SURPRISE!

We knew that Julia, Lester and Addy were coming home this weekend, but we didn't expect them until Saturday. What a great surprise!

 

 

 

Love, love, love

 

Driving in Oklahoma to Texas with Georgia plates and country music on the radio

Last Monday Julia, Lester, Addy and I went to visit my sister in Texas, about 3 hours away.  We wouldn't fit in Julia and Lester's vehicle so we rented a car that happened to have Georgia license plates.  I felt so adventurous!  The only thing I like better than a road trip is a road trip with country music on the radio and riding with people I love. 

 

We had a great time with our family.  We played games, did Just Dance 4, went out for Frozen Custard, had a picnic by the lake, and I got my sister hooked on "Once Upon A Time". 



Julia's cousin has a baby 2 months older than Addy.  They loved each other from the beginning!

Rocio's boy Evani was my buddy. He gave me lots of hugs the whole time. There's nothing like a child's hugs to make you feel great!  


The trip to Texas was a wonderful bonus to an already great trip!

How Nancy got her Black Friday- shopping groove back

Well, the day after Thanksgiving I did go Black Friday shopping, in Oklahoma, from the comfort of Julia and Lester's couch.  Amazon had Black Friday Lightning Deals all weekend.  Certain things were on sale for certain hours of the day.  Luckily they advertised these in advance, so I had my notebook out with what I wanted to get and what time it was available.  Five minutes before the items went on sale I was at the website with my finger ready to touch "add to shopping cart".  Some deals were sold out within 2 minutes!  So even though I didn't stand in long lines, etc. I still had that shopping adrenaline going and the thrill of getting great bargains.  Now it is time to get out of the habit of looking for the deals, and be satisfied with what we got!

The 12th and last day of Thanksgiving

Family.  I think most people would name this as something they are grateful for.  And it is interesting how family of family becomes significant to you as well.  This Thanksgiving we've been spread out more than usual but have still been having a great time with great people.  Hillary's in-laws have been in Oklahoma for a few months and have helped Julia and Lester get settled.  Today Reggie Samantha and Luke had a KFC dinner with my family (which is a story for another day) and then had a fun evening with Reggie's family and friends.  And I can't wait to blog another day about how much fun we had in Texas this week visiting my sister and her family.  So whether you would say you are part of a traditional family, modern family, dysfunctional family, blended family, large, small, etc. kind of family, I hope you have felt the blessings of your family this Thanksgiving day.

11th day of Thanksgiving - by Mariah, by proxy

Well, even though Mariah was eager to do her day of Thanksgiving post, the busy life of a college student has stalled her.  So I am going to do it for her and she can correct me if I'm wrong.  Mariah is thankful for the diversity of this beautiful earth.  She loves loves loves the Ocean and the fog and everything about the environment at home.  But she also loves the sun and the snow and the mountains where she is living now.  She has been going to school in Utah for a while now but still gets excited about the first snow.  There is a saying - "Blossom where you're planted".  I think Mariah is a flower that blooms wherever she is.  If she keeps up that positive, adventuresome attitude, I think she will have a happy life.

10th day - my turn again . . . . . .

But I'll be doing it later, from home, where I have all my pictures.

9th day by Addy

So I'm going to write, from my observations, what our four week old granddaughter is thankful for.  (I will add a picture to this later).  Of course she is thankful for her loving parents, milk, her pacifier and her swaddling blanket.  But one other thing we have noticed is that when she is peacefully awake she really enjoys staring up at the ceiling corner.  Maybe she likes the light or maybe she can see angels from heaven watching over her.  After all, it wasn't very long ago that she was with them.  It's probably just the light but I'm sure she is being watched over by loved ones from both Heaven and earth.

The 8th day of Thanksgiving, by Lester

I didn't know whether to be serious or funny with this post. Well, seeing that it's late and I'm little a bit tired, I'll keep it simple. There are many things are I'm grateful for that I've never publicly mentioned. So here I go. I grateful for my beautiful wife who is the love of my life. I'm grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ which shows me the way to live my life to obtain a full and enriching life. I'm grateful that the gospel has shown me that family is the most fulfilling, most important pursuit that I can undertake that leads to no regrets and fulfilled promises. It has led us to decide to bring child into our home. She has graced us with her presence and I'm grateful she'll spend a portion of her life with us. I am grateful for education and employment, which is the means by which I may provide for my family. I am grateful for my parents who have given me, who gifted me with opportunity. I feel like their whole lives have been dedicated to offering their children opportunity. Such opportunity defines the American dream. You know what? I'm grateful for Joseph Smith. That young lad that prayed to God to know which church to join and turns out that God answered him in a spectacular way. Called to prophethood, Joseph restored the church of Jesus Christ of which I enjoy full membership. I am grateful for my church. I am grateful for my Savior. I honor him and He blesses me. And thus, the vicious cycle of gratitude perpetuates. Isn't it wonderful?

