in the past, I got them out and put one at each of the plates.

It seemed then that my table was complete, and I liked the look I had created, but it was all for not until family came to be with us and Terry sat at the table ..., and then it was beautiful.

Mother's Day Tablescape

I managed to get three photos during a slow moment on Mother's Day. 

Then I started cooking, eating, and visiting, and taking photos was forgotten.  I think that means we had a great time together.

The tablescape was more of the same - assorted China plates and stemware - like I have been doing for a few years now. (Easter 2014, Father's Day 2013, Thanksgiving 2012)   I just keep adding pieces each time.  This time I added matching chargers (that I purchased a few months ago) under the plates.  I didn't have time to make or purchase centerpieces so I just used the space for food.  I would have loved to have some fresh flowers on each table, but my week previous to Mother's Day was too busy to complete that task. 

Our company and phone calls from missionaries were our favorite part of the day! 

Easter Sunday

We colored eggs Saturday night -

 

 

and Terry shared the symbolism of eggs at Easter and Christ's Resurrection.

 We made a little paper bag nest for Akleigh and Auger to take a couple eggs home.

 

We deviled several of the eggs for our Easter lunch.  Ironic isn't it - deviled eggs for Easter ...  ;)

And, can you believe that was the last photo I got of any part of the meal?  Sure you can, by now you are getting used to it.  However, before I went to bed last night I did snap this photo of the table ..., ready for Easter lunch after the food is ready and guests arrive.

(The flowers were given to BJo and Tawnee for helping at a reception, so they fit perfectly on our Easter tablescape.)

What a beautiful day!   Our church meetings were great and we enjoyed some family time.  Auger and Akleigh got a kite in their Easter basket and had some fun flying them.  It was a beautiful day!

We are ever grateful for our loving Savior and His Sacrifice, Atonement and Resurrection. We are grateful to know of our Heavenly Fathers Plan and have the blessings in our life that come from obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel.

We believe that through the

Atonement of Christ,

all mankind may be saved,

by obedience to the laws and

ordinances of the Gospel.

Article of Faith 1:3

Father's Day Report

 We had a wonderful Father's Day, and hope you did too!

I have a really hard time with photo shots of sitting around the table. It seems that someone is always caught in a position they would rather not be in.  I tried it anyway.
(But it looks like Akleigh got down too soon, or I took the photo too late - she's MIA in this shot.)

 

This photo at the table turned out sweet (well, except it could have had better focus) - Akleigh loves Elsie and after dinner was sharing her blanket with her sweet cousin.  (Maybe that is where Akleigh was during the last shot - finding her blanket to share with Elsie.)  Elsie loves it when Akleigh plays with her.  It's going to be fun to see how these cousins interact as they get older.  I know I'm gonna love it when all the cousins get together!  Happy Days!

BrittanyJo took a few photos of the table before we sat down to eat.

 

 It was a great day, but then, when we are celebrating Fathers it can't help but be a great day.
I have a wonderful father, Terry has a wonderful father, and our children have a wonderful father - so ..., a wonderful Father's Day just had to happen!  and did!
 

Father's Day Bonus Photos:

 

Gregory and Terry - April 1982

 

Gregory, Brandon, Terry - July 1993

 

Terry, Thomas, Gregory, Brandon - Oct 1986

 

Brandon, Skyler, Thomas, Michael, Chase, Terry - August 1993

 

Terry and Michael - December 1992

 

Terry and Anthony - June 2003

 

Terry and Connor - April 2003

 

 

Michael, Chase, Terry - August 1994

  

 The daddy days are over - it's only dad now!
Lovin' the seasons!

 

 

 

A Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving day!
It always feels best when our harvest is complete by Thanksgiving, and our personal harvest is complete.  Great to celebrate!

We had plenty of food for the weekend.

 



 

The table was set with things that reminded me/us of our parents and extended family.  The gold butter plate (in the center of the upper photo) is one from Terry's parents, and the yams are similar to what she made after their mission to Tennessee.  My parents gave us the goblets many years ago for Christmas, and the little green filled cups are a jello salad recipe my mom makes and we all love - Lime Pear Delight.  We love family!

 

We had some great family time.

(I didn't get good enough photos of the family. They were waiting on me to take the photos and I was in too much of a hurry and the photos I did take didn't turn out very nicely.  Then my batteries died when I tried to take photos of them playing games. Oh Bother!  But the company was great!

 

Auger wanted a photo of his overalls - they are a pair of overalls that our boys used to wear.  The hooks were broken so I replaced them with different hooks, but they wouldn't fit down over the button enough to stay put, so they wrapped some rubber bands around them to help them stay connected.  It worked and he was so happy.

 

 

We missed half of our family (12 here and 12 unable to attend), and look forward to being with them all sometime in the future.

We are lovin' their blogs with the updates and photos.  :)

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

We are now wishing you a Merry Christmas!

(don't those two holidays flow together nicely!)

Then on to Valentines Day - ahhh! lovely!

Then Easter!

(my four favorites!)

 

Okay, I'm not trying to rush things - just sayin' what a great stretch of holidays we have, that remind us of the important things in life ..., even of life itself ...,

 

I am truly grateful for my family and for our Savior!  

... yes! ... lovely!