Sensational Saturday

 Our Saturday began with the mundane. I have 2 big stock pots of broth to can. This seemed a good day to can...I knew we had company in the afternoon, but a canner can work with company in the house....I got the first pot settled. I asked Nolan to bring in the next pot....Um...Frozen solid. He began to work with boiling water and levers....

Meanwhile Allie and Stacia continued our goal of trimming up Millie. She looks presentable again - a bit odd, but lovable. 

The struggle with the stock pot continued. 

Not even team work helped

Bad photo - but Nolan pulled the  strong, sturdy handle of the stock pot off. The pot was still stuck. 

Michael got involved with a crowbar and mallet and freed the broth.  Unfortunately, the solid block of broth in the pot was still thawing at bedtime. I'll finish this project tomorrow. 

Cy, Carrie and Olivia arrived. This was our first time to hear Hawaii stories since the boy trip to Hawaii. I'm thankful for the military friendships of our boys and the Harding boys - 16 years and going strong. Below you see Steven, Mikal, Jared, Jamin and Josiah...

📷 One of the guys via facebook 

CoRielle arrived. Benny yelled, "I got you, Uncle!" I had to check it out....not sure who has whom in this situation. 

Cy, Carrie and I ran out to check out local thrift stores. Carrie and Olivia have found a new apartment and she is outfitting it.  The rest of the afternoon was spent with games. Alex came and left. It was loud and chaotic. Jamin came a bit after Arielle and boys left...Krista was out all day with Luke...busy house....

Cy and Carrie

Arielle and Benny

I love this photo. Benny is a determined spoons player. 

I was the first out and so filled my time taking pictures. Carrie won the spoons extravaganza.  I finished two canners of broth. We cleared out the fridge with a YOYO night (Your On Your Own).  Grandpa, Michael, Nolan, Allie, Stacia and I watched the last episode of WandaVision....

A Very Full Day

I was determined to get a walk in BEFORE the day took off...because I knew it may be a high caloric day....

I have been looking forward to this day for a few weeks. We went out for JAPANESE FOOD. Sakura Sushi has a full menu - not only Sushi - but it's a bit spendier than we usually do as a family. It's pretty good for "American" Japanese food.  Krista and Brittany decided to go on Monday. They invited Ali and Stacia...and then they decided to invite "the Moms" (Sandy and I), and then Siakayle. I invited Carrie and Olivia to go to lunch when I found out they were coming out to spend the day. Just like that it was a thing...it was nice to do something normal....and the teriyaki, tempura, and yakisoba was Oishi - yummy. A big thank you to Michael and Cy. They visited with Dad so us girls could get out with the gals. 

Olivia (Front), Stacia, Me, Sandy, Siakayle,
Brittany, Allie, Krista, Carrie 

It RAINED all last night and all today. All of our snow has melted. I'm wondering if maybe, this is IT....the end of winter? Then again, it could all FREEZE and be a humongous mess! Josiah and Michael spent time slushing water around, trying to drain low spots in the driveway before it freezes tonight. 

We played Grandpa's new game...

...and the girls baked cookies. I helped frost. 

My favorite almost 8 year old

The rest of the day was filled with visiting, dinner...and Dad's PT showed up in the midst of the chaos for an evaluation. The therapist feels the risks of progressing from a walker to cane outweigh the possible benefits. She stressed to him if he continues to fall he will eventually be injured and his care will be more than we can provide. She then spoke clearly to me about the fact there may well be a fatal accident in the future, or he may get outside one night before I wake up,  and I need to come to grips with the fact we can only do what we can do. Happy talks. ::snort:: 

👟👟👟

Every mile counts! Walking Tally 75 miles out of 100 miles

1st Day of Christmas

 Whut? Christmas was yesterday! 

Yes. 

Yes, it was. 

And after Christmas comes....the 12 Days of Christmas.  That period of time between Christmas and Epiphany (Jan 6th).  

Epiphany?

The day on the liturgical church calendar when the arrival of the wise men is celebrated.  This is the day we  "aim" for a household gift exchange....which frees us up to slowly savor all the other gift giving opportunities throughout the season.  The kids do laugh about the year we didn't exchange household gifts until March! That was 2017. We just didn't feel like it that year.  

I'm quite sure there is a proper way to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas. I know there are certain focus' for each day...we simply choose to stretch out Christmas beyond the 25th. This helps us focus on the ADVENT of Jesus before Christmas and all the gift giving and such after Advent. 

We find these days to be busy...we love it.  Most family members have some time off work so we take time to reconnect at every opportunity. 

Today - the first day of Christmas - was full of visits from our kids.  Jamin stopped by when Arielle and the boys were by....Benny was quick to enlist Uncle's help in a nerf war of epic proportions. 

Jamin is never far from his mobile office! This has been a great year for his real estate business - despite Covid.  We never know when he'll have a showing out here in the Valley and pop in. We love it. 

