Thanksgiving Weekend Without End

Since Megan traveled to Texas for unknown reasons, the Bassetts and Amy's family were kind enough to join us for Thanksgiving to keep us from being too lonely. We're still adjusting to all this our-children-are--leaving-us-for-good stuff. 

The grandkids had great fun reading the 3-D books,

and  putting together puzzles.

Ignore that "every kiss begins with  Kays" tv commercial. It's halftime at Grandpa's football game.

Look at that cute Ava. I can't believe how blonde she is. She and Makayla almost match.

 By far the hit of Wednesday were these things Hailey calls "iron beads"

You put tiny plastic colored tubes on little pegboards, then bring them to Grandma to iron so that the beads melt together. The pegboard is then reusable for the next child.

The grandkids spent hours making dozens and dozens of these. 

Jordan turned one of her creations into a Christmas ornament. It was fun to see the patterns and designs each of the grandkids came up with.

 

 I found these on sale for $5 at Target. They came in a bucket with thousands of little tubes and 5 or 6 pegboards. It kept everyone happy and busy for hours. Best $5 spent ever! Now can anyone tell me what to do with all of our plastic things? One can only use so many coasters/ornaments/objet d'arts.

Along with beading we've done plenty of eating this weekend.

For some inexplicable reason, several of the grandkids
thought it would make sense to eat tacos with straws.

On Thursday we went to Uncle Kent's for Thanksgiving dinner, which warranted a haircut and

some curls

and some more curls.

Pretty cute!

Time for a little bit of a tv break while the adults cooked our share of the Thanksgiving feast in the kitchen to take to Kent's house.

We had a wonderful turkey dinner at the Joneses. Unfortunately I was so busy eating, I apparently neglected to take pictures.

 Afterward we got home, we watched a scripture video and put ourselves to bed.

On Saturday we went to the Bassetts and had a fun day with Ken's parents, brother, sister, and families. 

 Grandpa Bassett took everyone for a hayride.

I don't know--do you think that little Jeep will pull all those people?

Yep, it's getting a thumbs up. The kids had so much fun, they talked Grandpa B. into doing it again.

After lunch we all went bowling at the famous Shepherd bowling and casino spot.

Grandpa Jones, showing us how to roll a strike.

Waiting for the balls to magically appear.

Makayla didn't quite understand the principle that if it wasn't her turn to bowl, someone else would be using "her" ball.

Ken's brother and sister-in-law have a cute 4 month old daughter, who got lots of attention from Hailey 

and Makayla. That poor baby will sleep well tonight.

Bowler Jordan.

Caden and Kailyn checking out the score. Pretty sure Grandma J is winning.

Cute bowlers, enjoying suckers from Grandpa B.

On Sunday we spent the morning at church, then watched important you tube things like amazing musical stuff and some pretty funny candid camera-type entertainment. We might have finished off the pumpkin pie, too.

By evening things had gotten dicey outside. Clearly, Bassetts, you can't leave us tomorrow. I'm predicting SO much snow, you likely won't get out of the driveway. Yep. Get out the hot chocolate, we'll just hang out with you till it's warmer--I'm guessing mid June?

One Last Time

I truly intend to finish posting all of my pictures from Europe, 

but I've been waylaid by so many other things.

Stan and I decided we were done with our living room carpet. We got the carpet shortly before we got that (@##%$#) dog who insisted on dragging food into the living room to eat. She's been gone for years, but her stains have lived on.

Here's how it looks after it has been professionally cleaned.
You can practically see dog tracks on it.

I tied up two precious days with a couple of the most talkative carpet installers ever. But I love my new, spotless carpet. I know. It won't be spotless forever, but it is now!

We also did the steps and hall. 

Despite all the chaos of the carpet guys....

I hope the painting fairy visits me and paints along the stairs the where the new carpet exposes old paint colors.

....I managed to find the time to finish piecing baby Backman's quilt while chatting. I may even get it quilted and binding sewn on before Jordica's (Jessiden's?) arrival. 

Megan won't notice if I'm stitching binding on during her reception, right?

Winter arrived full-force a few weeks ago in Montana, meaning I got to finally wear the scarf I purchased in Europe. Of course, I had to take the time to shop for a coat that matched it.

Speaking of shopping, I've visited every store in town three times and shopped online at every clothing seller in the universe, trying to find an appropriate mother-of-the-bride dress. Who let Megan choose the colors??? I've order dozens of dress, only to return them because they are too short, too blue, too green, too tight, too loose, too, well..... too. Here's the pile going back tomorrow. After all this work, I'm still not completely sure what I'm wearing, but at least I definitely know what I'm not wearing.

Of course, life just isn't complete without plenty of time spent with my favorite in-town grandkids.

In between all of that carpeting, sewing, shopping, returning, and grandma-ing, I've written out 49,130 wedding invitations. I think. I haven't actually counted them. I finished them today. You know what that means, don't you?

Wahoo! I've addressed my last wedding invitation, ever, ever!!!!

Unless of course, I forgot yours. If I did, please shoot me an email and I'll take care of it.