New Van and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I am off a few days to posting this.  I try to do it on the weekend.  But I am still doing better than I was before. So there's that.

Been quite a week.  So let me rehash...

I got a van!!!!  I am so happy!  It is beautiful!  It is a 2015 Kia Sedona White with grey and black interior.

God is so good to us. I looked all over the internet for a van.  I wanted room.  And I checked CarMax and Craigslist and many car dealerships for the right van, white, with under 50,000 miles, no wrecks, maintained, one owner, a good price and voila!  God provided.  Not only did He provide but He held it for us until we could get down to Larson Toyota in Tacoma!  We test drove it and bickered with them and got the price down and some extra's and a full tank of gas and I drove it home!!!  I was scared spitless because 1. it was Tacoma, 2. the van was new to me, 3. the traffic was busy, 4. we weren't really sure of directions, 5. it was Tacoma (bared repeating).  But we made it home!  I went and showed Karla and Madi first. Then I went and picked up Lauren from school because Papa was hurting and gave her a ride to Central Market and then to her house.  That was on Thursday the 15th!  What a great day. But my foot sure was swollen from all the driving.

Saturday was our family Thanksgiving.  We stopped having holidays at our house last year when it got to be too hard on Papa and me to get the house ready and cooking and baking and hosting. We would really rather just sit back and enjoy.  So Amanda volunteered.  She is an amazing hostess and cook too!  We went to Amanda's on Saturday and Aaron, Andrew, Joel, Karla, Dylan, Madi, and Kevon were all there and we had a fabulous dinner.  Lauren was a an overnight Debate contest. Tara and the group were having a birthday party for Riley. Heather and Jared came over for her party but we didn't see them because we were at dinner.  Later me, Andrew, Manda, Karla, Dylan and Madi played a game.  Kevon slept on the love seat,  Joel went home, Papa and Aaron were watching tv and us. NO one likes me to take pictures. People only like to take selfies but I did it anyway.  Karla and Dylan let me. lol

andrew

karla and son dylan (home from UW)

Madi hiding from my camera

taking a selfie sense no one else taking pics

dylan

amanda, karla, dylan (aaron in kitchen)

manda gave me pumpkin pie with a little whipped cream 

 We went home and our animals were very happy we were home!!!!

We didn't do much of anything else the rest of the week. Yesterday I was having low back spasms.  That always scares me because of my history with them.  I never want to go there again. My mammogram came back normal.  Paid off my Dell card I have had for about 15 years. That felt SO good!!!

We have Mac for a house guest for about a week.  He likes our big fenced yard so much!

Papa worked on putting up some outside lights yesterday and paid for it in pain today.  His knees have trouble with ladders.  He even had Rich, our neighbor guy, come over for the high spots.  We need to downsize this Christmas.  We are downsizing in the house.  I ordered a 4 foot tree to put on our table in the corner.  It was funny the other morning when I didn't wake until 8 a.m. and when I did Papa was pumped up. He is talking about all he is going to do by putting hooks way up all over the house to hang lights and all these plans he had!  After I woke up more I told him I didn't want him to do it.  I don't want lights up there. It would be beautiful but the ladder would kill papa.  It is strange how our body gets older but not our mind.  I always think of things I want to do and then find out I can't anymore.   I didn't know my back would end up so bad.  I didn't know Papa's knees, legs and hips would hurt like they do.  I am only 62 and papa is 69.  Sucks.  The saying is true that aging isn't for sissies.

Well, I will share my blessing from last week with you all!
On Monday and Tuesday I was thankful for our Veterans! And the ones in our family!

Tuesday the 13th I was thankful to God for Kevon, my blue eyed baby boy!  Unfortunatly when I posted on facebook I confused everyone and they thought it was his birthday and started posting happy birthday and contacting him. Manda called me and told me I should probably change what I wrote. Lol!

On Wednesday, the 14th my pick was my eldest grandson Andrew!!!!  I love this boy.  We have such a close relationship.  We know so much about each other, share our faith, problems, happiness, etc... Great young man!

NOVEMBER 15th thankful for Joel! Great son, husband, dad, and worker!

