God Bless America!

Over the 40+ years that this home has stood, from this porch we have watched many a firework display to celebrate the 4th of July! It is appropriate that our nation's flag stands as sentinel. Long may it wave o'r the land of the free!

Easter Sunday

Sunday Morning dawned with cold rain that continued all day long. At church we had enough family to take up a whole row just like the good old days. Who says that you must have sunshine to feel the spirit of Easter and the Resurrection ? After church we hunkered down in the house, loving being together.

Shannon & David

Brooke

Ben, Joel, and JoLin

Kemp, at the table, & Ross playing with Joel

Grace with the toothless smile

Joleen & Phil

Joel and his Grandpa

What a joyous day for family members here and those far away, as we remember the good news: Jesus is risen from the tomb!

Graces's Not Flannel Nightie

This scene is from Christmas of last year. Grace sleeps like a furnace and so she escaped the flannel parade to have something more silky. How come I freeze even with flannel down to my wrists and ankles?

Thanksgiving 2008

And so the next generation takes over tearing up the bread for the dressing. Grace, who doesn't like crusts anyway, found the center of the loaf the most fun to destroy. She and I had a great putting the TABLE CLOTH on the table and fixing the rings on the napkins. When asked which dishes we should use, she saw Grandma's pretty white with the silver rim. There was no discussion in making the decision.
The day brought sweet rembrances when other grandkids were part of the meal making: Jacob in Japan, Alicia in Rexburg, Elisa in Atlanta along with Libby and Natalie (who only blesses the rolls when asking the blessing), and Brooke who is set with mashed potatoes and gravy.
So many blessings, we had a hard time counting them all.

Over the River and Through The Woods

You would think that I would have time to post this tomorrow. But in case I am having too much fun in the kitchen, I am doing it today. There are many Thanksgiving rules to be found in this picture.
1. If you are going to make dressing, you need a white enamel with a red rim dishpan.
2. If you are going to make dressing, be sure that you make enough.
3. That little girls must wear an apron to work in the kitchen.
4. Even kids need to help prepare the dinner!
5. Boys can cook too.
6. There is no place like "Grandma's house", even if she did try to trick the kids into thinking her squash pie (which they hated) was really pumpkin pie (which they loved).

Grace Gala-Princess Aurora

As sad as it is, this is the only picture that I took of Grace. What was I thinking?! "Dorothy" is Grace's cousin on her dad's side. They are like sisters since Grace practically lived at her house the first three years of her life.

Jack-O-Lanterns

Brooke's creation has hair!

Let's see who is the winner this year!

Since Brooke was five years old, she and Grandpa have carved pumpkins together. Once the most misshapen pumpkins are selected, comes the process of finding the carving tools from last year, covering the dinning room table with newspaper, getting a big dishpan for the innards and then going to work. Soon this years creations become alive, and as soon as it is dark, they are given the candle test.

Each year, brings a new creation, but most of all a renewed tradition of Brooke sharing time with her Grandpa. She understands him and he loves it!

Lattin's Cider Mill

I was actually able to get Brooke and Phil to come out to Lattin's Cider Mill with me for some fresh apple fritters and cider.

While we were there, we found a great, squishy pumpkin for Grandpa to carve, because he always liked the "interesting" ones. It was a beautiful Fall day.

Carving pumpkins with Grandpa

Dad always picks the pumpkins with the most unusual defects. They make the best Jack-o-Lanterns. This was the creations of a few years ago. Click on it so you can see all of the details. I can't wait to see what these 2 come up with next!!

THE PUMPKIN PATCH

Joel is ready to go!

Dad & Joel heading toward the pumpkins

Joel searched and searched for the perfect pumpkin.................

Look Mom I think I see one......

Doesn't this pumpkin look good?

PLEASE!!! Can we get this one??

Joel had so much fun picking out the perfect big, round, and very dirty pumpkin.

Joel even met some friends. He would have left with them if we would have let him.

We had such a fun time taking Joel to the pumpkin patch. We ended up with three pumpkins, some dirty shoes, and a day we will always remember.