Daddy's Home!!!

Dad went to CA for Thanksgiving and I stayed home with Kevin. So we celebrated Thanksgiving apart, but both with family. Jen and Steve drove to Arizona and spent Thanksgiving with his family. They were able to stop in Las Vegas and see another brother's family. I watched Mindy and Roxie.

So at our house I had Mindy, Roxie, Abby and Chiquita! Four doggies to feed and take out to poop and play with! It was really nice. Mindy and Roxie just fell in line with Abby and Chiquita. The two smallest dogs are the two most dominate, Roxie and Chiquita. They are the bosses!!!! Oh, Kevin and I were here too!

Kevin and I had a fun week! We went to jump on it! Every Tuesday never fail! We went to the movies with Nick to see "Bolt" in 3D!!! Disney does a great job! Took Kevin to Subway and Sonic, his two favorite places to eat. Then on Thanksgiving day, I tried to get Kevin interested in watching the Macy's Parade, but he was not interested, he wanted to help me cook! He is the best helper in the kitchen! Loves to put away dishes, can reach higher than me. He loves to put things in the mixer and watch them mix. We had his favorite pumpkin pie!!!!

Nick got Racheal and they came over to eat. Nick helped set the table and help me get things on the table. I did the normal Thanksgiving fare. But used frozen biscuts rather than from scratch. I did a 15# turkey so there would be plenty of leftovers to send home with Nick. I just don't feel like a Mom if I am not feeding the kids!! And then some! We all were stuffed, and did the dishes then sat to watch "Survivor", it just was a recap of all the past shows, pretty boring!! Then Nick Rachel and I played Clue. Too soon, they had to go, Nick starts work at 4am, but gets up at 3am to get ready and drive there! He is trying to get his hours changed. We had a very nice Thanksgiving. And of course, all the dogs were here too! I was good and didn't give Roxy and Mindy and Thanksgiving goodies. But Abby and Chica, they got their fair share.

Jen and Steve came home Saturday night, they drove straight through for 15 hours. They were so tired. They came over for Thanksgiving leftovers on Sunday, but there were none so I just made up Stove Top stuffing, I had kept some dark meat and heated that up, scalloped potatoes, more frozen biscuts, and then of course Pumkin pie. Nick took home the carrot cake! Then Monday they stopped by and had pizza with us. I love it when they come over! It must be my mom feeding issue! But it feels so good to sit and eat at the table with my family.

Now Dad was in CA. He went to Grandma and Grandpa Crosier's and had a terrific Thanksgiving meal with Grandma and Grandpa, Susan and Dave, Todd, Danny, Lauren and Aphrot(?), and Sean and Selena. No dishes to wash there, Mimi prepared, served up a great meal and did all the dishes!!! What a way to go!! Dad had a great time visiting with his brothers and Mom and Dad. He also had time to spend with Sean and go to the beach to take photo's then have dinner with Sean and Selena several times. (I do miss that I couldn't go! I really miss having all the family together!) Dad also went to a swapmeet, went to church with Grandma and Grandpa, visited John Flores and had a great visit with the dentist "no cavities".

When he came home I was so excited to see him but before I could get to him Abby and Chiquita had him on the floor licking him to death!!!! Chiquita crawled right through Dad's sweatshirt pocket to the other side. They missed him so much!! After all the dog licking then I could give Dad a welcome home kiss. Kevin was so excited to show Uncle Jeff all that he had done for Thanksgiving. Show him the 3D glasses and was vying for his attention. I guess everyone missed Dad!!! I miss Dad when he is away so much! But I think the dogs miss him more. I didn't knock him to the floor and lick him to death!!! Hope Dad posts the picture I took of him.

I am so thankful for my family, here there and everywhere. God has blessed us so much. We love all of our family. We miss everyone in CA and wish that it was closer! I promise I will get back there to CA. I am grateful for all my lifelong friends. I am grateful for all my blessings. I have so many!

I finally was able to hang my Dad's picture up on the wall in the hall and can look and not cry too much, but say "Hi" to him off and on throughout the day. I couldn't do that for a while. I know what it feels like to mourn, that is really hard, and brings back memories of loved ones, Grandmother, Grandpa, Grandma Vance, and now my Dad. I am thankful to have those precious moments tucked in my heart, but it's so painful when you lose someone that you loved so much. Even though I know that families are eternal, they still are part of who I am. I am grateful for lessons learned and growth that comes through pain.

Happy Thanksgiving,
MOM

Grandma Weideman!

Grandma Weideman came in to stay with us. Her brother in law had passed away, the husband to her sister when she was here in July. Now they will rest together for eternity!

I had a chance to go to Logan. I heard wonderful stories about terrific people, and some not so terrific. But most of all I could spend some quality time with Grandma.

One day we went to SLC to go visit Grandpa Weideman. I wish my Dad were this close. We went to the Joseph Smith building and at lunch at "Little Navuoo", then watched the movie about Joseph Smith. We ended the day a Deseret Books. I bought every 2009 theme thing I could find for singing time, sharing time, how to be an effective presidency, how to teach children primary songs ect........ We were there till they kicked us out! Grandma gave me these lapel pins she found that said "My Eternal Family" to give to each of my counselors! They loved them!!! Me too!!!!

