In Loving Memory

My maternal grandmother Irene passed away yesterday. In 1916 when she was born, Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday in November (it was changed in the 1940's to the 4th Thursday in November). Grandma was born into this life on Thanksgiving Day and she passed into the next on Thanksgiving Day. So while she didn't quite make it to her 94th birthday on November 30th, she lived for 95 Thanksgivings. Clever woman.

I have so many fond childhood memories of feeding ducks and going swimming with her in the summers, watching her carve the Thanksgiving turkey, and spending Christmas Eves at her house.  As I got older, Gram and I didn't always see eye-to-eye. She was very traditional, conservative, and Catholic, and I was... not. Despite our differences we never lost sight of our grandmother-granddaughter connection and our unconditional love for one another got us through quite a few quarrels. While many of my decisions, big and small, went against her wishes, I always considered her point of view and she had a tremendous influence on me.

I will miss you, Gram!

The best part of the cookie-making process

Chard Yard Guard

Leaf Jumping - Take 2 (Doggy Style)

Best Friends Song

My best friends are cute,

and they live in my room,

and play play, 

and play toys,

and play trains.

Celebration

We had a mellow but fun birthday party for Gavin at our house on Saturday. We picked an airplane theme and Brandon and I got a kick out of decorating with balsa wood planes flying under a blue balloon sky through white balloon clouds.  We shared the day with friends (Paula & Tom, Mae & Andrew, Leanna, Angie, Sam & Claire) and family (Grandpa Dale, Uncle Marty, Grandma Debby, Aunt Brooke, Kenzy & Max), enjoying each others' company and some gorgeous fall weather.

Look who's THREE!

 

Happy birthday to Gavin! Highlights of his special day included going to school, going to a new (to him) McDonald's playland for lunch, hiking on the Logan River Trail - complete with train tracks and a guest appearance by a real train!, throwing rocks into the river, helping daddy make dinner, opening presents, and eating his very own, all to himself, extra-sweet, store-bought birthday cake.

Halloween Weekend

Despite my having a cold, and the weather being fickle, and Halloween landing on a Sunday this year (effectively bumping trick-or-treating to Saturday the 30th for most folks), we managed to pull off a pretty successful 10/31.  Many thanks to Brandon's sister Brooke for volunteering to take Gavin on Saturday.  He had a great time down in Syracuse where he attended a Halloween party and his cousin's birthday party, AND went trick-or-treating.  While he was gone, Brandon and I (and Vivian) went on a rare dinner date to Happy Sushi in Logan.  Gavin came home early Sunday afternoon, and after a much needed nap he donned his James costume and we went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood - mostly just to the houses of neighbors that we know.  To see more pictures, CLICK HERE.