Celebration of Life

February 4th! It is hard to believe that it has been five years. This past month I have been thinking about Heidi alot. I have thought about all the wonderful things she taught me. She loved people, it did not matter who they were or what problems they had.

She loved to buy presents for everyone. As soon as one holiday or birthday was over she was thinking and planning for the next birthday or holiday.

She loved family, and we have lots of family, almost 70 cousins on both sides of our family. She loved each one. She taught me to be thankful and patient. Heidi had many challenges that most of us don't have to deal with.

She loved to tease people and sometimes be teased back.

I am so thankful I had her in my life. What a wonderful example for me to follow.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas. It snowed and snowed and snowed and was windy for four days. Enjoy Christmas in Idaho.

Nana Time

After Thanksgiving was over I had Carter come over and have some Nana time. Braeden had come earlier in the month to stay over night. Carter is still just a little bit young for a sleep over. Carter and I got to spend all afternoon together. He helped me decorate the tree and then we played toys and read books and had snacks and lots of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving

Ok, so it is the New Year and I have not posted anything for over a month. Well, here goes. I am going to start with Thanksgiving and try to get caught up.
We went to our Vacation home in Idaho for Thanksgiving. We had Joe's family over for dinner, I think around 35 people. I went up a couple of days before Thanksgiving with Cyndi to get the house ready, buy food and prepare food. We had a great time on Thanksgiving eating and playing games and visiting with everyone. The only problem is that I forgot to take pictures as I was so busy playing host. Oh well, we still had a great time.
On Saturday we had the Willis Christmas get together. We have found that the Thanksgiving weekend has worked well for most everyone to get together. We love to keep it as simple as possible, take out sandwiches, relish plates and chips and Grandma's homemade cookies! Yummy! Everyone can't wait for the cookies to come out. We play a game with a $1 gift that is really fun and then we get to open our gift from Grandma. This year all my brothers and sisters got together and got Mom a Wii for her present. We decided to give it to her early so we see her open it. She was so surprised! It was great. The kids set it up right away so they could play it. The picture is of my Mom playing Wii. I think she really likes it.

Christms Quiz

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE!

11. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I do my own thing. For years I have made fabric Christmas bags that are every size you will need and we can use them year after year. It is great and saves tons of time on Christmas Eve.

2. Real tree or Artificial? When the kids were little we did real but it was so much cheaper and less messy to go artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? Right after Thanksgiving.

44.When do you take the tree down? The week after New Years Day. I take three or four days. That way the house doesn't seem so bare after all the warm and colorful Christmas Decorations. One year it was after Valentines Day. It had red lights and was so pretty.

5. Do you like eggnog? In small amounts.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my little red suitcase. My two sister each got a suitcase in a different color.

77. Hardest person to buy for? Carl

8. Easiest person to buy for? The grandkids

99. Do you have a nativity scene? At least thirty but why count?

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail and I love the newsletters at Christmas.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't remember any.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Christmas Story. We watch it every Christmas, mostly on Christmas Day while are just lounging around.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Depends on the year. Ideally in Oct but many years it was when we would get paid.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Most definitely. I don't see anything wrong with it, just make sure it doesn't got back to the same family.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? FOOD, TREATS.

16. Lights on the tree? Of course and lots of them.

17. Favorite Christmas song? I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. I love Christmas music.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home in the morning then go to Joe's family for the afternoon and have dinner together.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and of course…Rudolph.

20. Angel on the tree-top or a star? Angels

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. When the kids were little we always opened one gift on Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? How early the stores put out Christmas decorations etc.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? The last couple years it has been angels on our Christmas Tree

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Yummy. Christmas Eve, always Chinese Food and Christmas Day Mexican Food

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? 37 or 40 " LCD TV

The cutest

I just thought you might enjoy seeing the three cutest grandkids there are (at this point of time) .

Beutiful New England Fall

The fall was one of the most beautiful falls I have ever seen. It was past peak but still just spectacular. I am going to post some of the pictures I took with my new camera. It took great pictures. The first ones are from Gloucester, The statue is a tribute to the fishermen lost at sea. Over 5000 men have lost their life since 1700. Lots of the shots are the ocean, the places in the area.