Happy Turkey!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had.  Our hosts, Adam and Melissa, outdid themselves.  The house and the table were decorated to perfection, and the food was scrumptious. 

 

It all started in the entry way, with a welcoming display of seasonal items and wines of all kinds.

 

 

 

They even listed the wine selection on the cute blackboard that they made.

 

 

 

They were able to put 3 tables together to make a spacious grouping of place settings.

 

 

 

Heather added a crudite tray artfully designed to resemble a turkey.

 

 

 

 

Then, Scott challenged Grandpa to a game of corn hole.

 

The object of the game is to get 4 bean bags into the hole in the plywood beds.

 

 

 

Grandpa won and was crowned "The Turkey".

 

 

 

Lots of fun was had with those turkey hats.

 

 

 

Then, on to the meal with Adam expertly carving the beast.

 

 

 

Grandpa mashed the mounds of potatoes.

 

 

Everyone enjoyed the delicious meal (not one side dish was left out), and then Grandma passed out nightshirts to Amanda and Valerie, and P.J.s to Reese and Maddie.

 

 

Best picture of the day.....love those hats!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Fashioned Fun

After the Halloween rush, we were in the mood for some good old fashioned fun, so we invited all of the kids over for a weenie roast.  Scott and Dad had the perfect shirts.

 

When we told Amanda and Valerie that we wanted to roast hot dogs and bob for apples, they couldn't wait.

 

 

Before the roast, we had our usual gab fest, and lots of laughs.  Here is Jason imitating Heather when she is on her cell phone in the evening.

 

 

The roast commenced, with Dad and Scott having a great time.

 

 

 

While the hot dogs were roasting, we bobbed for apples.  Scott was the first to volunteer.

 

 

 

Melissa showed great skill, and got her apple.

 

 

Amanda dove right in.

 

 

I think Kim got a nose full.

 

Then, on to the beanbag toss.  Maddie showed great talent.

 

 

Grandpa even got into the act.

 

 

It wasn't an easy task to get each color beanbag into its own color pail.

 

 

But, a good time was had by all, especially Reese who stole all the left over apples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 4, 2000

That was the day that Duane and I tied the knot.  What a memorable day it was, complete with a wonderful wedding celebration, thanks to all those who attended.  It has been wedded bliss ever since, and I had to have one more look at some of the pictures many people took.

 

Traditionally, the groom was not able to see the bride until she walked down the aisle.  But we decided that we wanted to walk together.  Last minute touches....

 

 

My little cousin, Amanda, was an adorable flower girl.

 

 

 

It was so much fun walking together, and seeing all of our friends and relatives.

 

 

Our first dance to "All The Way" by Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra, was romantic.

 

Among those watching were Duane's sister Sandy and his son Scott.

 

Here I am with my two sons, Jason and Adam.

 

 

Also, my daughter Heather, and that cute little flower girl again.

 

 

Duane was so thrilled to have Scott and wife Kim at our wedding.

 

 

Happily married, and Happy Ever After......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pink Pandas

Never thought I'd be a soccer Grandma, but here it is.  I totally avoided being a "Soccer Mom" when my kids were growing up.  I think I frustrated Adam, because for two years he would only wear "cleets" shoes, as he called them.  I don't know how many pairs I bought at Pay Less Shoe Store.

 

 

 

Maddie, however, has changed all that, and seems to love soccer, so I went to my first game.

 

 

 

She's number 7!  Wow, a lucky number at that!  Their team is doing fairly well too.

 

 

 

There she is, the smaller figure, as a defender.

 

 

 

And, here is an intense Jason itching to either coach or be in the game himself.

 

 

 

Reese wasn't much for watching the game, but had a good time at the playground nearby.

 

 

 

When he got tired, he wanted us to read books with him.

 

 

 

Games almost over, so Dad is lightening up a little.

 

 

 

Reese is ready to go too.  Bye Bye until next week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FALL

 

I love the coziness of Fall, with cool days, and a freshness in the air.

 

When my parents lived on a farm, it was fun to visit, especially in the Fall.  This is a photo of my parents' new puppy, Nero.  I was a newlywed at the time in the Fall of 1968.

 

 

 

A great thing to do in the Fall, in the Midwest, is to visit a covered bridge.  They are fun to explore---as my sister and I are doing here---and they are so nostalgic.

 

 

 

Duane and I were married in the Fall, and I enjoyed every minute of the wedding and reception.  I also had a bouquet I loved in oranges and yellows.

 

 

 

Fall means duck hunting season for Duane, a sport he thoroughly enjoys.

 

 

 

My birthday comes in Fall.  I used to cry when they would sing Happy Birthday to me---I still don't like it.

 

 

 

I love the clothes of Fall---sweaters, boots, hats, in oranges, browns and navy.

 

 

 

We visited the Grand Canyon in the Fall.  It's such a beautiful time of year to sightsee.  Yes, Fall is a special time of year for me, and I can't get enough of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Hallow Even

I always thought Halloween was All Hallow's Eve, but when I looked it up in the dictionary, it said, All Hallow Even.  This is the Eve of All Saints' Day.  In typical Halloween festivities, death is something to be feared.  You have skeletons, ghosts and goblins galore, and they love to say BOO!  In Mexico, and other countries, however, October 31st is El Dia de los Muertos-----the day of the dead, and is a celebration of the dead where the departed are remembered and honored. You still have skeletons, but they are seen in a more positive light.  Families get together for a big Fiesta to remember their loved ones.  In any case, Halloween has become big business and is second only to Christmas in scope.

 

Not much has changed since 1948.  For Halloween parties, even adults don costumes, and then have fun dancing and partying.  This is my Aunt Hattie and Uncle Eddie enjoying the party.

 

 

 

Costumes have evolved to include cutsy as well as scary.  Heather is adorable in a clown costume made by her grandmother.

 

 

We recycled in those days too, with Adam wearing the same clown costume.  As a young girl, Heather gravitated to the more feminine costumes of dancers, fairies and princesses.

 

 

 

Pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns have become an integral part of Halloween.  Even Mickey Mouse gets into the act.

 

 

Sometimes ideas for costumes come from local businesses.  Here are the cutest In N Out Burger employees ever!

 

 

 

Movies, like The Karate Kid come into play when it's time to pick a costume.  This is the year Adam went on a pumpkin carving binge.

 

 

Princess Heather got a laugh when Adam became a Smurf.

 

 

 

But, who needs a costume when you can leap like this?  Happy Halloween!