Our Day In Leavenworth, WA

On December 23, 2008 Karina, Alan and the kids and Michelle, Nick and Landon and Gramma Dille went to Leavenworth, WA and had a glorious time! Here are some photos of our visit!

The Snow Kept Coming!

Winter Snow Storm

Hi All! We're having a winter snow storm! It's not too bad. It's really beautiful! We are suppose to get more snow. Yeah! I love it when it snows! Norman - not so much! But he can put up with it a couple times a year. He's taken 2 vacation days and tomorrow he may go in. This snowy weather is suppose to keep coming until Christmas Eve then it's suppose to go up to 40 degrees and turn into rain. Here's some photos of our house. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving! Michelle, Nick and Landon came over about 11:30 a.m. and Karina and her family came at about 11:50 a.m. We ate at 12:00...we had turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry jello with mandarin orange and cran raisins, relishes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs and rolls. I forgot the yams, but we'll have them Christmas. And for dessert we had Praline Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cream Pie and Alan made a cream cheese and blueberry pie. Yum, yum! Then we watched Fred Clause and then Karina took Michelle and her family to Jennings Park and did a photo shoot with them. Then at 3:30 everyone went to their in-laws. And Norman and I enjoyed a quiet rest of the evening.

Landon's 2 year old Birthday Party

These are the photos Karina took at the party.

Birthday Boy!

This was a busy week!

Hi All! We were busy this week (Nov. 16th). On Monday morning the ladies from the Enrichment Committee came over and we made bulbs with a picture of Christ inside and a ribbon bow on top. We made 64 of them. We were preparing for the Enrichment Meeting for Relief Society, which was going to be a Christmas dinner and program and got all our Christmas things down. Because we have a lot of things we had gotten for Michelle's Wedding in December three years ago, we had a lot to get down. Then on Tuesday, we went to the Church to help decorate for the Dinner we were having that night. We went with our pickup completely full front and back! Because Norman is on evenings at work, he was able to help us until about 1:30. Then we left and went home so he could get ready for work. The night before I had made 5 pumpkin pie cakes. And the night before that (Sunday) I had made a salad for 15 people and we took it over to Sister Woodward's home so she could take it with her to a special Luncheon for the missionaries from our Everett, Washington Mission. Anyway getting back to the Relief Society dinner, the decorations turned out to be spectacular and we had a lot of comments on them. The dinner was fantastic...prime rib with potatoes and gravy, broccoli and cauliflower and a roll with a Ceasar Salad to start with. There was a lady there who played the harp while we were eating. For dessert we had the Pumpkin Pie cake and Whipped Cream. Yummy! Then we went into the chapel and had the program....which was centered on the Savior and the theme of the whole evening was "Let Him In". There were musical numbers and a harp piece and then the Institute instructor spoke and then we watch a DVD presentation of the song "Let Him In" by Micheal McClean. It was really spiritual and uplifting. Then as the sisters left the chapel we passed out the bulbs of Christ. I have to say it was such a pleasure to be involved in a rewarding experience that turned out to begin the Christmas Season with a wonderful spirit. I'm so thankful that Norman was able to help us with the decorations, too, he was a LIFESAVER. Actually, I lost 2 1/2 pounds in the first 3 days of the week, too!

Then on Friday we had a big birthday celebration for Landon, our grandson. He turned two! Michelle planned everything and it was really neat! Karina and the Kids came, Michelle's in-laws and several friends and their kids came as well. We ate Pizza, veggies and dip and a fruit tray to begin with. Then opened presents. Then the kids colored their birthday bags and put stickers on them. Then we had birthday cakes...3 of them. Michelle came over on Thursday and we made them in bowls. She made a baseball with the Red cake with cherry pie filling and white frosting and red stitching on the cake like a half of a baseball. Then there was the football...my favorite...Nick made a yummy filling with whipped cream, cream cheese and cocoa and sugar...it was to die for. Then Michelle mixed chocolate frosting with the remainder of the filling and added chocolate sprinkles with the white stitching on top. The last cake was lemon...lemon cake, lemon filling and the lemon filling on top with white stitching and dark green Landon 2 on top. This was the tennis ball! We had put up two sets of streamers with sports ball on them and included two pictures of Landon that Karina had taken and Norman printed off at work. Then we all just talked and had a wonderful time.

Also in the last week I've been reading the Great and Terrible series by Chris Stewart. I've read the first 4 books of the 6 book series. It sure is addicting!

Catch Up!

Well, I decided that I would catch you up on things going on in our lives! First of all, I have been doing a lot of babysitting for Michelle and Karina and it's been fun. Second of all, I just found out that I only have to do 1 more thing before they (the doctors office) can send in all the paperwork to be approved for lap band surgery. I'll be able to get that done on Nov. 19th. So we'll see. Norman is sweating the upcoming contract negotiations for his union. We will know by Dec. 1st if we are going on strike. Oh, and I've been in a "Boot" for the last 3 weeks because of a torn ligament in my heal. Just a month to go! That's about it!

Labor Day - Leading Up and the Weekend

Well, Thursday I met Karina in Bellevue and picked up three of her kids (Talulla stayed with her mother). Then we traveled home, first going to McDonalds in Kirkland. Taylor and Tanner are reading Harry Potter....Taylor is on the last book and Tanner is on the 5th. We stopped at Michelles apt. and pick up her and Landon. Landon and Tate enjoyed playing and romping on each other! Michelle and Nick ordered Pizza and we ate our fill. Norman spent 6 hours at the Deseret Industries hanging up clothes...his arms were so tired when he got home.

Then on Friday, Karina came in the afternoon and stayed until about 6:00 p.m. Norman fixed waffles. Yummmy!

Sunday we had the missionaries over for dinner. Norman fixed hamburgers and boy were they good! I added a Potatoe Salad and relishes and Guacamole Chips with Marionberry Pie for dessert. The pie was fruit sweetened and was really good!

On Monday we went to a movie....Bablyon A.D...it was really good although it was very violent.

On Tuesday I went to Puyallup and helped Karina with the kids so she could give her friend Nena a ride to her doctor in Bellevue again. Then I drove home - 2 hours, but it is pretty easy because by then I can use the car pool lane and I put the cruise control on 65 mph and cruise.

TATES BIRTHDAY PARTY ON SATURDAY

Tate, Cody, Bradden, Andrew playing together at party


Please, Mom!


Alan and helpers installing a new battery for 4 Wheeler


Bradden and Andrew riding the 4 Wheeler


Puppet Grampa

Time to Open Presents

Time for Cupcakes and Ice Cream...Tate Blow out the candles

Indiana Jones with Whip

Indiana Jones & His Buddies

Tanner, Taylor & Talulla

Grampa Dille & Talulla