Wagon Ride with Santa

Our small town celebrated Christmas with free donuts, hot chocolate, letters to Santa, and a wagon ride. They decided it would be safer for everyone health-wise to take a jingling, two-horse, open-wagon ride than climb on Santa's lap this year. They had a letter-writing station, where each kid could tell Santa about this year's good or bad behavior and Christmas wishes, and then the letter became the ride's ticket. Miss V and Mr C obviously loved it! Santa told jokes and sang songs with us. My favorite part was waving to neighbors in their yards, and shouting out, "Merry Christmas!" because one can say such a phrase when one is riding with Santa. Mrs Claus then passed out goody bags with popcorn and candy to everyone in the wagon. Afterward the kids played on the playground, so we some some of the last to leave. The mayor sent a few extra donuts and goody bags home with us, which we enjoyed and shared with some new neighbors. You can tell I enjoyed it, because I had donut frosting on my face the rest of the day. Even though it didn't feel much like December with the sun shining and comfort in a t-shirt, we appreciated the pleasant weather for our little celebration. (The snow came few days later.) Merry Christmas!

Christmas Delights

Grandma and Grandpa Hooper took the grandkids back to their house after our Johnson Thanksgiving feast. That meant Zak and I could take care of some Christmas shopping in Salt Lake and help Cohen and Niki with Grandma Porter’s Wayne-inspired Diet Coke bottle Christmas lights. 

My contribution consisted of stepping on the ladder feet while Cohen and Zak did the climbing and lifting. Niki and I also separated the homemade light hooks for which Cohen had built tools to fashion out of hangers list year. Sometimes my job was sitting and visiting with Mom while we watched to others working. *wink* I loved seeing them hoist the foldable, metal-frame snowflake Cohen fabricated last year. Now the lights are stunning at night, and fascinating in the daylight.

Mom and Niki have made Dad’s bench a beautiful spot, changing out the flowers and decorations each season. We also visited Uncle Randy, Grandpa Manwill, Grandma Rena Porter, Aunt Jamie, Cousin Jordan, and Great-Grandma and Grandpa Hansen. I love the closeness of several generations on both sides of the family at Richfield Cemetery.

After the reminder of how much work and effort such impressive decor involves, I went home, used some shower clips and two sets of mesh colored lights, and hung my simple strands.

Good Grief, It’s Halloween

 

My friend, Elise, gave us one of her Peanuts dvds a while ago. The kids watched it a few times, and especially loved seeing Snoopy’s reunion with his brother and sister beagles. We found some Peanuts comics at out little local library, and watched the 2015 Peanuts movie. Their favorite character is, of course, Snoopy. 

Anytime Halloween approaches and the kids show interest in characters I could dress Zak as without too much fuss on his part, I am there. Many of the Porters decided to join us to make our own Peanuts gang. Mr C went as lovable Snoopy, Miss V as the confident, pragmatic Lucy van Pelt, Zak as a perfect Charlie Brown, and I as a sweats-wearing Peppermint Patty. Mom, Niki, and Cohen fit right in with their Marcie, Sally, and Pig-Pen.

Miss V as Lucy Van Pelt and Mr C as Snoopy

Uncle Cohen as Pig Pen (properly dirtied at the diesel mechanic shop)

and Grandma Porter as Marci

Aunt Niki as Sally Brown

Uncle Christian and Aunt Carrie as Pokémon Trainers Ash Ketchum and Mallow, 

with their kid-favorite Pokemon-mobile.

My Peppermint Patty look

Zak as Good Ol' Charlie Brown

At the town trunk-or-treat we were delighted 

with the impressively authentic Mandalorian 

and Nacho Libre costumes.

Honorable Mention has to include Grandma and Grandpa Hooper, with the help of Aunt Trena, literally embodying "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus." Dad, you're looking impressive in your compression *coughs spandex* pants.

Celebration of Life Monument

On Grandpa Wayne W Porter's driver's license, he indicated that he wanted to be an organ and tissue donor. It was obviously a very difficult and emotional night, when Mom got the phone call to confirm. Surrounded by her children only hours after losing her husband and the father of her kids, Grandma went through his medical history. They let her know over time that he was able to help many people as a donor.

On Saturday we drove to downtown Salt Lake City to see the Celebration of Life Monument with Grandpa's name newly-printed on one of the glass walls. We're grateful he was willing and able to be part of a miracle to so many others.

Photo from Niki's Facebook

Afterward we drove to Christian and Carrie's house to eat lunch and visit. I thoroughly enjoyed the Panda Express that I can't get in Sevier County as Carrie told us about the kiddos she and her brother helped smile at Fan X. All too soon it was time to return home.

Harvesting Corn

 While Zak visited a neighbor, they found out another neighbor's field had been double planted on accident. Because of this, the owner couldn't use his equipment to harvest and separate the different crops. He invited us to come and pick some corn for our families, as much as we wanted.

I remember helping Grandma Margaret Johnson shuck some corn as kid. Her house faced corn fields, and I think her neighbors had shared. We listened to my aunts' conversation as we all shucked.

Tonight the kids helped for a while, filling their own bags until they decided not to haul them around anymore. It was ideal for hide-and-seek and Marco Polo. The neighbor family's kiddos played tag as they harvested.

We ate dinner before arriving. The temperature dropped from its 90°F high this afternoon, down to acceptable outside weather, which helped us greatly. We're expecting some rain tomorrow, and I'm grateful that wasn't tonight.

We had a great time, feeling good about our mini harvest. As he does, Zak is now searching the inter-webs for the best methods of prepping and freezing the corn so we can make it last until we're ready to eat it.

Thanks Hansen and Hutchinson families!

The sun set as we worked.