November
November came fast. One day it was nice warm, fall weather and the next day we had snow. Here is a sampling of the harvest from my garden. It was a good harvest on the farm too - we had hay, buckwheat, wheat, corn and peas. We were blessed. Craig still enjoys farming. He spends his winter months organizing the shop, cleaning equipment, coaching junior high basketball and wrestling teams and attending all of Jared's games.
Sara graduated from Cosmetology College - in just 10 months. She worked hard to get done fast. And now she's employed at a salon in Moses Lake. To celebrate and acknowledge her efforts and to encourage her in her homemaking interests, we gave her a sewing machine. She sewed an apron as her first project.
Here's a picture of Craig with his dad and two brothers - Monty on the left and Larry on the right. Paul and Craig worked side by side on the farm for many years. We miss him on the farm. Monty is superintendent of Kittitas School District and Larry is a financial planner. Paul suffered a stroke about 7 years ago.
Jeni & Kevin's NEW HOUSE!! They actually moved in October 30th. They still live in Pasco but they are in a different ward. It's a nice 4 bedroom house with much more room than they've ever had. They've been busy painting walls and organizing rooms.
Jared had a unique experience. A classmate and fellow football team member investigated the church and was baptized and asked Jared to baptize him. He was honored. Here is Jared with Jorge Medina.
My Dad turned 80 years old on November 2nd. We held a 80th birthday celebration in his honor that following Saturday. Many wonderful friends and family showed up to help honor and celebrate my father. It was a privilege and honor to organize such an event as his "daughter" (that's what he always calls me).
Here's my dad and mother visiting after the event with his side of the family who were able to attend - his sister Catherine from California came along with her son Nathan and his wife April and their son and daughter. His brother Dave's daughter Diana who lives in California also attended along with his brother Nat's daughter Linda who lives in Kennewick. He loved the whole thing. (He's wearing his birthday shirt from his sister)
Here's my brother John with our Aunt Catherine.
All three of my brothers were able to come for this special event. Here's a rare family photo of all of us.
l-r: Tom, John, Vicki, Mother, Dad, Jim
The following week during Veteran's Day, we took off for Idaho to visit Jeff and Sadie who were "homeless". They'd just moved out of their apartment and were waiting for their house they were buying to close so they were temporarily staying at Sadie's parent's house who graciously offered us a place to stay while we visited. It was a fun weekend as we spent time with Reagan and Jeff and Sadie. Jeff is finishing his schooling in Construction Management graduating this April and is working at DePatco - a construction company. They have hired him fulltime upon graduation. Sadie went back to work a month ago as a nurse at the hospital in labor & delivery. She works nights so Jeff can take care of Reagan. They make a good team.
Here's Jeff and Sadie's future home in Rigby. They are excited to be home owners and have some obvious work ahead of them (yard and driveway!).
Here's their beautiful kitchen. They can't wait to move in and make this house a home.
Happy 79th Birthday Mother! She was glad to be home in her own house to celebrate. Her brother and sister-in-law were able to come for lunch and her favorite cake - angel food. I feel blessed that she's been able to live this long of a life and am so thankful for her teachings and example she's been to me.
Happy Thanksgiving! Here's our place setting. The placecard is a pumpkin made out of paper punched with a scallop punch. The favor is a Rice Krispy turkey body with a cookie for the base and one for the back with candy corn as feathers and one for the face.
Here's the Thanksgiving crowd. We were grateful to have both sets of grandparents able to be with us this year. I wasn't sure after Mother's fall if she'd ever be able to come back to my house. But we poured some cement and used a ramp and wheelchair to get her inside the house and it worked! We missed Jeff and Sadie and Reagan though - the winter storm made them unable to travel home. bummer.
Here's the little kids table....
Here's the favorite aunt. Marci is a great aunt to all the children. She's holding Paige and Hailey in this picture. She's still teaching school in Tacoma and took on a part-time job after school as a receptionist for an oral surgeon. She is one busy girl.
We enjoyed a snowfall with enough snow for Frosty.
l-r: Kate, Aubree, Carter, Paige
If you look close, you'll see a cocoon. I love this picture as it reminds me of the hope of spring and yet the comfort of "home" and the necessary time it takes for growth.
One of our winter wonderland days. Beautiful.
Sara graduated from Cosmetology College - in just 10 months. She worked hard to get done fast. And now she's employed at a salon in Moses Lake. To celebrate and acknowledge her efforts and to encourage her in her homemaking interests, we gave her a sewing machine. She sewed an apron as her first project.
Here's a picture of Craig with his dad and two brothers - Monty on the left and Larry on the right. Paul and Craig worked side by side on the farm for many years. We miss him on the farm. Monty is superintendent of Kittitas School District and Larry is a financial planner. Paul suffered a stroke about 7 years ago.
Jeni & Kevin's NEW HOUSE!! They actually moved in October 30th. They still live in Pasco but they are in a different ward. It's a nice 4 bedroom house with much more room than they've ever had. They've been busy painting walls and organizing rooms.
