Monday, November 29, 2015

One of the things I like about being here in Chandler is making a run to Sonic every morning.  I get me a drink and Cathi a cherry limeade.  Drinks are half price before 10 am. 

Cathi got up this morning and said she had an appointment with the Foot Locker for her sore heel.  I said: "Oh, I didn't know they made appointments to fix people's feet."  Cathi said: "Yes, that's what the foot doctor does."  Maybe I need a hearing aid for Christmas.

This morning Cathi did her "My House" work on the computer.  I tried to catch up on my blog.  I also read my scriptures and read seven pages from "Jesus the Christ." 

News Flash from Vernon! Chris got his elk.

A two point bull

Congratulations!

While Cathi was gone to the foot doctor I ran some errands. 

This evening we ordered enchiladas from Elmer's.  They are Cathi's favorite and I figured I would give them a try.  It's funny, I have been going to Elmer's for 40 years and I've never had their enchiladas.  They are delicious!  They use the machaca meat for the filling.  Yummy!

The dogs were so fun tonight when we sat down to watch our Christmas movies.  They both wanted to sit by me.  At one point Lady was sitting by me and Indy was on the ground.  Indy started crying and looked up at me with tears in her eyes.  Indy comes up and Lady growls at her so Indy sits on my lap.  

All settled in for our Christmas movies.

While we were watching our three Christmas movies, "A Dollar for Christmas", "A Royal Christmas", and a "Crown for Christmas", Kim had a s'more party at her house.

Evan, Max, and Joshua

 

 

Sunday, November 28, 2015

We attended the Galveston 3rd ward today and sat by Cathi, Laura, and Bremen.  I got to see Max pass the sacrament for the first time since he was ordained a deacon.

Isaac Dowdle and the Jiminez's spoke on centering our lives on Christ.  It was based on Elder Maynes conference talk.  Laura and Bremen left after sacrament meeting but Cathi stayed with us.  James, Cathi, and I all went to Elder Hirt's gospel doctrine class together.  The lesson was on 1st and 2nd Peter and we discussed what we need to do to make our "calling and election" sure.  Elder Hirt is a very good teacher.  We had his daughter Callie in our Primary class when we taught Primary in this ward.

During Relief Society Cathi and I sat by Lynda Cull who was sitting in the front all by herself.  Gerry Price gave the Ezra Taft Benson lesson on Self-Reliance and did an outstanding job.  She is such a good teacher and it was a great lesson, one that I needed to hear!

Cathi came home with us.  James had some lunch and then he and I went down to Sheri's to get some stuff we left there after Thanksgiving.  He is going to take it home with him.  Ian was outside painting when we got to Sheri's.  James mentioned that he was painting the planter the wrong color.  I guess he wasn't in a good mood because his response was rather sharp.  I just walked right in the house.  I felt bad for James.

James left for home around 3:30.  I think he was anxious to see his brothers and help Dave and the boys find their elk.

Sheri invited Cathi and I down for dinner.  She made meatball subs, and they were delicious!

 Cathi and I both want the recipe!

We stayed and visited with Sheri for a little while.  The boys were watching football.  The Cardinals just beat the 49ers and the Broncos wind up beating the Patriot's.  Of course Brian is happy about the Broncos and Alex is a little upset because he is a Patriot's fan.

Cathi and I went home and watched a couple of Christmas movies before going to bed.

 

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Provo City Temple

I spent a relaxing day at Cathi's while James went to work at Arizona Rehab.  He took Ben with him because he had some lifting to do.  

This afternoon Cathi and Laura went to Grady Ellsworth's Eagle Court of Honor.

 Grady with his proud dad

While Cathi was gone I went shopping at the Super Target in Gilbert.  I got dental floss, shampoo, and other personal items along with some food for tomorrow.  

