Thanksgiving 2013

This year our married kids were at their in-law's for Thanksgiving.  Dave, Alex, Andrew, Megan and celebrated it with the Niederhauser's.  We also brought Dave's dad with us as he had no where to go that day.This is the first year that they had it at a church instead of my parents'.  I think it will be the last done that way.  It just wasn't very cozy and everyone kind of just sat with the people at their table and didn't interact very much.  It's much more enjoyable at Mom and Dad's house.

 

 

We still had the tradition where the "youngsters" make gingerbread houses after dinner.  Here are my three little ones making their houses. 

We pulled in a chair from the foyer so Dad Grose could be a bit more comfortable.

Two days later it was the Grose celebration.  These pictures are identical to the ones of my family.  Same round tables with white table clothes, basketball court markings on the floor, etc.  Only the faces are different. 

Andrew was being terrorized by the kidlets.

Two days filled with family, food and fun.

Three B's

We had a baptism, a birthday, and a bridal shower in November.

 

 

You know you are getting up there in years when your oldest grandchild gets baptized.

We our so proud of our Lils.

 

 We made homemade raspberry ice cream for Jud's "birthday cake".

 

 Brigham wears a helmet because his head is flat on one side.  After wearing it for a few months it should be rounded out again.  I just love how his chubby cheeks stick out of it.  The other grandkids in this collage are eating lollipops.

 We had a bridal shower for Megan at Holly's new home.  It was a very rainy evening and we were thankful for those who braved the weather to come.

 

 Roo and Megs (as Roo affectionately calls her) had "pre-wedding" photos taken at the Brigham City temple, where they will be married in December.

 

 They also had some photos taken in Wellsville.  I love this barn.  We are anxiously awaiting the day when Megan will officially become part of the fam.  We love her.

Our Halloween Carnival.

This is the 14th year that we have been having a Halloween party with my side of the family.  My siblings and I have traded off having it at our homes every year.  Usually it has been an evening affair.  However, this year I decided to try a day activity and give it a carnival theme.

We could not have ordered better weather.

 This is pretty much everyone who was there:

 

 Andrew and Megan came as Dave and I.  The saying is how Dave asked me to marry him.

 

 The two Dorothys.

 We had carnival food, complete with hot dogs, corn dogs, nachos, soups, treats,

Steve and Tammy made funnel cakes.  They were to die for.

 We hauled out our popcorn popper.

 

We had carnival games:
 Jeff and Fran set up the game where you win live fish.  The kids were happy, the parents not.

 

We had a fishpond with prizes.

 Carrie did a pinata.

Jake and Brandon worked the shooting range.

 Debbie had homemade spudnuts for the "donut on a string game".  Yum.

 Ash had pumpkin bowling.

We had so much fun.  We may have to repeat this outdoor theme in years to come.

Nana

 

Another member of the "Greatest Generation" has left the earth.  My dear, sweet, Nana, passed away while we were on our cruise.  I am so glad I got to visit with her the day before we left because it was the last time I got to be with her in this life.

She grew up, like the other's in that generation, during the Great Depression.  She learned how to "make it do or do without".   The oldest of ten children, she had a lot of responsibility at an early age. She was a member of the first graduating class of Ogden High School. The new school was called "the million dollar high school". It was built during the depression with WPA money from the government. She was always proud of the fact that she had gone to school there.

She was one of those wonderful women who had to send their husbands off to war during World War II.  I love this picture of her, my Grandpa and my mom.

 

 Nana had two children - my mom and my uncle, Billy. When the Korean War broke out, she had to send Grandpa off to war once again.  I can't imagine how hard that would be.

My brothers, sisters and I were her only grandchildren and she sure spoiled us.  I have so many happy memories of her.  It is a comfort to know she is now with Grandpa and her parents and siblings who have passed on.

How many people get to have their grandma for 53 years?  My own grandchildren even had the chance to get to know her.  I consider that such a blessing.

 

 I appreciated my family waiting until we got back from our trip to have the funeral.  Since I was gone when they planned it all they put me on the program to speak.  But I was honored to do it because I love Nana so much.

I'm so thankful to Billy for taking such good care of her in her later years.  No son could have been better to his mother than he was.

 

 Mom and Billy

 

 

 Dad, Mom and their six children.

Although I will miss my Nana I take a lot of comfort in knowing I will see her again one day.

Tagging along

I tagged along with Dave on his business trip to Denver for three days.  We flew to Denver from Boston (via Atlanta) after the cruise.

 

A nice thing about going on a business trip with Dave is that our hotel is paid for.  We stayed just a block from the 16th St. Mall in downtown Denver so I had plenty to keep me busy while he was at his conference each day.  The weather was amazing.

 

 We always have to eat at Maggiano's when we find a city that has one.  We actually ate here twice during this trip. The. Best. Italian. Food. Ever.

 

 Dave got out of his conference early the last day and we took a tour of the Denver Mint.  Did you know: - it takes 2 cents to make a penny - and 10 cents to make a nickel.  They lose money making these two coins, but make up for it with the other coins they make.  I guess that makes "cents" ha ha.

 

As we flew out I thought it was going to be nice to finally get home after 12 days away.  It was.