Downsizing

After 10 years of the same large artificial Christmas tree, we have decided to downsize. The tree had seen it's better days so we put it out for garbage pick up a few months ago. It was time to purchase a new tree, one that was smaller, easier, more convenient. Tonight as part of Family Home Evening, we put up our new tree!

Our living room is small so we always had to put our large tree downstairs in the family room. With our new slender tree we can leave it in the living room. I haven't yet decided if we'll put ornaments on it. For now I like it just the way it is -- small, simple, plain.

Eyler Thanksgiving

It's been tradition since Dale and I were married to spend Thanksgiving Day at his mother's. This year our niece Dottie and her two youngest children made the eight hour drive north to spend the holiday with us. Ashton bought herself a Nintendo DS with the help of birthday money from Dale and I. A Nintendo DS is on the top of Kaylie's Christmas list this year, so she and Ashton spent time playing while the meal was being finalized.

Our menu:

turkey

stuffing

mashed potatoes

gravy

sweet potato casserole

barbecue green beans

golden honey wheat rolls

cranberry sauce

succotash

turnips

pumpkin brownies

pumpkin pie

French apple pie

pistachio cake

After the meal Dottie and I played around with our cameras, experimenting with the macro mode. This eye belongs to Avery!

Most of Dottie's time was spent resting, wrapped in blankets to stay warm. Soon after arriving to Maryland, Wednesday evening, she became ill. Kassie spent her Thanksgiving Day doing what she does every other day of the year -- reading a book!

Once the dishes were done Dale and Bonnie watched their favorite Bluegrass performers on DVD while the rest of us complained about it! LOL! We usually all sit together and watch a Christmas movie, but this year Bluegrass won out!

Our latest treasure

The latest treasure given to us from Pappy's garden has been Chinese cabbage. We love it! Just peel off the leaves, wash, sprinkle with salt, open wide and ENJOY!
Thanks Pappy!

Bonfire potluck

Tonight our ward was invited to my neighbor's house for a bonfire/potluck. The weather was perfect, a nice cool fall evening. It didn't start to rain until the party was over. The children had fun throwing sticks into the fire and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. I enjoyed myself sitting by the fire talking with friends.
Did a spark fly in Ashton's eye? No, but it looks that way! LOL!

The party ended at 8 pm. It was at this time that I started to gather my family to go home. I found everyone but Dale. Where was Daddy? No one knew. I didn't want to be rude and stay when everyone else was leaving, so the kids and I started walking home. Brady stayed behind to look for Dale. I had already been yelling for him, but had no response. Soon after we arrived home, Brady came home -- without Dale. Where could he be? It was an outside party and we had already yelled and searched all around their house. I was beginning to see myself on the TV show "Without a Trace" where the person is there one minute, then they vanish, their disappearance a mystery. When Brady arrived home without Dale I called back over to my neighbor's house to see if they found my husband. Yes, he had gone inside their basement to see how the recent remodeling was coming along. That would have been nice to know!