On to the mountains



Fiestas



We were up early Saturday and off to Vail. Jordan drove along, so Amy rode with her. Our car was packed to the gills! Cindo was happy to see us when we piled in the door around 11 a.m. We headed to Fiestas for Mexican lunch to tide us over before the big Christmas party.

Colby and Bolder appeared later in the afternoon - Bold was already in a tiz about party preparations. Nothing new there! He had just had his 4th chemo as he faces down an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The guy wears a cap, so even though he's lost his hair - most people can't tell. His 'stache is still holding on. Cindy says her hair has been falling out too as stress takes its toll. I can't imagine what they've been going through. 

A few hours later, it was time for us to experience our 4th Annual Lefebvre Christmas Even Party. They've been putting this shindig on for many years. We feel lucky to be included! (I'm not sure they even invited us...we just keep showing up). We do get a hotel room in Edwards, but their pretend daughter Amy stayed with them. 

Colby brought dozens of chicken wings from Moe's, the restaurant he manages. There were meatballs and cheeses. And the wine and liquor flowed. Before long, the place was rocking and it was time for the first set of Christmas music. The rules are, if you don't know the words - sing "hanna hanna hanna". Bolder leads. Cindy and Bolder's son Colby and his peers have grown up with this party - so they help. Our kids...Amy and Jordan anyway (Jud is a party pooper when it comes to singing) join right in.  "Mele Kalikimaka" is the crowd fave. There are grass skirts to go with that song.



The Lefebfres with Jordan Alvillar - who joined her parents in Grand Junction the next day

 Bold said a few words thanking people for all their support this year. An emotional guy - he didn't make all of us sob. So that was good. One of his friends made up a song to a Christmas tune that had a refrain that said F*&^% (insert bad word) cancer. It was very fitting! What a miserable disease. Be gone damn you.

About 10 PM Paul and I helped begin to clean up, and we took Jud back to our hotel. Amy and Jordan had retired long before - they were very, very tired! There were some party stragglers who stayed until nearly 11:30 PM I heard. Another great party - in the books.

Without words...

For the first time since I started this blog, I haven't felt wordy. Plus we've been traveling. And we'll be traveling again soon. So I apologize in advance for my lack of production in the blog department. I hope my two trips will rejuvenate my wordlyness. Yes, I know that's not really a word.

Christmas. The holiday that brings fear and dread to the hearts of many. I suppose I'm one of those people. Then I grit my teeth and dig into the season. I get through it by being gone. Thank goodness my sister Cindo invites us (or allows us to invite ourselves) to their Christmas, ever since Amy moved to Colorado. This year it was extra special since my brother-in-law Bolder is fighting cancer.

We headed out from our place about 8:30 a.m. on Thursday a.m. - a bit later than planned because a storm had hit in parts of Nebraska, eastern Colorado and Denver. We wanted to let the damn thing clear out. Jud was flying in to Denver early that morning. We were glad we waited as we spied a few vehicles in the ditches of central Nebraska. Then, as we approached Denver, the roads got a bit icy.

The Mile High City itself received ten inches of the white stuff. White Christmas! Denver doesn't believe in wasting money clearing side streets - like the one Amy lives on, when snow is going to melt in a couple days. How thrifty! Des Moines Public Works guru Bill Stowe wouldn't approve. We were glad our trusty Subaru was all wheel drive.

We headed straight to Amy's and took the kids and our niece Jordan (sis Susi's daughter) out for burgers. Walking in a winter wonderland! So fun to see everyone, and good to catch up with Jordie - she's now working for the Girl Scouts of Colorado. Amy described her exciting drive to pick Jud up at DIA, and Jud told how he drove Amy's car back to her place after dropping her off back at her office. Paul and I headed to Aunt Marty and Uncle Bill's after supper, for our Denver home away from home. It's always fun chatting with my dad's sister and spouse.

The next morning, Bill picked up Duffy Rolls - special rolls you can only get in Denver. So very good. We enjoyed trading stories with Marty and Bill. Then we were off to pick up Jud (taking him several Duffy's) for some errands. We stopped at Amy's former employer for some cheese for gifts. Then we went to my fave liquor store near her apartment - Argonaut. I loved this beer that I spied there.

After that it was lunch and a movie - "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". Very good - of course I loved the book too. Jud and Paul enjoyed the movie without having read the book.

That night, our family and Jordie, Marty and Bill all went to their daughter (my cousin) Amy's (yes we use names over and over again in my fam) house for supper. Amy's husband Tom and children Kate and Matt (they loved the deer sausage Paul brought) were there too. We had a wonderful time. I love having a chance to hang with my fam. Since I'm the only remaining Bullock living in Iowa, I don't get enough family time like that! All too soon it was time to retire for the night - after all we needed to head to Vail the next day. I hope we'll get to see them all again soon!

