Creepy Halloween Food

We had a Ward Halloween potluck Friday evening.
I had been looking at dishes to make all the week before. Was going to make Jennifer's annual Halloween pumpkin dinner, when I heard on the radio when driving Christopher to school of a Halloween meat made as a cut off hand.





The meat loaf is surrounded with mash potatoes. They had a contest for the most creepy and spooky, I won for the meat category and the over all prize. I had a lot of fun making this dish.

Update on the Family

David had his surgery on August 25th , he has bounced back very well and is slowly going back to work for a half day of work four days a week.

Matthew just had his first soccer game of the season yesterday. They lost 3 to 5 to the Lions.

Jennifer and her family are living in Virginia and loving the new adventure.

Margaret and Johnathan are still working in Vacaville her at Raley's and him at Wal-Mart.

Margaret is living in an apartment in Vacaville and Johnathan resides at home.

Christopher is working hard in eighth grade and has given up any sports activities for the first quarter of school.

I'm back working at the elementary school two hours a day for lunch and yard duty. It's a nice break in the day but sometimes hard to fine the hours in the day to get the work done at home . don't see how mothers work full time with children in school.

Day Trip Free Weekend

Last weekend we took a day trip with the boys and a neighborhood friend.

Christopher is going to a baseball camp all this week up at Sonoma State. So David decide we should take a ride up to the Collage to see where is is so if by any chance I might have to drive him up there during the week.

While up north we had heard of a Petrified Forest near Calistoga. We went to check it out.

Matthew kicks to see if hard has rock.

Matthew ouch! looks like wood but it is hard as stone.

This is the petrified wood before cleaning process.

David saw this from around the turn in the path and almost freaked out thought is was a real miner and his mule.

Great shot of the area and the beautiful scenery of the petrified wood.

Queen of the forest California Coastal Redwood. Matthew and friend left of tree.

Boys where getting bored so David gave them something to do.

Hear, see and speak on evil.

Carvings can be seen trough out the trail this was one of my favorites.

This is Old Faithful of California , David almost missed the first shot of water Matthew going to find him.

Not as huge has Old Faithful in Yellowstone but nice to see, it goes

off more often, every ten or fifteen minutes.

Time to go boys tried and ready to go home.

Surprise visitors

Sunday I had a surprise when I arrived at church, Jennifer and the family came in for Idaho.

They surprised the whole family yours and Jared's. Sorry but David and the two younger boys where up enjoying the condo in the mountains, poor Grand- dad has not seen the new grandson.

But for these pictures and birth week shots.

Was a fun weekend saw Jennifer and family and had a nice lunch with Margaret and spent Monday with Johnathan and took him to the movies for an early birthday, he turned twenty six yesterday May 26th. We had only the time to take him for a late birthday dinner that night for Christopher's team is in the play off games. Christopher played his best game last night made two good hits and scored twice for his team. They won the game last night against the Cubs 10 to 9. He got the game ball for his two hits and many good stops at second base. We play them this Saturday again and hope to go on to win for a chance to play for the championship game.

Happy 13th Christopher

We have a teenager in the house

Christopher had his 13th birthday this last weekend. We decided to have a big out door party with barbecue and out door games of badminton, crochet, boccie ball and when end with Volley ball. The weather turn warm the temperature was in the low 90's. We kept with the plans and the guest enjoyed them self's even with the heat.

David cooked hamburger's and hot dogs and we had fresh watermelon, strawberries, veggies and all the chips and soda you might want.

Out came the water balloons to keep them cool.

Blowing out the candle after have a time getting them lite.

Christopher's favorite ice cream cake, mint chocolate chip with white cake.

What would a birthday be with out gifts and sports wear and poster

for the the sport fan fanatic.

Celebrations with Family

Mother Days was a great time spent with the family. In the morning we went to church and then in the after noon we went to Jim and Lois's for a barbecue John cooked some tri tip and we each filled in with the side dishes.
Margaret brought the cake a nice fruit filled cake with strawberries and bananas. She helped decorate this cake at the store. I know the pink rose is one of hers.

Grandmother, Daughter and Mother

After dinner and before eatting dessert we all decided to take a walk around the block. All but Johnathan and Margaret.

This is what Johnathan was doing while we where walking.

Baseball Family

Last weekend we had the fun of going to the Giants Game where Green Valley Middle School Band played the national anthem. Christopher plays the trombone. I didn't get a close up picture because we where third row to the top of the stadium. Below is a video you can hear them playing. Sorry problem with video will have to try again.

Here are a few shot before the game and with the family. Giants won the Diamond Backs two to zero, it was a pitchers game.

Margaret and Christopher in their Giants shirts and hats.