We interrupt the Thanksgiving posts to talk about my trip!

Well, here I am in Oklahoma spending time with my Grandbaby!  And daughter and son-in-law.  This is actually unbelievable that I would take 2 plane trips in one year - having also gone to Idaho in August.  I got to the airport 2 hours early and the plane was delayed almost an hour.  I also had a layover in Arizona and that plane was running an hour late.  But it was great!  First of all, I like seeing the different vibes of each airport.  San Francisco was CROWDED but had a holiday-travel feel to it.  Phoenix had this whole Southwest decor going on and I had a yummy extremely overpriced tamale.  The Oklahoma airport was very empty.  I brought plenty to do for the day.  Thanks to Reggie I had an I-Pad with me and was able to watch a movie that I didn't think I'd like, but ended up really enjoying (Mirror Mirror).  I also did some scripture studying, looked at emails, etc.  I also sat in the airport crying as I wrote in Luke's journal all about this summer and his moments with Grandpa Chandler.

But who cares, right?  The fact is I got here and have been LOVING HOLDING that baby!  She is beautiful!  We have been seeing so many pictures of her and her big cheeks on facebook so I think I forgot that she is still a teeny tiny newborn.  I'm glad I got here in time to see this stage of her life.

One more thing about my trip.  We went to church today which was also fun for me to be a visitor.  That never happens.  I got to introduce myself and say my exotic last name and say that I am visiting from San Francisco (oooo!)  I was listening intently for southern accents from people and heard a few, but alot of the people have moved here from all over the country - just like at home.  I noticed several people congratulating Julia and Lester on the baby and asking how they were doing.  Some people came and visited them tonight.  It is nice to see that our church really works the same no matter where you go, and I think Julia and Lester are going to fit in here just fine.

So goodnight from Oklahoma - especially to my family at home.  I'm so happy that Reggie is able to hold down the fort, and I know that Samantha and Luke have been looking forward to having extra time with him.

Julia's 7th day of Thanksgiving

I am grateful for hospitals and the medical resources and advances available to us. Ironically, being in the hospital was probably the best, and easiest part of last month for me. I felt extremely safe and more comfortable then I have in oh about nine months. This was because of the experience the workers had, the attention they paid to me, their excellent bedside manner and kindness. It also had to do with being surrounded by equipment that helped read and do things I couldn’t have done elsewhere, or without the qualified people you find in hospitals. It also had to do with the drugs that helped ease all the pain, and of course how comfortable the room was.

In an episode of Frasier, Niles has to have a procedure that takes him to the hospital. Throughout the course of the episode his family and friends wait for him anxiously. While being wheeled away for his surgery and with his drugs finally hitting him, he says “A hospital is an interesting place isn’t it. All roads leads to the hospital. We’re born here. We get sick here. We get well here. All these big dramatic moments-the hospital just gobbles them up. Do you think a hospital has memories? I bet it does.’ As he is wheeled away, in each room he passes it shows a different memory-when he broke his arm, when his wife had surgery, the moment he said goodbye to his family. His Father sees recovering after being shot as a cop, and the moment he said goodbye to his wife for the final time. At the end of the episode, it shows his future visits to the hospital-when Niles and his wife give birth to their children. 

I think if a hospital does have memories, I will be able to look back fondly and gratefully for all the life altering moments I’ve had in them-surrounded by the people who love me most and care for me always.

Andrew's 6th day of Thanksgiving

 

I'm thankful for lessons learned from failure. Because of my competitive nature, I tend to be terrible at giving up even when I know (and its quite obvious that) I have lost. For that reason its very hard on me when I fail at something...after having put in all that effort. Fortunately life gives us second chances. And when those second chances come my way, its the lessons I learned from the first round of failure that lead me out with an undying spirit in the second go-round. 

5th day of Thanksgiving, by Reggie

I am thankful for laughter.  The therapeutic value of just a good hard belly laugh can lighten the moment and lift you up.  They say that laughing is healthy for you.  So during the stress of this Holiday season, remember to laugh and enjoy the moment and enjoy the people you are around.

Justin Verlander

Hillary's 4th day of Thanksgiving

Here is something that Hillary is especially thankful for these days (she has told me all about it and authorized me to put it on the blog for her).

Hillary has a job working with children/preschoolers.  She is really enjoying it.  It goes right along with what she's been studying: Child Development.  It's been great for her to observe and put into practice the things she's been learning.  She has found the right major and the right job for her. 