At 5 pm James and I met with other members of our family at the Serrano's in downtown Chandler.  We had not made reservations.  In the past we have gone to the Serrano's in Mesa where it wasn't necessary to make reservations.  This Serrano's was very busy and could not accommodate us until 6:30.  We walked around downtown Chandler and saw the tumbleweed Christmas tree.  James and I left so he could go look at a little remodeling job for Nancy Yoshimine at her new home near Lindsey and Ray.  We made it back in plenty of time before our table was ready.

Tumbleweed Christmas Tree, a

Chandler tradition

There were about 20 of us who gathered for dinner.  In went something like this: James, Karen, Adam, Michael, Joshua, Kim, Brian, Joseph, Amanda, Joe's roommate who sat by me, (I introduced myself but I can't remember his name), Sheri, Alex, Ben, Max, and Evan, Jared, James, Anna, Emmy, and Molly.

Brian paid for everyone!

Thank you Brian!!

 Darrel and Trina fed the missionaries tonight so we excused them.  Plus Addy has been sick and they probably didn't want her to be out in the cold.  The tradition is that after dinner we all go look at Christmas lights, normally starting at the Mesa temple.

It was pretty late when dinner was over and Tricia had taken her kids to see the temple lights last night so we all just agreed to drive over to Cherry St. on our own and make the rounds in the neighborhood where every house has outside decorations. Here is some of what I saw from the car window. 

I'm not sure if that's the moon or a street light.

This is the yard that had a walk through Bethlehem set up

in their backyard with real live sheep and everything.

News flash from Vernon: "Terry got his elk."

It's a spike, but that's okay because Cathi says

the meat will be more tender!

Friday, November 27, 2015

Wedding announcement for:

Curtis Harding and Marisa Ellsworth

James left for work early this morning.  Molly and I go downstairs to breakfast together.  She wants hot chocolate so I help her make it.  Jared and Emmy come down and help Molly get toast and Fruit Loops.  I have a bagel with peanut butter and strawberry jam.  I couldn't find the butter.  Emmy has fresh fruit and Fruit Loops.  Jared makes waffles for Anna and James to take back to their room.  Emmy goes with him.  
Molly and Emmy join me in my room and watch some TV while I work on my blog.  During the commercials they get a little rowdy wrestling with each other.  Pretty soon Jared comes to get them and they all leave for Sheri's to do some laundry and then Jared takes the girls shopping while James hangs out with his cousins.

James came back and we pack up and check out around 11:30.  We  "check in" at Cathi's and get ready to go to Marisa Ellsworth's temple wedding and sealing.  
When we get to the Gilbert temple the first people we see are Grady and Dane, Marisa's brothers.  We give them hugs and step inside the temple.  As we are waiting in the gathering room we visit and say hello to our friends: The Pannell family.  Courtney just got her endowments this week and was able to be at the wedding.  She and Marisa are very good friends.  Here is a picture.

James was their bishop when they were in

Young Women's.

We also saw Lauri Myers who was in our ward years ago.  She and Adrienne are good friends.  Lauri now lives in Houston.  We saw Kyle and Nancy Tolman, Jason and Drea Boles, and Bishop and Christy Wanlass.  Their were lots of relatives there to support the couple.  They were married in the largest sealing room in the temple which holds 80 people.  

A Brother Mortenson performed the wedding.  He referred to a talk given by President Benson: "What I Hope You Teach Your Children About the Temple".  I want to read this talk and share it with my children.  Oh yes, Sheri was here with us in the temple.  She and Adrienne are good friends.  

Brother Mortenson also said that in case of divorce, the children will go with the righteous spouse.  He also said that some people think that the husband is the head of the home but that is not correct.  Christ is the head of the home.  It was a wonderful opportunity to be here to see this couple joined together.  They both looked so happy!

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Harding

Ta-dah!

Curtis and Marisa will be moving to China in April to open up DoTerra in that country.  They have some exciting adventures ahead of them!  Hopefully they will settle in Arizona or Utah when they return.

James went back to work and I went back to Cathi's this afternoon.  This evening Sheri took our card to Marisa's reception for us. 