Carrie and Olivia have been visiting family in Florida. They got back late on the 24th. Today was our first day to see them. It was fun to catch up.  Carried made up Danny time. 

Cy, Carrie and Danny

A rousing game of Dixit developed. 

Stacia, Carrie & Danny, Arielle, Benny, Livie

Nolan and Alex worked. I believe Krista spent the day with Luke. Maybe.  Michael, Dad and I "never work," however, we LOVE days off when the kids can visit. 

Not the best presentation - but Michael got a spread of smoked salmon, salmon jerky, summer sausage, cheese and crackers out!  

Thus ends Dec 26th. 

Clearing up a Misconception for Alaskans

 It is imperative to discuss this small issue before sharing anything further. It is sad some can be so mistaken, unenlightened even. THIS is NOT Winter. 

By the way of proof I offer these facts: 1. The calendar! It is OCTOBER.  October is fall. Have you never heard of Oktoberfest???  2. Yes, I do see the snow...but have you noticed the leaves ON TOP OF THE SNOW?  It is my contention if the leaves are on top of the snow - they are still falling and it is fall. If the leaves are UNDER the snow, I will admit winter is here....but not one single, solitary minute sooner. 

Alaskan Fall Colors

I have noticed Michael turned on our "winter" lights - why settle for Christmas lights when they can burn from mid-Oct to mid-Feb? I don't believe he turned them on because it's winter, I believe it's because he knows how I love them. 

With that settled, let's move on....Dad's OT came again today. The attitude WAS different. I think she'll always check charts before offering opinions in the future. I hope. In any event, she was much more agreeable and I was not on edge. Dad enjoyed the visit. She told me she believes our home is the best place for Dad to be and she just worries I am going to throw my back out. 

Stacia and I took Millie out for a nice fall romp in the snow. She LOVES it. 

Again - leaves on TOP of the snow - obviously Fall

Dad took a long, cozy, fall nap. 

Nolan and Alex both had the day off. Michael took them out for Bible study/lunch. 

Stacia and I watched MacGyver and ate Christmas crack. 

About the time Michael made it home Aaron showed up. They erected a tent, and are warming the ground up....concrete tomorrow? Ramp next week. 

Josiah called. He, Carrie and Olivia came out to share pizza with us. Krista has been at an ASIST Train the Trainer on base all week. She got home and added to the merriment. 

Dad was ready for bed when Cy and Crew left. It's been a fun day. He is feeling MUCH better.  He's been using the walker most of the day....

Welcome Home & Birthday Celebrations

 Dad came home Thursday. Friday we settled in. Saturday, we had everyone but Jamin (who had cold symptoms), Nolan (who had to work),  and JaRissa (who live in Juneau), over for a Welcome Home/Birthday Celebration. Our October birthdays are Larissa and Carrie. Larissa isn't here...but we remembered her anyway. LOL 

 

The table, and our hearts, were full. Aaron was over to check on building a ramp and he and Elise stayed and celebrated with us. 

Stacia made an ice cream cake for Carrie...and we still had 1/2 the welcome home cake too. It takes 3 male Gherkins to properly light a cake - 2 to light and 1 to cheer. 

Note to self - check to be sure photos aren't blurry so they can be retaken. Carrie was a sport and wore the old party hat! Corrie assured her it's only strange the first time. ::snort:: 

Cory had put out a call for those who would participate in the one chip challenge with him. I do NOT foresee this becoming a part of our traditions. Oy vey! The heat - the smell....the courage. 

Cory, Alex, Krista & Aaron - 1 Chip Challenge

It was a fun night. Dad decided to go to bed at 6:20 p.m. That was o.k. Carrie has clinicals now and has to leave her home at 0500....and we were all a bit worn out...

If you'd like to LISTEN to the challenge....

Mother's Day 2020

 This was our first FAMILY gathering since Dad's birthday celebration in March - before the Covid lockdown.  It was so nice to have everyone together again.  Krista made me a fun chicken face covering....

Dad found some steak on sale. He began talking about buying steak and having everyone over last week. This morphed into him buying the steak for Mother's Day. The steak was 50% off.  We invited everyone over and set up in the backyard - keeping with the outdoor mandates on gatherings. 

 

There was plenty of food - and it was all good. 

It was pure joy to simply spend time with each other after the long spring spent apart. 

Jamin, Krista, Stacia, Cy and Nolan 

Jamin, Krista, Stacia, Bre & Annie

Dad got Cory and Cy to help him bring out the orchids he'd purchased for each of us girls - to include Krista and Stacia. 

Izaak, Gideon, Michael and Arielle

Yes, we ate...we also played yard games and helped get the last of the big, dead tree moved from where it had fallen. 

Nolan and Benny

A fun highlight of this day is the baby bumps Bre and Arielle are starting to sport. They are due within a week of each other in November. Alex, Jamin, Arielle and I played a rousing game of croquet - making up rules as we went. 

All this excitement for coming in next to last. 

Even the moose came to celebrate. 

It was a great day, made even more meaningful because of the time we've been apart.