Second Half of 2014

Life Happens!  I sometimes feel like my life is way too busy and I would like to slow down so I can enjoy each day more.  Because I now have a "smart phone", I find that email and social media, such as Facebook, are easier to access, but in turn, these have taken me farther away from writing this blog.  I follow a few blogs, play "words with friends" and keep up with emails and text messages. Now that Christmas is coming to a close for 2014, I feel determined to try and summarize the second half of the year. It's been too long since I last wrote a post.

Big news in August was our daughter Jen's engagement to her beau Nick!  We are very happy for the two of them!  They are making plans for a 2015 wedding.

 Cailyn performed in a couple of plays with a home school drama group.  Here she's dressed up as a frog! And the family photo below is when she was "Roquefurt" the mouse from "Aristocats".

We had the pleasure of entertaining our grandchildren for a sleepover at the end of October...and we were "entertained" as well! Activities included a trip to the pumpkin patch, a picnic, and decorating pumpkins with Aunt Jen.

Halloween also meant a special visit to Mike & Corissa's house to trick-or-treat with the children, AND fun with the "aunts and uncles" too! This year we had "Dorothy" from Wizard of Oz and an ASU football player...

November is always a busy month, so we usually combine birthday celebrations for Mike, Alan and Marcy, and this year we went to the bowling alley, and went to NYPD for pizza afterwards!  First time bowling for Cailyn and Landon and they had a "ball"!

 Our children gave me a special gift for my birthday this year....a "girls' night out"...Jen, Alissa, Corissa and Cailyn took me to dinner at a new restaurant in downtown Gilbert and then we walked to The Hale Theatre to see A CHRISTMAS CAROL in early December .  It was a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday!

We enjoyed an EARLY Thanksgiving celebration at Terry & Ken's house this year.

 We lined up all of Mom and Dad's great grandchildren for a rare photo together!

 Ken is watching after the youngest little Brock!!

Cailyn and Landon enjoy a turkey dinner on Ken and Terry's beautiful patio!  The weather was perfect for a family gathering!

We worked hard in the fall to finish our backyard....in preparation for an "open house" at the end of November.  Thanks to Alissa, Mike and Nick for all their hard work, sore muscles and blisters, Vince and I were able to "DIY", shoveling & spreading the 14 tons of gravel rock for the backyard in one day...Whew!!

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we hosted a party for family to help Jen and Nick celebrate their engagement. Nick's parents also helped out with food and beverages, and everyone had a good time!

 The happy couple are making plans for a wedding in 2015~

 Party Decorations were created by Alissa, with lots of fall leaves for the "falling in love" theme!

 Alissa and cousin Amy Silvertooth!

 Jen with cousin Chris Schuld!

 Nephew & Niece, Josh and Beth, with their little ones, Mariana and Anthony!

 Mike, Corissa, Cailyn and Landon!

Jen with her Uncle Ken and Aunt Terry!

The month of December was a blur of activities! We enjoyed celebrating Alissa's birthday early in the month, and and here Cailyn and Alissa are getting a good start on decorating our new tree.  It was fun to decorate our new home for the holidays.

We were very blessed to enjoy several family Christmas gatherings.  At Terry & Ken's home on the weekend before Christmas, Santa made a special appearance for all the children, except Amy & Chris' Ethan was unfortunately ill and missed out on the fun.

 And on the Monday before Christmas, we were invited to Corissa & Mike's home to see all their beautiful decorations, inside and outside!

After the holidays, Terry, Ken, Vince and I took Mom & Dad to celebrate our parents 63rd wedding anniversary (a gift to them in October!) We enjoyed a holiday musical dinner show together in Apache Jct. The date chosen happened to fall on the evening of Terry & Ken's 41st wedding anniversary too! 

We are thankful for many blessings this past year!! And I pray that 2015 is a wonderful year for our family and friends!