This could have been us....

So, as sad as I am about our little mini family reunion at my parents house, mom had lots of sweet things for the girls and we haven't all been together since the wedding in Cali in July. Baby sister and her hubby and their 4 boys were all coming - and a girlfriend to boot! There was a big party with vino and yummy food. What a bummer. This morning they had 16"+ and still coming down. Apparently lots of people spent the night on the side of the highway - that very possibly could have been us. So, we will look forward to rescheduling a visit sometime in the future as we sit back and wait to see how the New York branch of the family fairs later today! Enjoy the snow if you are on the east coast - be smart and stay safe!

I am thankful...

I am very thankful this year. The list is long and certainly I will leave many things off that will come to mind later, but better to say what's on my mind. I am thankful for my little family - hubby, Big S, Little S and Little G, for our extended family (that continues to grow much to our delight!), for my many dear friends who mean more to me than I can express (you know who you are! you may be far away, but you are always close in my heart!). I am thankful for my good health and my family's good health, that we have a roof over our heads, food to eat, clothes to keep us warm, that we have more than we need and that we are able to share a little with others in need. I am thankful for my faith - it has gotten me through many tough times as well as many joyful and continues to grow stronger. I am thankful for the innocence of childhood - they make me smile, laugh, give me warm fuzzies... I am thankful for the technology that helps me keep in closer touch with those far away and reconnect with friends lost long ago as well as those I have made through technology!!! I am thankful for this and so much more.....

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

This will be short since we have just a little time left until we have to head back to the kitchen, but I wanted to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving!  Big S had a very interesting assignment at school this week.  They were giving the writing prompt of "even so, I'm  thankful..."  it was fabulous!  They had to take 10 things that they "dislike" and "complain" about and turn them all into positive statements that go "Even so, I am thankful for ...complaint... because it reminds me/shows me that I..."  They were really wonderful!  Things like I am thankful for homework because it reminds me that I am able to get a god education, I am thankful for having to eat foods I don't like because it reminds me that I have parents who feed me "nutritious" foods...  I think that today we should all reflect on the things that we complain about but really should be thanksful for!  Happy THANKSgiving everyone!!

rest in peace Mac

We just learned that H's dear Grandpa Mac passed away during the night last night.  I will never be able to do justice in  a few words to the life that he had, but know that he was a kind, gentle loving man whom we all adored.  Mac was 86 and until about a month ago in very good health for his age - still working a part-time job to stay busy.  This picture was taken in July when we were back in NY for a visit.  He is survived by his darling wife Gen, a son and daughter, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  He will be sorely missed.

family camping adventure.....

What better way to spend the last week in July than to camp??? Now everyone has their own definitions of camping; we have friends who put packs on their backs, hike a while on a trail, then go off trail and find a spot to camp - if you can't carry it, you can't take it is their motto!! Our definition is a little different! We have a travel trailer with ac/heat, shower and toilet, fridge, stove and oven, two tvs.... we camp at Thousand Trails campgounds so there is always tons to do! We got here the day before Big S's 10th bday so we got to make her cake in the oven - devil's food with chocolate icing which she decorated with m&ms! It was really cute!! We hung up banners and blew up balloons the night before so she was surprised in the morning! Any wway you slice it, eleven days is a long time to spend together in a confined space! So far we are surviving nicely!! There may be some sibling assault charges by the end of the week so if the heat doesn't kill us, they may still kill each other! BIL is with us too, so there are 3 kids and 3 adults in our little trailer - luckily I run a pretty well oiled machine when we are camping - unlike at home ;) I'll post later and let you know how we're surviving!!!