Cathi and I were settling down to watch Christmas movies when her TV quit working.  Cathi called Dish but the guy who answered was no help.  We called Vickie and she had us try several different things.  None of them worked, but at least she had some things for us to try.  Cathi called and talked to Terry and Dave at the cabin.  They finally came to the conclusion that it was the TV and Terry told Cathi to go get a new one.  
Neither Cathi nor I thought we would be shopping on Black Friday but we ended up at Sam's Club less than an hour before they close.
Cathi picked out a Vizio 60 inch TV for $698.  James called from the house and wanted to know where we were hiding.  I forgot to let him know what had happened.  When we got home he was there to help us set up the new TV.
We all three sat down and watched a Christmas movie together. 

Thursday, November 26, 2015

James brought me the perfect breakfast back to our room this morning.  I had fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, an english muffin and orange juice.  After breakfast he went to work for awhile for Arizona Rehab.  
After showering and getting ready I went to Sheri's and got my little turkey and took it to Cathi's to cook it in her roaster oven.  As I was walking to my car I remember that I woke up this morning thinking I needed to look under my car seat for my debit card.  As soon as I got to the car and opened the door, I saw the debit card lying on the floor just under the front seat. Hopefully I can call tomorrow and reinstate it.
After getting the turkey in the roaster I made a trip to Walmart to get some corn.  James picked up the cranberry celebration for me.  
This morning while we were still at Cathi's Kim brough by a pumpkin delight dessert for James.  It was still warm from the oven.  How thoughtful!  She knows how much he loves this dessert.  Kim and Brian are going to Brian's parents this year.  
I cooked at Cathi's because she said it would be fine.  I made yams, macaroni and cheese and corn.  James sliced the turkey, set up the kids tables and made his famous punch with citrus juices, pineapple juice and almond extract and Sprite. 

Sheri was gone this morning until about 11.  She ran the Turkey Trot with Connor and Michael.  Trina didn't go this year because Addy was sick.

 We are around 1 pm because Sean, Ian's brother has to go to work at Target this afternoon.  Alex gave the blessing on the food.  Here is our lineup: Betty, John and Sean Trezise, Sheri, Ian, Alex, Ben, Max, and Evan.  Jared, James, Anna, Emmy, and Molly.  Darrel, Trina, Addy, Rowan, Ruby, and Lola.  James and I.  Paul and Stacy had their boys come to their house and Paul fixed them dinner.

The kids ate outside and then played soccer and some of us colored.

Ruby and Evan chasing after the ball.

Lola trying to get in on the action.

Addy found her Disney bracelet she thought she had lost.

 Waiting for the kick.

Trina and Darrel left pretty early because they were also going to her families Thanksgiving at 4:30.  Some of us went to see the house being built just south of Cathi and Terry's.

Yes, that's Joshua.  He came with Michael and Adam.

Michael loves this house and Joshua says he hopes his family can buy it.

Even James was impressed.  As you come in

the front door their is a staircase that starts as one and

then splits and goes in both directions up the stairs.

Molly and Evan

Sheri and her boys and Jared and his kids went to the movies this afternoon. Some saw "The Good Dinosaur" and Ian, James and Anna saw "Mocking Jay.""

James went back to Cathi's and did all of the dishes there, plus he helped with the dishes at Sheri's.  He was tired and so was I so we went back to the motel.  

When Jared and his kids got back to the motel, Molly said she was sleeping in our room.  I told her that was fine but she needed to go get her pajamas.  When she got back to her room Jared had just left to go down to the car to get something.  Molly decided to follow him, but Jared had no idea she was coming.  Anyway, he got back to the room and asked where Molly was.  No one knew.  Jared took off with his kids to look for her and I called down at the desk.  The guy who answered the phone said he saw a young girl go outside.  He sent people out to search the parking lot.  In the meantime, Jared and his kids opened the door of the elevator on level 3 and there was Molly, standing there crying.  She gave us quite a scare for about five or ten minutes!  I called the front desk and told them we found her.

