Discontinued

This past Sunday we found out that the Pebble Canyon ward, of which we have been a part for 7 years, has been discontinued. Some of our ward was shifted back to the Sunset ward and most of us were put into the Silverado ward. (Years ago some of Pebble Canyon was put into Silverado so we know some people already.) It was a sad thing but it will be nice to have larger numbers. We also have to go to a building that is further away instead of around the corner. But, whatever.

The Silverado ward has a Trunk or Treat activity that our previous Bishop didn't much care for and so we went this last Tuesday. It was fun. We took our neighbor Kris with us. He didn't wear a costume and so we decided that he came as Joel. (They even have the same birthday.) And Joel, who didn't wear his fro because he didn't know these people (even though half of them are from Pebble Canyon ward too), decided that he went as a discontinued ward member.

Finished Pumpkins

Tersa, Mardi, Keddi and Shinara

Pumpkin Carving

Years ago we used to carve pumkins as part of our Hallo- ween traditions. But this is the reaction I got from Mardi when she was two and read that as a dislike for this particular tradition. Well, the older girls were complaining that we don't do this anymore so we did for Family night last night.


I do believe this was Keddi and Shar's first experience. Evidently pumpkins have a nasty smell.





But I think they still enjoyed the outcome enough for us to pick up this particular tradition again.




We had doughnuts from Krispy Kreme and homemade apple cider for Family Night Treat. That's a tradition that I can't see any of us tiring of.

Of course, doughnuts and cider aren't slimy or stinky!

Ride-em Cowgirl!

Joel took Wed., Oct. 15th off and spent a lot of time with the little girls that day because they were off school. Keddi wanted to learn to ride a bike. So, he spent some time getting the tires pumped up and taught her how.

Not too long after they'd been at it, he came in and said that all children should wait until they are 7 to learn to ride because she'd caught on fast and was good to go. As you can see though, it's a tiny bike. So, we will get the next size out of storage this weekend and she how she does on a bike that is more for her size!

I finally got around to taking these pictures of her yesterday and as you can see, she started a trend in riding gear. Yipee ki yo ki yea!!!

Reunion

On Sat. morning, Joel and I went to a late breakfast with another friend of mine who wasn't attending any of the reunion activities. I met Mindy Neithammer when I joined choir. She was someone who always made sure I wasn't left out of things. As a close knit group, things usually got around in choir without actual invitations being made. But Mindy always made sure that I knew about stuff. I loved her dearly and enjoyed catching up with her. Her younger brother Marc was my partner in showchoir. I loved him too and was bummed that he was out of town this weekend and I didn't get to see him!

Joel was very patient with all the activities and especially at the more formal event Sat. night. He had met and spent time with the three women I spent most of my time with this weekend and I think he actually liked them quite well. They enjoyed his company and told me I should keep him.

Kristen, Karen, Me, Suzanne and Andrea again. I enjoyed going for the reunion but this activity was my least favorite. There were so many people there that I just hadn't really known in High School and though people were friendly, I didn't have memories to share. Many of them live there still and have kept up their friendships or have become closer to some they hadn't had a relationship with in High School. I enjoyed the activities that allowed us to talk in a small group, with people I have always cared about even though 20 years had passed since I'd seen them.

More Georgia

The day after we got in, I called my friend Karen because she had called several people to invite them to meet us for lunch. My old friend Suzanne came to pick me up at the hotel and met Joel. We visited and caught up for a while before we needed to meet everyone at the restraunt. This picture is Karen, Suzanne, Me, Andrea and Kristen. Andrea had to get back to work but the rest of us went to the mall for a couple of hours to talk and hang out longer. I think that this was the best activity for me. It was exactly what I wanted to do. Just catch up with people I had loved dearly in High school but hadn't seen or had contact with in 20 years!

This was taken that night at a pizzaria everyone was meeting at after the homecoming game of our High School. We just went early and waited for people to begin arriving. This picture has Kristen, Beth, Karen, Me, Suz and Michelle.

