Day Trip to the Relatives

We woke up to a town covered in smoke today!. As bad as it was here this morning, I worry for those living closer to the Big fires.

Anyway...

Today I had the joy of riding with Maria (daughter) ...

and Eric (son-in-law) 

and my beautiful granddaughters for a trip to the town where my Mom lives.  It was a lovely time.

It was a really windy day up there but the girls wanted to be outside a lot anyway. 

Elise made a friend.

Cordelia got a lot of exercise! 

My sister came over. Elise and Cordy gave her lots of snuggles and she gave them both beautiful sweaters she had knit for them.

My niece, Stephanie, was in town. It is always great to see her. She graduated from college
this past Spring and is on the verge of some exciting changes.

We also got to see my nephew, Steven. Doesn't he look like a musician? Maybe that
is because he is. That kid can play a trumpet like nobody's business!

My Mom has a new puppy who was quite the hit. His name is Charlie and he is a fun little guy! 

My Mom and the girls had some mandatory fun in Mom's beautiful playhouse, AKA "she shed".
Looking at this photo I just want to say, "Isn't my Mom pretty?"

Conversation snippets from today:

When my Mom asked Elise what she expected to learn when she starts Preschool she quickly said she would learn about God and Heaven, then added that Grandma Rose is in heaven.  Everyone said, "Aaaaah."

Elise had a LOT to say today. During one long conversation with her she told me that "humans make sense and animals make sense but towels can't talk because they are not alive."  Ok, then.

Having a lot of grandmas can be confusing for little girls. Today Cordelia referred to me as "Plain Grandma".

When I repeated the term with a question mark in my voice she explained that I was a "non-great Grandma".  Funny little girl.

It has been a fun day!

Time with Family

I spent much of this past week-end at my Mom's. She lives only about a two hour's drive away. I LOVE the drive up there. It involves a lot of wide open space, one of my favorite things. I always relax at Mom's house as well. She has a way of making her home so welcoming. It just feels homey to me, even though I never lived in the house where she now lives.

Saturday evening we picked up my aunt Michelle and met my sister and nephew, Tina and Steven, for dinner out.  Every time I go to their town I find myself wishing I could go visit them more often!

(pictured: my Aunt Michelle)

My Mom has 4 sisters and I always thought all of them to be quite beautiful.  

Sunday morning I went to church with Mom, meeting my sister and nephew there as well. It was a treat to worship together. After church we went out to breakfast. It was calm and pleasant. Well, for me it was. For them it may have been annoying as I drug out my camera so they couldn't really relax. They were good sports, though, so I can share my photos here with you. Thanks, guys!

I was there to celebrate my Mom's birthday with them. I probably shouldn't tell her age so I won't. 

I will tell you, though, that my Mom is much, much younger than other women her age.

Think about that!

Home for Thanksgiving

Yesterday we were at my Mom's home for Thanksgiving.  I've never lived at the house where she now lives, yet it feels like home to me.  I guess that is to say, my Mom feels like home to me.  We tease her about looking so serious when she works.  Trust me, she has a beautiful smile.

We were a pretty small group this year but we most certainly had plenty to eat!

I won't be stepping on the scale any time soon.

We had time to visit with my sister, Tina. She  has fancy glasses, doesn't she?

My nephew, Steven, and niece, Stephanie, kept things lively.  We were all in jeans except Steven.  He was pretty snazzy, James Bondish actually.

My Mom's Christmas Cactus was a bit of an overachiever, already blooming.

My Mom started it from pieces of my Grandma's Christmas Cactus, making it all the more special.

So, that documents our day.  How was your's?

Marching Band Competition

Remember my trumpet-playing nephew, Steven?  Last night Mike & I got to go to see him perform in a competition with his band.  His mom (my sister)  wasn't able to be there so I took some photos for her.  You can look, too. though.  It was fun to watch!  I think I would've enjoyed being in a marching band.  I know that Steven does!

And because it is Sunday here is a passage from the book of Amos.


"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you..."

Camera Shy!

Yesterday I showed you a photo of my nephew, Steven.  Teenage boys can be a bit camera shy!  I just want you to see how hard I worked to take his photograph.

He was clever and quick but I was persistent.

Cordelia's Party

What a special week-end!  Mom and my Aunt Michelle came to town.  My sister, Tina, and my nephew, Steven, also came to town.  We enjoyed a lot of family time, especially the party to celebrate Cordelia's birthday.  We all went to her party and had a lovely time!  

