Puzzled?

Question? Could this be a new blade on the old tractor, that will move snow this winter? Stylin', Dad only wishes we had more snow to move. Question? What are these people doing in the mud? Well it is very tasty mud and we made a lot of chocolates and made a big mess and we had lots of helpers.

Question? What is Meggie Sue doing? They are doing a great service project in their ward and making quilts for Primary Children's Hospital, where they will travel in the spring to deliver.

Question? More mud? You just have to really get into it.

Question? Who got to see Santa? These cute ones were never afraid of this Santa. Ward party 2008.

Question? isn't this puzzling all these questions? Well I have had the fever and took on a 1000 piece puzzle and have really found it relaxing. I need help finishing, any volunteers?

One more question? Guess who will be here on the 19th? We are settling in for Christmas festivities. Yahoo!!!!!!

Another star and another Nativity

I know that this picture is not the best, but the only one that we could get. Bri scored 2 points in this game that they won. She is really a little hustler, she played with girls a lot bigger than her. This takes us way back to the Bod family Christmas party at Marci and Troy's. We had the Weiser B's and all the local ones. We ate big sandwiches, did the nativity with the cutest sheep you ever saw and picked out our snowflake doilies that Grandma O had made for us. She handed out the new 2009 calendars that were just darling.

What good sports.

A snow plow?

Stay tuned for pictures and story!

Hot Chocolate

The bank gave us a present for our families, they rented a theatre and we could take our family to see a movie, the one playing was "Alvin and the Chipmunks". Bri, Dalton and Maeley got to go with me. We had treats and got presents from Santa and then I think the part they liked the best was going to Bubba's for hot chocolate and breakfast. Yup! that was the best part. Sorry no pictures. I forgot my camera.

Also, this week I was in SLC for meetings, we had an Executive Banking Christmas dinner and then it was fun to have the Utah kids come and swim in the pool and have a short visit. Then we were on to Friday meetins and our annual service project for EB. We went to a shelter for families that have lost their housing for some reason or another and they are temporarily housed at this shelter, where they are counseled and they get help finding jobs and affordable housing. It was an eye opener. We decorated their offices and a main part of their shelter for Christmas. I am thankful for my job and my home, me and my family are so blessed.

Nativities and Christmas

Okay, I don't know how to turn this picture, after trying, I think it would be better if you turn you head to look at it. ;o) This is my new tree that I got at Tai Pan's for cheap. So I have a thing for nativities. They all are special to me. This one is a puzzle, when put together it fits in the fram at the back. It was a little painstaking to paint all the figures, thus it has become very special and the kids like to put the puzzle togehter.

This one was hand etched on the glass and sits in a wooden base This is one that is a smaller version that Barb and Steve gave us, of a bigger one that we got when I was in Primary, many years ago.

This is a picture (with a big flash of light in it) of a nativity that the Bod family depicted about ten years ago. I loved it so much I had to frame it.

This nativity was one that I bought the little figures and made my our stable and it has been with us for many years.

This one is special because Jill got it in Jerusalem where it was hand made of the olive wood there.

I love Christmas and it has been fun to decorate. Now we have to get on with the shopping and get the gifts.

Remembering a friend

We got word on Thanksgiving weekend that Charlotte a friend and schoolmate had been killed in an accident near her home. She was raised here in our little community where they were good friends with the Cook's. They moved from here but they continued to go to school with us and we graduated from high school together. We enjoyed many activities together and just recently we celebrated our 40th class reunion and we got to see and visit with her and her husband, another of our schoolmates. It was a reality check for both of us. We thought we were too young to die, now we know that our time here could be shorter than we thought. Who knows, but we are thankful for our lives that were touched for good because of Char and Dean.

'Cook'ies for Christmas

So we have to make the traditional cut-out cookies for Christmas. . . . . .We had lots of good help. More troops came by to help get the job done. It helps us get in the Christmas spirit. Love these kids aren't they the best?

They even taste pretty good (the cookies, not the grandkids)!!!!!!

Is that Grandpa's hand? He must be sneaking some treats, too.

Thankful Day

We had a thankful tree. We wrote little things we were thankful for. Dad's was "no oil leaks" (he's working on his tractor and it has plenty). Mine was chocolate, warm home, car that runs good, good job 10 good grandkids and good health. We are very blessed.

So is this winter, oh no it was Thanksgiving day and it was so nice we were going to eat our pumpkin pie outside, sitting next to the Christmas decorations. Such a nice day.

We had a little football (the outside kind). He just caught the ball, but I'm not the best photographer.

We had to take a ride on the lawn tractor.

and we got some trampoline time in too.

Then what we really look forward to, reading the ads!!!!!!

All in all it was very relaxing, good food and company. Hope your's was great. PS we will not be contributing to Black Friday!!!!!

