whatever

Tree is up-

 

With the kids here this weekend, I took advantage of the situation and had them help me put the Christmas Tree up.

Mason is usually my helper, but he's a little too far away to help this year. =)

Sam carried  it downstairs, Dan set it up- and the girls decorated it.

 

 

 

 
 
 

Somewhere over the Rainbow-

IZ Israel Kamakawiwo ' Ole - Somewhere over the rainbow

 

 

   

Thanksgiving-

 

"A thankful Heart is a Happy heart."

 

 "Thankfulness is measured by the number of words; gratitude is measured by the nature of our actions."- David O. Mckay

 

 

"Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them- J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

 

 

 "Think to thank. In these three words are the finest capsule course for a happy marriage, a formula for enduring friendship, and a pattern for personal happiness." -President Thomas S. Monson

 

 "We should confess His hand is all things. Ingratitude is one of our great sins." -Ezra Taft Benson

 

 Thanks to my children & my brother and family for helping us to have a wonderful Thanksgiving- Everyone pitched in and helped.

From the cooking to sharing fun times- We ate, had a little gift exchange and the boys had a boxing match to see who would win $50. 

 

  

Sam won the boxing match.

Thanks to Heidi for helping with the kids table and cooking.  

 

Sam cooked the Turkeys and made the dessert-

 

 Denver and Bree helped to make the table pretty- and Bree made the place cards-

 

 
 

"Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may make history, but they do not make real life.

     After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful Mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman." - Howard w. Hunter.

 

I'm thankful for my Family, home and health-  

"There isn't a word in all the English language with more magic in it than the word gratitude. Love makes fertile the soil for things to blossom and to grow, and love begins with gratitude.- Geraldine P. Anderson 

 

Winter Wonderland-

In my very near future-

• winter cyclamen
• seasonal music performed live
• magical warmth
• Holiday Boutique
• Unique Holiday gifts

I've been waiting all year for this- So I'm gathering up Bree & Sandi and off we go.  Just in time.  I was needing a little pick me up.

And there's nothings like beautiful Holiday surroundings and friends to do that.

Happy Day.

Remember this place? In a few days it is going to become a "Winter wonderland"! Fun!

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving- 

I thought I would leave you with a little something Bree and I are making for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vanilla frosting
• 7 drops yellow food coloring
• 32 miniature peanut butter cups
• 1 package (11-1/2 ounces) fudge-striped cookies
• 32 pieces orange mini Chiclets gum

Directions

• In a small shallow bowl, combine frosting and food coloring. Remove paper liners from peanut butter cups.
• Holding the bottom of a peanut butter cup, dip top of cup in yellow frosting. Position over center hole on the bottom of cookie, forming the hat-band and crown. Add a buckle of Chiclets gum. Repeat with remaining cups and cookies. Yield: 32 cookies.

Recipe from Taste of Home-

Memorial

 

My Brother Don passed away a week ago Monday....seems like this last week has been an eternity.  Saturday our family joined together for a memorial service for Don.  Things like this are always so bitter sweet.  It seems I have reached the age when big family gatherings are either sad or happy. Someone entering this life or someone leaving this life or someone making a new life with the one they love.  Seeing as I use this blog as a type of journal for me, I will be sharing photos from Don's Memorial.

There are 8 of use- Don is there in spirit.

We all live far from each other- { four different states.}

So getting together is hard and long between visits.

 

 

When we get together you can always count on good food and lots of teasing, {I have five brothers} Martel and Hollie had everyone over for a big fabulous family breakfast.

 

  

You can count on the kids playing games and running around.  The sisters are usually in the kitchen cooking, talking, etc.

Sisters-{ I'm the oldest, Pam next to me is the baby sister, Kristeen is on the left.}

I got to meet the newest member of our family- little Parker- he is a joy. This is Parker with his Mom and Dad- my brother Maurice & Tara.  Many thanks to them for all they did to help bring Don Home.

John gave the family prayer, L.B. dedicated the grave, Hollie and Mckelly shared a musical number, and Martel gave a gospel message.

-Brothers-

 

After the memorial lots of pictures were taken, gifts were exchanged, memories shared.  I so enjoyed watching some of the old family videos- Don was such a fun little guy. (lots of tears and laughter seeing him on film.} 

-Family-

Like I said things like this are bitter sweet- I miss Don and my heart goes out to his son little Blain. Thank Heaven for the Gospel plan of Happiness. 

Because of the sacred ordinances we receive in holy Temples, our departure from this life cannot long separate relationships that have been fastened together with cords made of eternal ties.

More than words can express, I am grateful for your words of support, your expressions of love, and your prayers. 

It is my solemn testimony that death is not the end of existences, because of the life and eternal sacrifice of the Savior of the world, we will be reunited with those we have cherished. This I testify of in the name of Jesus Christ. amen.  

Don Ray

Until we meet again.

Holy Cow....I'm one of Finalists!

I'm so Thrilled & Honored!  

  I Entered a picture of our Living room at the Hamlet in a giveaway  at

 Velvet & Linen. 
 

& Holy Cow ....I can't believe I was chosen as one of the 10 finalists- especially with all the stunning "designer like rooms" that were entered!!

The winner gets a fabulous Brickmaker's Table!

Here is the room I entered-

The  other rooms are way fabulous {click here to see some of the rooms I was competing with} and I feel so honored that my simple little room made the cut.

....she is now opening the contest to allow you to decide who the winner is....by voting for your favorite room.

So I guess what I'm asking is Vote for me!

Pretty shameless I know, and another thing, it would be so cool if you would let your blog friends,fb friends,email list, well, your friends know =}.....  sorry, more shamelessness.

Vote Here- 

Thanks so much you guys are awesome!

Adding Warmth to your Home

Today I'm posting at Blissful- would love for you to stop by. Adding Warmth to your Home.

Mission update-

 

Mason is now in a small town call Forsyth. He is loving it there. He says the town is like something you would see in a Western movie. They have a very small branch there. Smaller than the one from his home town.

He is mainly working with people on the  "reservation". He was excited to have 15 lessons this week, saying that the area is just blooming.

Mason had a awesome experience- {His words} "We were walking around and these guys on horses with flags came by...then I realized that it was Veterans Day.  Anyway long story short. One of the guys called us over to them and mentioned that they were going to a parade at the High School and asked if we could pray for them. So we did, After we finished they started saying a prayer in their language. It was cool they had circled around us with their horses we were right in the middle of them while we prayed. So that was an awesome experience for me."

Mason's "Trunk or Treat" They didn't have a car at the time so they dressed up his bike.

He is doing well and loving his Mission.

 

This week has been very sad for me....I will be meeting up with all my siblings to Lay to rest our brother Don. Who died on Monday- we are all very sadden by his passing.

In Honor of my brother, please join me in doing a kind deed this week.

 

Falls Garden-

There's something nostalgic about fall-

See what others are showing off.

Zoo, lizard and a walk-

  Carlee, Bree and I ventured out to the Zoo- just a small little place close to home.

But just right for a little get away-

Some of the highlights-

• Monkeys being silly
• feeding the goats
• cute little foxes

After the zoo, we headed to costco- where we filled up on food samples- you can almost made a meal out of all the little samples they hand out- Carlee thought it was too fun.

  
And talk about no fear!  She found this little guy in the kitchen and just picked him up- she then spent the rest of the day playing with him.... and then let him go home to his family. =)

 
Oh so brave & silly.

Its always fun to have little ones around to go on a walk with-

 
   - The end of a very fun, sweet little visit-