The WOODS

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the WOODS! This year we set up the 3 trees again, this is only the second time we have done this, and when we do we have a small forest in our house. Have been busy getting thing ready for the Holidays. If any of you are coming through Boise please stop by we would love to see you. We received the cards and photos from the Carters and Woods they are wonderful pictures, thanks. This morning we went to my school and had "Breakfast with Santa", we took Izzy, Ken said oh good cold hot cakes again, and he was right. Then Santa was late and we were in line for a long, long time to see him and have pictures. After that we came home and made sugar cookies. While Ken slept on the couch for three hours(you know he gets up early with the dogs).

Thanksgiving Shopping Frenzy

We ate and ate and the fridges are still full. Shane, Christine and Izzy came over and we played on the WII. Izzy went sledding for a little while. Ken and I went to Wal-Mart for the 12:01 Friday morning sale. We didn't see anything we wanted at the 5:00 sale so we thought we would beat the crowds. Boy were we WRONG. We pulled into the parking lot at 11:55 and the lot was full, people were parking in Lowe's next door. People were coming out of the store with there purchases. We walked in and the lines to check out were already 20 people deep at all the check outs. It was CRAZY in the store I lost you dad 3 times. I just kept shopping and looking for him at the same time. I had to shop or the deal would be gone. He would find a place to stand with the cart that was kind of in the open and wait for me to come by or see him and yell his name. We got in the check out line at 12:40, I continued to shop and bring things back to the cart as did the man in line ahead of us did, we left the store at 1:25 and got home and in bed at 1:40. It is now 3:15 p.m. and we just got back from Wal-Mart again. I broke my last sewing machine needle. This time there were some people but no lines to check out. What a difference a few hours makes.

Dad Is At It Again

Well your Dad is at it again and this time he got me involved. We rearranged the house. Not the living room, that would be too easy, no we moved the guestroom to the end of the hall by our room and made the other bedroom (old guestroom) the dinning room. Before anything was moved to its new place we rented a rug doctor and cleaned all three "bedrooms" and my craft room (the room down stairs). The dogs have not liked one bit of this whole mess, they have been displaced and they feel mistreated. We are done now, and I have to say it will be nice to have a dining room table again. We don't eat at the table much but this way if people or the missionaries are here there is a place to have a meal. Today we got our first real snow. So far it is about an inch on the grass, some of the road are a little slick, but not too bad, it snowed, rained all day Sunday too. The dogs have had a ball running and playing tag in the snow this morning. They are loving it like little kids. The road between Boise and Mt. Home of course has had many roll overs and slide offs. I hope it is better by Saturday we have to go to Mt. Home for my cousins funeral. This is my cousin Roger, who use to teach at BYU Hawaii. Your Dad said to tell you at the cannery they have been canning pears forever and by next week they will have canned 45,000 cases to go to Salt Lake City. He can't even fathom how many semi trucks that would be. We are now headed for the D. I. to look for our next treasure!

Thankful for Fall Colors

This is one of the trees in our yard, I love the colors of the leaves in the fall. But then of course they all fall down and Ken has to get them all up off the grass.

I wanted to share a Thanksgiving idea that if heard about. Take a paper or plush turkey (Thankful Tommy) and every night after the kids go to bed hide or move Thankful Tommy to a new place in the house that would show what he or the family are thankful for. When the kids get up in the morning they will have a turkey hunt to see what Tommy is thankful for.

Garden Blessings

Our garden was small this year, just a small patch of pole green beans. This was the first time we tried pole beans and I loved them, no more crawling along in the dirt to pick the beans. Even with this small of a patch I was able to can 77 pints of green beans. We also have tomatoes they are big plants and we are now getting some ripe ones now that it is late September and early Oct. We get a large bowl full when we pick but I won't be canning any this year, I still have a lot left from last year.

Campfire

The first campfire, after the talent show.

Ken and I love campfires, it is such a great time to eat s'mores, marshmallows, laugh and talk. We really enjoyed watching Carole with the grand kids around the campfire, she was so great with all.

Carole really likes BLACK marshmallows.

Grandpa untangling the balls on the string again.

The First of the Family Reunion

We had a wonderful time with everyone. Lots of memories and new bonds of love. We loved being with the grandkids and being able to love each of them. This group picture was taken at the Mud Pots and then a quick snap of lunch in Yellowstone. This is a time that we will remember and always think of as a good time. Looking forward to next year.