TWILIGHT

When I found out that all the Anderson's were going to the midnight preview of "Twilight", I had to go, and they were nice and let me go. I don't know why they were shocked that I would want to go. They knew I would probably fall asleep during the show. I planned ahead and tried to take a nap early in the evening (didn't work too good), but I was determined. Erica and I met everyone in there cause they had saved seats. There were a lot of people up at midnight.

When I parked my car as I got out the wind caught my door and hit the rear view mirror of the car next to us and broke it off. Woops! I left them a note with my phone number. I was kind of hoping they wouldn't call. (They did call and we arranged to get it fixed).

Anyway, the show was a great love story, and it was really fun. I will probably read the books.
I was a little bit of a zombie the next day, but it was worth it.

I had a fun surprise at work........I was approving my last vacation days and I found out that I had five more days than I thought I had. I didn't know that after being with the bank for 5 years you get four weeks vacation!!!!!!!!! SO Now I have to schedule in 5 more days. Darn. I won't be working too much in December. How fun!

The weather has been so good that I got all the Christmas lights up on the outside. So festive and fun, I tried to wait till after Thanksgiving to turn them on, but I couldn't wait. Can I talke pictures at night? I will try.

Things have calmed down

Well we got the bank robbery behind us and found out that many people expressed concern and care for us. Now we can say "Been there done that".

We are the proud owner of a human elastic! Erica was trying to find one to take up to school so all her friends could play. Well I though it was time that we owned one. So her and I went shopping and she sewed it together. What fun to be in college.

We have lots of sports of course going on this week. We try to get to whatever ones we can. We really have some good athletes.

The weather has been so beautiful. Didn't I say I love fall. Well this has been a good one. I got my Christmas lights up and didn't freeze my fingers. (We can't light the lights until after Thanksgiving). I worked some more on my little shop (the wash house). Now we will hunker down for winter.

The primary program was today and the music was great. They sang "I love to see the Temple" and they had written a verse for the IF temple, they sang part of "I am a child of God" in spanish and they sang a medly of primary songs with parts. The kids did their parts so well and it was very enjoyable. A few got bashful when it was their turn. Rach you would like this one. Kyler told his story of how we are children of God. He gave a homeless guy some food and Gatorade and said I didn't know him but I liked him. I kind of miss Primary, a little.

Now we prepare for Thanksgiving and all the family things that go with it. A great time of year.

I am thankful for: all the little things that make my life wonderful-electric blanket, sunny days, mashed potates and gravy, a day off, when my excercising is done, popcorn, a project done, and hugs just to name a few. I am so blessed.

Just when you least expect it

Because I chose to work in banking, I always new that a robbery was a possibility. After 14 years in banking, it really happened. It is a nerve shaking experience when someone comes in and threatens your space.
A young lady entered the bank with sunglasses, a hat and a hoodie pulled over her head and gave the teller a note that said she wanted money. Then she calmly walked out and drove away. We were able to get the license plate number and make of car and because of that she was in custody within two hours. There is so much drama as the police come and search the building with guns, sirens, and the news media all over the place. Everyone is fine and handled everything so well and with professionalism. The branch has a lot to talk about and we found that talking is a healthy way to calm the nerves. We are back to business as usual and we will be fine. I still love my job.

Sports of Course

We love sports- We have a few pictures to share.

Girl's JV Basketball-Meg was asked to be the captain of the team, Coach says she is a good little player. He must really have some confidence in her and I know she is well liked and respected by the team. Have a great season, Meg. Next sport-Wrestling and so far the first in our fam. The big D is so strong and wow can he wrestle. He is a good little scraper. Sometimes we don't get a picture because he gets his opponent pinned in the first 10 seconds and they won't replay it. So you are always ready with the camera. It's great fun.

We have more sports to report on but I don't have pictures so we will keep you updated.

Cookies Spooky Day

Wow we all got together for a fun day. No this isn't our normal dress! We were dressed for fun. The weather was incredible, no coats covering our costumes and our bags soon filled up with lots of candy. It was great fun. Yes the photographer might needs some more lessons. Brookie had the cutest costume and guess what I had one almost as cute as hers.

The day was so nice, I had to take it off. The girls carved pumpkins on the lawn. We rode the lawnmower around a had lots of fun. Torrey was great a finished shingling my roof on my little shed, that Doug and Troy had started. I love the boys in our family. Thanks!!!!

We had fun earlier in October with most of the girls building our little haunted house and then our little ghost friend BOO that visits each year.

We look forward now to Thanksgiving and getting the fall work done. The tractor needs a cab with all the rain and cool weather we have had, so Jerry is working on that but it will have to be a winter project as there is work to do. So we are hunkering down for winter.

I just got back from Salt Lake with Executive Banking meetings. They are always fun and reminds me I do work with good people and really enjoy my job. It also means that I get to go to the big city and be with the kids down there. This was a good time to go because it was Jill's birthday, and we tried to do a few surprises for Jill, but we shopped instead and had lots of fun. We ate at Olive Garden, yum. We sewed pumpkins! (No we don't grow them here we sew them, that's the only way we can get them). So HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIll. Jill needs to tell you about Brookies cute gift.

