Thanksgiving at the Andersons'

The holidays are all about family. That is what I am most thankful for. We had dinner at Ryan and Andrea's house, as is becoming our custom. It's far more interesting and convenient because it has toys and kids' rooms and Mason's bed for naptime. Janie posed with a tie that is as blue as her eyes. I love her smile. Here are Abby and Mason with their bright eyes and smiles. Mason did finally fall asleep after dinner. While Bob conked out in a recliner and most of the other adults played board games, I played a puzzle game with Abby, Janie, and Kayla. What fun! After playing until we were worn out, the girls went back to playing with costumes and I joined the adult games.

Nolan created a dessert Pilgrim's hat of the family Reese's peanut butter bars recipe. It tastes just like a Reese's candy, I swear! Nolan decorated it with candies for the unmistakable hat band and buckle sported by the Anglo men at the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

Ginger and her fiance Gerald brought baby Janice and Kayla to the celebration. Janice hardly made a peep. She loves being held, and other than nursing and getting diaper changes, that kept her happy. Kayla wore a ballerina dress and pioneer bonnet--which I got her to take off so I could see her face in this picture.

It was a fine day with family. We are thankful to be so richly blessed to live in this great country with all of our needs met. We have more than enough. We missed family who were not with us, but they are always in our thoughts and prayers. And we are blessed with the phone system and the internet so we can easily be in touch with them.

And AFTER the gathering ended, Andrea and I took Nolan and Abby and went to see Twilight, the movie. I'll try not to go into raptures over how much I enjoyed the movie, but what a surprise it was to have Andrea ask me if I wanted to go when I expected to simply go home with Bob. I had been wanting to see Twilight since it opened. Surprising how I was able to flip from the peaceful joy of spending time with family to the laughing-out-loud happiness of suddenly going to TWILIGHT, at last. And now to tie it in to Thanksgiving, I must say I am thankful I was able to go to an exciting movie that had an imaginative story with very little violence, no graphic violence, no sex, and great (though unknown 'til now) actors.

My answer to Andrea's tag. . .

I am: a sister to everyone who lives on this earth.
I know: happiness comes from following God's plan.
I want: to lose most of my excess weight.
I have: been blessed with a great family.
I dislike: other drivers.
I miss: feeling pretty.
I feel: I can do just about anything I put my mind to.
I hear: music in the written word.
I smell: of my favorite perfume, LeDix by Balenciaga.
I crave: Icees about every day or two.
I cry: easily, so people shouldn't be concerned when I do. It's a great relief at times.
I search: for valuables in sofa cushions.
I wonder: if I'm capable of overcoming laziness and attaining exaltation.
I regret: I didn't take more time to notice the little things while raising our children.
I love: the Savior, Bob, and my family.
I worry: that I might procrastinate too long.
I remember: loving, strong answers to prayers.
I dance: mostly in my heart these days. But I feel the music pulsing through my body.
I don't: whistle worth a bean.
I argue: it's never too late to live happily ever after.
I write: some pretty good stuff, but I'm out of practice.
I need: to live closer to the Spirit.
I win: when I accomplish worthy goals. Yeah, I know. Too general, but I've been racking my brain, and I'm tired.
I lose: when I don't use the talents I've been blessed with.
I wish: I were more outgoing and able to communicate well.
I listen: to Fox News and talk radio. And to the sounds of wind and birds in the morning.
I can usually be found: around the house. I need to get more active now that I'm retired.
I am scared: that others can easily see my weaknesses and failures.
I need: to be more confident and bold.
I forget: my debit card, my keys, my Happenings book, what I mean to do when I enter a room.
I tag: anyone who has the energy to complete these sentences!