Molly sleeps in the bed on the other side of me and goes to sleep but keeps coughing in her sleep.  James is on the other side of me snoring loudly.  I said a prayer and all of the noise stopped.  It was like a mini-miracle.

We watched the movie "Handcuffed for Christmas" starring Mario Lopez.  It's a pretty funny movie.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Castle at Disneyworld

James discovered there was a problem with the hot water line this morning when he took a cold shower.  The broken line partially flooded the basement.  I went with him into town to get a replacement part.  We listened to our scriptures and then I read to him from Wuthering Heights.  

When we returned from town James fixed the broken line only to discover there was another one and he needed to make another trip into town.  This time I stayed home so I could finish cleaning and pack for our trip to the valley.  

This time James also got a new garbage disposal.  This one is very quiet.  He fixed the other line and installed the garbage disposal.  Just as we were loading up our vehicles to leave, Dave, Terry, Nathan and Chris drove up in two trucks.  It is about 4 p.m. and it's windy and cold.  

I left before James and went the Payson way.  James leaves about 15 minutes after I do and goes the Globe way.

I stopped at the Giant in Payson to get gas and to take a potty break.  I used my debit card at the pump to pay for my gas but paid cash inside for the drink I bought.  My first stop when I get to Chandler is at Fry's for some cranberry celebration.  The guy at the deli counter tells me they are out but they will have more in tomorrow.  This was a surprise to me because I didn't think they would be open on Thanksgiving.  I get some frozen Rhodes roll dough for Sheri and a few more items and get the heck out of there.  It is so busy!  When I check out I realize that my debit card is missing.  Luckily I have some cash so I pay with cash.  

I go to Sheri's and unload and then go by to see Cathi.  I am stressed about losing my debit card.  I decide to try and call Giant and Fry's and see if they have found it.  Giant says no and I couldn't get through to Fry's so I go back over there.  The lady goes through all the cards that have been turned in but mine isn't there. I decide to just call and have the card cancelled and order a new one.  

I try to call James to find out what room we are in at the Marriott Fairfield Inn but his phone goes directly to voicemail.

 I contact Jared and find out we are in room 422 and he and his kids are in room 420.  James Hayden and James come down to help me carry my things up to the room.  After giving everyone a hug and getting settled in,  I heard all about the new puppy dad found outside his office.

Her name if Phoebe because Anna loves the character Phoebe on "Friends."  She is so cute!

James spends the night in our room.  We have two beds. 

I called and had my debit card cancelled.

 

  

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Tree of Life,

Draper City, Utah

This morning I read four conference talks, 8 pages of Jesus the Christ, I wrote a Sunday School lesson in my Sunday journal, read 1 Peter 1 and Alma 44-46 with James and then read a chapter of Wuthering Heights to James.

James saw elk this morning so he sent out a report to David.
He has been doing this every morning for quite some time.
 

I had to watch last night's finals of "Dancing with the Stars."  Bindi and Derek's freestyle was awesome.  I hope they win even if it will be Derek's sixth time.  The winner will be announced on tonight's finale.  

I worked upstairs trying to finish up the bedrooms and bathrooms.  I really like the curtains I put up in my office and the common area.  

Sandra Wilhelm had 40 pies to deliver today and our pecan pie was one of them.  She brought Ruthie and Johnny with her and they came upstairs to see me.  Shortly Sandra, Zemira and the baby came up to get them.  I was a little embarrassed because I had been cleaning and looked pretty gross.  Anyway, we had a nice visit before they left.  Sandra said that John got drawn for whitetail deer down near Pima and would be leaving after Thanksgiving with some of the kids.  James told her about Dave and Terry coming up here to go elk hunting.

Stacy posted an announcement on Facebook that she will be giving piano lessons starting in January.  She had several people who were interested, including Sheri for Evan and Max.  She said she was classically trained which was a little puzzling to me.  Oh well, I guess you could call Mrs. Larkin a classic.

Kim asked if I would bring down some temple names for her to do.  I went directly and got them and put them in my suitcase so I wouldn't forget. 

Bindi and Derek won "Dancing with the Stars"!