Minor Christmas Miracle

I felt like baking yesterday...I consider it a minor Christmas miracle! I don't bake much these days, now that little children no longer live at our house. Amy and Jud used to "help" me bake. They'd break eggs for me - onto the counter - the floor. Yeah, big help! I'm amazed I was patient enough to let them.

And when it came time to lick the beaters...I had to share with them! That was tough I gotta tell ya! I baked a lot of cookies and bars back then - and would read in between batches, sitting on the little footstool they used to stand on to help. Eventually, Amy became a pretty good baker herself. Jud...learned to toast his own Pop Tarts!

I had to make sure our baking powder and soda wasn't out of date before I began to bake! Stuff gets old when one never uses! I actually made a batch of those chocolate cookies a couple weeks ago when we went to Kansas City - and remembered how much I like 'em! So yesterday I baked a double batch! Next I whipped up snack mix to take along to Colorado.

Computer:
I spent a couple hours today trying to fix my dang computer - it's having issues - waking up after I put it to sleep. I HATE computer problems! It's just supposed to work, right? Dell support sounds like they think I need to reformat my hard drive. GREAT! I'll just back up all my music and pics ASAP. I'll get right on it.



 

Roll me away



Me with Pablo the Poolboy

Last night was a great night. For one thing it was date night for the roomies!

Billy and Joan

First we went out to eat at the restaurant located at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. We met my roomie Joan there along with her husband Billy. (Bobbie and Jeff were supposed to attend, but Bobbie found out she was supposed to travel to Idaho, so Joanie jumped at the chance to get the tickets). The restaurant was convenient, but the food wasn't too great, besides the iced tea.

Then we attended the Bob Seger concert along with 12,000 of our best friends. Most were um, mature like us.  

I have a distinct memory of a Bob Seger song was from 1976 when I was a frosh coed at ISU. I was at a bar above the Cave In on Welch Avenue with friends - the quiet one bar on the right. The song "Night Moves" by Bob with the Silver Bullet Band came on. I listened to the words. (must have been mellow that night) Ah, that song - so telling, bringing back memories about the angst of one's teen years. You bet!

And since then...so many classic songs by the man. I have grown to love them. One of my fave CDs is Bob's Greatest Hits. 

In the early 1980's, when I lived in Omaha and Paul in Oakland, we decided the song "Turn the Page" - with the words "long and lonesome highway 40 miles east of Omaha", was about Oakland. Around then, the hit movie - star-maker for an unknown actor named Tom Cruise, made the song "Old Time Rock and Roll" a huge hit.  

These days, each winter...when the snow flies, or when works gets stressful and I feel like getting away, I put on my Best of Bob. The song I want to hear is "Roll Me Away". Because that's what I want to do - hop in my car, with my Pablo and roll away. To my happy place in Marco Island Florida.

 Paul was with me. Nearly every song Bob sang was like an old friend!

Last night I was in my happy place!

Silver tongued Sarah

It all started two years ago when I first heard about Sarah, the Master Stylist at Sahar Salon here in Des Moines. Diana and Nancy were talking about her cutting their hair. Then my "stylist" at Hair House" moved away and Woody cut my hair - badly. I knew it was time - to finally get a good hair cut.

Now she's like a guy who could talk you out of your pants...except she's slowly talking into being one of those chicks who does hair! First...it was color. I'd had highlights before - just never good ones.

The first time she got out the blow dryer, I started with my usual - "I just let it dry naturally" and she insisted "Oh you can do this!" Then she showed me what to do, step by step. So I had to go purchase a blow dryer - hadn't had one for years. (And I had to get one for Joan's house too - so I didn't have to drag it back and forth).

We went along like that for over a year...me being so proud for self-grooming. I've written before about how I'm lacking the hair gene. Betso got it...starting when she was young, styling on Barbie's giant head, with that one lock of hair that grew. Cindo and Suso too - they used giant rollers and hair dryers back in the day. Not me - I was known to go days without combing my hair.

Today Sarah was itching to do something different with my hair - and I was ready too. thing a little longer. It was color day too! When it was all washed and ready to dry, she said, "you might need a flat iron for this one". Ahem! Gulp. She is slowly talking me out of my pants. Figuratively speaking....

Love the color.Style? Looks good when Sarah does it! I got a cheap flat iron tonight after work. But I don't think my hands bend that way. Wish me luck!

Stormy got hitched

Amy - far left looks on while Stormy and Kyle exchange vows

I can't remember when Amy and Stormy first became friends. It wasn't when both were attending St. Malachy Catholic School from grades kindergarten through 8. Stormy was a grade ahead of Amy, so while they knew each other, they didn't become close buddies there.

