SURPRISE

SURPRISE - time for another 3-month update. We really have been busy these last few months. The rest of September found me giving my house a good early fall cleaning to get ready for my special company the first week-end in October. Lorenza came for a visit and she wanted to see some fall colors, as they don't get that much in Arizona. So she arrived on Thursday - Friday morning, we left for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, stopping by Cedar Breaks and on to the canyon. Up the mountain, over Duck Creek, was just gorgeous, and all the drive to the canyon. We could not have asked for better. She takes lots of pictures and I just ooooh and ahhhh, since I left my camera at home. The next day, it is a little cooler, but we wanted to take in Bryce Canyon, so we went up thru Brian Head, and guess what, we went thru a snow storm and she got pictures of that. It was really cold, wet, rainy and wind blowing so much that we really did not enjoy Bryce that much. But she got her seasons all rolled into one week-end. As always, we loved having her here.

We took a week off for Thanksgiving and left for Arizona, by way of Henderson. Poor Tripp feels like he is a stop over, as we make our other trips, be it flight or on the road - but he is a good sport and provides for whatever need we have. We thoroughly enjoy visiting with all the kids and our theme song - On the Road Again, still applies. We drove down to Yuma, the weekend before Thanksgiving to visit with Pat and Jenn and kids. In going to church with them, Saige had to introduce me to all of her friends, as "my Mama Tom" - as if I was Queen Elizabeth, and I felt that important. We had a great visit and enjoyed "watching" them put up their Christmas tree. We left on Wednesday for Scott's in Phoenx, by way of Blythe, Calif. and had a 3 hour visit with Lorenza and her family, mom, dad and aunt, kids and other relatives. We arrived after dark at Scott's to a lot of hugs and kisses from the kids and their excitement of having us visit. Lori did a great Thanksgiving dinner, and I got to rock little Brigham and play with the kids - my type of assignment. We also got to watch them decorate for Christmas and be a part of that excitement. On Saturday, we took the 3 older boys shopping at Dollar Tree for Christmas gifts for their family - they had a ball with being secret and shopping, and wrapping gifts in the park later. With little kids, it is the gift that matters and not the price - so we have a good time with this activity. This is a special tradition that we have done with our other older grandchildren - and something I am looking forward doing with the others. We had a great opportunity to bond with Kyle (he beat me in bowling on the Wii) Abbie and Daisy, for a few days in early December. Daisy surprised everyone when she adjusted so well - for she is a darling little moma's girl - but she let me replace her momma for a few days. We enjoyed the beautiful Christmas decorations that they had - So with that, I decided not to put up a tree this year. That was fine with Harley - for he thinks it is too much work. We had Paul and Laura and kids come for 3 days right after Christmas, and the weather was just perfect for them to play in the snow in the back yard - even little Cooper enjoyed his first snow adventure at our house. They left on Monday, and Tripp and his family came in on Tuesday for a few days. Those little ones also enjoyed the snow, even though they had had some in Henderson a few weeks earlier.

As this is a long post, there will be no pictures - maybe next time - but I think the stories paint a good picture, themselves.

It is a New Year and we are excited over getting a lot of family history (one of our New Year's Resolutions) done. Have turned Nemo's/Trey's room into a family history room. Gathering all the material I have and putting them in books is exciting.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE.