Bring on the crazy....

...and I figure I can handle anything for a few hours so we gathered, once again for a "mini camp" version of Crazy Grandma Camp....totally spontaneous. When ya gotta watch a few kids (Mandy is in the hospital)...it's just easier to bring along a cousin or two or three or four or eleven....ranging in age from 3 to 12.....and I do pretty much let them go crazy for the whole two or three hours.

Oh, I try to organize, and we kinda got an obstacle course going, a dance contest, a little bit of food and lots of treats....but mostly just loud. I always try to start with a "pow-wow" where I try to talk to them a bit....this time about family traditions. Our first Wells Family Tradition started just 40 years ago on the steps of our Logan apartment when we declared it BLT day.....just because that was what we were eating for lunch and we wanted to start somewhere. So Happy BLT Day to my family....I love these crazy kids!!!!

What goes up....

....must come down and as I was hiking to the top of the volcano on Thanksgiving morning, I  realized just that, and found myself wondering how it was going to happen but I kept going, knowing I wanted to see inside the volcano. After seeing it all of my life coming to and from Pine Valley and knowing I would probably never do it, I actually did and glad I didn't chicken out. (I hiked the trail around the back side while the young 'uns climbed up the face). Coming down was far worse than climbing up. We all made it....some better than others. Most of the party took the speedy way down...I myself, figured I was safer going down the same way I came up but it was mostly on my butt.....and even tho' I ruined a pair of pants, it was worth it.

I'm thankful for my family that invites me to tag along, for my health that allows me to tag along, and the beautiful weather and scenery that makes it pleasant to tag along.....for the beauty of the earth I truly am grateful.

For years I paid the price...

....the 80 smackeroos it cost me to procure a season pass but as of today and a mere 10 bucks, I can enter any National Park for the rest of my life....for "free ninety nine..."

On the way up, we visited the old ghost town of Grafton and explored the old buildings and Randy especially enjoyed the old farm equipment. Our little "couple of hour" trip turned into the whole day as we ventured on up through the tunnel to Mt. Carmel Junction where we dined at a little "hole in the wall" diner where the sign said "Good Food, Good Price" but we were greeted by the girl at the cash register with..."um....if you can finish in 30 min. we can seat you. We have a bus of 60 people coming in." We assured her that we would eat quickly and we enjoyed the food and the price. Then on over the mountain to Duck Creek and on down the freeway home....oh, my...it was a picture perfect day. Happy Thanksgiving......grateful people are happy people.

Happy Birthday today...

....to the mother of this cute family. JoEllen joined our family back in 1997 when she took Kyle off our hands and she has done amazing things with him....supported him in all his moves, his educational pursuits, his athletic trainings, his business successes and failures, and been a high-profile mom in the kid's school, in her church callings and is basically a good, good person and fun to be around and always makes things happen.

Happy Birthday....you certainly are loved. Have a good one and eat some cake today.

It's very probable....

....on this Friday, Nov. 16, the birthdate of Scott Gordon Wells, that it would have been a "normal", get-up-and-go-to-work kind of day because he never really liked any hoopla on his birthday but I'm hoping my kids will just give a shout-out today so my grand kids will know a little bit about their Grandpa Wells and here is one of my favorite posts of things I want them to know about him. Click HERE.....

After surviving Leukemia in 1985, he learned to "balance" his life. He learned that his "leisure" was as important as his work and didn't hesitate to give his "all" to his family, a very valuable lesson learned early in life. As I go through each year, there are dates I remember associated with that important time in his life when he was fighting for his every breath.....this very day, 27 years ago, being the end of his total body radiation and Day 1 of his injection of new bone marrow from his brother Gawain. I remember thinking...."wow, what a birthday present". So take a minute today, breath some fresh air, be grateful for life, hug your kids and your spouse and be glad to be alive in honor of this good man today. Our world is a better place because he was here....

Baby, it's cold outside....

...at least in Pine Valley. Got these gorgeous pictures from Facebook and been thinking a lot about my favorite spot on earth and kinda glad I'm not there right now as I've come to love the warmth of the winter sun on my face but I'm sure it is beautiful.

This one was taken by Donna Gardner, a neighbor that lives there year 'round....

