It was a great day!

Getting ready: I got to make the rolls. They turned out o.k.

I used my friend Peggy's roll recipe.

Arriving: My sister Linda and her husband David hosted us all. This was the
"Christmas room".

Taking it all in: The tables were beautiful!


The hostess: Linda

Irene and Andrew

Robbie and Ari

Michelle, Jeff, Diane (another sister),Tessa, Kris, Ari, Jon, Melissa

Tessa

Aunt Mardene

Madison

We didn't get to spend the day with her, Liz, and Karl

and

we missed our daughter Heidi and Ovidiu in Oregon,

and

we missed Ken's family,

but

it was a fun day!

WE LOVE OUR FAMILIES!

Happy Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are thankful for many things.

(Having spent the last four days in bed with an earache, migraine, and flu bug,

I am thankful for my health!)

We love our families and all the physical things we share.

We are blessed with good parents who love us.

We love this great country and are thankful for those people who serve to protect our freedoms (and the sacrifices of their families giving up their loved ones.)

We are thankful for the gospel and the guidance it gives us in our lives.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday

and think about those things you are thankful for, too.

Once again, Norman Rockwell captures the spirit of the occasion!

I've never been terrific at spelling, but thanks to "spell check" I usually get by.

Unfortunately, some of my mistakes are real words that slip through!

I do not have 6 "quarks" (sub-atomic particles, I'm told), but 6 "quirks".

(I should probably include this as yet one more "quirk".)

Thanks to my scientifically-minded-husband for catching the mistake.

Maybe I should avoid late night postings!

FYI: The 6 sub-atomic particles are "Top", "Bottom", "Up", "Down", "Charm", and "Strange".

Just don't ask me what they mean!

Six Quirks: My response to a tag from Liz

1. When I cook I often substitute ingredients.

(I'm famous for starting a recipe before I check the pantry to see if I have everything.)

I was once asked for a brownie recipe where i had put Stephens' Mint Hot cocoa in place of Baker's Chocolate. (Unfortunately, I could never reproduce it!)

2. I always cross my feet before I take my shoes off.

3. Before I get my hair cut, I always wash and style my hair.
(I don't want my hair dresser to think I have messy hair.)



4. Every time I leave home I worry that I left the iron on (or some other electrical appliance)!
Does this mean I am obsessive/compulsive?

5. If I start a novel I have to stay up all night trying to finish it.

6. When I bowl, if I get a strike I ALWAYS follow it up with a gutter ball!!!!

A little bit country

Liz painted this picture for me as a birthday present to hang in my bedroom.

I love old barns and country roads,

since they remind me of growing up on the farm in Idaho,

but...

I really like the fact that the little name in the corner is someone I know and love.

Thank you!

Then and now

A little more nostalgia.....

I ran across this old photo of our house today. A friend, Amy Bess, took this picture on an old Polaroid camera. Things are sure different today. Thanks, Ken, for making our house more livable!

The Good Old Days?

Norman Rockwell really captures the spirit of the "Good Old Days" in this painting.

Sometimes it would be nice to step back for a visit.

However....

I'm not willing to give up all that I have learned, experienced, and done to be young again.

(Warning: This post could be a reflection of having just celebrated my 58th birthday,

or finding out today that I taught piano lessons

to one of my student's MOTHER when she was YOUNG,

or feeling tired from a busy week at school!)

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.

There are seven million." -Walt Streightiff

This great photo of Madison was taken by Kristen, a sister of Liz and Karl's friend Katie. She is just starting out as a photographer, but what a nice job she did on the Nielsen family

photo shoot!

http://kristinhoddenbach.blogspot.com/

Catch up time with a good friend

Katie and her friend Amber had a fun evening catching up on old times.

You're both looking great!

(Good friends for many years!)

Good-bye Halloween. Hello Thanksgiving.

We finally took down our Halloween decorations and switched to Thanksgiving. Fortunately, we only had to make a few changes. We love this time of year!

Just a thought.....

Yesterday

our school librarian read a book to the students

about what it would be like to be a "First Kid".

She then had them write down what they would do

if their father was the President of The United States.

I thought I'd share a few of my students' responses.

"If I were a first kid I would study hard and then go bowling,

then I would prank someone and run." -B

"If I were the first kid I would study hard and then go to the University of Utah

and eat French toast and hotdogs." -D

If I were a first kid I would be polite, lovable, and friendly. I would be so happy.

I will do whatever I can to save the world!" -S

and my favorite......

"If I were a first kid I would wake up the prezdet." -S

Best Friends and Birthdays

Celebrating birthdays is always a fun thing to do,

but celebrating them

with good friends is even better.

Barbara and Michelle, two of my best friends from high school, and I

have birthdays within 5 days of each other.

Happy Birthday Barbara and Michelle!

(Please-no comments about our "stylish" looks!)

Looking great!

My mother-in-law just turned 90 years old on October 17th. Doesn't she look amazing? Both Mom and Dad are 90 and enjoy good health and sound minds. It is great having wonderful parents!

Oops!

I just found out that my blog was set up not allowing anonymous comments. It is now fixed, so PLEASE leave me a note. I would love to hear from you!

(I told you I would need a LOT of help getting this going.)

If you are unfamiliar with leaving comments, you have to enter the daily coded letters and then click your provider (or anonymous if you don't have a blog). If you are anonymous, just leave your name.

Thanks!!!!!

(Sorry, Liz, I just keep needing more help. I know you don't think I will ever be INDEPENDENT, but maybe there's hope!)

November Flowers...

I can't believe it is November

and we still have some flowers blooming.

Check out these hardy survivors.

A Little Flu Bug....

Liz and Karl

have the misfortune

of being sick in bed with the nasty flu bug.

Lucky me!
I get to play with Maddie!

(Well, I have to share her.)

Sorry, Liz and Karl. It is not fun being sick!