GRATITUDE

JULIA HAD A GOOD IDEA FOR EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE THIS MONTH. I KNOW I TAKE TOO MANY THINGS FOR GRANTED. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HEAVENLY FATHER FOR MY BLESSINGS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES TO POST. I FORGOT TO TAKE MY CAMERA TO CALIFORNIA. WE WILL BE GONE NOV. 2-7 TO BRANSON, MO SO I WILL HAVE TO CATCH UP WHEN WE GET HOME.

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

I AM GRATEFUL FOR CAMILLE AND ANYA FOR PROVIDING US WITH SUCH AN INTERESTING WEEK. WE HAVE MANY FOND MEMORIES. WE LOVE ALL 16 OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN (AND SEAN), AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR EACH ONE.

AN UPDATE

We are finally home again. We had a great time in all our adventures. We were up in Kristie's area for 10 days. We attended our Freedom Education classes UVU, which were quite interesting. Attending Elizabeth's baptism was a highlight for the week. I didn't get too many pictures as we were planning to take pictures after the baptism. Lizzy, however, headed straight home and went to bed. We were all surprised, but I guess she was worn out.

Saturday, we had tickets to the afternoon session of conference and had some very good company--Bronte, Kyle and Brian.

This picture shows the crowd of people making their way across Temple Square after the session. There is nothing like attending in person. Sitting there with 20,000 people and listening to the Prophet was special.

It was so fun spending time with these people. We loved it.

Then, we were off to Morgantown to spend a week with the Kellys. The week went all too fast.

Saturday we all went to a pumpkin farm. They had lots of different activities for the kids.

Loraya picks out a good one.

And, this little girl just loves to run wild.

Isn't this a sweet picture. Macey is all ready for church. She looked so cute in her dress.

The scenery was beautiful. The leaves were just turning. Julia and I took a walk down this walking trail that runs by the river.

The area is just beautiful with these green rolling hills. Many of the homes sit on large properties with huge grass areas. They all must have riding lawn mowers. I am sure the area is even more beautiful now. We were just seeing the beginning of the fall leaves.

We got home Wednesday night. On Thursday Bob and Corene came down and we went to see a play at the Tuahcan Theatre . Sherry and Jeff were here also. They had come down with Stephanie's family and went to see Tarzan the night before. We all had dinner together and enjoyed visiting.

Now, it's just Brian and I for a week until we head out to Oceanside next week. We do have a sad life!

LOOK WHAT IS GROWING!

WE ARE STILL GETTING SOME GOOD STUFF FROM OUR GARDEN. WE HAVE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF PEPPERS OF ALL COLORS. THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD SAUTEED IN A LITTLE OLIVE OIL. WE JUST PICKED THE CANTALOUPE TODAY AND IT WAS VERY TASTY. ONE OF THE OTHER GARDENERS GAVE US AN EGG PLANT, WHICH WE COOKED UP FOR SUPPER.

HERE IS AN UPDATE OF OUR UPCOMING ACTIVITIES. SATURDAY WE ARE GOING UP TO KRISTIE'S. I WILL GO WITH HER TO THE RELIEF SOCIETY CONFERENCE SATURDAY NIGHT. I WISH I COULD GO WITH ALL OF MY DAUGHTERS. SUNDAY IN KRISTIE'S WARD THEY ARE HAVING THEIR PRIMARY PROGRAM SO WE WILL ENJOY WATCHING THE GIRLS.

BEGINNING ON MONEY WE ARE GOING TO A 5-DAY "FREEDOM EDUCATION WEEK" HELD AT UVU. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT A LOT OF THE SPEAKERS ARE CONSTITUTION EXPERTS. I WILL REPORT WHAT WE LEARN.

