The Holiday Season is Here

This Thanksgiving Holiday Season, not being able to be with all of you, will be hard! Nevertheless, we have many things to be grateful for. It touches us deeply as we hear how you have reached out to help and support each other. We know of helpful phone calls, dinner invitations and service that each of you have performed for others in the family. Thank you! We are so proud to hear how each of you have worked hard to overcome the difficulties and trials in your lives. Each of you have had a difficult times at some point this past year. The many pictures and cards we have received make us smile and not feel so lonesome this far away. We love all of you very much and are grateful that you are members of our family whether born in or married in! We are grateful that we have the potential to be an eternal family. We hope all of you children can remember that day, November 9, 1990, that our famly was sealed together for time and all eternity in the Chicago Temple, contingent upon our faithfulness.  

We pray that each of you will strive to do your part to make that happen and to bring your families with you. We realize that some of the circumstances in your lives have caused some of you to loose site of that goal. It is our prayer that you will revisit that memory within your hearts and rekindle the flame of a testimony you once had. It is not too late to do so! We want no empty seats at our celestial family table. We pray for all of you daily and by name! It is our testimony to you that God does live and that Jesus Christ, His Son, is the Savior of the World! We want you to have true joy in your families as we approach the Christmas Season. Our Savior loves us. He very humbly came to this earth and lived an exemplary life. He was hated by his own people but freely gave His life for them and for us through the Atonement. He loved us enough to give His life so we can return to live with Him. This makes our eternal family possible. As we gather with our families this holiday season, let’s remember the Savior and His great love for each of us, for that, is the true celebration of Christmas.

Happy Holidays, We love you!

30 Years and Going Strong

For our 30th wedding anniversary we went to Seattle for the weekend. We had planned to go up on Thursday evening and spend two nights but mom had a meeting for seminary on Thursday evening so we left on Friday morning. Seattle is about 3 hours north of Portland on I-5. It is really a pretty drive but we are west of the mountains so we did not have to contend with treacherous roads. We arrived about lunch time and headed to Subway for a quick sandwich. Our plans were to attend the Seattle Temple so we headed there right after lunch. We had a great day at the Temple.

Seattle is a great city with lot's to do . After the Temple we drove down to the waterfront and stayed at the Marriott Hotel. We had a water view from our room. Don't let the photo fool you. It was very nice out but it was cool and rainy. This is a view from our room.

 Shortly after we arrived at the hotel we walked to Pike Place Market. We met Rachael the pig at the entrance. The market has all kinds of things for sale, from food to flowers to clothing to trinkets to souvineers. It is all enclosed but not really heated. It was a bit cold especially since the sun had gone down.

We all know mom's weakness and we found a bear that stated it perfectly.

  After we walked through the market, we walked down to the restaurant for the evening. It was McCormick and Schmicks, a very fine seafood restaurant. We had swordfish, scallops and crab cakes. For dessert the restaurant treated us to a dessert of our choice. We chose Creme Brulee even though it is not moms favorite. See the congratulations around the outside of the dish?

 After dinner we walked back to the hotel. It was too chilly to do much else outside as it had started to rain again. The next morning we went back to Pike Place Market for breakfast. We had the mini donuts from the bakery and they make them on the spot. We had a dozen between us. The were very small!

Dad was also able to get a photo with Rachael!

 The market is large and covered.

After the walk through the market we headed to the waterfront. We found a seagull with a starfish in its mouth. Another fish was chasing it all around and making a very annoying sound. It wanted a free lunch!

 Fortunately, the rain held off most of the day and we were able to see the sights.

After we checked out of the hotel we headed to the Space Needle. It was built in 1962 for the Seattle Worlds Fair. It is over 600ft tall. There is a great view of the city and Puget Sound from the top.

After the Space Needle we headed to the Olympic Sculpture Park. We were able to get in a pretty good jog and both of us were able to beat this group. The seemed to be almost standing still.

Most of you don't know what a typewriter is, let alone a typewriter eraser. This is one of the last in the world and we would hate to see the typewriter it is used on!

Well, the "eyes" have it. Seattle is a great place to visit!

We will be back. We had a great time and only saw a fraction of what Seattle has to offer. We won't wait another 30 years to go back.

Birthdays, Injuries, Scary Times and a New Home

Last weekend we were able to get most of the family together for our annual Halloween/Birthday celebration. Caleb and Camber were not physically able to make it but joined us by Skype. Nellie moved into her new home the week before so she hosted the festivities. As always, it was a costume party and everyone dressed up. In attendance were Mom and Dad, Grandma Marcell, Grandma Georgie, Bud, Gabe, Taylor, Brody, Becky, Joe, Hannah, Connor, Zayne, Cooper, Alyssa, Rachel, Dean, Jag, Nellie and Zoey.

Saturday started with putting up decorations in the back yard. We had ghosts, skeletons, monsters, tombstones and severed body parts.

We didn't remember inviting this one and no one seemed to know who it was. They didn't speak much.

The festivities started with bobbing for apples. All of the kids participated except for Taylor as she had green makup on and was afraid to get the green in the water.

Just as we started bobbing for apples, Becky decided to try and amputate her finger. Fortunately she was not successful but did spend some time in the emergency room. Fortunately she was able to return but for some reason she thought she was number one!

Vampire Nellie was thirsty throughout the evening. For some reason she kept eyeing everyones neck, even Zoey's. Finally she just had to settle for Gob of Gum Rach.

Bud was leisurely sitting on the deck and out of no where came "The Hand"! Don't worry, he is okay. The hand didn't get him and eventually we got his heart started again.

Can you guess who these people are?

Hobo Grandma G

Carrie Underwood (aka: Hairy Underwear)

 The Original Funnyman

 Farmer Grandma M and the Dead Viking

 Who can forget Captain Underpants?

 Gypsy Judy

 Ninja Turtle Whit

 Brody the Conquerer

 Pumpkin Dog

 The Three Mousketeers, or maybe just one.

 Hmmm. Did we invite this person? Who was this. Did we do a body count afterwards? Okay, its just Serial Killer Bud.

 Cowgirl Hannah

Nerd Joe

 Farmer Grandma

 The One Legged Vampire

 Either Taylor had a bad reaction to something she ate or else this is Witch Taylor

Undercover Cop Dean. His costume was so good, we never found him.

 No party would be complete without Just Dance. Christina had brought Just Dance 3.

Nellie was sad as she left her old apartment. It was her and Zoey's first home.

 On Sunday, after everyone left, Nellie and Dad went to Watkin's Mill for a little walk with Zoey. It was a beautiful day. Zoey got a little muddy.

On Tuesday morning we were able to dedicate Nellie's new home. For some reason, we didn't do it while everyone was there.

Mom went home on Sunday morning but Dad stayed until Tuesday afternoon and went to Louisville until Saturday. Mom and Dad are now happily back together in Portland.