Addendum: Senior Moments

Tee-hee!!!! I forgot to mention that last Monday I was wearing my jacket/shirt unbuttoned so my stained t-shirt was constantly in sight throughout the day. Reread my earlier post and maybe it will now be humorous. Plus, Andrea reminded me that Friday when I went shopping with Abby I left my debit card at home and had a near-panic attack at JoAnn Fabric's check out. Luckily I had enough cash to pay for the pattern and material there and a pizza from PaPa Murphy's. We can number that Senior Moment 3 1/2 and my forgetting about the incident as Senior Moment 5. This morning becomes SM 6; I forgot I had been confirmed by the staffer at Mercy to work a shift today in surgery. Mary Jo phoned when I didn't show up at 6 AM. As luck would have it, though, Theresa called in sick for her 8:30 shift, so I'll take over for her. With cutbacks, they most often call low need for the 6:00 shift, but today would have been an exception IF I had shown up at 6 and Theresa hadn't been sick. Now I'm just trying to justify my forgetfulness. Well, I guess I can forget about that! (Hope I do.)

Our Senior Moments

These past few weeks Bob and I have had some never-to-be-forgotten incidents that we can only label "senior moments." Well, we HOPE to not forget them. But you never know. I suppose that is why I want to write about them now. I might need a good laugh sometime in the future! I'm posting this picture because the expression on my face as I was waiting for Kayla to take the picture is such a great illustration of how mindless I can look without looking completely vacant! Last Monday I had some errands to run. I went to the doctor's office to follow up on my sleep study from October. I checked in at the Riverway Anoka front desk and sat in the specialties waiting room. I smiled at the other patients. When I got into the exam room, I whipped my jacket off so Olga could take my blood pressure. Dr Anderson conferred with me and we decided another sleep study was the next step. After leaving, I realized I needed a flu shot, so I asked at the family practice window. They sent me back down to the front desk, and I checked in with the same receptionist. Back up to the family practice waiting room, where I smiled at others waiting their turns. I again whipped my jacket off in the shot room, and went on to what I lovingly call "The Icee Store," which is the Superamerica on St Francis Blvd and Round Lake Blvd. A very cute young man smiled at me as I paid.

When I got home, I sat down with my Icee and for the first time that day, realized that in the morning, I had thrown on the tee shirt I had worn around the house Sunday. And that it had lasagna stains all down the front and center!! (See below.)

When I awoke Monday morning, I decided to read some, do my errands, and THEN take a shower. Since Sunday's shirt wasn't stinky, I would wear it until after the shower. I've always been one to comment, "Boy, he/she REALLY ought to look in the mirror before leaving the house!" when seeing someone with tight or immodest clothes and such. Yeah. I should talk! I'm going to try to remember to take my own advice in the future. Senior moment #1.

Senior moment #2 involves both Bob and me. We bought a 2009 Happenings book from an Anoka Marching Band student about 6 weeks ago. We used a few coupons, and wanted to use the Eddington's coupon one evening. We had agreed to keep the book on the desk in our computer room. But we couldn't find the darn book. We looked in our cars, on our dressers, in the stack of bills, in the kitchen, anywhere, and everywhere. We decided we lost it somehow and just gave up. We paid full price at Eddington's. Yummy! We haven't found a soup there we didn't like. Then a couple of weeks later, I discovered the Happenings book. It was (and still is) lying on its back in the top shelf of the desk, as pictured above. Because we couldn't SEE the cover, we overlooked it for weeks!!

Senior moment #3 is mostly mine, but Bob owns some of it too. Friday I returned home from shopping with Abby and dinner with Andrea and the kids. I unlocked the door to get in and went immediately to the computer room for something important (that I can't remember now--suprise!). When it was time to leave for the second sleep study later, I could NOT find my keys. Luckily, we have a spare set of keys in the kitchen. Friday and Saturday Bob and I both looked for my key ring. I tore my purse apart twice, checked the top and drawer of the computer table 3 times, looked in the sofa pillows, checked the JoAnn bag twice, took apart my Primary bag because it was near the desk, looked on the kitchen counter. Well, you get the idea. Today as I idly glanced about the room while sitting at the computer, I spied the key ring at the foot of a desk leg. Hiding in plain sight. Hmmm. . . . . Bob and I were still laughing about it an hour later!

