A Day of Thanks, fun, and lots of pictures!

We have so many things to be thankful for, but it is always nice to have a little reminder to be grateful.

Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect on all our blessings as we gather together with people we love, and we do have a lot to be thankful for!

We started our day with a 5k run to celebrate and remember a good man, our nephew Shane Mitchell.  His family started this tradition to honor him.

We joined with family and friends in Idaho, Utah, West Virginia, and other places throughout the country.

It was a beautiful day!

We miss you Shane, as well as other family members who are gone.

Read more here.

After a good workout it was time for some delicious food.

And some beautiful table settings.

Thanks for hosting us, Bairds!

With some amazing people.

(And a few who escaped the cameras!)

We missed those of our kids and grandkids who were celebrating with their in-laws, but are grateful they have wonderful spouses and their families to share with.

How blessed we are!

joAnn

 

The-“I-don’t-really-have-anything-to-say-but-can’t-stand-looking-at-the-same-old-post”-post

I’ve had a busy weekend finishing up a life history book that I helped my Aunt Mardene write.  I sat by the computer for many hours and my brain has turned to mush, but The end is in sight now and I’m quite excited for the finished product!  Would you believe it is over fifty pages long?  Of course we used a BIG font and added a lot of pictures.

My Aunt Mardene is quite a remarkable lady.  She grew up on a humble farm and didn’t have a lot of worldly possessions, but she knew how to have fun, work hard, and give service.  Everyone LOVES her and I’m so honored to help her record her life.

We included fun things in her book including these memories of the 2002 Winter Olympics!

Mardene is the cute lady in the blue coat on the back row.  She and my dad were very close as siblings (both in years and in their relationship).  Working with her brings back a lot of memories of my dad.  I sure do miss him and my mother!

During the Olympics we walked miles and miles as we went all around the city seeing the incredible venues.  If the Olympics ever come to your city be sure and get out and explore.  It was so much fun! 

As I’ve been working on the book, I’ve also discovered that there are so many little things that tie us together in our families.  As I’ve looked at a lot of old photos from the past, I’ve discovered that I see a lot of resemblances in the present.  Eyes, chins, posture, hair color unite us together.  Fashions really do cycle around, too.  Tough times bring strength of character and joy is always contagious.  Whole generations of people went without some of the things that we take for granted today-and they survived quite well.  People worked hard or went without.

Don’t you just love this photo?

Mardene and my dad were numbers nine and ten, so they weren’t around for this charming photo.  By the time they were born, the clothing was more worn out from being passed down multiple times.  Mardene said a lot of her little dresses were made from flour sacks. 

Look how beautiful Aunt Verna was in the 1920’s! 

This picture shows Mardene posing in her “saddle oxford” shoes on the porch with her brother Grant in his Marine uniform.  Three of her brothers served in World War II, including my dad who served in the army.

 

“So there you have it…”  (I know, I say that a lot on this blog.)  A little rambling about a lot of different things that might seem unimportant and unrelated, but kind of mean a lot to me.  As I reflect on who I am I can’t help but think of all the people who shaped my world.  I only hope I can make them as proud of me as I am of them!

♥

JoAnn

P.S.  Don’t you hate that feeling that the weekend is almost over?

Sunday Serenade….Baby it’s cold outside

What do you do when the weather is cold and snowy?

We had a nice snow storm on the weekend and got at least a foot of wet, heavy snow.    This was the view off the deck in the back yard.

It was too cold to play outdoors.

Sunday dinner was over and

all the adults seemed to gravitate to the most comfortable chairs.  We all wanted to relax (oh, for a good ten minute nap).

But,

the grand kids had other ideas.

They were running around.

Squealing noises escaped in to the atmosphere.

Everyone seemed to want the exact same toy-at the exact same moment.

“Chaos” would be a good description.

It was pretty noisy!

Did I mention wild?

One problem would just get settled and a new one would erupt.

It seemed like a peaceful nap was about as likely as Ed McMahan walking up to the front door with a huge bouquet of red roses and an oversized million dollar check.

Throwing aside the dream of getting any rest, we decided to put all that energy to work.

Out came the wii drums.

We had a crazy piano/drum concert.

“Give Said the Little Stream” was followed by “Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree”.  After we worked our way through the Primary song book we pulled out Christmas music.

It is amazing how a little percussion can change a familiar song, but it worked.

  Soon we had a few adults singing along. 

Yes, the house was still noisy, (Sorry, neighbors!)

but the spirit in the house changed.

It kind of made me want to go back to the olden days when families gathered around the piano and made their own entertainment-

and bonded.

That is,

until someone crawled under the piano bench and started playing with the foot pedal!

What do you do to keep your little ones happy on a cold day?

♥

JoAnn

What a difference a day can make…..

Thursday we worked in the yard, raking leaves and putting away all the lawn furniture.  By Friday night we had a total weather change- SNOW!

Joshua and Olivia had a fun time welcoming the new white stuff.

It snowed most of yesterday and is still  lightly snowing now.   I guess fall is pretty much moving a side to let winter arrive.

Welcome winter!

JoAnn

Raking leaves with grandpa...

It takes a good sport to rake up all the leaves on the lawn, and then let little "helpers" undo most of what you have accomplished.

But....

How do you tell them they can't help when they remind you that they don't have any leaves at their own house (it's new)?

Or....

 you remember that their little sister just got out of the hospital and they have been displaced for the last few days.

Besides....

The extra work re-raking the lawn is good exercise and who doesn't need that!

♥

Get better little Aubrey so you can help next time!

JoAnn

P.S.  It looks like Aubrey has asthma.  Please keep her in your prayers.

P.p.S.  Yes, I realize I need to clean my camera lens!

Packing Up Halloween....

Halloween is over for another year and now it is time to pack everything up.

It was fun.

Here is a little recap:

 

Boo!

Don't you wish you could bottle time and save the fall weather for a while longer?

Have a great weekend!

JoAnn

Flowers, Flashlights, and Freezing Weather

Hero or Nut Case?

 

After watching the ten o'clock news, I knew I had to do something.

Throwing my coat over my pajamas,

 donning a miners' head lamp, 

and arming myself with a slightly dull pair of garden scissors, 

I timidly went to the rescue.

No need to panic.  I did not harm myself

 or any other person.

I was on a mission to save something, 

but it was just some of my remaining flowers before the expected morning frost arrived.  

I have enjoyed this fall season so much, especially the abundant crop of zinnias that have added so much color to my gardens. 

 (Why don't I get these ideas while the sun is up?)  

Anyway, I managed to pick about three vases full of flowers before my common sense kicked in.

 Hopefully, the frost won't do much damage, but if it does at least I can enjoy the flowers for a few more days!

JoAnn