A day of thanks….

I’m feeling grateful for a day to think about and appreciate all my blessings, with those I love gathered by my side.  I know that that alone is a huge blessing many people don’t enjoy.

The house is clean (mostly), the table is set, and the food plans are  underway.

We are looking forward to spending the day with most of our family (we will sure miss those who aren’t here) and we will feel a loss from those empty chairs at this year’s table (Father-in-law Reed and Aunt Mardene).

It will also be a day to remember my nephew Shane as we participate in a run/walk to honor his memory.  We can’t get together with all of his family and friends, but everyone does their own walk and then we post pictures on Facebook to share- so it seems like we are all supporting him together.

My son Robbie designed the racer’s bib for this year.

 

Here are my Thanksgiving hopes:

1.  The turkey won’t be dry.

2.  The rolls will rise in time.

3.  The weather won’t keep anyone from attending (a storm is predicted).

4.  Gratitude will dominate the day.

5.  Everyone everywhere will enjoy the blessings of this harvest season.

6.  The world can find peace.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough!”

JoAnn

 

Appreciating those who serve our country…..a day late

Veterans’ Day is one of my favorite holidays.

I love all the attention and appreciation that is shown to those who have sacrificed for each of us; for our safety, our freedom, and our sense of well being.

I’m sorry that more respect isn’t given every single day (we should change that), but I’m happy that we remember them on Veterans’ Day.

There are so many brave and courageous men and women who have left their families and friends to serve our country- many who never got to return home to their loved ones.

Our family has its Veteran Heroes, as I’m sure you all do, too.

We are so proud of them!

At my father-in-law’s funeral this summer, I was impressed by the Veterans who helped with the military rifle salute and the Taps at the graveside. 

These fine gentlemen were all getting along in age, yet they took their job very seriously.

As this flag was presented to my husband, the love and respect for our country was evident in the presenter’s eyes and voice.

These selfless gentlemen waited at attention for their powerful part in the program.

The walkers waiting behind them let us know that their service on this day was also a sacrifice.

Thank you to all who have sacrificed for our freedom!

God bless America!

JoAnn

P.S.  We loved seeing  all the Veterans who stood on freeway bridges yesterday, waving the American flag.

Halloween Party- 2015 and a birthday….

 

The weather didn’t look or feel like Halloween, but it was another fun celebration- just a warmer one.

We missed those who couldn’t make it.

Happy trick-or-treating next weekend!

Love,

JoAnn

P.S.  My costume may or may not have even been worn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROOKLYN!

Missed these guys, but they did go to a pumpkin farm.

 

A nice break in a busy week

We had a nice little break tonight in what has been a busy, busy week.  We went downtown for dinner with Ken’s siblings at Market Street Grill.  It is a quaint restaurant on a one block street aptly named Market Street.

Good food and great company!

At school we have taken four really large classes (over thirty students  each) and created five smaller classes.  It was really difficult giving up six students, but the size difference is HUGE! 

Happy teachers!

Now, if we can just survive the rest of the week.

Do you have weeks that push you to the limits?

(I should add a big cold sore on my lip in the picture above.)

JoAnn

P.S.  Stay tuned for our annual family Halloween party on Saturday.

P.P.S.  Maybe it is a good thing that tomorrow is Pajama Day at school!

ONE MORE…..Did you read about the New York school principal who took away all the teachers desks?

Like we even have time to sit down. 

 

Pumpkin Point Farm

It’s that time of year!

With an extra long weekend here in Utah (School’s out for UEA), my son Andrew, daughter-in-law Irene, and I took the local grandkids to a pumpkin farm.

(What’s better than a trip to a pumpkin patch when Mom and little Aubrey have been staying at Primary Children’s Hospital all week and some siblings are feeling a little lonely and sad?)

We headed to Riverton, a suburb at the south end of the valley, to Pumpkin Point Farm. 

It was an unusually warm day for October.  The sun was shining brightly (not the best lighting for photos) and the pumpkins were all lined up, row after row after row.  There were pumpkins for every age, taste, and budget.

The kids loved the corn maze.

All the vintage farm vehicles were a bonus for the antique lovers.

 

And the kids!

Each one got to pick their own pumpkin.

 

Fall touches were everywhere.

Everyone had fun.

Even those who slept through it all.

The best part of the whole day:

Guess who was waiting at home when we returned?

WELCOME HOME AUBREY!

 

Happy Fall everyone!

JoAnn

Mums the word…and other ramblings

Sorry about the cheesy title (I couldn’t resist).

I’m very tired tonight.

Sometimes, when I get too tired I end up being quite goofy.

My best humor often comes after 11:00 p.m.

I can be really, really funny.

Do you believe me?

Or…

Maybe it’s just that when I’m overly tired I find everything funny.

Who knows?

At any rate, I’m even struggling to come up with simple words to write this post and wish I could tap in to some humor right now.

I miss Johnny Carson.

He could make you laugh out loud  (the snorting, laugh till you cry kind of laugh).  Does anyone remember the Potato Chip Lady?  (Google it some time when you need a good chuckle.)

Jimmy Fallon also knows how to be funny.

He is an expert at picking just the right words, facial expressions, and body language to make every day situations humorous.

Which brings me to the mums. 

(Mums the word, remember?)

Aren’t they one of the most lovely flowers?

I love how they wait all summer before they bloom.  They kind of show up when other flowers are losing steam and fading away.  They are like the hoped for hero who comes at the very last minute to save the day; brave souls who welcome a little challenge and even flourish with the cooler weather.

A true “late bloomer” kind of beauty.

It’s a good thing we have a long weekend coming up.

Hopefully, I’ll get some rest (and stress relief) and

a have a chance for enjoying some fall color.

I just love fall mums!

JoAnn

P.S.  Praying for some good news about little Aubrey, who is recovering from tonsil surgery and just ended up back in the hospital.

P.P.S.  Why do schools use crazy activities (crazy socks, wild hair, backward clothing) to reinforce “saying no to drugs”?  It makes for a long day for teachers!

A Girls’ Get-away

September has been so lovely.  

What a beautiful time of year for an outing.

Last weekend some of the girls in the family got together for a little over night stay down town.

It was a bit spontaneous, and not everyone could make it,

(we wish we had planned it sooner), but it was relaxing and fun.

We will have to do it again when everyone can come!

We ate simply, people-watched, and peeked in a few stores.

It was restful and fun.

We stayed in the heart of Salt Lake City at the Marriott Hotel.

Due to a little mix up with our room, and too many people booking the same hotel, we ended up with four of us sharing two full size beds.  You could say it was a “bonding” experience.

We spent most of our time at the City Creek Center.

It is an open shopping area with all kinds of stores, restaurants, fountains, and plenty of fresh air.

We enjoyed watching the Comic Con crowd as they took time off from the convention at the Salt Palace to eat or shop.  They were trying to break a record for having the most dressed up attendees and everyone came  as some kind of fantasy, science fiction, or comic book character.

They did break the record, with the Guinness Book of World Records there to make it official.

We saw some pretty creative costumes!

Where else can you hear the workers at the food court say, “Batman, your order is ready”?

It was interesting to see a little costume adjusting going on, too.

The best activity we enjoyed was trying to figure out if some of the  mall crowd were really dressed up as someone, or just free thinking individuals.

(Maybe some people wondered the same thing about us!)

All in all, it was a nice outing.

What are your favorite girl get-away activities?

JoAnn