Thankful for Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving Holiday was extra special. After 35+ years of wonderful Thanksgiving Holidays at Grandpa Steve & Grandma Marion's, we we held a big family Thanksgiving at our house.  Twenty-nine people came, and we all had such a great time.

Starting Thanksgiving Morning
at the Turkey Trot in Torrance.

Gathering at the Turkey Trot

Brent's great time: 31 minutes

Mom, Stephen, Nathan, Ryan, Austin after the run

Stephen weaves his magic story time for the little ones.

GATHERING FOR DINNER

 Robyn the hostess

 The Four Boys had their own special table.

Counterclockwise from front: Dylan, Jake, Jaden, Trey

They are giving their best dinosaur roars.

 One of the four tables we set up

 The official Turkey Trot runners photo

 Family talent show time: Let It Be

 Even the little ones joined in the talent show

 Matt played Piano, while the family sang 

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Dancing to the music

 It was especially fun that Daryl and Cerise could join us

 Erin and Ryan Webber and Family doing their Circus Act

 Daryl serenades us with "Johnny Verbeck and his Sausage Machine"

Cute song with a cruel ending for Johnny.

 Nathan and Greg

Jillair announcing her piano number

IT WAS A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING

THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME AND SHARED

Fall Campout at O'Neill Park--October 22, 2011

We had a fun little campout at O'Neill Regional Park:

Jeff, Stephen, Ryan

Christian, Dylan

and Ryan Webber with Jaden and Trey, Dylan's cousins.

 Jaden, Christian and Dylan on Stick Patrol

 Ryan and Princess

 Dylan makes a face.

He's sitting on the "throne," a rock by the fire with its own backrest.

 Enjoying a few minutes by the fire on Sat morning.

Ryan Webber, Dylan, Jaden, Trey and I hiked around the park earlier in the morning to find the "Monster Wee's"  (Dylan's name for the oversize fire-fighting trucks.)

We also found some nice horses, two extra-furry brown rabbits with floppy ears (not the gray variety so common here), lots of family dogs and a few snake holes.

 Thank you Jessie Deason for this nice knife.

It came in handy for making kindling.

Jessie gave this to me after one of our scout campouts.

 These potatoes cooked in the firepit overnight.

No one had wanted to try them--already filled up on pancakes, bacon and eggs.

But I could pretend.

After this we went on a GPS cache "treasure hunt" hike across the park.

Bennett's First Birthday Party--October 6, 2011

It was sweet to joint Bennett, with Christian, Katie and Dylan at the Larsen's for Bennett's First Birthday Party.

 Singing "Happy Birthday to You"

 Bennett enjoying his own Birthday Brownie Cupcake

After eating by mouth, Bennett rubbed brownie cupcake all over his tummy...

Then he reached out and offered to help Grandpa take his picture.

A Detour Sign

"We don't know what's farther down the road...
There may be a detour sign
That upsets plans of yours and mine,
So I'll be true to you honey if you're not gone too long..."

From Reba McIntyre's great cover of Loretta Lynn's song "If You're Not Gone Too Long."

We had a little detour in the road in late September when our Elder Ryan came home to us on an early and honorable release from his mission due to medical-related issues.

We're sad for Ryan, but making the best of this situation.  We know Ryan did a great job when he was out on his mission and will continue to bless the lives of all he meets. It's all part of Heavenly Father's plan.

Anniversary Trip To Hawaii--September 2011

Robyn and I celebrated our 32 years of marriage with a trip to Hawaii.

Robyn has always wanted to visit Hawaii, and I wanted to take her to tell what a wonderful person and wife she is.

 For eight days we did everything together.  Just the two of us.

On the plane to Honolulu.

 One day at Waikiki, to pay our respects to Duke K.

 At Pearl Harbor, on the Arizona Memorial, honoring those who sacrificed for our freedoms.

 Ready to launch a "fish" (torpedo) on the WWII Submarine Bowfin

known as the Pearl Harbor Avenger.

 We stayed several nights on the beach at Laie, on Oahu.

This is the back lawn of our "love shack" condo, with steps down to the beach.

 We left the sliding glass door open at night, so we could hear the gentle waves as we slept.

 Enjoying our local soda pop flavors at the World Famous (sort-of) hangout Ted's Bakery on the North Shore of Oahu.

 A day at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.

We enjoyed meeting the students who are working there to support themselves at BYU-Hawaii.

 A special morning at the LDS Temple at Laie.

 Robyn on one of our many snorkeling expeditions.

The water was a little rougher, and a touch colder than we might have expected.

That didn't stop us from seeing monk seals, turtles, a slithery eel (moray?), and brightly colored tropical fish of all kinds and sizes.

We tried ocean kayaking. Robyn spotted a turtle gliding under us.

The little white rectangle in the distance is the Lahaina Shores Resort in Maui, where we stayed while on that Island.

Me, in the back of the kayak, enjoying the sight at the front of the kayak (Robyn).

 We took the ferry from Lahaina, Maui to Lanai Island.  We enjoyed snorkeling above the extensive reefs off this public beach. We could look down 30 feet to see the divers below us.

 Checking out the tide pools.

 Just before we returned from Lanai to Maui.

 A guided tour on the Road to Hana, Maui.

Our guide snapped this photo on a black sand volcanic beach.

 Under a giant stand of bamboo.

 Our helicopter, for a guided flight over Maui.

 From the air, we saw endless waterfalls, beaches, some celebrity homes, and the remains of a temple where the native used to practice human sacrifice (see the black rectangle below).

 Our final night--a sunset dinner at a restaurant right on the beach.

We  knew it was romantic, because every night photographers were taking wedding and engagement photos right there.

 A peaceful moment with Robyn.

We had some challenges on our trip, such as family health news that was unexpected, work issues to monitor and deal with, and what not. 

However, after 32 years, we'll continue to stick together and work it all out for the best.

 Eight great days together.

On the way home.

 Robyn is happy with our vacation, and I am too!

Mission accomplished.