New Year Changes

The new year is upon us and I am feeling alittle overwhelmed. (too say the least). We had a wonderful three weeks with our family all here for the holidays. I want to document Christmas with pictures, but that will have to come later. No time tonight!

Birch and I began our mini-mission at the mission office today. We will be at the Minneapolis mission office five days a week, for the next 6 months or until we get a full time mission call. Birch will do all the mission finances and I will do the office work that the office Elders have been doing, so they can spend more time out proselyting. It's like going to work full time for me, something I am certainly not use too. (when do I go shopping??) But I know the blessings will come and there is a great spirit there working with the missionaries. Change is good!

Oh Christmas Tree

Saturday, we went to cut down our Christmas tree with the Hunsakers. It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny, but freezing day! Vincent came with us since Jeff and Annette had a date to see Twlight...(Jeff gave in)

Bryndie was so cold! She was going to stay in the car but finally decided she wanted some say in what the tree looked like! Too skinny, too short, too fat, too tall, we finally found one for Grandma and Grandpa! Baylie was pretty cold too, but was a trooper tromping through the woods. Julie took a little longer to find the right one for her. She sent Cameron to get the car with the kids, found the tree she wanted, sawed it down and dragged it to the road! We couldn't tell what Cameron thought! But he was a good sport and tied it on top!

Here's proof that we were there although the picture didn't turn out very well. Once again we had a good time being together and missed those in our family that weren't here. We can't wait until next week when everyone starts arriving for Christmas!

The Christmas Village

Every year one of our favorite Christmas traditions is putting up the Christmas Village. It's a big job, but we love it when it's done.

I was having book club at my house this week and decided it would be fun to have the Dickens village up before everyone came since we were reading "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. We had a fun evening and enjoyed discussing the wonderful story of Scroge and Tiny Tim. Now we have to watch the movie!

It's like a fairyland and it's fun to imagine yourself right there in the village. Thanks to my mom for starting a Christmas village tradition in our family when we were "Young"!

Now the trick will be to keep 12 little hands out of it for the next month! Vincent came over today and "Car, car, car! Horse, Horse, Horse!" but he was good not to touch!

For My Dad

My dad and I have always had fun watching different wildlife when we are together. I think it's fun to see the quail and magpies at his house. This week, woody- woodpecker was in our tree. I thought Dad would like to see this!

I couldn't get a good picture before he decided to fly away! But that's him in the middle of the tree. Then the same day, we were coming home from Costco and saw all these geese in the field at Rocket Park! It reminded me of the time Mom, Dad and I went down to Rochester, MN and saw thousands of geese in a park. I was braver with Dad and got closer than I did this week!

There were a lot more than it looks! I couldn't get them all in the pictures! Anyway, it brought back a fun memory with my parents and was fun to see so many geese in one place. I love to hear the honking everyday as the geese fly over and usually run to the window to watch! Just another plus for living in Minnesota!

Thanksgiving celebration

I thought I'd better document Thanksgiving. This year we went to Julie and Cameron's home. Julie cooked the turkey and we all contributed to the meal. Yummy!! I think Jeff and Cameron ate more before dinner than during dinner!

It was fun to be at the Hunsakers home. We ate alot and enjoyed each other's company.

After dinner, Baaylie put on a dance show for us in the newly finished downstairs. I was quite proud of this shot, catching her in mid-air.

All the kids joined in the program. They had a great time running around dancing. All the girls were then invited to join the dance. Julie and I rocked out for one song before we got too tired! Annette decided to watch. After the program, we all played Pit. I was the new champion (much to Birch's dismay) He likes to win.....During the Pit game we looked over at Payton, he had found the empty bubbly bottles.....

Good to the last drop! It was a fun day. At 10:00 p.m. Julie and I left for the outlet mall. We shopped till 3:00 a.m. Got some great deals! And enjoyed the people watching as we stood in lines. The weather was pretty nice this year. At 4:00 a.m. Birch and I crawled into bed. Needless to say, we didn't hit the morning specials!

Happy Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving time again and we are grateful for the bounties of the earth that we enjoy as a family. We have so much to be thankful for. Good friends, great family, warm home, lots of food, clothes, cars that run...., good health and the list goes on and on...... Two years ago Birch and I went to Boston just before Thanksgiving and brought back these little pilgrim hats for our little pilgrims! We are sure thankful for our Grandchildren.
Last Thanksgiving we were all together in Minnesota. Great memories! This year, we are all spread out....Jason is having dinner with friends in NYC. I am jealous that he can go to the Macy's Parade! Jolyn, Daniel and Dylan are cooking dinner at their house with Daniel's mom in Florida. Jana, Tony and Kade are in Boise ID, having Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa Holt and family. Jeff, Annette, Vincent, Birch and I are going to Julie and Cameron's house for dinner. It's strange not having to cook a turkey here at our house! Maybe I'll get use to this! (maybe not!)
I spent one day this week on the new Family Search website, tracing my ancestor lines back to the Mayflower. (with some help from Mom!) I am thankful for Elizabeth Tilley and John Howland who left England and traveled across the ocean, landed in Plymouth, MA so we can enjoy the freedom of America. We have been blessed with a rich heritage.
The pies are made, (it's tradition in our house for the cook to taste the pecan pie the night before Thanksgiving......) Yummy!!! And we are ready for the big day of football, family, friends and food! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Happy Anniversary

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JANA AND TONY!It's hard to believe that our little Jana has been married for three years! She was such a beautiful bride and we enjoyed every minute of her beautiful wedding. Of course we love Tony too!!!! We are so thankful for both of them.
They were married in the Salt Lake Temple and had their reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. What a wonderful day with family and friends. We were so thankful for everyone that was there and those who weren't, that were thinking of us!!!
Brothers, sisters, cousins and nieces made up the wedding party.
A fairy tale ending as the snow began to fall and they headed off to the Anniversary Inn in their horse drawn carriage.....Three years later they are happy and enjoying life together with little Kade!
P.S. This is for my sister Patti.....her son is now serving a mission in France and she is missing him!