My Favorites

I thought about this, then forgot to do it (sorry, Bethany). I did mention it at dinner (I know, doesn't cover it) . . . one of my favorite memories is kind of a random one . . . and was my most atypical Thanksgiving. It was right after I moved to Delaware. I couldn't go back for Thanksgiving, so I went to Virginia to hang out with Sarah Jaggi. But my favorite thing about it WAS family related . . .

Remember the radio show that Dad & Mom did? I loved how we all spent that time listening to the radio show while chatting on Skype. Everyone was so far away (and I felt it), but I really enjoyed that group conversation. If it hadn't been for that, we probably wouldn't have all communicated that day. So, I was very grateful for that as I remember feeling alone in a whole new way living across the country on my own.

I also thought of Willow, but probably not in a good way. I've never been able to watch that movie since.

Another fond memory I have is of family football games on Thanksgiving. I remember when Dad would take us out and play with us (even though I never had a clue what I was really doing).

Thanksgiving Memories?

The MST3K marathon is certainly something I remember. I also remember what seemed like our own "Willow" marathon, one year. And I remember the days when I made 6 pies for several years--2 pumpkin, 2 apple, and 2 pecan. And I remember having to give that up in grad school and moving and building, etc. Then, for Thanksgiving 2001, just a month after I had defended my dissertation, I baked pies and Harper said, "I didn't know you could make pies." I thought that was so sad that he didn't even remember when I had made them before. Well, Harper, I promise to bake apple pies for Dad's birthday coming right up.

Q:

Who does this remind you of?

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone

We had a great time last year with everybody (minus the Cotterells) for Thanksgiving, and wish we'd been invited back this year (along with the Cotterells), but at least know that we'll be thinking of you all while having a great time with the Mesa Andersons (my kids have been counting down for weeks and the emails between cousins have definitely picked up).

Anyway, I just thought I'd share one of my favorite Thanksgiving memories with you all, then ask for you all to do the same.

Remember that year we did the MST3K marathon? Well, that is still one of my most fond Thanksgiving memories. Especially Trumpy.

Okay, your turn.

Some more from Gardner Village

Before Halloween in Gardener Village

Halloween in Park City

This is where I spent most of my week with my laptop. The pool and hot tubs were below and the snow machines did a pretty good job of covering the slope during the week we were there.

This is just a small sampling of the many fun things we saw in the Park City Main Street "Strut your Mutt" parade.

Mrs. Potts and the dog is Chip.

This guy was here last year, too, with these two huge Newfoundlands.

Dear Spanky,

It looks like you've become successful already. I never would have thought you'd choose this, but in some ways it's probably a wise decision. You know, there is never a shortage of certain things. Death, taxes...

However, I do encourage you to stay in school. Get your education.

Love,
Bethany

our turn

i simplified this year. benny's a repeat of last year, andy's wearing pajamas with sweatpants underneath, and i made lilia's costume for benny's first halloween.

two very caring older brothers.

each checking out his own stash.

lilia made her debut this year in the monkey suit. i'm planning on her fitting into it next year as well. i pinned a ribbon on so people could tell she was a girl.

and max, the king of all wild things!
i'm going to brag for just a second and let you know this is a prize-winning costume two years running! last year and this year benny won the costume contest at the med school family function. he looks just like max - and actually requests that we call him max whenever he's in his wolf suit.
he didn't wear the crown trick-or-treating.

Our Halloween

Yesterday we went to Park City, joining Dad and Mom up there for the afternoon. It was cut a little short because Rob wasn't feeling great (I really missed those hot tubs I'd been excited for all week), but as it turned out, by the middle of the night we had 2 sickos. Rob and I both had time with Guy up in the middle of the night (about 4 hours total). Today we're still all pretty drowsy.
a

For Guy's first Halloween I borrowed a costume from a friend. I bought a pattern but the mane seemed too labor intensive without promising results. Yesterday I got lots of good ideas for future Halloweens while walking around. I don't know that we'll ever dress up as a family, but my favorite family themed one was dad and mom as a king and queen and a little girl as a princess with a little boy as a frog. I thought it was adorable. I think mom got the best photo of our family--same pose, but Guy smiling, too.

When we got home, we did make a quick stop at Penni's, where they had scones, chili, and cider - and Rob tried scones for the first time ever. Yum!

a

Here's one of Eden and Guy the other night - we went to Gardener Village with some of the fam. Dominic, Jen, Eden and the kids all went through a whimsical house of some sort . . . Eden had Guy and he fell asleep in her arms. He doesn't do that often anymore, but when he does, I love it.

Callister Halloween Pics

Okay, so we had:

Amanda the cowgirl,

Napoleon Dynamite (thought of it too late to get a "Vote for Pedro" shirt -- next year, perhaps),

Naomi the cowgirl,

Police officer Chris,

and Gracie the cowgirl.


And here are some from our trip to the pumpkin patch yesterday:









And because so many photos of Gracie turned out so darn cute, here's a little Gracie bonus:





(She was holding Mandy's hand - Jeremy's wife - in the photo of her holding somebody's hand. More often than not she'd look for Mandy's hand to hold.)