Nov 16th we are so blessed with our baby boy, Scruffy!

We've had him 5 years ago on Friday!

The 17th I chose for our grandson Parker to be our blessing! He is so sweet!!!

The 18th was picked for Riley because it is her birthday!!! She turned 16 today and I am so thankful for her and adore her!

Not only am I thankful on the 18th for Riley it was also her 16th birthday!!!

The 19th is for Heather, our daughter!

The 20th is for my brothers and sisters!!!

today~~~~ David, libby, lois, douglas and rick!!!

Well, I guess that is all I have to write about!  Papa takes the van to tacoma tomorrow to get a coating on the van inside and out and to check why the "pulse" I am suppose to have on mine isn't working.  What it does is the brake lights flash 5 times if I am stopping to alert cars behind me. I want that!!!! I am so paranoid since I was rear ended thus the bad back.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!! Ours will be quiet with just papa and I unless Kevon shows up.  But we are still making the works!

Crutches, concerts and another Homecoming!

I guess I am switching to posting on Sundays.  Much easier for sure. Right now I am sitting here watching house hunters.  Scruffy is sleeping, Lauren and her bf Lindsay are sleeping. They were still up at 1:30 watching scary movies.  I noticed this morning they slept with the bedroom light on.  Scaredy cats. Last night we watched The Bodyguard. I love that movie and I love Whitney Houston!

Been a nice week.  Except Lauren is on crutches.  She messed up her left knee dancing at the reception last weekend. Her mom took her to the doctor on Sunday and she had to leave on crutches!  Not good. 

The week was pretty quiet.  We went to Lauren's band concert which was really nice because it was just band.  Lauren played the Bari (Baritone Sax).  She did so good!  No solo but she will get one for the Christmas concert. 

Our daughter, Heather, had her 42nd birthday down in Arizona with Patrick.  She's been missing him a lot since he moved down there to go to school. 

The photo here is the little old German lady who lives up the street. She was putting moss killer on her roof.  Watching her walk and bend over up there made me very nervous. I wouldn't do it! I am afraid of heights.

My brother turns 56 years old today!  We had a gathering at Dairy Queen on Friday... me, Alyssa, Jessica, her boyfriend Charlie, and David!  Madi came and ate with me before they showed up and then went home with her mom when she got off work.  It was fun.

Saturday Karla came by and took a bookcase for Madi's room.  Madi is redoing her room.  She is getting Andrew's desk today so she is pretty happy. 

Riley has a boyfriend named Tyler. He is so sweet and nice.  Last night they went to the Homecoming Dance.  Here is a photo of how he asked her a few weeks ago.

And here is some from last night before the dance!

A few more pictures before I wrap this up.  We have these guys swimming around the Hood Canal Bridge all the time.  I think they are so cute!

Lauren and lindsay went to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday and I managed to steal a few pictures!

Here is a picture of Port Gamble.  I lived here for several years and they say it is haunted (even the house I lived in) but I have never heard or seen a thing.  I used to jog passed the cemetery almost every night. It is a beautiful old town in the fall.
The community of Port Gamble has a wide range of shops from antiques to a tea shop to an old-fashioned general store. It is a popular tourist destination, due to its location near Bremerton, Port Townsend, Bainbridge Island, and Seattle and its downtown.^[3] Port Gamble is also home to the grave of Gustave Englebrecht, the first U.S. Navy sailor to die in the Pacific.  The community, originally known as Teekalet and later renamed Port Gamble for the bay which gave it access to ocean commerce, was founded as a company town by Josiah Keller, William Talbot, and Andrew Pope's Puget Mill Company in 1853.  The first school in the county went up in 1859, and the community took its present name in 1868. In 1966, the town of Port Gamble was designated a National Historic Landmark District.^[9] In 1985, Pope & Talbot, the successor company to Puget Mill, split into Pope & Talbot and Pope Resources,^[10] the latter of which took over the site and the sawmill. In 1995, the mill shut down after 142 years, making it the longest operating sawmill in the country. Where the mill was is to the right in this photo down by the bay. You can't see it in this photo. 

And finally... here is one of the prettiest pictures someone took of the Multnomah Falls in Oregon in the fall.  I love this and will be using it for a puzzle.

