Thanksgiving concluded

On the Sat. of our vacation we went to a nearby school and played on the equipment for a while. The kids rode bikes and scooters and Randall brought a remote controlled helicopter. On the blacktop was a huge game of Chutes and Ladders which Lindsay brought dice for and we played with the younger kids. They had enough fun that we played twice and Keddi and I played one more time.


This tree was in the front yard and these kids were in it all the time!! Shinara and Mathias (the four year olds) got the older kids to help them into it a few times, but the ones who could get up there by themselves were there quite often. We so enjoyed the fact that there was a back yard to play in too and Keddi spent a large amount of time entertaining herself out there!

We had so much fun that the kids have talked of moving one family or the other nearer. Sorry guys, but California is too expensive, you'll have to come to Vegas! We had so much fun and are really enjoying the tradition of spending Thanksgiving with you. (And any other excuse that can be made for getting together!)

Happy Birthday Joel

14 years ago I met the man this baby had become. Quite a change in stature I know! But also changes in spirit and personality. I never knew this boy, but there are some things that evidently haven't changed.
Joel is still very intelligent and it is still easy for him to aquire and retain knowledge. He is still analytical and contemplative. He has a quick mind and wit. His humor is not ment to hurt, but simply to entertain himself. If others find it funny...bonus! Joel is driven to do a job well and does so in many aspects of his life. He is loyal and good.

Some things have changed.

Joel's ambitions for his career changed with the birth of his first born. He better understands the love of a father for his children. He is patient and kind toward them; a friend that they turn to. He has learned to live with a woman, one with all the stereotypes of being a woman, and does so with humor (sometimes ill-timed) and gentleness.
Whatever you know about this boy or man, know this... He is someone that is very loved and looked up to. He is dependable and quick to be of service. He knows God and leads his family the best he knows how. He loves his family and his friends and recognizes the blessing you are in his life.

San Fransisco

We went into San Fran the day after Thanksgiving. We packed a picnic lunch and sat on these hard steps. The beautiful grass all around us was a bit wet, which didn't stop the kids from rolling down a hill opposite where we were sitting! The seagulls joined us for lunch and one even got away with a bag of chips. I think Garron chased it down and got the bag away from it.

After eating we checked out the water and a guy who was stacking the rocks on the beach. Evidently he does this for a living of sorts. Randy said he is famous on the internet. People pay him. It was rather amazing to see how he stacked the rocks and how patient he was about getting them just right so they would stay.

We were practically under the Golden Gate Bridge when we walked to an old fort nearby. We got there a little too late to actually tour it or even get a real good look around but it was cool anyway. Then we drove up onto the bridge and walked across some of it. The moon came out way before it got dark and I thought it was cool right over Alchatraz. On the way back from the fort, a sailboat added to the scenery and with the new colors I decided I needed another picture.

Thanksgiving Day

We had our Thanksgiving dinner with the Hahns at a nearby Stake Center. Ronny and Jen were in town with their kids, Sarah and Carrie were in from school at BYU Idaho (Randy's family) and Mitchel came from the base he is stationed at in Southern California. We had visitors stop in too.



The food was excellent and surprisingly, the kids entertained themselves and each other with only a few things. Most of their time was spent on the stage and they organized a play for us. (That was done in Lake Tahoe too and is now a bit of a tradition I guess.) The adults sat and talked, called other family members and played in the gym with the kids occasionally. It is wonderful to get together with people that you are loosely related to in this life and find that you enjoy their company and appreciate their spirits, making being away from family you know a bit more bearable. Thanks Hahns for including us in your family holiday!


Sarah is Randy's baby sister, but the only reason she is sitting at the kids table with my girls is because they asked her to. She and Carrie were so sweet to the children and played with them. Uncle Mitchel provided many shoulder rides and climbing (on him) experiences. And a friend of Lindsays brought the girls a bag of "girl goodies". I am grateful for people, family or not, who love my children and show it through the way they treat them.

We're back

The fifth graders have to do a report every year and to present it to family and friends they have a "Wax Museum" where they set up the poster boards and dress up as the person they did their report about. Mardi did Pocahontas. She got almost 100% on the report and we will find out her grade on the presentation after returning to school at the begining of the year. Our big let down was that I was sure the paper we got said the presentations would last from 5:30-6:30 and I arrived with the other girls just after six. (Joel was still trying to get there.) There were far too many parking spaces available and just after I parked, Tersa said that Mardi was there. They finished at 6:00 and we had missed it! I felt so badly for her and angry at the same time. She was sure the paper we'd gotten had said 6:30 also and she was crying. A friends mom stopped to talk in the parking lot and complimented her on her poses for the "wax" part which I thought was very sweet of her. She knew Mardi was upset.