Jared had a unique experience. A classmate and fellow football team member investigated the church and was baptized and asked Jared to baptize him. He was honored. Here is Jared with Jorge Medina.
My Dad turned 80 years old on November 2nd. We held a 80th birthday celebration in his honor that following Saturday. Many wonderful friends and family showed up to help honor and celebrate my father. It was a privilege and honor to organize such an event as his "daughter" (that's what he always calls me).
Here's my dad and mother visiting after the event with his side of the family who were able to attend - his sister Catherine from California came along with her son Nathan and his wife April and their son and daughter. His brother Dave's daughter Diana who lives in California also attended along with his brother Nat's daughter Linda who lives in Kennewick. He loved the whole thing. (He's wearing his birthday shirt from his sister) 
Here's my brother John with our Aunt Catherine.
All three of my brothers were able to come for this special event. Here's a rare family photo of all of us. 
The following week during Veteran's Day, we took off for Idaho to visit Jeff and Sadie who were "homeless". They'd just moved out of their apartment and were waiting for their house they were buying to close so they were temporarily staying at Sadie's parent's house who graciously offered us a place to stay while we visited. It was a fun weekend as we spent time with Reagan and Jeff and Sadie. Jeff is finishing his schooling in Construction Management graduating this April and is working at DePatco - a construction company. They have hired him fulltime upon graduation. Sadie went back to work a month ago as a nurse at the hospital in labor & delivery. She works nights so Jeff can take care of Reagan. They make a good team.
Here's Jeff and Sadie's future home in Rigby. They are excited to be home owners and have some obvious work ahead of them (yard and driveway!).
Here's their beautiful kitchen. They can't wait to move in and make this house a home.
Happy 79th Birthday Mother! She was glad to be home in her own house to celebrate. Her brother and sister-in-law were able to come for lunch and her favorite cake - angel food. I feel blessed that she's been able to live this long of a life and am so thankful for her teachings and example she's been to me.
Happy Thanksgiving! Here's our place setting. The placecard is a pumpkin made out of paper punched with a scallop punch. The favor is a Rice Krispy turkey body with a cookie for the base and one for the back with candy corn as feathers and one for the face.
Here's the Thanksgiving crowd. We were grateful to have both sets of grandparents able to be with us this year. I wasn't sure after Mother's fall if she'd ever be able to come back to my house. But we poured some cement and used a ramp and wheelchair to get her inside the house and it worked! We missed Jeff and Sadie and Reagan though - the winter storm made them unable to travel home. bummer.
Here's the little kids table....
Here's the favorite aunt. Marci is a great aunt to all the children. She's holding Paige and Hailey in this picture. She's still teaching school in Tacoma and took on a part-time job after school as a receptionist for an oral surgeon. She is one busy girl.
We enjoyed a snowfall with enough snow for Frosty. 
Sara celebrated her 21st birthday on October 5th. We met her and Derek for dinner along with the Roylance family to help celebrate her special day.
Preston turned 3 on October 6th. He LOVED his train cake lovingly made by his mother. So creative. He is attending preschool and learning to play with others. He's talking more and knows where Grandma's house is!
Aubree's special day of her baptism occurred on October 9th.
Lindsey had her own special day the following day on October 10th when she was blessed. Not to brag, but you have to notice both of the girls dresses as I made them both :). I am SO thankful I learned to sew (and enjoy it!). We also celebrated the end of 20 long months of unemployment for Kyle as he obtained a job working as a consultant for a bank dealing with foreclosed houses and properties.
Here is precious Lindsey - obviously she knows what day it is. (Although she does glow, it's not her, but the camera flash.)
During October 14-16, the Wright Families from Utah came to visit. We had a BLAST as we rode motorcycles, ate, laughed and enjoyed one another's company. Their main reason to visit was to come see Mom (Grandma) Wright. She had fallen on September 24th and broke her hip and was recuperating in an assisted living facility in Tri Cities. Here are the cousins on top of Saddle Mountain. 
Here's me and Dana and my mom at the nursing home cafeteria where we met as a family to mingle and visit.
Mother was ready to come home after that event, but it wouldn't be until November 8th before she was finally released. I have been so impressed with how both she and Dad have handled this trial in their life. They have met it with humor, love and patience that has been a wonderful example to me.
Soon it was Halloween. We went over to visit Heidi and Kyle prior to Halloween and was able to attend a school party and see the kids in their costumes. Kate as a whimsy witch and Preston as a pirate (arrgh!)
Lindsey stole the show in her costume as Chicken Little. So cute!!!
Here's Hailey in her pair of glasses....
The best part of Halloween was when we were surprised at our front door by Jared and Kevin - they'd snuck downstairs into the costume box and found these costumes of Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head and then came to the front door, rang the door bell and completely surprised us all. It was hilarious. Jeni will still burst out in laughter if you mention this to her.
Here's the master at work.... (with his assistant)
Here's the 2 cousins side by side. Reminds me of Jeff and Bryan when they were born 2 weeks apart. 
Hailey learned to WALK!
Hailey turned one on September 30th. Here she is enjoying her birthday cupcake.
