Thanksgiving 2013

I have so so much to be thankful for! Life, friends, family are more precious than ever.  Faith is greater than ever.  Every day is a gift.  This Thanksgiving weekend started on Wednesday night with a trip to see Kristin and family.  Layne said she wanted to start a new tradition.  If we didn't have Thanksgiving together then we get together for enchiladas and guitar playing the same weekend.  Great idea Layne!  Enchiladas at Thanksgiving is already a tradition for us.  It was a wonderful time. We were greeted with big hugs from Layne and Lucy!  

 We got the guitar playing in and we sang Christmas carols and the girls danced and danced.  I didn't want it to end.

Here are some of Lucy's dance moves!

                                     

                                      

What kind of a smile is this Grandma?  I don't know.  A star smile! Makes sense!

 Lucy is coaching Layne about some app on their Kindles!

 Lucy made these cute name tags for our places at the table.

 The table runner was full of the things Layne and Lucy were thankful for.  Great idea!

 It was a wonderful evening full of love! Now Thanksgiving day.  It started with a traditional walk at Manito Park.  Cheryl and I do it every year.  We both said we didn't want to get up and go but once we were there we were very glad we did.  It is always fun.  It was cold but not the coldest we have ever done.

 Sliding on the pond!

 The ducks found a thawed place.

 Let the costumes begin.   Not as many this year or at least we didn't see them.  A lot more people this year.

 Here we are!

 Why is it every event I go to there is a guy in his underwear?

 It was a beautiful morning.  Started foggy but cleared up.

 Look who found me.  Tim!  You might recognize him from the Jingle Bell blog.  We bantered a bit about the game coming up against the Saints.  He is a good man I can tell.  Fun to see him again.

 And his family!  Great group for sure.

 I arrived home to the turkey already in the oven.  Mike went to visit his mom while I cooked the extras and took care of the turkey.  It was cooked perfectly.  We bought a 20 pound turkey for just two of us.  If you need some left overs let me know.

 A little football.  OK, a lot of football!

 With some sparkling cider!  No, it isn't wine!  Can you see the finger print on the glass?  I can.  Not sure why I noticed that.

 Clean up time!  I really enjoyed the day with no schedule and just hanging out with Mike!

 Friday Steve, Michel and Rivers arrived in Spokane.  We were invited to the Theilmans to watch the Apple Cup.  It was fun watching the football dances of grown men!  Unfortunately it didn't have a happy ending.

 A rare opportunity for a picture with Rivers.  He never stops.  Truly.

 Steve and Mike!

 One more picture Rivers!  Quick, hold on to him!

 Love you Rivers!  Thanks for the picture!  We had a great time Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and it is just going to get better!  Happy Thanksgiving!  Thank you God for my life!  It's a good one!

Jingle Bells Run/Walk 2013

Another fun event with the EAOD!   This is the traditional picture at the Christmas tree.  I usually frown on Christmas stuff up too early but not this day!  It was fun to celebrate with friends.  As usual I snapped a bunch of pictures of the fun costumes.  Some were aware I was taking their picture and some were not!

Susan Weber!  Soooo good to see her.  We worked together at Hallett!

The Griswolds!

Trees on their heads!

Check out the lights that are hanging on the ceiling!

One more EAOD member added to the photos!

Who doesn't pose with the Bloomsday runners!  We all do it right?

The Grinch!  Booooo!

We saw these one piece PJ's and thought they might have to be our costumes next year!

We were told not to cut the course short by our fellow walkers! When they saw us on the course at a place where we could cut off a bit they shook their fingers at us and said don't do it.  We won't we said!  Bonnie, Olivia and Freida were a bit ahead of us so when they were out of site we took an alternate route just to be funny!  We didn't cut much off and finished about one minute ahead of them.  They were greeted with high fives from us and we were greeted with..."We are going to report you!"

As were walking one of the cheerers on the side said, "Go Saints!"  I had my Saints hat on and when I responded this man said something like, WAIT A MINUTE!  I made a new friend.  We talked about the game coming up on Dec. 2nd between the two teams and I told him he could have my phone number so he could call me and congratulate me after the Saints win.  It was all in good fun and turns out we had a mutual friend!  Small world!

See Sheila?  We had to craft a plan quickly since we took the alternate route.  First it was to hide but then Bonnie, Olivia and Freida wouldn't know we finished first.  So we gave a big cheer when they crossed and the high fives.   Never a dull moment!

Ta da!

Seahawks vs. the Saints!  Who will win?

What a couple of hot dogs!  Love the look on Olivia's face.  This is my question to Freida!  Why did you call me or why are you calling me Hollywood?  The end!