CRAP!

There is a long story behind this Christmas greeting! This past summer my parents and my brothers and sister and families traveled to Arkansas for a family reunion to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents. Because we spent lots of time at the lake while growing up, it was natural that we would spend time at the lake during the reunion.

While most of the adults were out taking our turn with the boat, my mom proceeded to gather the grandkids around (mostly the teens) and give them a discourse on the word "crap" and why it is inappropriate to use. The results were not in line with Mom's plan--the word ended up being used more than ever with more creative uses than she could imagine.

So for Christmas Mike and I sent out Crappy Christmas greetings to the family. (The bag is really filled with malted milk balls and milk duds.)

We really do wish everyone a year filled with less "crap" and more joy!

Another Stocking

A couple of years ago I got the "bright" idea of cross-stitching stockings for the grandkids. There are several really cute patterns that I thought would be fun to make. Just so you know, these stockings are not small! This one is almost two feet long and the others I have done are approximately the same size. All the grandkids, at this point, have a stocking. My mom and dad also have them. Someday, I might make one for each of the kids and for Mike and I.

I was asked how much I would charge to make these for others--these are gifts of love and no amount of money could compensate for the time and effort put into the production process.

Pictures

For quite some time I have wanted "fun" pictures of Mike and I in the snow. While Heidi was at the house one day I gave her the camera and drug Mike outside for a photo-shoot. Of course, Mike really didn't see the need for all of this, but being the sweet husband he is, he cooperated. With a few enhancements and effects added, we ended up with pictures that I really like!Although Mike could have face-planted me at any time, he refrained. (Maybe the benefits of cooperating out-weighed the consequences of face-planting me!)

This is my favorite of all the pictures!

Thanksgiving

AHHHH! How did so much time pass! Now I have almost three months of events and pictures to catch up on. I thought I would just skip most of it and start from now, but as I looked at pictures taken over the past few months I knew I couldn't ignore them. So-o-o-o, here we go with catching up!!

Cute Deegan and Syeira while at our house one afternoon. Of course, Deegan has to make the interesting faces and Sy's grin was just too adorable to pass up.

We spent Thanksgiving in Logan and Wellsville. The night before Thanksgiving, Mike's little sister suggested a pie tasting party. That way we could enjoy the pie when our stomaches were empty. Great idea!

While waiting for dinner, the kids were getting a little restless. Mike, Lars, and I took a few of them to a skateboard park. They oohed and awwwed over Lars skateboarding. Then someone got the brilliant idea of playing tag and Lars could be "it" and try to catch them while he was on his skateboard.

Full weekend

Josh watched the two kids yesterday while Heidi took care of things at her ward's Relief Society Super Saturday. She has spent hours putting together projects, taking care of the sign-ups, purchasing supplies, and then making sure it all came together. It did! Lots of sisters came and they seemed to enjoy the things they were doing and the company of one another. I enjoyed watching her in action, making a few items for myself, and helping some of the sisters with their projects. Heidi is an amazing woman--and Josh is an amazing support to her.

Today was stake conference--the regional broadcast. Mike's dad came out, and even Mikie and Charesa came to conference with us. Mike was sustained as a part of the stake high council today. President Willard (stake president) made a special point to be the one to set Mike apart. What a wonderful and powerful blessing he gave Mike. When I got to the car I immediately wrote down some of the things said. Mike will do a great job with his responsibilities which include working with the young single adults.

After conference Heidi, Josh, kids, Mikie, Charesa, and Mike's dad came for dinner. Pretty crowded, but fun to have family gathered together.

Heidi and Sy

Some of the men at the dinner table. Roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, green beans and salad. For dessert, pumpkin pudding and whipped cream.

Sy has learned to play with the driving toy. Sometimes she likes it, and sometimes the noises scare her.

Grandpa Wakefield, Heidi, Sy, and Deegan.

We don't get many pictures of Grandpa Wakefield, so we take advantage of it when there is a chance.

Josh--

Thanks all for coming over! I love having family around and hope to do it more often.

Jack-O-Lanterns and Sugar

Josh went to Salt Lake for the day and Mike (Poppa) went to the BYU football game, so . . . Heidi and the kids came to spend the afternoon with Nonna. Mikie and Charissa joined us for the fun.

First one the list of things to do--make a jack-o-lantern. Mikie and Charissa helped Deegan clean out the pumpkin.

Heidi suggested we roast the seeds for snacking on later. Deegan said he didn't like doing this because it's slimy. Mikie told Deegan that boys like playing with slimy things and the two came up with a list of slimy things boys do, and Deegan kept playing in the slimy pumpkin seeds. I don't think he minded the attention from Charissa either.

Baby Sy had to have a piece of the action as well.

Deegan was so excited about using a knife to cut the pumpkins. Later, when telling Poppa about the day, the first thing D. said was, "I got to use a knife to make a pumpkin and Mikie helped me!" (Thanks again to Mikie for being D's hero for the day!)

Next on the list--decorating cupcakes. Again, Mikie and Charissa guided much of this process. It was fun watching D and Mikie exhibit their culinary presentation talents. I had "store-bought" frosting, "store-bought" decorating frosting, and various candy for them to use then turned them loose. The two hardest things about this project--I bought frosting for the first time ever, and I relinquished control of the final product. In other words, I kept telling myself (and I mean literally telling myself over and over) that the cupcakes did not have to be perfect and pretty--the time together was the most important.

Mikie showed D how to squirt the frosting straight from the tube into the mouth.

Next, watch "James and the Giant Peach" while making a spider-web on one of the pumpkins. D helped hammer little brad nails into the pumpkin and wrapped yarn around and around to create a stunning and original work of Halloween art.

The two masters and some of their creations.

After the creative outlet, we had spaghetti and eyeballs for dinner. Deegan took home a small bag of treats, cupcakes, homemade oreo cookies, his own jack-o-lantern, and some new Halloween pajamas for Sy and himself. (The pajamas have written on them, "I'm so cute, it's scary.") Fun day at Nonna's house and a huge thank you to my helpers!

Halloween Projects

Living in this small, temporary housing has required me to pack away many of my hobbies and projects. In the meantime I have taken up cross-stitching (you know the saying--busy hands, happy heart--in my case busy hands, less mental breakdowns). It doesn't take up much space, I can quietly work on it when I can't sleep at night, and I can stab the fabric instead of people who cause me frustration.

I have had several Halloween projects somewhat finished. Today I took some of my comp time and completed them (two are being framed right now). Kind of fun, and adds some holiday spirit.

Frank

Boo to You

Be a Witch (I can do that really well!)

Halloween Grins

Trick or Treat