TEMPLE AND CHRISTMAS GIVING

Today was the day we chose to attend the temple because Diane is here. We went to Lynn's and picked them both up at 8:45am.  We were able to do 4 Endowments, 39 sealings and 20 Initiatory.

It was pretty cold in the morning when we got up (29 degrees) but it had warmed up significantly by the time we got out. We drove to the Boise airport and picked up Jess. He flew in from Florida, where he had been working. We will all be going to Heidi's funeral on Saturday morning at 10:30. After getting Jess, we drove back to Nampa and to ....guess??  Of course! Chick Fil A!  lol  We had a good visit and a good lunch and made plans to go to Indian Creek in Caldwell at 6PM to see the lights and the

GIVING MACHINE.

We dropped them off and went home to change and rest 

up till time to go. 

While Tony worked on getting more names printed for next week, I worked on gift card holder's for Christmas and a little box for a gift. At 6PM, we dressed warmly and headed to Lynn's to pick the three of them up. We called and told them we were on our way over to get them. Then they told us they were warm and comfy and decided they didn't want to go. So we went alone!!

There were a lot of people around the Machines but we were able to get up to them quickly! 

After looking things over, we decided to get meals for refugees and diapers for a month.  We then walked around Indian Creek and admired all the lights.

It really is a nice display. Tony said that there are over a million lights according to the paper.

We waited for a considerable amount of time to see the dragon in the water shoot flames out of his nostrils. There was a family beside us and the mother kept saying, "we will wait 6 more minutes" then she said, "we will wait 5 more minutes".... then her husband came and said they told him it hadn't been working the past two days.  
SO we left!  lol

I love that the lights are all build around Indian Creek.

It's so beautiful with the water!!

Even Santa agrees. 

He can fish!

There were three tunnels of lights but this one was the best!

Just wish we could have had our picture taken together.

This was a new display I think. It's an iceberg with 6 snowmen. They used to have one with penguins.

I believe this tree was new as well.

The bridge was beautiful as well. 

I'm so glad Tony and I went to do this. We will try and go to the Scentsy Complex before Christmas. 

BRING ON THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!!

SUNDAY AND MONDAY, HOME AGAIN

Sunday, we went to church to hear Alex report on his mission. He did such a good job!! His farewell talk was really good but his homecoming talk was phenomenal!!  He has grown SO MUCH!!

We had another delicious meal after church. It was a Tortellini Spinach Bake! Man, was it gooood!

So good that I asked for the recipe...so did Deedra, so did Lynn, and so did Katie!! 

I had such a good conversation with Garrett who was leaving with his folks to go home at 5 so he could be set apart for his mission which started TODAY!! Monday! So proud of him!! After everyone left to go home, it was only the four of us. We stayed an extra day because we don't like driving in the dark. We sat down to play cards (Golf) with Stillman. He was a sort to play with us because we are not into the board games that they are.  I think Michelle was getting tired of all the company and noise. They had friends come over to play games and Michelle didn't join in. So after a few hands of Golf, I said we'd better get back to the motel and give the kids a break and some time with their friends. We got up at 7, dressed, loaded the car, went and filled up with gas and then went to pick up Katie. Said goodbye to Alex, Michelle and Bridger. Stillman was already at work and Jayden and Keaton were still in bed. Off we went, and had great roads home. We stopped at Chic Fil A in Nampa, ate lunch at 2:20 and then went to take Katie home and then Lynn.

I put out all my pumpkins, took the luggage up stairs, started the laundry and emptied all our snacks into the fridge & freezer. Tony went to wash the car.

I took a picture of my cactus. YES, it sure did bloom some more! Still has some to open though!!

Checked on my plant outside and it has finally succumbed to the weather. It was a lovely few days in Lewiston but I am so glad to be home. It's always nice to sleep in one's own bed!

BIRTHDAY PARTY AND SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Sunday was Stillman's birthday but since it was Sunday, they decided to celebrate it on Saturday after dinner. 

He turned 45 and had a lovely Coconut Cream Pie to place his candle on! It wasn't hard to blow out for this old man! lol

After opening his gifts,  several of us decided to go to 

"LOCOMOTIVE PARK" to see the

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!

