December 5th Wood Cutting

(Pictures in reverse order)
Woodsplitting first, then sunset.

I thought I got pictures of Megan and Chelsea splitting wood,

too, but both of the pics are MJ taking whacks! Megan, Chels,

and MJ all split a few rounds!! For the first times in their lives!!

I tried not to watch and I'm sure their parents are glad

they didn't watch either!

Tree Hunting in the Rain (We like snow better!)

Tom, MJ, Me and Angelo November 28, 2008
On top of Old Pilchuck....


MJ, Chelsea, Denise, Madison, Chris, Gunner and Megan in the pouring rain and blowing wind.



Bundled-up Emma, Lila, Erin, Erik and Ella.

We were all soaked,!! We drank some hot chocolate and dashed for the warm vehicles and made a quick jaunt home to C & D's. We turned up the thermostat, dried off a little, then enjoyed our snack lunch of salami, cheese, chips, peanuts, grapes and other good treats. Then we went straight home for dry clothes!!

Chelsea and Thanksgiving 2008

Chelsea had a wonderful birthday and we all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Dinner included:

Antipasti

18 pound turkey with Italian sausage dressing

Sweet potatoes with brown sugar, butter and marshmallows

Mashed potatoes and really good dark gravy

Fantasy Fudge

Green salad with Italian dressing, salami and olives

Vanilla ice cream

Fresh hot rolls and real butter

Butter pecan ice cream

2 Blackberry pies

2 Pumpkin pies

1 Granny Smith Apple pie

Attending were:

E, E, E, and L; C, D, C, M and M; V, F, M and J; T and M

Thanksgiving Pole Dance

First, may I start by acknowledging the most memorable charade of all-time at our house:
Sandy C. who "wuthered" and wuthered and wuthered again, on the vine so to speak, for half an hour and still no one guessed --

Wuthering Heights

Frank and Veronica still have her withering on video and we review it from time.



But yesterday, Erin took the cake.

She started by reading the title, indicating one word, three syllables.

First syllable:

Right here is a picture of Erin doing a pole dance. Can't you just see it??!! The first attempt in her entire life. On an imagineray pole.

We all looked at her like "what the __?" and we're laughing and carrying on. And on, and on.



Then, out of the blue, Tom says "Poltgergeist"!!

And he's right! And he brought the house down!!

All we can figure is that Tom has seen some pretty horrid pole dances in his life!!


*One little footnote as a reminder to those present: Flab-eye-rinse!!

Chelsea Turns 16

Happy Birthday, Chelsea!!!

Remembering all who served and are serving

Thinking of all our loved ones who have served our country and are currently serving: Ross, Scott, Tom, Larry Sr., Grandpa Alec, Uncle Fred. Some in Viet Nam, some in Korea, some in War II. Thank you.

Denise's brother Frank is still in Afghanistan and we worry about him daily.

PS> November 10th is the birthday of the Marine Corps.

Halloween, November 1st & 2nd, 2008

Emma the Cheerleader came to trick or treat
at the beach.


Little Bo Peep was here, too!!! Lila, the kitty,
didn't get her picture taken, nor did Maddy,
the 50's poodle skirt girl.



Sunday, Nov. 2nd, was Denise's b'day. We had pot roast,
pesto, and everything else! The cake is lemon with
lemon-cream cheese frosting. Nummy!



Sunrise November 1st, a beautiful start to the month.

Carving

Skinny Uncle Pat, Samantha and Emma and the
deer's neck!


Erin helping happy Emma carve her cat.



Uncle Chris carving Ella's spider (and Emma).



That's Chelsea carving her wolf howling at the moon
(and a peace sign) and Madison with her snaggly-toothed
traditional guy in multi-colors.

On a clear day, we can see forever. And our front yard
goes all the way to Japan!



Chloe in her pumpkin-matching sweatshirt. She
carved a cross-eyed guy (or gal). His eyes were X's so
s/he really was cross-eyed!!

We all had a really great time!

The Drum Circle At the Beach

MJ lost her drum but found a camera!


Let the drumming begin! (The pumpkins are
waiting!)



Maddy and Emma got into it!
Chloe loves that creaky thing!

Ella liked drumming, too. (Frank is wearing his

cool jacket from Gianguido's company in Trento.)

Frank also drummed a lot when Ella let him!

The Halloween Brunch

Sunday morning before Halloween:

First we had breakfast of fresh sliced fruit, juices, scrambled eggs, sausages, toast and cookies. Chris and Denise arrived first with jack-o-lantern cookies, then Erin with the sausage and hard boiled eggs, then V with the makings for a bunch of scrambled eggs, then R & K with iced ghosts(cookies). Tom had sliced cantaloupe, cheeses, oranges and Italian homegrown tomatoes in EVOO, garlic and balsamic vinegar. D made lots of toast and everyone kept grazing. It was a delicious brunch. We were trying to complete the brunch, drumming, and carving before the Seahawks played at 1:15.

Thirteen Things I love (in no particular order) 1. I love Tom, he's trying so hard to take good care of himself. 2. I love Dr. Price, he is so cool! 3. I love MJ's blog because of all the gorgeous photography. 4. I love V's blog because it's always so unique and interesting. 5. I love Angelo because he always loves me. 6. I love our new roof and our new woodpile. Thanks, Pat, Chris, Dave and Dick! 7. I love blogging and reading blogs, including D's, C's, S's, P & A's, R & K's, Ry's, F's, Steph's, Mary's. (Hope I'm not leaving any out; I love them all!.) 8. I love my daughters who make me so proud and happy, and C & D and all my very special grandchildren. You're all wonderful and I'm proud. 9. I love Pat and Allison and their families and wish them all well. 10. I love living at the beach and soaking up the sunshine (like today). 11. I love being in good health and having everyone in my family healthy. 12. I love being stress-free (like now) with Tom's surgery behind us. 13. I love being surrounded by family and friends, feeling the love, and getting my Christmas shopping done early!!! (Gotcha V!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Papa Celebrated the Homecoming!

Sunset October 21, 2008

Beautiful shots and beautiful thoughts for Randi and Ryan.

Celebrating Safe Returns With Lasagna and Pot Roast

We Celebrate Ella's and Lila's Birthdays Oct 19

Ella turns 5!
Lila turns 2!
MJ turned 16 in September!
Allison and Madison visited Papa last week.
Doesn't he look great!!??

October 21, 2008

The contractor finishes the new roof!

The mountain is out, the tiny grebes have returned, the Lincoln, the Shoup and the Momsen are in port!


Midnight loves us! (She has a new food dish.)

The Rockin' Maiers Rock On Home

The Italy/Ireland Venturers Return Home Tonight.
In fact, V called from the Newark airport at noon our time and they are in the USA!!

Clean Again! (Off Oxygen!)

Two not so great pictures of Tom but he's actually very happy -- happy to be home from the hosp again and happy to be off O2.

Keep Your Sunnyside Up!!

Sunrise October 1, 2008.