Greetings from Las Vegas!

Am spending the holidays with my cute daughter, son-in-law and the grandkids....
It has rained heavily since I've been here, but according to the internet the weather should be a balmy 47 degrees and partly cloudy - I think the rain is done here for the rest of my sojourn. It has been dreary weather but these 4 little people have kept me hopping. I don't know how Song does it without alcohol or drugs but she seems to manage fine. She is a good "yeller" which works a double duty - the kids usually listen and she can vent at the same time.
Shopping is mostly done, Song has made her cookies and took a delicious meal to some people who needed it and then we had some too...she is a great cook and so thoughtful of others. Anyway, we are at the homestretch of the big eve day and I'm planning on spending some time with my old friend Karen Layton Rowbotham and her husband Paul who are in town too. Fun!
I hope everyone is hanging in there thru the holidays. It's hard work to have so much fun. More later!

Checking In

Still having problems with my computer so havent' been able to share current pics.
Only a couple days away from my Christmas sojourn! Looking forward to seeing my
sweet girl and her family as well as some of my good friends (Denise & Steve & Karen & Paul - can't wait) Will try to check in from that location..... Good luck with the end of the shopping and prep time, and be sure to stop and listen for angel wings..... they are everywhere!

HO HO HO

This one makes me laugh too!

Tis the Season....

This joke makes me laugh....

Thankful part 2

I'm thankful for my siblings and the folks.... I'm not always sure about things but I do know that this was the group I was meant to spend my childhood (and adulthood too!) with. Things were not always smooth but always interesting....

The Thankful Bandwagon

I couldn't find a picture of "just" Song, from the file I was working out of, so of course, here she is with a tired boy... I am grateful for my sweet daughter. I am very proud of her and all she does to make hers, mine and ours a better world. I'm thankful for Dennis as well. (No pic today,sorry)
Have to thank him, to for his service on this Veteran's Day!

My sweet grandkids who give me so much pleasure and love. They keep me young and keep me thinking. Each one so different and each one so special to me. I'm very thankful for my little

family! Can't wait to see them soon...

Sharing

PD has been very shy lately....Here he is with his dog Z, and a halloween friend....cute ear!

Green... and serene! I love it. I will post more later about how cute my house looks. Thank you again Kandis!!! for all your help and most of your input. (laughing)

Distruction next door.....J&C's backyard "redo".....my new neighbor is whacked.

My fall tiger lilies.... they bloom and die fast but are so beautiful... had to share.

update and update

It was somebody's birthday last Saturday.... I know she is Davino's BFF but I don't know what I would do without her. HB 2 U!

My other BFF is in town from NC - She is whipping me into shape and has spruced the yard up and we are moving into the house now. She is a cracker-jack painter and we are doing the kitchen , living room and hall. I am delighted beyond words and so appreciate her help. Hey who am I kidding? She has done almost all of it! Carey painted the ceilings, thanks to him also.

Kand at the Farmer's Market....

Happenings around the block...

M and J - and me at the Blue Plate...delightful as always....

Someone was pretending to be a "lost boy" I guess.... I never knew why it was painted...

October herb pots - re-visited and dolled up! Thanks Kand.

Some particularly delicious pumpkin soup I made with fried sage leaves and a bit o'butter! YUM.

Happy 61st Anniversary

Today is the folks 61st wedding anniversary. I called Mom and she was mad. Dad forgot. I spoke to Dad and he wanted to know why I hadn't called and reminded him yesterday.....LOL!
I have a hard time picturing these 2 any other way than fighting each other. Still doing it after 61 years. I guess it's their secret to a long marriage. Drama. Anyway Happy Anniversary to them.

It's that time of the year again, leaves fading and birds flying....(view from my office)

I can't believe it, but I forgot to post my kitchen redux! Looks good, huh?

New stove, new counter and new sink ! Fancy..

PD - in the sand building volcano's

Fun - Not Fun (You Choose!)

PD in his stormtrooper outfilt... with light saber. The Force is with him!

Dad's birthday dinner/cake....

Dad - celebrating #81 as only he can....

