NOVEMBER-TRIP TO OREGON AND THANKSGIVING FILLED THE MONTH

At lunch with Casey and three of the girls.  Andrea and
the two other girls were in Portland for 'Time Out' session
for women and didn't get back until later that day.

On November 14, I flew to Oregon to babysit Casey and Andrea's girls while they traveled to Florida for a business convention and, of course, a trip to see the new addition to Harry Potter Land at Universal studios. I love being able to be with our granddaughters especially when it meant I could witness Charlotte play Alice in her high school production of Alice in Wonderland. She was amazing and played the part so well that you were totally convinced she was a little girl of about seven. The plot of the play is very strange but the production was beautifully done. The costuming and sets rivaled that of a professional production. In the Spring, the school will be putting on a musical to which we will for sure go if Charlotte gets a part.  

A new addition to the
Westover home - FISH!!!
Three died while Andrea and
Casey were gone.  Oh the
joy of having fish.

Charlotte as Alice - after the performance 

The formal table complete
with goblets.

Andrea and Casey left on Sunday so after church the girls and I fixed Sunday dinner. Casey had bought some sparkling cider drinks so we decided to set a more formal table with place mats and goblets.  The girls were thrilled and thought dinner tasted much better in this formal setting.

The girls enjoying our formal Sunday dinner. The
girls really felt like they were at a fancy restaurant.

I took Lydia out to lunch
 on her early out day

Staying with our granddaughters brought lots of time for me to clean and cook and play with the girls. With Charlotte driving now, and not having to go to play practices every afternoon, the driving schedule was much easier than last April when I came to stay. I didn't have to take the two older girls to seminary or to school so the mornings were much easier. After school, Charlotte would go back and pick up Jillian so I just had to be at the schools for the three younger girls. Saturday, as we waited for their parents to return home, I took all the girls out to lunch at Red Robin.  They loved that restaurant and it was fun to get away with them all for a little outing.

At Red Robin....not the best picture but at least Jillian is smiling in this one.

Once Andrea and Casey got home, the rest of the evening was spent watching videos of their trip. Casey is so good to video most everything they do so the girls can feel like they were right there with them.  It was home first thing Sunday morning...at least to the airport.  I had Andrea take me to the Eugene airport early so she could make her church meeting. I had a three hour wait for my flight home....but I didn't mind as I love to watch people and read a book.

Only in Oregon would you find a whole
Christmas tree completely done in University
of Oregon Ducks decorations

When I returned home, Todd and Kailee
were at our home for Sunday dinner.
  Some time during the evening, Todd and
Paul had to compare the hair of each
of their legs...go figure?

As soon as I returned home I had to start preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. Kailee's whole family was coming up for a total of 23. Todd had purchased the turkeys and asked if I would cook them along with the dressing...no problem.  Kailee's family would bring salads, vegetables, and desserts which meant I needed to do several batches of rolls for the whole group. We also volunteered to do the potatoes and gravy. 

Our typical thanksgiving  breakfast
even with just the two of us.

On Thanksgiving morning, we had our traditional breakfast of scrambled eggs and tea ring and then it was time to put the turkeys in the oven. The day wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be and it was fun to fill our home with lots of people.  (We would have been all alone had Kailee's family not come up)  Dinner was great as were the many pies Kailee's family had made the day before.  After dinner we all played a game which was a fun way to end the day.  We are glad Kailee's family felt comfortable coming up here.  It was a good day.

A pumpkin cheesecake....one of many
desserts brought by the Leavitts

One of two tables set for the
Leavitt crew.

On Saturday of that week, we traveled down to Todd's home for a brunch/shower for Kailee and Todd. Nicole had made some delicious breakfast casseroles and we brought a couple of tea rings and fruit with a caramel dip.  The food was delicious and it was fun to watch Kailee and Todd's excitement as they opened presents for their little Aria due is a few weeks. 

Even at the game, Paul was on
 his new phone. Oh how quick we
get used to this convenience. 

After the shower, Paul and I ran some errands, went to a movie, grabbed a quick bite for dinner and then attended a BYU basketball game. It was a good thing we had decided to make a day of it on the Provo side of the mountain as the canyon road was closed all day due to an accident. As we were driving down the canyon, we saw a tanker truck that had slide across the road, tipped over, and was spilling gasoline onto the road.  We were lucky we came through when we did because the road was closed a short time afterwards. The road finally was opened just as the game concluded so we didn't have to go all the way through Salt Lake and Park City to get home.  We were glad of that.


In November, we also experienced a some of firsts....  We had our first snow storm. We are hoping for a lot more snow this winter so we don't have to worry about water this summer.










Another first was going to the gym...not a first in our lifetime but a first in a long time.  In the summer months, Paul is out in the yard so much that he gets plenty of exercise but now that winter is here, its back to the gym....UGH!!


And the last first.....We are going to have new neighbors as they started digging the hole for a new home on the lot next to us.  We will love having a neighbor but the noise and vibrations and dust of the digging is a little nerve racking. The Wrights, a couple in our ward, keep apologizing for the disturbances. It is Teri Wrights parents who are having the home built.  We'll survive.

And that brings us to December with all its craziness......