Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house this year, and it was very nice. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because there is a lot of great food and because I get to be with my family, just like at Christmastime, without the risk of being drowned in wrapping paper.

Here is a picture of my grandfather and my cousin from North Carolina who is attending BYU:

My dad, my youngest daughter (with her nose in a book -- she really loves to read) and my oldest daughter (playing on her iTouch):

My friend Pam looking at a music book:

Me and my oldest daughter:

My dad and my sister:

My youngest daughter:


Pam playing piano:


Me playing piano:

My sister's husband and son:

We had almost an entire pie or cake for each person. There were a lot of leftovers :)

Singing Christmas songs after dinner and dessert (I played piano):

My youngest daughter was working on a sewing project and my oldest daughter was on the laptop (and sticking her tongue out at me):

My sister and her husband:

In between songs:

After Thanksgiving dinner we went to the Festival of Lights. It's at a park near the Chevron station in Spanish Fork (the one that is closest to the canyon, by the windmills). It opens on Thanksgiving every year and goes through New Year's. We usually go three or four times during the Christmas season:

The next day we had "Thanksgiving the sequel" at my house. It's been a tradition for the last fifteen years or so since I get a free turkey from my employer. My mom earned a spot in the "mom hall of fame" by coming down to our house early in the afternoon and putting the turkey in the oven. Here is a pic of her making gravy (it was so yummy):

My dad:


My wife and her sister:


My two nephews (left) and my son (right):

Pam:

My wife's sister's husband:

My nieces. The one on the right is four years old, and while we were serving dinner she told me, "I'm grateful that it's Christmastime, because then Santa can come and bring us presents!" Later she saw me taking a store bought pumpkin pie out of the oven and clapped her hands and said, "You're the best cook ever!" (Clearly she doesn't know me very well :) )

My youngest daughter:

My oldest daughter:


I have so many wonderful blessings to be thankful for this year. There have been ups and downs, and there will always be trials and difficulties. But I am privileged to love and be loved, I am grateful for my friends and family, and I am especially grateful for my guardian angel. Though the future is unknown, I have faith that everything will be okay.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Trees

I have never enjoyed yard work and am terrible when it comes to keeping plants alive, but the one thing I seem to be pretty good at is planting trees (mostly because they take very little effort to keep alive). When we first moved into our home in 2000 there were 3 aspen trees in the front yard and everything else was open space. I grew up surrounded by trees and quickly set about planting a deciduous forest (with one pine tree). Here are a few pics of my house and yard that I took in September:


Box elder tree (back yard) -

The weeping willow in the front yard (this is my favorite tree) -


The trampoline (which I need to put away now that winter is here) -


My shed and woodpile (I offer free firewood to anyone in my neighborhood, and when my neighbors have wood they don't need they often bring it to me) -


My pine tree (and basketball hoop) -


View of the back patio -

Maple tree -

Hibiscus (back yard) -

Front porch and weeping willow -

Front porch -


Front porch from a different angle -

Locust tree (front yard) -

Another locust tree (this one is in the back yard) -

Ash tree (I really like this tree, too) -


Apple tree (maybe next year we will spray for bugs and actually be able to eat the apples :) ) -

My ham radio antenna -

Work and Play

Here are a few pics of my office and my family's recent trip to Bryce Canyon :)

Natural bridge -

Beautiful view of Bryce -

My kids -

My kids (again) -

Me and my kids -

My kids (yet again :) ) -


My laptop -


My "always messy" whiteboard -


My "always messy" desk -

My phone -


My clock -

My cubicle -


My comfort :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)