Sorry for shifting back and forth - Scoogie and PD celebrating the Sept Boys B-day party!

Even Amy showed up! She couldn't stay long though, had to go "home". (You can visit Sat or Mon)

PD at school with his "creation" - He didn't want to take it apart, so we took a picture so he could remember it.

My funny friend, Fred..dispensing family advice while we lunched. He was in town to sell his family home..
Fred brough Chicago produce and spices to SL for some refrigerator pickles he made while he was here. Crisp, Delicious and Spicy...yum.

This is the t-shirt Fred took home to Cindy....we got a huge kick out of Cabin Fever store in Trolley Square. Funny cards!

Reflections from "Hildebrandland"

Clark was in town for a few days to tile J&C's bathroom - He was VERY excited about Boise State! (In your Face, David...)

Here is a pic of the tile - looks great even ungrouted!!

If anyone was wondering.... here is my new FREE fence! It looks fab doesn't it?

I have to include a pic of the boy... PD! He didn't want me to take his pic...very shy...

For those of us in "Hildebrandland", this was incredibly funny for my wombie & me ... I came over to M&D's while Clark was there and we were having dinner .... we were reminising (sp?) about some of the family dinner tantrums (& I'm not talking about us kids) and particularly the one where Dad threw the roast across the table one night (obviously it was improperly seasoned...) and the following day Mother put it whole and uncovered into my Father's lunch bucket. Because he enjoyed it so much and didn't want it to go to waste, he decided to store it in Mom's "white glove drawer" - I guess so they could keep it forever... for those of us who were there....you might find this to be particularly amusing. I don't think Dad wanted to hear it. If you can blow up the picture, it's pretty good. Watch Dad with his dinner - so typical. I had to stop because Clark and I were laughing so hard, I couldn't hold the camera! To others it is probably lame. Enjoy!

Post! Wow....

PD's updated "Pirate" look - I like it.

Jayme's new look - downtown SLC.... nice.

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I am having some memory/storage issues with my very OLD computer. Need to clean up some stuff and I'll get back in my groove!!

Happy Birthday Viv! 6

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl who is 6 today! She gives the best hugs and kisses and has the giggliest giggle ever! Hope your day is full of happiness....Love you, Viv!!

Catching up again.

I had a party party weekend, went to a friend's (and her husband's) going away party who are moving to DC for a couple of years. It had been a year or two since we had seen each other, so it was really good to visit and reconnect. Wendy was in and Mike, too. Spent most of Sunday with PD (I miss him, now that he's not my neighbor) and went to a BBQ at Sues. Here are some highlights:
My niece was in town this weekend. Sue picked her up from the airport and Jayme and I met them for drinks at Totems. It was lots of fun to see her. On Sunday they had a little BBQ - Wendy was demonstrating her "stripper pole" expertise on Sue's patio pole.... who has more fun???? My mother wanted to try it, but we nixed that in the bud... the real picture wouldv'e been the faces in the crowd as she flung herself up and around. I should've taken a movie!

This cloud reminded me of a cute poodle dog, shaking hands... I stopped and took a picture of it. Sorry if that's weird but it was a really cool cloud.....

Mike was also visiting this weekend, him and Adam were enjoying the family over at Sue's as well. I'm glad Preston had a friend to play with.

This is actually the previous week, Preston's bio dad was here to visit. The guys seemed to have a great time together.

Wendy, heads up instead of feet up.

Family Fun and Pie 'n Beer Day...

It's here again...Pie 'n Beer Day!

George and Glen...stimulating conversation, I'm thinking.....

PD and his Aunt Sue enjoying the water.

Grandpa, injured but not defeated. (Pulled a cooler onto his face...)

Mom and Becky - Mother kept putting her hand up. (Loves the bracelet and ring she got for her b-day from D&S)

Vivi with her playdoh fingernails.... activity at the table.

Will a couple of days after he got his tattoo...(we had to wash around it)

Eating blue cookies... YUM

Song and Ian at the table (with bunny)

At Larry's 60th b-day party with my g.kids

Boys Day at Cookie Cutters. Handsome men.

Preston's fauxhawk - nice!