I suppose I should tie this all up with some brilliant conclusion. I do so believe an essay should have a beginning, middle, and end. You know, I think I DID have a great ending, but I just can't remember it.

Here's hoping we all make it through the next week without forgetting anything too important, especially our senses of humor.

Red's in Coon Rapids

Yes, there IS a Red's Savoy Pizza in Coon Rapids. Bob and I took Kayla and met the Ritschels and Dan and Jenny there; that's when we discovered that although it uses the original Red's recipes, it is only a takeout store. It is located near Highway 10 and Hanson Blvd. After meeting in their parking lot, we decided to go elsewhere. We met in the OCB parking lot next, only to find the line waiting to get in was right up against the entrance door.

Can you guess from this picture where we went next? That's Dan with a fan decorating the wall.

How about from this picture? Yep. Mandarin Buffet. Here are Dan and Jenny by their water fall glass and koi pond. We all enjoyed our time together and left with full tummies.

Next time, however, we will make the trip to downtown St Paul to the original Red's Savoy Pizza RESTAURANT. Somehow, I think the pizza tastes better in its original setting. Still, I AM willing to try their takeout from the Coon Rapids sometime. More restaurant notes will appear in future blogs, I'm sure.

Update: Red's Savoy Pizza

Just a quick entry to note the good news that the same pizza Bob pronounced the second best in the USA (Red's Savoy Pizza), has a COON RAPIDS restaurant. We ate at the original location in downtown St Paul recently. But tonight, we are meeting the Ritschels and Dan and Jenny for dinner. I'll take pictures if I remember. I'm famous for bringing the camera and then forgetting to use it.

I Love a Parade

Saturday was the last day of Bob's vacation week, and we were both glad to attend the annual Halloween Parade in downtown Anoka. Bob thought I was crazy to drop off chairs at the curb outside of the Subway shop at 9 AM in order to hold a place for our family to watch the parade, which started at 1 PM. All of the curb space was taken, so I put our chairs at the edge of the driveway into the parking lot and spread them out when we returned. Bob was glad we had brought chairs earlier and stopped thinking I was crazy! Later I was talking with the folks next to us and learned they had put their chairs out at 8:30 and were about the last to get places on the curb. Next year I'm going to stake my claim at 6 AM!!! People are really good about honoring the spaces others have put their chairs and blankets. We left after dropping off ours and returned about 11. We brought books to read. (I also enjoy people-watching.) I get a deep thrill and feeling of reverence when honor guards carry the first flags in a parade. A hush came among us at the curb; everyone stood at attention. I am so grateful to live in this free country. We are a truly blessed nation.

This year Justin was driving this cart along the parade route. When he was new on the Anoka Police Force, he was assigned to direct traffic around the parade route, through the residential neighborhoods. So he never got to see the parade. Now his seniority is kicking in and here he is waving at us, rather than waving befuddled drivers through the detour. Doesn't he look happy?

Phil met us at the parade wearing this costume. He had been wearing this get-up to his work as a pipe fitter for a few days! Phil really gets into the spirit of Hallowen early and often. We took him, Dan, and Dan's girlfriend Jenny to LeAnn Chin's for dinner after the parade. Sadly, no one kissed the cook that day except me, and I don't think I count because I'm just his mother.

Bob decided to work Friday in order to save one day of his vacation for another time. So I visited Ginger and Janice. Both are doing well. It never ceases to amaze me how much babies change day to day. Now Janice opens her eyes a lot, and I caught her nearly smiling in this picture. Later we surprised Kayla by picking her up after school and going to the grocery store.

This close-up shows how much Janice looks like Ginger through the nose and mouth. Pretty cute, eh? ALL of our grandchildren are exceptionally cute.

Today I stayed with Mason while Andrea went to help with a Halloween party in Janie's kindergarten class. I think everyone should spend some quiet, alone time with a toddler every once in a while if they can. Today I watched Mason as he watched the garbage truck pick up their garbage can. He got excited when he heard the truck noise and ran to the picture window, smiling. There we were, quietly watching the little "show" that plays every week. And for that time, all was well with the world.