She has realized lately how thankful she is for children.  She has seen in them the qualities that we, as adults, would do well to copy.  She has noticed how children are quick to forgive/get over things/not hold a grudge.  A child can have a day full of misbehavior and consequences that they don't like, but be totally thrilled to see you anyway the next day.  When a child smiles at you, says something cute, and even remembers your name it just makes your day.  Hillary is thankful to have grown up knowing that she is loved - loved by her family and loved by her Savior.  She looks at the little ones in her class and hopes and wishes that they are all being told the same thing. 

Hillary is thankful to be living a life filled with children.

12 days of thanksgiving day 3, by Luke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is something that A LOT of people take for granted. the thoght of civilization wouldn't exist. words are everything. Without them there would be no pleasent and simple conversation at all. REALLY early humans had no communication. which ment that every thought and every idea that they had had to be kept to themselves. Books, movies, shows, documents, and millions of other things would not exist without words. I just want to emphasize how thankful I am for words.

2nd day of Thanksgiving (by Samantha)

There are a million of things that I'm grateful for and I don't know how to begin but if there's one thing I will always be grateful for it would be my Mom!!! :)

My mom does a whole lot of things for me and has been ever since I was born almost seventeen years ago she is a generous,caring and magnifiecent mom. She is willing to stay by my side even though I can be a bad daughter sometimes haha. This past weekend I got my wisdom teeth removed and it was pretty nerve racking, but with my mom by my side I got through it with her guidance and assurance that all will go well. I am so glad my Grandma and Grandpa Chandler had the little girl that would later become my mother. Mom, I love you more than words can express and I'm glad we will always be together even after this life. I know I can be horrible sometimes but I know I will be your baby girl no matter what.

1st day of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is 12 days away, and so it is time for our family to do our tradition of the 12 days of Thanksgiving.  I'll go first.  (Start thinking of what your going to say kids!)

So I want to be original here - I know I have blogged in the past of being thankful for my family, my job, my Savior, pictures, good movies, my comfortable bed, the ocean, this house, friends and even milk.  What is there left to say?  Are you kidding?  There are a million things left to say!  Everyday is full of blessings, which I guess we really don't think about until we go without them for a while.

But, I guess right now, I will state how thankful I am for blankets.  Crawling into bed when you've got a comfy blanket, wrapping up in one when you are watching a movie or reading a book, having one ready in the car for those cold morning drives to work and school - when was the last time we realized how lucky we are to have blankets?  I've thought about it recently when seeing pictures of our grandaughter sleeping comfortably in her swaddling blanket.  I've thought about it recently when my Mom gave us a blanket that used to be my Dad's.  It's the most comfortable thing in the world.  So the next time you have a bad day I challenge you to wrap up in a blanket when you get home and see if it doesn't make things a little bit better. 


I guess Linus had it right all along.



 

 

 

milkshakes and movies for the weekend

Tomorrow, after putting in a regular day at school, Samantha will be having her wisdom teeth taken out.  Nobody else in our family has ever had this done, so I'm not sure what to expect from it.  The oral surgeon said she will have 3 to 5 days of pain and swelling.  Thank goodness for pain killers . . .  and other things we have planned to see her through - like a weekend full of milkshakes and movies.  I just love that girl so much.  I hate when she has to do difficult things like this, but she always takes it well. 

Talking Pidgin

We are right on track with our Disney movies.  Lilo & Stitch is #42, which means there are only 8 weeks left till Christmas/  9 weeks left of 2012/  9 movies left in our marathon.

Lilo & Stitch is a movie we have loved for a long time - probably because of Reggie's Hawaiian roots.  It is set on the island of Kauai, and the animators took great care to accurately and beautifully represent the Hawaiian culture.  When you watch the special features you see how well and closely they animated the Hula, the landscape, etc.  We get a kick out of the little details represented, like surfing, volleyball, and talking pidgeon.  ("Wat we hit?"  "Lilo, you lolo.")  And besides all of that, it's a fun story. 

It's November, and you know what that means!

Well, here's hoping we all survive the next few days, considering the election on Tuesday!  Contrary to what some Mormons and non-Mormons may assume, Mormons do not all think the same when it comes to politics, and not all Mormons are voting the same in this election.  Hopefully we can all remain friends tomorrow, before the election, and next Sunday, after the election!

As for me, I have to admit that I am not all that informed.  I have been happy to not have cable; it has meant avoiding all of the smear-campaign commercials.  Even when in it comes to the propositions, etc., I have not taken the time to research everything.  Luke, on the other hand, has become very educated.  His class had an assignment to read about the issues and fill out a ballot on how they would vote, if they could.  Hopefully the teachers were impartial and explained things without adding their opinions.  I told Luke that maybe I should just take his ballot to the voting booth with me and vote the way he did.  How's that for letting an 11 year old be heard!

 So anyway, happy voting everybody!