Ending and Beginning

Its the end of November - what a month.

Had a good Thanksgiving - did the annual ward Thanksgiving dinner then came home and had our own turkey dinner. It was nice to see Susan and George, Brandi and Azeema.

Spent the weekend kind of quietly - I hurt my back again so trying to take it easy.

Got a massage yesterday.

Today we went to a funeral for Rachel and Nate Mahelona - an older couple in our ward - they died within days of each other.

Thursday Gene and I will go to our cousin Hawley Manwarring's husband's funeral - he died suddenly last week. So sad. We love Aunty Hawley - she was the HIGHLIGHT and LIVE WIRE on our trip to Scotland.

Friday we have our neighborhood Christmas Party.

Saturday we are going to the italian dinner that I won at a silent auction last January. One of our engineers is a master chef and she's cooking. Nanette and Wayne Judd (she's my Mossman cousin) are joining us. Looking forward to it!

Supposed to be leaving next Tuesday for a meeting in Washington D.C. Back on the 10th.

Glad Gabe put the tree up last weekend. Its pretty.

Dance Concert

TONIGHT!

Service

Everyday I pray that I might recognize service opportunities around me. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I had volunteered to prepare dinner for a friend who is going to the temple. Since going to the temple for the first time is quite a thing to celebrate I told her I would bring a dinner for her and her family and whomever else goes to the temple with her. So right now I am not sure how many people that will be - but I will be ready no matter how many.

Then I found out that a family we know have had a number of tragedies. The oldest adult son died on oct. 29, then the mom had a massive stroke last week and is in a coma and unresponsive, then 11 hours after she went in the hospital the Dad was admitted to hospice (he had been sick for years) and he died Sunday night. So I will provide dinner for their family (7 adults) tomorrow night too.

I have been scouring my recipes to see what I will prepare - it is a bit of a challenge because we are oven-less. We get a new one on Friday.

Am thinking maybe spiral ham (in my big roaster), baked beans (in my crock pot), rice, salad and rolls. Dessert -- hmmm. Still thinking about that one!

Coming Up

Gene comes home from Barcelona tomorrow night then goes straight to Scouts.

Wednesday night he works at the temple.

Thursday night we are both going to the temple.

Then Friday and Saturday is Gabe's Dance Concert - looking forward to seeing him in it. The practices are from 10 - 10 on weekends and 4-9 on school nights so all that work should pay off!

Blessing

My two boys have always liked to wear their hair short.

Gabe's is now maybe and inch and a half and he's asking for $ to get a haircut.

It may cost a few dollars more per year but saves lots of teenager-parent hassle.

Weekend

Jacob's going to the Big Island with Samantha's family.

Gabe's going to a play tonight with friends.

Susan and George are coming over to make a mexican feast for us tonight.

Good weekend I do believe!

Next Week

Is APEC conference in Hawaii - which means the island is on lock down practically and the traffic will be gridlock - so I plan on staying home as much as possible.

Gene is going to Barcelona next weekend.

I won (at a Silent Auction) a gourmet italian dinner for 4 prepared by one of my engineers and served in her lovely Manoa home. Its on the 12th. Gene will be gone so I need a date -r eally 3 - cause its dinner for 4. Looking for my besties...

Learned Something New

So the reason Michelle doesn't get scared from Halloween spooky stuff is because people with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome have damage in the amygdala - a part of the brain which "controls" fear - or rather secretes chemical that increases fear. So hers doesn't work = no fear.

Nails

They did manicures at Young Women on Tuesday. Michelle loved it!

Scary Fun

Haunted Lagoon at Polynesian Cultural Center with Michelle, Susan, George, Jacob, Samantha, Gabe and Lakona.

Ohana

Photo taken at Guyzance Hall, Northumbria, England. Cousin Keith Mossman visited us from his home at Hill House, Hunsonby, England (drove 2 1/2 hours!)

We were supposed to all make a funny face.

The front row didn't get the memo.

Catch Up Still

We had a good weekend - went to Trunk or treat at the church. Michelle pulled together what she called a "dancing girl" costume - a skirt, top and jewelry with a single small braid done at the front of her hair (like with her long bangs). Hannah was a hula girl with pareo, flower in her hair etc. Gabe was Indiana Jones. And I was Blue - just a person painted blue.

Gene and I started working in the church nursery on Sunday with delightful 18 month - 36 month old kids. They are so fun!

One of the downsides to working with them though is picked up their germs - I caught a cold and am suffering right now...

We didn't go trick or treating on Monday (the REAL Halloween) but the girls enjoyed passing out candy.

Cousin Misty posted a Scotland pic on Facebook - its of me and Chubby. I love her so much! I think we are at Alnwick Castle (Harry Potter Castle)