Brother-Sister Christmas Party

We decided to have our Christmas dinner at someones house this year. Since I got the opportunity, we decided to have a menu with something that would remind us of Mom and Dad and our growing up. We started with a good steak. Dad always enjoyed a good piece of meat. Diane provided Pear Salad....Have not had it for quite some time. What a treat. Catherine made another batch of Steam Pudding. I just can't get enough of that stuff!!! Retired to the Living Room to discuss our next adventure. Lots of possibilities to go to. The Jury is still out but we have narrowed it down to a couple. Alaska or maybe the Mexican Riviera. Diane brought a great game. She is a master at fun stuff. Catherine won a marshmellow gun. I ate most of the bullets. I won the most useful gift, thanks to Steve. It started the conversation of guns, which led to disaster for the pocket book. Right Diane!!

Diane started something on our last Cruise. This is

back at you Diane.

We had a great time. Not sure if Nancy and Scott miss us

but we miss them. They are busy moving kids to new locations around the

world. We enjoyed the email that brought us up to date on their family.

Hope they can make it to one of our gatherings in the future.

Truely a Time of Thanksgiving

Just before the Thanksgiving Holiday, we lost a dear friend and neighbor. Dennis Blackburn left for a bicycle ride in the early evening and never came home. Catherine and I were asked to help with the search. We found him about 5a.m. the following morning off in the brush with his bicycle. It makes us ponder and realize the blessing that are ours, and with that in mind I am posing that which give me the greatest joy......my family. We went out for our annual Turkey shoot and had a BLAST. Gun wise and entertainment wise. Don't have the pictures to post. Maybe because the trophy was passed from Jacob to Peter. Once again I didn't win!! Playing in the good weather with the family!! Family is growing......dog wise.

Not sure where these kids learn to have dogs in the family...haha.

Peter at his traditional carving of the Turkey Thanks Pete

Preparation for a great dinner

Great Kids!!!

How truely greatful I am...Sure dooooo miss the ones in AR at this time of year. Maybe one year

Sucessful Deer Hunt

Out in our special mountain retreat, beautiful sunny morning, with family, NO DEER to clean, how much better can it get. The Deer Slayers!!

We turned around and probably saw 20 Deer

Love the Ride......and Handwarmers

I think there are more than two in this picture. Putting on a little weight are we Amanda...We love it.

This is a test for Audrey and Brady. Where are they?

Priceless!!!

We traveled to Logan the weekend of the 10th. Hauled copy paper up in our dump trailer. Spent the day cleaning up around several of our places. Amy, Amylia, Breeana, came up with Catherine and Myself to help. Jessica and Cameron were resident helpers. It was a wonderful day with everyone pitching in to help. Friday night we all attended "Tap Dogs". It was great but the smiles on the kids faces, especially Breeana was Priceless. After we finished the designated work, we went out to Mendon and picked up two pigs to add to Amy's farm. They traveled home in the back of the dump trailer. I am not sure what to think about the experience. They love to root out of the pen and go exploring. Just about lost my eye one evening trying to find them in the dark down in the wash behind the house. I wasn't really planning on the experience. Catherine and I took some grain and items from the garden out to feed them. I was in my slippers. Lost one in the mud, ripped my nice work shirt and wasn't sure I would ever see again after the branch did its job on my eye socket. Just finishing up at the Twins. Too many addresses to keep track of... they all have names.

We can always plan on this pose from Jessica

Catherine making sure that we pass inspection at the dump.

I couldn't be more impressed with a landfill. They do a great

job.

Big Red got a serious haircut.

We especially love the dump trailer. It is the best when it is time to get the stuff out.

The Mint is surely ready for winter. I don't think it has every been this cleaned up since we bought it several years ago.

The kids pitched in and had a good time. Amylia said that she would like to move to Logan.

Enjoy the Journey

Audrey asked for Pictures of my new mode of transportation. I have learned with my rides that it can be as much fun getting there as being there. So I might continue to say "ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

The Reward of Hard Work

We decided that if we worked hard and shingled our house ourselves, we would use the savings to do something special. Let me declare to the world how much I love this women. My partner in all that we do (Work & Play). Hawaii here we come!!

23,000 pounds of Hard work waiting to be put on the roof.

Sometimes you have to use the right tool. Especially at our age.

Obiously I didn't take the picture, but to me it says it all!! Going down lifes path, hand in hand with someone very special. Thanks Jessica for the special reminder.

Those in the family know that Catherine will bring home a rock(s) from where ever she has been. We always get a funny look passing security in the Airports (or Cruise Ships)

We love to support the Locals with Special talents. They have been carving since they were 7 years old. RM's. The one on the left served in Carlsbad. The one on the right served in Riverside. I wonder if Elder Behling new him. I think they were there at the same time.

On the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor. This is the exact spot on the ship where the surrender was signed for WWII in Tokyo Bay.

We spent hours wondering around in the ship. Couldn't resist including these two cute kids. Sure glad there assignment helped us make up our minds to fly over.

Jessica put this picture on her blog. It is one of my favorites. This is my Gada for sure.

Special program at the PCC. It was new that week. They would not allow flash pictures. Glad for a good SLR.

Getting ready to Island Hop. We spent three days in Honolulu and 3 days in Maui. We waited for departure. Cameron took a picture of every plane that landed and took off.

Everybody needs to experience the ROAD TO HANA!!

Paul spent 18 months on a mission turning a garbage dump into a farm next to the PCC. They used the leaves for costumes and cooking. Saved the church lots of money over buying it.

A very emotional and Patriotic afternoon.

The top of the USS Arizona memorial. 1100 people still inside.

Hunama Bay. A state park. The Snorkeling in the Coral and seeing the Wildlife was breath taking.

Good Food, Good entertainment. Good Company. Isn't She Cute!!

As part of the adventure while we were lost. We loved how resourceful people were with their advertising.

The temple was closed for remodel, it was still worth the stop. If you enlarge this picture you might see the windows are gone and there is plywood in their place. The temple was completely gutted. When they were sandblasting the outside, the found a coat of green paint. They think is was during the war to protect the building.

Our GPS got screwed up (maybe the programmer, me) and when it said we had reached our destination to the PCC. This is where we were. Obviously lost. It was still worthy of a picture to remember. Check out our rental car. Trust Jessica and Cameron to go for the Gusto.

This is a couple hundred year old Banyon tree. The roots spread like a Quakey but from above ground.