Some of our kids went up to play in the snow on December 27. They had a good time but it's really an activity for the young people. Anyway Phil wanted to drive up to find some snow on his day off on Thursday. We drove up the same road the kids did but we went further up the Wind River Road than they did.

It was beautiful blue sky and the road wasn't too bad. We've had so much rain lately that this was a pleasant change even if it was cold. The road goes all around Indian Heaven - but not in the winter apparently.

We got to this viewpoint and you couldn't drive into it. You could see this biffy on the other side and after drinking a soda in the car, I really needed to use it but I figured it wouldn't be maintained in the winter. Phil walked over and opened the door! Here I went.... Mt. St. Helen's played peek-a-boo with the clouds.

Thanks for breaking the trail for me, honey. It was knee-deep.

Snow had fresh sparkly powder on top. Sure was pretty.

Anyone for a picnic?

Christmas 2010

So Christmas for empty-nesters can be a challenge to figure out. Gone are the hectic days of little kids anxiously awaiting mom and dad to get up and tackle the presents. Those are fond memories but makes for quiet Christmases now. Oh wait...that isn't such a bad thing!!!

Anyway we went to each house individually to celebrate together. Jeff - who lives in Pasco - also had a birthday party for their 3-yr old so it was a double-duty visit. Even ran into a little snow on the way home! He had a holiday train around his tree that he was having fun with. Little did my hubby know I had bought a Lionel recently and wondered if he'd like it as much.

Becky ended up coming to our house for this family gathering. That's when I let Phil have his little train. His eyes glazed over and I don't think he heard another word the rest of the evening. The train didn't run right off but he got it working within 24 hours and ordered a replacement part as well. Every now and then I manage to do something right.

On Christmas Eve we visited with Rick's family and enjoyed our visit with them. Then it was on to Kristina's for dinner and Family Home Evening with them. Families with kids is the way we remember celebrating. Christmas day we went to Becky's before her oldest girls left for Utah. Then we got to visit with Mandie's family. Her kids were having fun with all their new toys.

We were able to gather all in town on the Sunday before Christmas for food and chatting. That was fun. We appreciate having family nearby and how they enjoy being together. We love them all very much and wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if we were totally alone.

Thanksgiving - Saturday

So while Jeff's family was here, and at his request, we had our gingerbread house-making party. The kids were excited, of course - let the candy flow!!!

Ethan works on his roofing skills.

Aubrey catches Larissa sampling the decorations!

Mitchell and Noah work on their train - an engine and a caboose.

Busy, busy, busy

Jesse with his finished house.

Becky helps Grace with her creation.

Noah and Mitchell beam at their "finished" product.

Grace with her completed house.

Larissa beams with her house complete with lollipop tree.

The train needs some more decor.....

Ethan shows off his house.

Some of the finished projects.

Kaylee with her house.

Jayden with his house.

Aubrey with her house.

Anna has a completed house.

Everyone had a good time and the house smelled wonderful. Thankful for all these special grandkids (and the ones who couldn't make it). Making memories!

Thanksgiving - Friday

Prep work to take down 2 trees, the big redwood and a smaller one next to it.

This is the smaller of the 2 trees down now.

Dave Jones, our home teacher, brought his bucket truck to take this redwood down limb by limb and then in 4 chunks. He used to do this for a living. He's an electrician/lineman with his own company nowadays.

Mom almost had a coronary when he stepped out of the bucket and onto the limbs 40 feet in the air!

Tied off now Dave instructs how to pull when he finishes the cuts.

The top came down slightly more to the left than was comfortable - I nearly had a coronary. The whole idea was to keep from smashing the neighbor's sheds. Dave did a magnificent job.

Came down in 4 chunks with only 1 minor divet in the driveway.

Our other home teacher, Allen Berry, had a bigger saw than we did and was able to do a better cutting job. Took awhile but it all got taken care of.

Dave prepares to level off the stump.

Huge rings. About 20 years ago we bought it as a live Christmas tree in a container.

Cutting up the logs.

All that's left - plus a top that might become a Christmas tree this year. Thankful for good home teachers willing to help and for the safety of all involved.

Thanksgiving - Thursday

This cutie-patootie, otherwise known as Aubrey Timmons, loved watching stuff cook.

"Wow, grandma, what a big turkey!"

Didn't get many pics of the "grown-up" table. This is the kid table - have to get them served before you have a mutiny on your hands.

Jeff and Becky arm wrestle. Still teasing each other after all these years! He won but he was good and sore afterwards! We had a great day and a wonderful weekend visiting with family. Truly something to be thankful for.

Beating the Heat in Grandma's Yard

Okay, so Jeff's family was in town and Kristina's boys were divided between me and Mandie (she was at Girl's Camp all week) and it was hotter than..... I got out some containers I'd been saving for just such an occasion. I figure boys are going to throw water somehow so I just helped them along and they all had a blast.

So while Phil and Jeff re-shingled the roof in the heat cousins Jesse, Jayden, Ethan, and Noah were throwing water all over the place.

These are the containers I've collected from Costco. I make a lot of cocoa mix around here. Unfortunately they don't come with the nifty handles that these have anymore, so I'm glad I saved these.