Even though we are in the second week of November, I think I'm still living in September. This year has just gone by way too fast for me.  Our cooler days bring me back to reality, though, and I hate to think that snow is just around the corner.  However, we have had lots of sun, so I can't complain 😊

 It has been a busy week for our family.  I substituted at the District 20 Human  Resource office on Monday and Tuesday afternoons.  I always have a hard time saying "no", and I really should have this week with lots of school work to get done. It was a good wake-up call, and I know I have to do better at managing my time and commitments. 

Dad had a successful visit to the physical therapist, though he came home with some sore muscles that have lingered all week.  He was able to take the cardown to the dealer for an oil change, and took my place at the beauty salon for a haircut. 

 Eilis stopped by one day to show us the guitar she got for her birthday - a gift from her friend Jacob. 

It's a really nice base guitar and she loves it!

 

Also got to see Emma on the same day ❤ Love these girls!!! (and Sendai does too!)

Adam and Paul left this week for the annual hunting adventure with the Riggs clan.  Paul is coming back for school, but Adam will remain a threat to the Elk population until early next week.  

 (I think he's sticking his tongue out at you, Adam)😀

Yesterday, Dad and I went to Lily's last league soccer game for the season. She'll do indoor soccer until the league soccer starts up again in early spring.  Here's my funny "grammie" story about this . . . When we got there, I asked Cory the number and color of Lily's jersey.  My mind heard, white 39.  So for the whole game, I kept trying to follow "white 39", but it didn't look like Lily. I got so confused, and I asked Cory a couple of times where Lily was, and Cory would point her out and say she was the shortest one on the field, and so I just kept my eye on White 39. (I'm sure Cory was having her doubts about me 😳). It wasn't until we were leaving the game, and I saw Lily with a red jersey on, that reality struck, and I realized she was Red 39, and I had been following and cheering for the wrong person the whole time!  I actually was relieved, because White 39 did not look like Lily!  So much for getting OLD 😁

Look who got cute school pictures this week! 

Looks like these were taken before he lost his two front teeth ❤

 

Sayre has grown up so much.  It seems like just yesterday he was able to come home from the hospital, and  Jonathan and I were taking turns with his middle-of-the-night feedings.   

 These two handsome fellows are in London tonight - just in time for Remembrance Day in the UK (similar to our Veterans Day).  Chris has meetings in Geneva this week and took Grant along with him. They went early so they could spend a couple of days in London.  

  Hmmm . . . let's see - London and Geneva vs. elk hunting in Colorado . . . sorry, Adam, I pick London and Geneva (although I wasn't invited to either 😁)

    

Kim and Blythe are home "holding down the fort".  Thanks, Kim, for the Sunday Selfie! 

 Kim and I were comparing notes today about the stress we had felt this week. Kim's class this term is an art class that is all about Photoshop. She says it is hard, and I will add to that saying she works all day, and then comes home and takes care of her family - dinner, laundry, chauffeur, etc.  I don't work all day, except when I don't say "no" to a sub job, and sometimes still find it stressful to get all of the work done for my assignments and get them turned in on time.  

I know some stress is good for you. Remember the video I've posted a couple of times about the health benefits of stress, but his week I didn't feel like my stress was helping my health.  

  *My solution for a stress-free week?  I am going to be in bed by 10pm (no eye rolling).  I am going to set aside three hours every day to work on school (no distractions allowed). The remainder of my time I will spend doing things that make me feel good - spending time with dad, and sometimes that can mean cleaning and organizing, shopping, reading, etc.  

 This week, I am so very thankful for 13 BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING grandchildren.  You are all special, and you are all my favorites! You fill my heart with love and always make me smile!  THANK YOU! 😍

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK ❤

  HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY TO EILIS TODAY!

  Always so kind and thoughtful, we love it when Eilis stops by to visit. She has moved up to a management position at Cane's, so we are not the only ones who recognize her exceptional leadership qualities, her integrity, and her ability to make everyone feel at ease.  She is a light in our lives!  Have a happy birthday week! We love you, Eilis!!❤ 

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I am struggling to understand how the month of November could already be here.  The Bishop brought our Priests over yesterday, and they raked up 5 huge bags of leaves in our backyard.  We have a few leaves and pine needles left in the front to clean up, and hopefully that will be the end of yardwork for a while.  