Final thoughts:  I had the weirdest dream last night of being at a large like city and Berta was there. I had a bunk bed where I was staying and told Berta she could stay with me. But then I couldn't find her. There were so many people wandering around. I saw Karla and Kevon (as adults) and they kept running from me. But I couldn't catch them and it hurt my feelings. So I started avoiding them. That is all I remember. Strange dreams are so real to me. 
I need to have a garage sale in the Spring. 
I love AXS TV and watching old bands and interviews and concerts. I have watched John Lennon, Billy Joel, Merle Haggard, Toby Keith, Paul McCartney, Shania Twain, Heart, and so many others! Love it!!!!
We've been watching Heartland on Netflix. If you love horses you will love this show!!!! I love horses now 
May you all have a great week.  I will be getting my mammogram and having a breakfast with an old friend, Candice Kolbas!  Should be nice. Madi will be getting her permit and Lauren starts drivers ed.  My baby girls are growing up so fast!!!!

Papa took them both driving in my van at the school parking lots.  Crazy!  He is a braver person than I am!  Praying for them all! When they get back the turkey will be done!!!! Love turkey dinner!  God bless!!!!

Halloween, Sleepover and Birthday time!

I can't believe it is November.  Makes me wonder where October really went. The older we get the faster time really does go.  But I've heard younger people say the month went fast too.

Let's see...what has been going on this past 1/2 month.

My little bro had a birthday.  I text him and facebooked him and tried to call him but couldn't reach him to wish him a happy birthday like I have for so many years.  Sad. Oh well. Happy birthday David!

We had some great meals but sadly I gained 10 more pounds. I have never nor will I ever weigh this again.  I struggle daily.  So today I started riding my bike again. I brought it out to the livingroom where I hope to ride it more now that it is in plain sight!  I need to control my eating.  Some of my favorite meals papa has cooked for me:

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings and homemade french fries

Bacon, eggs and fried potatoes

hot turkey sandwich

turkey and dumplins

Breaded pork chops

Pot roast, potatoes, gravy and carrots

And so many other things!  Of course people tell me I have control over what I eat but do I?  I love food and it it is there I will eat it.  I have to learn no one is taking it away from me. There is tomorrow. I don't have to eat every thing on my plate anymore.  If I can get this eating thing and riding under control....I should lose weight. And tons and tons of prayer!!!!

Halloween was very quiet at our home.  Stew every year and so that was wonderful. (haha... food again). No trick or treaters.  But got to have lots of pictures from facebook:

nephew Dean

grand daughter Riley

Grandson Waldo....I mean Andrew

Jordy

Niece Kara and Kevin

Josh and Jared

Lauren and her friend Ashlyn

Madi was Audrey Hepburn... see below and you'll see she really did look like her!

The 30th we had a sleepover with the girls!  They had fun I think!

Riley and Madi

Lauren, Madi and Riley

Lauren and her friend Ashlyn

Madi

They ate, argued, played truth or dare, played on their phones, watched videos, etc... Madi ended up having to leave before bed. The other three were in bed by 10:30.  Papa made silver dollar pancakes and I think shy, quiet Ashlyn must have had 30! They had donuts and bacon too.  Papa took them out of here around noon.

Yesterday we went to Jordy's 18th birthday party.  It was nice to see everyone.

jo and andrew taking off chocolate chunks

andrew looking innocent

Kristen and Jay

So hard to get pics of Lauren lately! 

Seahawks won this weekend.  A player got hurt sadly but he'll be ok.  I love this photo of Coach Pete Carroll in the locker room with Russell Wilson and other Seahawks.  

"SEPARATION CREATES ENEMIES" Cesar Milan.  I love this saying. It works with animals and I think it works with people.  The more you stay separate without dealing with a situation...the worse it can become.  Unless you say absence makes the heart grow fonder...but that is when you separate on a good note.

Well, I guess I will close with a big Happy 18th Birthday to my Jordy girl!  After she was born I saw her as a princess.  She will always be a princess to me....see what I mean?

Sweet Princess Jordan

Love you Jo!!!!!