Thanksgiving and Alicia's Birthday

Thanksgiving is a humble holiday.  There is something simple and refreshing about a day that reminds us that we have many blessings--and we get to eat good food and socialize with loved ones while we think about those blessings!  Our gathering was small this year, but very enjoyable.

 

 Erik and Alicia came early and we had a great time doing the last-minute cooking.  They were super helpful, and it was so fun to be in the kitchen together.  Our trio made a lemon meringue pie which turned into lemon meringue soup.  I guess too many cooks do spoil the broth--at least when the cooks are accidentally reading off two different recipes while making the pie. :)  

Erik made the best cranberry sauce I have ever tasted.  It includes pomegranates and orange juice.  It is sure to be a Thanksgiving tradition. Yum! 

Grandma Hodges joined us.  We're always glad to have her.

 Alan was able to enjoy the feast without his sling.

 

 Alicia with her grandma

Only the five of us--and enough food to feed an army.

 Here is the traditional cheese ball before dinner.

 Here is the uneaten cheese ball after the feast is over.  Where is Nathan, the cheese ball eater, when you need him?

We welcomed the Christmas music on Thursday night after Alan had diligently programmed our Christmas music into the i pad.  The mood was complete with candles in the corner.

 Friday and Saturday we decorated for Christmas.  It was warm outside, and I could put up the lights without freezing!  Alan surprised me by bringing up the boxes from downstairs.  Then his arm hurt for the next two days.

 We made sure to tell the significance of each ornament as we put it on the tree.  (I wish I could remember where I stashed the new ornament from Philadelphia!)  I'm pretty mad at Thomas Jefferson right now, but I did put the ornament from Monticello on the tree.

Our living room tree.

Then it was back to baking for Alicia's 21st birthday on Sunday--chicken and mashed potatoes, her favorite menu since she was about three.  Alicia arrived wearing her "birthday suit."  Bought so she could go on job interviews.  Cute Alicia!

 

 Camden spent the night writing books and reading them to us.  He did one about crystals, complete with wonderful illustrations.  The other book included each of our names and ages.  He couldn't understand how I could be 25 when his dad is 32, so I had to own up to my age--35.

Our dear Brian, Brandy and  Erik.

What would we do without electronics?

 

 Grandpa and Maris spent some quality time looking at pictures on the i pad.

 

Grandma was her amiable self amid all the bustle and confusion.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday!

November Surgery and Visit

Alan had surgery on November 8 to repair a tear in his shoulder muscle.  Nathan, Briana, and Emmaline came to visit, to provide a distraction while Alan was healing, and--for Nathan--to go to the BYU game.  

I was nervous about Alan's recovery because I had heard that shoulder surgery was so painful, but he has done really well.  Nathan and his family did bring a lot a joy that helped Alan get through the first few days after surgery.  Emmy was delightful and provided sunshine for all of us.  Nathan and Briana are always fun, cheerful, and helpful guests.

 

 

 

My favorite thing in the world is reading to our grandchildren.  I was afraid Emmy wouldn't have time so sit with me because she is currently concentrating on conquering the world, but she did agree to read a book here and there, so I got some great snuggle time.  She's here with our favorite book:  Five Little Ducklings. 

I love her wild and crazy hair after her bath.

We were delighted to see Emmy's new talent.  She worked hard at playing the piano.  Notice, she tried both the bass and the treble range, standing on tippy-toes to reach the keyboard.  A future Mozart.

 Checking out the toys in our toy basket.

This is one of our snuggle times. Emmy is crazy about dogs right now--live ones, pictures, and movies. I got Emmy interested in 101 Dalmations and she was willing to sit on my lap so she could see all the dogs. Laughing, laughing, laughing.

Here Emmy is ready to go out on the town, all dolled up and looking darling.

Sunday the whole family was together to visit Alan and see how he was doing.  We celebrated Emmaline's first birthday, and she experienced her first "birthday cake."  She was more interested in crushing than eating.

Camden and Maris blew out candles too.

We played "Go Fish" and Erik taught Maris the finer points of the game.  Then we played "Pretty, Pretty, Princess" where Camden looked handsome in the crown, but Maris was the final winner.

 Emmy wants to join in reading The Five Ducklings.

 Maris teaches her the song.

 We all love the story and singing the song.

 Brian is checking out the action.

Later in the evening we watched Homeward Bound, a movie about two dogs and a cat that try to find their owners.  Emmy got so caught up in the emotion of the movie, she sat up straight and clapped at the climax.  She seemed to actually understand the plot!  It tired her out, and here she is on her last night at our house.

Great visit!