Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas 2010

Santa and Max
Jett Rylee,Natalie,Santa,and Max
Santa and Jett
                                          Playing the Chimes and singing Christmas Carols

The night before Christmas we spent at Daniel's home enjoying our family Christmas traditions. Where we had a visit from Santa, who gave out gifts for the little ones. They were so excited, little Max was hopping up and down, waiting for his turn to see Santa. He said the Reindeer are on the roof,Grandma. We watched the New Christmas Carol,movie with Jim Carry in it.

                                         We dinged the chimes and sang Christmas carols.
Mindy and Family
We enjoyed the hearty soups everyone brought to eat. Then Cheesecake for dessert. Then we exchanged our family gifts.

                                                                     Kristyn and Jason
                                                                      Bev and Ron
We exchanged white elephant gifts.and bid our love and goodbyes before leaving. Another successful Christmas Eve with our family,who are all the most precious to us. On Christmas day we slept in, no one to wake us. Then we went to deliver fresh Rolls and Jam to our neighbors and friends. At 3 p.m. it was off to have a family dinner of Baked Ham and Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole at our Grandson's home. We had a great time visiting the family. It was fun watching our Greatgrand children playing with their new toys. The weather was wonderful a mild 65 degrees. We could have had a picnic outside. Another year has passed and we welcome the New Year.  Merry Christmas to all and a  Happy New Year.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

A Night in Bethlehem

What a gorgeous night with a beautiful sunset, where we took a walk to Bethlehem. As we entered the gate, we signed the register, and paid our Taxes with canned food donations. We were dressed in Biblical attire. We enjoyed feasting at the market place of pita bread and spicy hummus. Then at the Galilee Grill we enjoyed barbecued chicken pieces and grilled veggies on a stick. Then off to Ruth's Orchard to enjoy some mandarin orange pieces and mixed grains salad. Stopped by Jacobs Well for some grape juice to drink. Then off to the Magi's Booth of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, also rock candy treats. For dessert it was Bath Sheba's Bakery, where we ate white cake with pomegranate seeds on it. The Nativity program was put on by the youth and the Primary children. They used a real donkey. It was a wonderful night the weather was warm. A good time was had by all who attended.
                                                          Sign the register for the Census
The Gold Coins given to each person to pay for their food.

                                                               Julie Letner and babe
Gabriel Colvin, Trisha Wright, Benjamin Colvin 
Me

                                                            The Out Door Market Place
 Pita Bread and Hummus
Ruth's Orchad Fresh Oranges and Grain Salad

Jacob;s Well
Grape Juice and Pure Water

Gifts of the Magi
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
Galilee Grill
Barbequed Chicken and Veggies on a Stick
                                                          Jennifer Wilson and baby
                                   
                                           
                                                        Alice Jensen cutting up limes.
                                                         Samatha heating the pita breads
                                                       Our Home Teacher and Granddaughter
                                                        The Ridings and the Courters
                                                    A real live Donkey, and Mary and the Baby
The Nativiity and the shepherds and sheep
The Angels
                                                                      The Three Kings

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

This year all the family met at the Brooks and we had a wonderful Turkey dinner with all the special trimmings. Everyone pitched in and brought some of their favorite dishes. There were about twenty of us all together. We ate and ate, until we were all stuffed. Then there was dessert of Pecan Pie, Banana Cream pie,and Pumpkin Pie and Strawberry Cream Cheese delight,delicious. After dinner we visited and caught up on all the Family News.While the men watched the Football games on T.V.
A wonderful Thanksgiving Day for all our Family.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Our Scenic Trip through Washington

We stayed at my Sister Julie and Frank's home for a week following her Surprise Birthday Party. We slept in the guest bedroom upstairs. It was a beautiful king size bed they had just gotten from Kali .It was like the Bed in the Movie  "The King and I. "It was 4 feet off the ground and was a challenge for us to crawl into.Finally we got a box to stand on which helped. Still I ended up pulling Ron into the bed.