SHERRY & JEFF RETURN FROM THEIR MISSION AND ARRIVE IN SLC ON MONDAY NIGHT SO WE HOPE TO GO TO THE AIRPORT. WE WILL STAY AT KRISTIE'S OVER THE WEEKEND AND HOPE TO GO TO A CONFERENCE SESSION IF WE CAN GET A TICKET. THEN, ON TUESDAY WE FLY OUT OF SLC TO PITTSBURG TO SPEND A WEEK WITH JULIA. WE GET BACK ON THE 13TH OF OCT. THEN TO TOP ALL THIS OFF, WE WILL DRIVE TO OCEANSIDE AND STAY WITH CAMILLE AND ANYA WHILE SHAREEN AND MIKE SPEND 8 DAYS IN SPAIN AND ENGLAND. HOW IS THAT FOR AN ITINERARY!

FUN IN WASHINGTON

BESIDES ALL THE EXCITEMENT OF WELCOMING BRIAN HOME, SUNDAY WAS ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT. BRIAN GAVE A WONDERFUL TALK. WE WERE ALL BURSTING WITH PRIDE (EVEN THOUGH WE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE PRIDEFUL). KYLE ALSO SPOKE, BUT DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME. HE GAVE A NICE TALK ALSO. AFTER CHURCH WE TOOK SOME PICTURES AND THEN HAD A NICE LUNCH AT BECKY'S HOME. EVEN KINLEY AND HIS PARENTS WERE THERE. I HAVE TO SAY KINLEY'S PARENTS SHOWED UP AT CHURCH JUST AS CHURCH WAS ENDING. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY A TWO HOUR DRIVE.

WE DROVE TO SEATTLE ON MONDAY AND STAYED WITH THE DOMANS. THEY HAD A BARBEQUE WITH OUR OLD FHE GROUP. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO SEE OUR OLD FRIENDS. OLD FRIENDS ARE THE BEST FRIENDS!

DORENE, DEBBY AND I SPENT SOME TIME SHOPPING ONE AFTERNOON.

WE SPENT A FEW DAYS AT DEBBY AND AL'S BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON WHIDBEY ISLAND.

THURSDAY WE TOOK THE ANACORTES FERRY UP THROUGH THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS TO FRIDAY HARBOR. THESE PICTURES SHOULD MAKE YOU ALL HOMESICK FOR WASHINGTON. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. NOTHING COULD BE NICER--WONDERFUL COMPANY AND AMAZING SCENERY. ENJOY!

HE'S HOME

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PICTURES. IT WAS QUITE A MOMENT. BRIAN LOOKED VERY TIRED AFTER 36 HOURS OF TRAVELING, BUT LOOKED GREAT TO US ANYWAY.

I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY PICTURES. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE ELSE GOT BETTER ONES. WE WERE ALL SURPRISED WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AT THE SMALL WENATCHEE AIRPORT TO MEET PEOPLE. BRIAN WAS THE LAST ONE OFF THE PLANE AND BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE I COULDN'T GET A DECENT PICTURE AT FIRST. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE THE JOY ON ALL THE FACES.

WASHINGTON HAPPENINGS

OPPS, I FORGOT TO ROTATE THE PICTURE.

WE CELEBRATED SHANNON'S BIRTHDAY.
HOW OLD ARE YOU, SHANNON?
SAYING GOODBYE TO A LOVING SISTER.

BRONTE IS OFF TO BYU!
HAVING LUNCH ON KYLE'S BIRTHDAY
PAUL WITH THE PIGS. HIS PIGS ARE GETTING NICE AND FAT AND READY FOR MARKET.

VEGAS FUN

Kristie and I had a great time in Vegas. We left home Wednesday afternoon and got home Thursday late afternoon. Our purpose in going was to see Phantom of the Opera. It was fabulous. The sets were amazing--just everything about it was sensational. We were both very impressed. We were sad when it was over and wanted more. We had a nice dinner at the Venetian (the show was there) and strolled around after. One thing different about the show was the fact that there was not an intermission. It started at 7:00 and was over before 9:00pm.

There were so many people crowded on the streets that evening. A person could hardly walk around. I had no idea so many people went to Vegas. Maybe people were getting in a last trip before school starts.

Anyway, we did some shopping at the outlet malls before coming home.

We had a nice dinner before the show.

OUR BEAUTIFUL TOMATOES!

We have really enjoyed our garden tomatoes. We have gotten lots of them and have been giving them away. At least we did grow something in that garden. I wish I could give all of your some. YUM!