  What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving this year??? It has come upon so fast that I haven't had much time to think about it.   Cory's sister, Kelly, and her family are coming to Colorado this year, so Adam and Cory are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at their house.  This has always been one of my favorite holidays, and it makes me sad that as soon as Halloween is over, the stores altogether skip over Thanksgiving and move directly to Christmas advertising, gifts, gadgets, the Grinch, and Santa, among other things.  Maybe, because life gets busy and I get busy, but I don't think I share my appreciation enough for even the small things I am thankful for - things that often get overlooked.  

*This week I am so thankful that I live in a time and place where we have easy access to washers and dryers. ❤ 

Can you imagine trying to get clothes clean, washing them in a river that is often filled with debris or mud? We are so blessed!

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween Night! Dad and I had some Halloween pizza, and watched Arsenic and Old Lace (our favorite Halloween movie).  Sendai let us know when trick-or-treaters were at the door, though this year there didn't seem to be as many kids out as usual.  Kate sent me photos of Sayre (he's the dinosaur) and his friend Jackson.

 "Scary" Ben came up and went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood for about 30 minutes and then decided he was tired and had enough candy. 

 . . . and it looks like Max had a great evening also (though I worry about some of his friends 😂)  

 Jake didn't have school on Halloween, so Adam dropped him off on the way to work, and we got to spend the day with this cutie!  He suggested we carve a pumpkin, and surprisingly, we had a difficult time finding one.  We finally got lucky at King Soopers (or King Snoopers as Blythe calls it) and found one that was the perfect size. We drew a face on it, and after I cleaned it out (because he couldn't tolerate the smell), he carved it all by himself.  I think he did a great job, and we put it out on the front porch before the trick-or-treaters came. 

Speaking of Jake . . . Adam is getting ready for the BIG elk hunt this week, and he and Chris took the boys down near Canon City to sight their guns.  To say that Jake was in a little bit of heaven
is probably an understatement - (Oh, and Jake will not be going Elk hunting - even though he wants to 😊)

  7-year-olds are just too cute!

 One got glasses

And the other lost his two front teeth!

I don't know how we ever got such amazing grandchildren! Actually, yes, I do - they have the most amazing parents ❤

I don't know why it is but on Sunday evenings, when I look at my calendar for the coming week more often than not, it shows maybe one of two things scheduled and I always think it's going to be a nice slow week, and I can get lots of school work, and housework, and maybe even get reaquainted with my sewing machine.  But it seems we always get a surprise or two - This week, we were asked to substitute for the Addiction Recovery Class.  I have such a testimony of the program, but I really didn't want to go out that night. We did, and as always, it was amazing.  Dennis is an older gentleman who is one of the most humble people I have ever met, and so faithful in coming.  He had started to come just before we were released.  He was the only one there, and then about halfway through the meeting, Ian came.  He is young and just recently graduated from nursing school.  It was the first time he had come to an Addiction Recovery class. He is on a 13-week contract with a young adult correctional facility, and then will be going back to Utah.  He is just another amazing young man who is doing his best to help others. The spirit was so strong, and I came away from that meeting inspired and so thankful that we were asked to help out. 

Also, this week, my friend, Susan, came over and taught me how to make biscotti.  It was easy and so fun! (and there is not much sugar in it, so I don't feel too guilty indulging.  This batch had cranberries and the mini chocolate chips that we added. Next time I'm going to try and make lemon ones. 

Sunday Selfies!

 So nice to have Josh with us this afternoon, and our weather today was perfect for sitting outside 🌞

  I hope you all have a wonderful week!  Remember your many blessings and be Thankful!❤

  HAPPY HALLOWEEN THIS WEEK!  I do love Halloween, I think, because it brings back so many fun memories of when I was young.  There were no "Spirit Halloween" stores then, but everyone just used something they had from home, and sometimes a sewing machine was involved.  We would walk the neighborhoods, usually in groups, and sometimes we were invited into homes for a cup of apple cider.  I remember our Halloween nights in Okinawa, where it seemed like every year the kids were trick-or-treating in the rain, and when we were at Yokota, the high-rise apartments were the prime targets for collecting candy.  I wish I had photos of our Halloweens, but I couldn't seem to find any.  HOWEVER, I did find some treasures of the grandkids 😁

Could there be anything cuter or more fun than this???

 

Mike and Barbi, and Kate and Jonathan are great examples of never being too old to celebrate Halloween!  Any suggestions on what Dad and I could be next year? 😁

COULD THERE BE ANY BETTER WEEKEND THAN THIS?