This one by Rex Winterton, also a full-time resident and excellent photographer. One thing about Pine Valley and snow, for as long as I can remember my mom did it and I did it.....when the snow flies and you can see a dusting on Pine Valley Mountain, the under shirts go on the kids. When the snow melts in the spring, they come off. I'm sure that isn't the rule any more but long live the under shirt.....Just thought I'd check it out and see if anyone really does put these on their kids any more so I went to Mamapedia.com (click Here) to check it out........

A month of thanks giving....

...and a lot of people on Facebook are posting what they are thankful for each day and as I thought it was a good idea, I opted out just because I'm not very consistent with anything these days but I do think about what I'm thankful for each and every day so on this post, I'll just mention a few, the first one being "date night" and more importantly, someone to do "date night" with.....

Randy is good to think of fun things to do and things to show me. Last night we drove to Sutter Creek and Jackson and enjoyed the old town atmosphere of these old mining towns here in Northern California then enjoyed the seafood buffet at the casino in Jackson...and of course, ate far too much. I don't know that I've ever seen a full rainbow and my camera phone couldn't capture it exactly but I was thankful to be there at the moment and see how beautiful it was. We are thankful, as well for the rain in this dry area....

Earlier this past week, I was going to start doing my gratitude post but never did get around to it and I was especially thankful that day for the smell of homemade bread again in my house. I decided to try whole wheat and it was delish........I gotta give credit to my 30 year old Bosch.....best investment ever.

One last item..... I get the "Daily Motivator" from a cousin every day and most of the time, I read them and enjoy them but every once in a while, one just hits home to what I need for the day so I'm going to share a portion of today's....."Let the world be the way it is, and let yourself see the possibilities. Embrace the reality of what is, and make use of it to create positive value. Choose to be fully at peace with the way things are. From that peaceful, powerful perspective, you can make things better and better." 

It's all about Harry....

....and Sunday was. I'm grateful for these ordinances  to bring family together to rejoice in this new little life that has come to the Staheli family and Russ gave him a beautiful blessing, as he was held by worthy priesthood holders in that sacred circle of love. It was a joy to be in church with Traci and her family and listen to her bear witness of the Savior in her life and to feel the love of their ward family. It warms a mother's heart to know their children are loved where they live and thriving in their neighborhoods. It was a great day.....and I was glad I could be there.

Kyle, Spencer and Mason made the trip for the day to be there and support Traci and her family and we were able to take in Music and the Spoken Word before going up to Bountiful. I'm truly grateful for their efforts to support their sister and her family on this special day.

It was fun to meet up with Kaila, Jonathan, Megan and Joey for Randy's birthday dinner at Cheese Cake Factory on Saturday.  Couldn't get blogger to upload the pics but it was fun. We played a fun game called "Compatibility"  (click on it to learn more about it) and since I'm not a big "gamer"....I was skeptical but it was really fun. It's been a good week of celebrating with family. Party on....50 days to Christmas...who's counting?

This is dedicated....

...to the one I love because it's his birthday (Nov. 3)..... Last May 26, I married Mr. Randy Reber and my life changed forever. He has added that something extra to my life that we all need, even tho' sometimes we don't think we do....to love and to be loved. We both love life and being active and doing "stuff"....sometimes it doesn't really matter what "stuff"....a bike ride, an evening walk, watching a movie, playing a game....or just being quiet together. It's having someone you love to share that "stuff" with that makes life fun. I've done fine for the last 10 years and I would be fine without Randy, but I'm "finer" with him.

He's not perfect, but he's perfect for me. Happy Birthday, Randy. Thanks for joining me on this ride.

The party's over....

....and a good one it was. As always, waiting to see what Mason will be and he did not disappoint. Watching too much "Swamp People" I guess this year.....

We sported plenty of vampires and tho' I don't really understand the holiday, I do have to enjoy it as I watch the excitement of the children as they decide "what they are going to be"....as for me, I'm just me, but there was a time I was "something" and it usually involved a pretty dress.

Now days, a witch hat and an orange shirt is the best I can do.....

Party food and brew......

A lot has changed since my early party days......

But the theme is always the same.....

It was another successful Halloween at our house. And as always, I hate the holiday but love my birthday.....A new year begins for me and I will continue to make my life "one big party"........