Back to work for a day and then Veteran's Day , a great day to remember our troops. The tabernacle choir played some patriotic music this morning on the Spoken Word, I was driving home from SLC and just singing along. I love this country. We are blessed, dispite the problems it has.

Autumn, my favorite season

The leaves haven't fallen off the trees yet! It still looks like summer and feels like fall. It has been a georgeous fall. I worked outside all day Saturday and loved it. The temperature is just right.

We found a little surprise. Four fat little kitties appeared on our patio, this week. Three yellow and a gray/black. They are terrified of us, of course. We will never be able to hold them or catch them. So I put straw around the bottom of the trailer and made a little home for the kitties for winter. Right now they think the wash house is their home. (Do I have news for them).

I got my utility room painted yellow. You can't tell from the picture, but I like it and it gave me a chance to change things around and clean.

Little Maddie is one year old. She scoots all over and no need to walk. She is a little doll. A cute little personality.
She didn't know what to think when she got her own cake to eat.

We are looking forward to Halloween and fun times. First we have to get the World Series over, the Rays and the Phillies. We have been watching a lot of baseball lately. Good times.

Some more.....

We got another picture to share-looked who else dropped in and one cute little witch. Can you find the withch?

Do you like my nails? Don't look at the old hands just the pretty nails. Erica did my nails Saturday. I was her first model and she was very professional and really did a great job. I think she is a natural.

We love baseball this time of year. You get to see some good games and they bring out the best players for the playoffs. We don't care so much who wins but we like a good game of baseball.

Dalton has been a little obsessed about football and we have been recording the NFL games so he can watch them. His favorite teams are the Steelers and the Patriots. He has a cool football mural on his wall. We will have to take a picture and show it off. Jerry and Kim did some remodeling and finished some rooms in their basement. They turned out really nice.

We had a stake youth activity and this turned out fun. We had a sock hop-at a farmer's huge shop that lives in our stake. We had donuts and homemade root beer. The kids have alot of fun. This has been a long tradition with our youth.

We have the best family-love you all.

We get a day off!!!!!

Thank you Columbus for discovering America. I love a day off. I have great plans:

paint the utility room
paint the kitchen
install a door on the upstairs
shingle the wash house
wrap up the hoses for winter
such a fun day.

Do you recognize these little characters, they just dropped in to visit. One of them is havin a big birthday this week.

Yes we are ready for Halloween.

Yes we did have snow and it is sticking.......
When it gets this time of year I love to make carmeled apples.

Marci has a good recipe that they love:

2 c half n half cream

2 c sugar

1 c light karo

1/2 c butter

1/2 tsp. salt

1 T vanilla

heat cream to lukewarm, pour off 1 c and set aside.

Add Karo and sugar to pan, bring to a boil, add other cream and boil 5 min, add butter and salt. Boil to softball stage (when you take a tsp of carmel and put in a cup of cold water and it forms a softball), then add vanilla.

I like to cut up the apples and dip in the carmel or cut up the apples in small chunks and pour the carmel over them and eat with a fork or do the traditional carmel apples.

I am going to hurry and post this one cause I have typed it three times now as you can see! I am still learning and need to be humbled.

Learn Something New Everyday

I finally got our family picture hung up and I didn't even drop a break the frame this time. I love it. Doesn't it look great? Check out the pumpkins just in time for fall.

We had a great weekend, the weather was cool and blustery so I wasn't even tempted to go outside and work, I just hunkered down and set up a project table and made a list of things I could do while I watched conference. I loved it. I kept my little notebook by my side and took notes and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and the wonderful messages from our leaders. The messages brought comfort and peace to my soul and I found many things that answered questions and concerns I had. I loved the humor of the blind date and the calm peace and witness that came from seeing a living prophet. I found that I need to fill our days with things that matter the most, when we are united we can accomplish anything with the Lord. We must speak well of others and don't judge wrongfully. Hope from Elder Uchtdorf promised that it would bring peace and rejoicing and our love of God will pierce all darkness and there are angels among us. So much more. I loved it. How come I am so blessed?

We had the local fam come over for ham dinner and we watched the last session together (even Papa, watched most of all the sessions!)

One other thing I loved was Sister Dalton's motto as she first served the the General Young Women's. "I Can Do Hard Things". We accepted that as our motto for our Stake Young Women's Presidency. Now Sister Dalton has added "In the Strength of the Lord, I can do hard things." We are all asked to do hard things and we know where our strength can come.

Well I have learned a lot today, how to add a post and adding a picture. That's really amazing for me. I have lots more to share, but my sleepy time is here.

New Blogger on the Block

Wow Rach I did it! I'm a Blogger. Rach and Holly and Angie and Barb, you are my hero's, I want to Blog just like you. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. My life is relatively boring but what a great way to stay in touch. I think this will be fun.