I LOVE Fall!!!!!

I really love the Fall of each year.  It seems the weather is great (in sunny California) and I get many visits with my family and friends.  My birthday is end of summer/beginning of Fall so how can I go wrong.

So in September Julie came for the weekend before my birthday and we had a really fun trip to her cousin, Heather, 's wedding in Oakland.  Then we went on to sightsee for the afternoon in San Francisco. It was really fun and the weather was great.  We went to places we had never been in San Francisco.  I believe Julie would say the highlight of the tour was when we were in what is considered the "gay" district of SFO and the driver was describing how SFO has NO nudity laws and right across the street was a nude man (except for boots) who turned around to face us and then strode off across the street.  The cross dressers were also quite interesting.  The grafiti walls in one section of town (actually a lot of alleys) were also amazing to see.  And then we went to the top of Twin Peaks (NO, we had never been up there) and were absolutely amazed at the view of the entire area (and the wind)!!!!  Damon and Craig  also celebrated their birthdays.

In October we went to visit Sherri (and family) and Julie in Washington.  Had a relaxing and wonderful visit with all of them and celebrated Carter's birthday.  In spite of Dave and Julie having a knock-down-drag-out fight, it as a good time.  I love my girls and my grandson (Graham, too).  I miss seeing them often.

We went to trunk or treat as usual with Craig's kids (minus Joanna who was out at a Mud Run) and it's fun to see them enjoying dressing up a lot.  I am glad we can see them often.  Yesenia celebrated her 12th birthday in Utah, but we did not go.

We are now anticipating a great trip to Hawaii/Kuai next Saturday.  Yay!!!  Jacob and Anna are meeting us there.  I hope the weather is nice and peaceful.  I hear this is a very laid back island and I am looking forward to relaxing and seeing the sights.  Can't wait!  BUT we are missing Julie's and Bekah's birthdays.  :(   Jacob and Anna will be celebrating their anniversary right about then.

So then we're gearing up for Thanksgiving!!!!  Everyone is coming.  So first Dave asks me around 5 times if I have ordered our "free range turkey".  Then Graham reminds me to order my "special turkey".  And Joanna informs me that Braden has asked if I am ready for Thanksgiving and have I ordered a turkey.  What's with all that?  Have I ever forgotten to order a turkey?  We are all planning on doing the run for the hungry here in Folsom.  Last year we watched Anna and the boys run down our street and I thought it would be fun if we all participated this year.  Need to find sign-ups.

We will be spending Christmas in Washington with our girls and visiting Leavenworth -- a Christmas community there.  Should be fun.  The end of the year will be great.  Celebrating Sherri's, Dave's, and Braden's birthdays all around that time too.  (Joanna's is coming, too.) 

Maybe I should tell more funny grandkid stories, but I always forget them when I sit down to write.  Oh well.  They're funny when they happen.

Life is........

Sometimes life is.......boring.  After quitting one big twice a week client and getting fired by another once a week client, I have a LOT of time on hand.  I have sewed and quilted 3 Thanksgiving aprons, 5 Christmas nightgowns for my granddaughters and now am working on 2 aprons for granddaughters' Christmas presents.  I have taken up indexing (genealogy stuff).  I think I am now going to add trips to the temple on my days off. 

So what else can I find the time for now?  Some suggestions have included working out (done), dieting (doing), and volunteering (been there done that don't want to do it again right now).  Any suggestions?

That's not to say I havent had fun or not planning fun because here's what's on my list for 2012:
1. Visit in February of 2 granddaughters flying to Washington and visiting family (including Carter) there.

2.  Visit from Anna and kids (from Utah) -- April?  We went to SFO and surrounds.

3.  Visit to Jacob and family in June.

4.  Visit most of family (not Jacob) in Oregon for wonderful time.

5.  Plans:  8/10-12 Fechter brothers reunion in SFO.

6.  Plans:  8/30 - 9/3 vacation in San Diego.

7.  Plans:  9/3  Shaltes sibling BBQ (not really, BBQ not working)

8.  Plans:  10/17 - 22 visit Julie/Sherri/Graham/Carter.

9.  Plans:  11/3 - 11 tour Israel and visit Dave's family there.

10.  Plans:  surprise

11.  Plans:  Christmas with Julie in Washington (maybe a bit of Sherri and family too)

I guess live isn't boring, just seems so on weekdays sometimes.

2012 Changes (I just can't call them resolutions!)

My daughter has posted her New Year's Resolutions so it made me decide I need to set some goals for 2012 too. So I used hers as a jumping off point (see howcouldyounott.blogspot.com).

1. Stop telling every random person/friend everything that happens in my life. (Some things are better not shared or possibly it could be really uninteresting to them.)

2. Invite others over for activity or dinner. (I just hate to cook, though.)

3. Kiss Dave every single day.

4. Try not to hold grudges.

5. Actively seek the spirit's guidance.

6. Work out at least 3 times per week. (This could mean lose 25 pounds......)

7. Don't yell at Dave. (Even though talking loud is not yelling.)

8. Visit or Skype out-of-state grandchildren/children often. (I miss them anyway, so this is a good idea.)

9. Read scriptures daily.

10. Say couple prayers daily.

Well, some of hers just didn't seem right for me, but I think this is a pretty good start.