OUR HOUSE

This is the house we lived in for most of our Georgia life. It's changed a lot. First off, the siding has been repainted. (You can't see the siding in the first picture but can to the far right of the picture below. It's yellow.) I believe that is close to the color it was when we moved there. Then my mom asked my dad to paint it and it was "mauve." Purple. And not to my personal liking.

The mailbox used to be on the other side of the driveway. And I wish I'd gone to the door and asked it I could take a picture of the backyard because it used to be half full of pine trees. They ripped them all out. Most of it is grass, with a few strategically placed trees. (What I could see of it from the street.) I also don't remember there being so much in the front yard.
The whole street seemed so much more closed in with all of the trees and what not. But it is still a beautiful street. It has a brick sign in front of it now too. I wish I'd have gotten a picture of that too.

This is our building which was just around the corner and down the street from our house. I wished so much to go inside but no one was there. I didn't even take a picture from the other side because this is the side we always came in. Such fond memories and all of the time it felt like we spent here.

I used to walk to school from here after seminary. It too was just down the street. (Well, it's back entrance was.) I couldn't take pictures of it though because it was torn down a few years after I graduated.

A great Weekend

Joel and I went to Georgia this weekend for my 20th Year High School Reunion. We left on my birthday (Thurs. the 16th). We got up at 4:00 for a 6:o0 flight and a huge line greeted us as we walked in. The computers were down for the airlines! So we waited for almost 2 1/2 hours in line. Eventually, they called for the 6:00 people but took only those in the first section of those waiting. Then we didn't hear anything else. As we got closer, people started bothering the workers checking us in and we got in another line to be re-routed to other flights because ours was gone! We were given stand-by tickets for the 7:00 and got there just in time. But still had to wait while they tried to get people on who already had their seats for that time period. We finally got called onto the plane and before we got a seat we were asked to come to the front of the plane. There was no room. Luckily the lady checking us in had also reserved actual seats for us on the 9:30 flight so we got some breakfast and waited till then. We ended up having pretty good seats and got to sit together so we were glad. But, it wasted most of our day since there is a three hour time difference. We didn't get to go to the place I had planned for that afternoon.

We arrived at the hotel and went down for a nice dinner at their restaurant. My brother Micah called to wish me a happy birthday and I appreciated that since he was the first one to wish me a happy birthday. (Except the cards I'd gotten from my mom, Dad and Joel's mom.) I couldn't check e-mail and do the blog on the trip and discovered that other members of my family had e-mailed to wish me happy birthday too. Thanks so much!
(View from our hotel room window.)

A Real Hair-cut

The first time Shar got her hair cut (earlier this year), it was more of a trim. Joel loved the long ringlets and the compliments people would give about her.

But every morning we would spend 15 min. just brushing through the "stickies" and then more time for styling. She spent every morning crying and wanting to cut her hair. So, Joel relented.

When he asked her how short she wanted it, she immediately chopped right at her chin. Even I reacted to that! I let her tell the hairdresser what she wanted and then I signaled to cut just below the shoulder.

It's adorable, but it won't stay in ringlets anymore. It has a lot of body and the sides have more wave now than they did when it was long. She loves it!!! Especially the first time we brushed through it and there was hardly any pain and it took all of three minutes!

Girlie stuff-Scary

The other night at 7:00 I heard the little girls playing together and decided to join them. Keddi had already dressed as a princess and had done her make-up. When I got in the room, Keddi had convinced Shinara that it was her turn and one could only be a true princess if they put on all the stuff she'd had on.

Two necklaces and bracelets almost to the elbows on both arms, as well as four purses were required.

Then came the make-up. Blue eye shadow for one eye and green on the other. (Opposite of what Keddi had done on herself!)


Thank you Shinara for the comic relief. I took at least six shots before she gave me this one. I suppose it was worth the wait. (Thank heaven for digital!!)