Ernest LeRon Derricott and wife Betty

Julie and Frank took us to the their new Stanwood Cupcake Shop.There we enjoyed Ice Cream Cones and Cupcakes. It was started by their Bishop and his wife recently. They were yummy. We helped her clean her house. We started to get colds from the wet weather and air. We watched DVD's with them every day to pass the time.  We left for home on Thursday Nov .11 th.

         Phoned my cousin Erna Derricott Hershey who lives in Vancouver, Washington. She told me a lot of family history about her family. Also that her brother Ernest LeRon Derricott was living in Salem, Oregon. So when we went through Salem I called him and we went and visited him and his wife Betty Anderson Derricott. He is Ron's age 70 now.He had his own Upholstery business, loves to cook and do wood working as a hobby. He made a beautiful patio kitchen with lots of cupboards. Lots of build in seating around the deck.

     Ron's Childhood Home in Roseburg,Oregon

They gave us a lot of family photos. Told us about Grandma Hildegarde Thelin who lived with them when they were children. She taught Ron how to sew when he was three years old by hand. Taught him to love green onions as a snack. Grandma died when Ron was seven years old.  She had been blind before her death but seems to manage fine. Grandma had diabetes and died peacefully from heart problems.

What BIG Tires we saw.
   We continued on our way home through Oregon, met Ron's cousins again, visited Barbara Robertson Elaine ,Don and Betty Reber. Stayed at Barbara's motor home that night. Then went to Grants Pass and stayed at Cheryl and Dave's for a night. We needed to get our car brakes fixed there. There were leaves all over the yards. It was Fall and everyone was complaining about all the work to clean them up. Stopped at the Olive Pit Store and stocked up Olives and oil.
  Drove to Kettleman stayed in a Hotel for two days to rest. We needed it.Drove straight home through California  on Monday. Saw lots of Windmills in California. We are back to Sunshine and Palm Trees. Arrived home at 7:30 p.m. We were glad to be back in our own bed.

Tacoma,Washington Dome
 Our daughters had surprised us again , they had repainted our living room walls beige and the ceiling, and the bedroom ceiling. They had rearranged all the pictures for me, took down the shelves in the living room.

My Sister's 60 th Birthday Nov. 6, 2010

It was a BIG SURPRISE planned by her two daughters. It was held at the Church Cultural hall in Mill Creek, Washington. Thirty five of her friends came from her town.Thirty five relatives came also. We arrived early and helped the girls in the kitchen with the food. Ron made the punch, and I arranged the fruit trays and ham trays. Ron and Betty, Darcie, Quinn and Jewel arrived later. Kali and Michelle decorated the Hall in her favorite hot pink colors with lots of colorful Pink Balloons. Fresh pink Roses on the tables. A beautiful pink boa around her neck.

     When she arrived we all sang Happy Birthday to her.She was really surprised to see her son David who was sick with the flu in Layton, Utah.and her Grandson Parker. And also her Sister from Arizona. Julie was happy to be there.She scooted around the hall with her new scooter. Notice her broken foot in her hot pink cast for the past two months. Due to her bone cancer it is not healing well. She may have to have Surgery later on it. There was lots of delicious food for everyone.

     This is the gift table with the scrapbook of her friends.
Then a short program was enjoyed by all. Her friend Beverly did a Belly dance for her with candles. Two of her Singing students sang solos. Her daughter Kali played two piano solos. Cindy her friend made up a poem especially for her.  "Roses are Red Violets are Blue, Julie, you know how much we all Love you. "  She had thought and thought and finally came up with this original poem.
   
    Then her only Sister told a few Senior Jokes on her turning 60 to lighten the Birthday Party. Like the new Campbell's Soup for Seniors, It is called Large Letter Alphabet Soup. Another one was Julie always wanted a BMW. But now she doesn't care about the W. " One time Frank asked Julie ,what do Old Men wear ?Boxers or Briefs."She thought about it for awhile and said "Its DEPENDS. Now she can sing along with elevator music, eat dinner at 4 p.m. if she wants, and nobody will care.
   
      The Birthday cake was specially made for her .It had her name on it. It was circled by white and black piano keys. On top it had a large black music note. Notice the fresh pink roses.