My nephew, Steven, provided some music for us.

 My mom is beautiful!

 My sister, Tina, getting to know Elise

It made me so happy that Michelle was there.

Princesses Playing Maracas - It just doesn't get any better than that!

I Don't Know Who Those People Are

I hope you had a great Mother's Day.  I realize it is a hard day for some for so many reasons.  I hope all women understand their importance as a female role model to those around them.  None of us know all the lives we touch.

My day went like this:

-Got up.

-Went to church.

-Sang for an hour of practice with our Worship Team
-Rode with Sam for a couple of hours to surprise my Mom  (more on that later)
-Enjoyed a phone call from son, Ben, from North Carolina
-Ate out with Mom, Sam, Tina (sister), Steven (nephew) and Stephanie (niece)
-Rode a couple hours back with Sam
-Stopped by to enjoy some evening time with Cordelia, Maria and Eric
-Home

So, surprising my Mom was fun.  I called her just before we got to her place and wished her a Happy Mother's Day.  My sister and her kids were in on the plan and had arranged a reservation for us to eat out.  Because we couldn't make it to town until 2:00, Niece Stephanie helped to keep my Mom from eating lunch.  Stephanie creatively asked to go browse some open houses.  They happened upon a little art show but the open houses were pretty slim pickings.  Stephanie then had her Grandma (Mom) give her a tour around town of all the houses my Mom has lived in there during her lifetime.  That took awhile!  Stephanie did a great job.

OK, back to my phone call.  I was still speaking to Mom when we parked by her house.  She was saying something and then kind of stalled out as she looked out the window.  She said to me, "Someone is coming to my house.  I don't know who those people are."  What?!  Well, as it turned out, she was looking at the car, not us.  Often I come up to her place in Mike's vehicle so maybe that was it.  Still, it was pretty funny.

Of course I snapped some photos to share with you.

I loved my day.

I love my family.

Did you all have a lovely Christmas Day?  Do you open presents on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve?  


Mike's family was a Christmas Eve kind of family.  My family was a Christmas morning kind of family.  We've done it both ways over the years but since Mike became a pastor and was always busy with Christmas Eve Services we pretty much stuck with Christmas morning for a more relaxed time to open them.  This year, with Christmas being on a Sunday morning, we probably should have rethought that but we didn't.


Yesterday morning we got up early.  I made some Christmas cinnamon rolls that seem to have become part of our tradition.  I just use regular bread dough.  I made it in my bread machine Saturday night but you could even use frozen bread dough from the store.  I roll it out, spread butter on it and sprinkle a lot of brown sugar and cinnamon on it.  I roll it up, slice it and place the rolls into a buttered pan.  That is when the best part comes into play.  In a small pan I boil a stick of butter, a cup of brown sugar and a cup of vanilla ice cream... yes, I said ice cream.  Boil it awhile and then pour it over the top of the rolls.  Cover the rolls with aluminum foil, plastic wrap or whatever and put it in the fridge.  In the morning, bake it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or so, until the center ones look done.  I flip it out onto a cookie sheet and let the goo pour down all over it again.  It is sooooooo good!  I have made up a vegan version of them now.  Instead of butter I use Smart Balance Light.  I substituted coconut ice cream but soy is fine.  Either way, it is yummy!


We went over to Maria and Eric's house to open presents.  That was a first for us.  I love having traditions but I also think it is important to do things differently from time to time.  My theory is that if our children see that the world doesn't end if Christmas has to be done a bit differently, it will make their first Christmas away from us easier.  I have lots of theories on lots of things and will be happy to share more if you wish.


After opening stockings, gifts and eating our cinnamon roll breakfast Sam went home as he was starting to feel ill.  We've had a nasty cold circulating through the family.  The rest of us went to church and by the time that was over, Cordelia was running a fever.    


Mike and I headed a few hours out of town.  It has been years and years since I had spent Christmas Day with my Mom and that was my wish for yesterday.  My sister, Tina, and her kids, Stephanie and Steven, were there as well.  They had to hold dinner for us quite awhile as we stopped along the way to help a family who's vehicle had broken down out in the middle of poor-to-no-cell-service Wyoming.  They had 4 little kids under the age of 5!  I don't think they were having their favorite Christmas Day but they were holding up impressively well.  Luckily the day was pretty warm and eventually a tow truck was finally summoned.


Anyway, we had a very busy but lovely Christmas Day.  Here's the photographic proof...

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