Grandma is always so helpful. Not a load of laundry goes undone, my refrigerator cleaned again, vacuuming done (good thing Kevin was in school). She helped me in the basement, helped Jeff to sand the shelves and encouraged us both so much the whole two weeks. I would walk down the hall to Kevin's room in the morning and wallah! the bed was already made and his laundry was already folded and neatly placed on his dresser. I felt like the 3 Nephites were coming in at night to help us, but alas, it was Grandma!!!

She was here for Kevin's two big events!!! His 19th Birthday and the Special Needs Talent Show. Grandma even cut eyeballs and spots, Dad too, for the "pin the stuff on Sponge Bob"!!! I wasn't able to attend the Talent show, but Grandma gave me every detail! Felt like I was right there!

While she was here I received a "call" to be the Primary President. She was so helpful with advice and someone I could talk with! If I walked into her room, she sat down what she was reading and was ready and willing to listen! I loved that. I love her!!! She is a very important pillar of strength for me as was Grandpa Weideman. Not only in the gospel, but in life. I always knew they loved me. And still do, and I love them both!

Grandma helped me set up for foam clothing classes (comfy clothes), she helped set up for my presidency meeting. She even put little stickies in the Ensign for me to read. What a blessing to have her here. I wish she could stay forever, but I know that Steph and Holly need her more.

I loved having Grandma with Dad and I as we telecommunicated with Steph to read the scriptures. It is the best part of the day for Dad and I. We both look forward to studying the scriptures by ourselves and then with Steph and Grandma. Grandma and Dad have the best insights as we ponder the questions and answer. I love hearing Dad's voice read the scriptures out loud and Steph has a way that makes the workbook come alive. I am privileged to just sit and follow along. Grandma is going to try to get Holly to join our unique little telephone scriptures study group when she goes home to Nashville. I never want to stop reading and studying like this!

Sadly, I had to take Grandma back to the airport headed for California. But I still look forward to hearing her voice everyday as she reads with us.

Love ya Grandma,
MOM

Kevin's Birthday Party!

This was the first Birthday Party for Kevin with friends included. It turned out fantastic. Thanks to Bonnie, Kevin's teacher! She and I transported some of the kids to Jump on it.

Nick and Jen were helping a bunch of the kids on the trampoline! I just felt that they were so Christlike how they treated all the kids.

A big surprise was that Trevor and another boy from Kevin's Sunday School class came and participated. They were great. You can see by the pictures what a great time they all had.

Grandma Weideman made the cupcakes, and helped me with the sponge bob game. It turned out so cute. We blindfolded the kids and had them put the eyes, mouth and spots on Spongebob. I put the poster on Kevin's wall in his room. It's wonderful!

We also had Pizza and ice cream.

With everybody's help, it turned out terrific! Don't tell Kevin that he will be 20! I will hear about it for another year!

Happy Birthday! Love you so much Kevin.

Kevin's 19th birthday

Kevin's 19th birthday party at jump on it!

Family portrait

This is our fall family portrait taken in October near Tibble fork lake

Foam Clothing!!!

I am going to take pictures next wednesday and post them. It's pretty awesome watching the sister's in action.

I have been helping sisters in our ward make foam clothing for the last few weeks. I finally went to Mount Pleasant and got my 7 sheets of foam, 48 yards fabric, thread and am ready to start mine. On Wednesday Night I was helping one of the gals with a raglan sleeve and sweet Rebecca helped me to cut out all my foam for Nick and Kevin's. She also started cutting the fabric and pinning. It is Saturday and the stuff is still on the breakfast bar. That bar is great for cutting out fabric. That was the first thing I thought of when I looked at this house!

The clothing is meant to be worn just like thermal underware. So you have to put something "Not Cotton" over it (and not cotton undies too!) , that's water resistant and breathable. I am just concerned with getting my 6 sets done for Christmas. Then comes the hats, gloves and boots. It is suppose to keep you warm to -40 with 1" foam and like -20 with 1/2 inch. I am making one in the 1" for Jeff. (I even bought the axe, shovel, and aqua rain filtration system. I know I have a years supply of food and 7 of those 55 gal. barrels full of water. 1 gal/per person/ per day for drinking only!)

If you go to www.preparemyfamily.com they have some really incredible information. I went to Rebecca Lee's Emergency Prep class several months ago. I bought her CD and packet of information. She has the most thorough class I have every been too.

Emergency Prep has been in my heart for over a year now. I know that we have to be prepare in all ways. First Spiritually, Second Temporally and thirdly to help our neighbors. Rebecca Lee suggest a book to read it was called "Left to Tell". Wow! It was powerful! Truly a woman of faith, and has Christlike abilities to forgive. Heavenly Father has really been prompting me. Other ways too, I keep thinking that I need to set up some type organization to hand out blankets for the homeless, in this county. I tried to donate my Dad's clothes to the homeless shelter, but there wasn't one here, only in Salt Lake.

I was so excited that Sean was excited to get an emergency kit and water together. There is no doubt that another earthquake is on the horizon. He said that Selena's parents are very prepared too, and they just live around the corner.