Our first snow!

It was raining yesterday morning (all night actually) and for the first part of the morning it was just rain.  Then, around lunch time it turned into snow.  And by afternoon it was snowing BIG FLAKES!  It's hard to tell in my pictures, but they were big and it was coming down fast.  But nothing was sticking.  Then in the evening, Amanda and I had the Winiecke girls over for dinner (homemade soup and rolls) and to go to the movies. I had the fireplace going when they got here (most of the day I had it going!) We went to the 3 dollar show and saw Austenland.  (It was very funny!)  Well, when we came out of the theater there was snow on our car!  Everything was white all around us.  It was so crazy!   It stuck!  First thing this morning the boys were dressed in snow gear and ready to go outside!  at 8 a.m.!  They are NEVER dressed that early! Surprisingly enough, it doesn't feel TOO cold out there, but cold enough I'm staying inside!  I guess I better brace myself for winter, because it is definitely here!

Monday Missionary Email...

We got Joel's email today!  It was a little short so that was kind of disappointing.  But his companion has been sick so they didn't have a real busy week.  They did get to take investigators (who are on date) to a music concert on Temple Square!  It was at the Assembly Hall and put on by the sister missionaries there.  How cool is that?  Then in the regular mail I got a short letter and his camera memory card so I got some new pictures!  Some of his basement apartment (4 elders stay there) and a few other random ones.  I love how getting a letter, no matter how short, makes my day!  I love to hear how he is growing and learning and loving to teach!  Not sure where the legos came from, but there were several pictures of lego creations!  I guess when you're companion is ill, you can only study for so long.  :)

Wonderful neighbors!

We are very blessed to have neighbors like Gary and Judy.  They are master gardeners and have the most amazing back yard!  And Gary has built a two story play house that is just amazing...complete with play food, games, stained glass window, rugs, real windows, and wallpaper!  Little David sees Gary at church and at first called him the treehouse guy.  Now he calls him Gary.  They invited us over when we first moved here and served us fresh peaches from their trees and let the kids make s'mores in their outside wood stove.  They kept us in tomatoes and cucumbers all summer long, and Gary came right over the first day our truck pulled in and helped us unload.  He came back two more times for the other truck loads!  I was afraid he would have a heart attack!  Yes, they are wonderful neighbors and we are so grateful for them!  I am now Judy's visiting teacher and I love sitting on her antique sofa and hearing about her life.  When she was in college she lived in the Beehive house!  It used to be a girls boarding house...is that so cool?!  She and Gary have served 3 missions (they are on their 3rd one right now, serving in the cannery two days a week) one in Africa and I can't remember where the other one was, but someplace exotic.  They are just wonderful, wonderful people!  We are welcome in their yard (and playhouse!) anytime, welcome to help ourselves to their amazing plot of kale (which we use in green smoothies almost every day!) even if they aren't home..."come anytime" that's about as neighborly as you can get!  They have a greenhouse and so many of these garden beds, a brick path leading around the yard, it is a perfect play place!  Gary's health hasn't been too well lately (he did have a heart attack not too long ago) and Judy is having sciatic problems.  We went over last week to help with some yard work (and make s'mores again!) so here's a few pictures from our fun evening there...and of that amazing playhouse.  You will see our neighbor boy Zach was there with us too...

  

Fall...like it should be!

We have not had a lot of Fall weather...it's either been very warm or very cold!  But we have some really nice days every now and then, as it was this last week.  The kids wanted to play in a pile of leaves so they went out and raked (neighbor boy Zach did too) with Grandpa and played in the leaves!  Now THIS is what Fall should be like!  They had a blast!

Birthday time again...

I can't believe another year has gone by!  Time sure flies!  My favorite treat of the day was of course Joel's letter...and he sent pictures!  YAY!  I got phone calls and tons of well wishes on facebook...it was a great day!  I went to get some flowers to take out to the cemetery (since it's Veteran's day) and was so sad they didn't have any patriotic bouquets!  What a let down.  So I bought some red and white baby carnations to "get by" with.  When we got to the cemetery, there was hardly a flag in sight!  I thought they put out flags on the veterans' graves, but obviously they don't!  So then I felt bad that I hadn't brought a flag!  Next year I will do it right!!  (I also forgot my scissors to cut the flowers off the right height...oh bother.)  I pulled the pink and coral carnations out and put them on Lori's grave.  Again, next year I will do this RIGHT.  There was a graveside service about to start, not too far away from us.  The coffin was flag draped and there were two big flags at the entrance to the walk way for his or her service.  It brought back a flood of memories.  Love and miss you Dad, and will always be proud to be called an Army Brat!

We got Panda Express on the way home from the cemetery for lunch and even hit DI for a quick look.  Yes, one of the crazy things that I enjoy doing! And Dave was a willing participant...he even suggested it! 

The rest of the day was spent being lazy and just enjoying the day!  We finished off with dinner at Texas Roadhouse (YAY ~ fried pickles!) and it was fun having Amanda and the boys with us.  They are fun dinner companions!  They got me the birthday brownie without the yelling and singing (thankfully!).  Amanda brought me eclairs from Kneaders.  YUM!  Better than birthday cake!  Then Dave and Amanda got me my own fire pit chimney stove...so now we can do s'mores on our back porch!  

I was spoiled today and it was very fun.  Thank you everyone for the birthday love!