Tony, Lynn and Donna stayed back to watch TV and rest. 

It's a pretty impressive for a small town!!

There is a real locomotive that is in the park all the time but not like this!! Lit up like a Christmas tree!!

I don't know what kind of this tree this, but it was loaded with lights and it had huge orange berries in it!! It was so cool!!

All the trees were loaded with lights!!

They had the neatest displays for Photo's!!  

This is Jordon's family.

The tunnel of lights and Bridget and Jeremy.

IT WAS SO COLD and we all got a cup of hot chocolate!! There was a heat lamp  in this little stand and it felt so good!

Alex and Jayden took advantage.

They had a really cook fireplace with a Christmas Village in it and it was FIRE!! 

Keaton was a sweetheart and posed with me! lol

I got Alex and Katelynn with Santa!!

And Stillman and Michelle's boys with the Ginger Bread men!!

I talked Stillman into a photo with me with the Coca Cola bears!  

We both love Coca Cola but I quit drinking it. YES, it is so hard!!

BUT, I CAN DO HARD THINGS!!

FRIDAY, DAY AFTER TURKEY DAY AND SATURDAY

The day after Thanksgiving, we went

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING

at Hobby Lobby. I wanted to see if I could find pumpkins like Michelle had. I LOVE THEM!! 

I scored!!  I got 10 of them!!  Not all the colors I wanted but maybe next year for those!  They were 90% off so I got $250  dollars worth for $32 dollars. I really don't know who would pay $50 buck for one of the bigger ones but for $5 bucks, I'm in!! lol I took this picture when we got home and one of the small orange ones got the stem broken on the trip home but we are gonna repair it.  Friday afternoon, we went to Stillman's "MAN CAVE" and watched the nail biter BSU game!! They played Utah State! WE WON!!! 1 point but we were fighting the refs and the team so we'll take it!!

We got some bad news on Friday!

Tony's cousin, Heidi Neider died. She was surrounded by her girls. She is in a much better place now and not suffering anymore. Her mother passed a month ago and so she was greeted by her mom and dad, her brother, Joel and many other relatives.

Then Saturday morning, I got news from Randi. Her mom, my cousin Dale, passed as well. They both had cancer and are not suffering anymore. I have wonderful memories of good times with Dale. I got to go to Calgary with her and her parents, when I was young. I stayed a week and we had so much fun. They will both be missed so much. Life is a blessing and we don't know how much time we have. Both of them were a couple of years younger than me. Makes me wonder how much time I have left.

THANKSGIVING 2025 IN LEWISTON

After a good nights rest at the motel, and our breakfast bag.....YES, I said "Breakfast Bag".  lol  We stayed at a Motel 8 and they gave you a bag in the morning. Actually, they were decent. A JIMMY DEAN sausage & cheese sandwich, that we warmed up in the microwave, a muffin, orange juice, yogurt and a cereal bar.   We ate and then went over to Stillman's.  

Nikki drove over from Tacama and it was so good to see her. It's been a while since we've seen her. Good to catch up!

We all visited a while and the girls were making salads and such for the Thanksgiving dinner which we were going to celebrate at the cultural hall in the church.  We helped load up all the food, and decorations and headed over to the church.  The guy's set up the tables and chairs and then we decorated the tables.

Michelle went all  out and it really looked lovely! 

Got another photo of Niki and her parents. 

Michelle has a whole bunch of resin pumpkins that we put in the center of the tables, the brown table cloths and the placemat and plates with the cute little paper decor that held our plastic wear and a wood "Thankful" or "Blessed" at each place setting.

It was so beautiful!!

Stillman got a wee bit emotional as he thanked everyone for coming to support Alex's homecoming. And then we all enjoyed a very delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

There was so much to choose from and it was seriously good!!  I didn't take everything offered but I was full, full, full, with what I took.  I knew we would have lefty over's later! lol

There were 35 or so of us. Enough that there was no way to seat everyone at their home.

We had a good time! I missed being with my family too. We had been invited to Scott and Jill's but we can't be in two places at one time. Maybe next year.