(only if Lily, Jake, Emma, Eilis, Hollie, Ben, Spencer, Grant, Blythe, and Sayre were here too)

 Max made it over the Rockies for a very short weekend, but we had a fun lunch with Samantha and Paul before Sammi had to head off to work, and Max to meet his friend Levi.  We finished off our lunch by making our way over to our favorite Gelato shop, where we each had a scoop (okay, maybe two scoops) of deliciousness.  Hoping next time Max can stay with us for more than just a couple of hours.  

Wouldn't it be a great idea to have one more "Grammie Camp" - you know "then and now"?  Max might not be afraid of the train at Santa's Workshop, and Spencer might not get sick on the tilt-a-whirl.  Emma, Elis, and Hollie could be our zoo leaders, and Sammi could get us access to Lifetime's swimming pool, where Grant and Paul could be our lifeguards. Blythe and Jake could be in charge of the yard sale because, after all, they could talk anybody into anything.

Finally, Ben and Sayre could lead us in a Minecraft Tournament, and Lily could divide us into teams, teach us some soccer basics, and then referee our game.  

 I think this would be AMAZING!!!

NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK -

With a week off from classes, I thought I would spend my time cleaning out closets and my sewing room, but Ben also didn't have school, so he called and asked if he could spend 6 days with me 😁.  We decided on 3 days and 2 nights because, on Thursday, "he really needed to get home and see his Mom".  

  We kept busy raking leaves and carving pumpkins. We took the dogs on walks after dark, so Ben could guide the way with his newly acquired flashlight. We read Yertle the Turtle, and Ben was able to connect with Sayre a couple of times for a Minecraft game.

He helped me shop for a birthday gift for Francie - the Hallmark store was a little bit of Heaven for him with all of the knick-knacks they have on display, and he and Dad watched Bluey.  Thanks, Ben, for keeping me company this week ❤.  Also, he was constantly asking me to play "My Own Sacred Grove", which he has memorized. That's my favorite Primary song too! 

 I sent Francie a Tiara for her birthday this week with a card that said, "you are never too old for a tiara", and Jenny sent me this photo.  I talked with her a couple of times over the last few days, and she sounded really good.

 On that note, we went to see Shannon yesterday, and her decline seems to be steady. Kevin received several phone calls this week from the hospice nurse who visits her regularly.  She had a couple of days where she didn't want to eat anything, but yesterday, while we were there, she ate a good dinner.  She has also become less steady on her feet, and her walk has turned into more of a shuffle.  However, she reminded me in her own way that she needed some more peanut butter M&M's. 😁

Adam and Cory spent part of this past week at High Trails, we got to babysit Milo.  He just makes me smile and he and Sendai are so cute together.  If one of them runs out of the house barking, the other is right behind, not sure what they are barking about, but still barking.

SUNDAY SELFIES ~

Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre went on a nature walk this afternoon, and Sayre "needed" to wear some ski goggles 😂

   Max sent me this photo from the wedding reception he went to last night in Fort Collins.

Come back Max!

Also, couldn't resist this photo Kate sent me of Clementine.  Think she might be a little dramatic? 🐶 😂

 Each Wednesday, the missionaries assigned to our ward stop by for about thirty minutes for a quick visit and spiritual thought.  This week, they asked us to read or watch again Elder Stephenson's conference talk, "Blessed are the Peacemakers."  It was one of my favorites because there has never been a time in our society when we have needed this more.  Elder Stephenson gave us a one-week peacemaking plan that I wanted to share tonight - 

1. A contention-free home zone: When contention starts, pause and reboot with kind words and deeds.

2. Digital bridge building: Before posting, replying, or commenting online, ask, Will this build a bridge? If not, stop. Do not send. Instead, share goodness. Publish peace in the place of hate.

3. Repair and reunite: Each family member could seek out a strained relationship in order to apologize, minister, repair, and reunite.

Several weeks ago, Lily and I were in Costco, and I took a small cup off of a tray from one of the vendors, and the lady literally bit my head off.  I didn't realize she was still organizing her tray. I felt terrible and continued to apologize, but she was just rude.  Sometimes, circumstances like that make it easy to be rude in return, but that rarely improves the situation and leaves neither person happy.  Just be kind.  Kindness can change hearts (even the hard-hearted ones). 

Love you! ❤