Kneeling in the pews getting their knuckles smacked by the nuns. Okay there aren't really any nuns at St. Malachy anymore...after Sister Therese left - she was the principal when Amy first started. Or was she? It's been a long time since then...we had crazy Caroline Heath who installed the stop lights for lunchtime. The lights turned red when the lunch chatter got too loud. Caroline didn't last too long. Finally, Paul and Deb were both on the Board of Education when John Walsh was hired - and he's still at the helm today. The school is thriving today - with large classes, and many of the same wonderful teachers that Amy and Stormy learned from.

It must have been during junior high and high school sports that Amy and the Storm-dog discovered their mutual like for each other. Between basketball, volleyball and track - Amy and Stormy spent a great deal of time together at practices. By Amy's senior year, they were best friends - lifeguarding together at the Creston City Pool, spending most waking moments together it seemed. They shared many thoughts and ideas with each other. Funny, sad and happy times.

All too soon, Stormy went off to college at UNI and Amy was left on her own for her senior year of high school. There were a lot of phone calls. That summer Stormy was back and they were lifeguards again. Then Amy was off to ISU, meeting new people and making friends, but like any good friend - when she talked to Storm, they could pick up right where they left off. For spring break, Amy and Stormy went to visit Dad and Kay in Florida. Stormy continued her schooling at Des Moines University - Physical Therapy School. The two girls got together periodically - always connecting immediately. Never that awkward "I don't know you anymore" stage.

Even though Amy has now lived in Colorado for three years, and she and Stormy haven't been together for long periods of time - their stuck. They've bonded forever just like my friend Robbie Dob and me. So no matter how much time has passes before they see each other again - they'll always be close friends.

Stormy was married yesterday to Kyle Wilson - a high school classmate of hers who she started dating a couple years ago. Amy was pleased to be in the wedding party, and we were happy to celebrate the blessed event with them. Stormy and Kyle bought a house in Creston so we'll be seeing them around. He works for the local newspaper and she works at the Osceola hospital. They'll be friends for Amy to visit when she's home. Did I mention Amy played the guitar at the reception? It was a hoot...

Just another milestone in my maturation process...watching kids grow up. Yesterday was a wonderful celebration!

Single Stream Recycling

I toured Greenstar Recycling in Des Moines today. They do the Single Stream recycling in Des Moines. Single Stream is when all the stuff you're recycling gets so very conveniently put together in one container.

At recycling processors, it's all about the markets. The recycler has places they sell their stuff to, and they prepare the materials how the buyers like it. Greenstar has sorters and equipment to help them get the material sorted into the piles they want so they can bail it. Our tour guide said they sell all their paper to Mexico where they make it back into newsprint.

Their customer - Metro Waste Authority in this case, gets a cut of their profits from selling the materials. You know me - I love seeing this kind of stuff. Here are the pics I took.

Sorters

Thingy that shoots aluminum out (technical term)

Magnet for metal stuff

Tour guide, Angie, Theresa, and Chad from DNR

• 

  All the wrong stuff - sacks put in the recycle bin. Bad idea!

  
  

Decorating Queen and the Grinch

A tale of two roommates - guess which one is which! One is too lazy to put up the full sized Christmas tree - since the fam won't be home for Christmas. Stockings are hung up - kinda with care. Her husband dangles Christmas lights into the bushes. He's even grinchier than she is, but he is a good present wrapper.

The other spends a whole weekend putting up Christmas decorations galore! Even the potty is decorated. It took her two hours to put lights up on the house, and to get Frosty all situated and re-lit from last year's tough winter. And then she discovered she'd put the dangly icicle lights up with the plug in on the wrong end, and had to re-do them. Drat! But she took one for the team and did it.

But the result is extremely festive and Christmasy.

You guessed it! Joan is the EXTREME decorator. I'm the grinch. I don't know how I got this way. It could have something to do with Patrick, Dad's Christmas illness and death, and/or the kids growing up. Or maybe it's just that I grew up.

I must say it's much better now that we go to Vail and spend it with family. This year will be special to be with the Lefebvres now with Bolder fighting cancer. I can't wait to hug him and be with the ones I love. Even if I am a Grinch.  

My blah day

It started at 3:40 a.m. - and of course I didn't doze off until right about when it was time to get up. Then I got to work, shrugged off my jacket, and my bra clasp popped open. The "girls" must have been clammering to get out. Since it was only 6:30 a.m., I was able to snap it without much embarrassment. Funny feeling though.

I was happy to get back to my diet of cereal and bananas for breakfast. After that weekend of eating out in KC, I needed to added fruit back into my diet. I had restaurant gut!

The first meeting I had went okay. Until I wrote the memo and emailed it - with a note for anyone to let me know it they have suggested changes. Hmmm. Bad idea. People should just write memos themselves if they care that much about how they're written...

My next meeting was irritating. I had been hoping to get out of some of the administrative stuff I do - so I could do more of what I do best. Outreach! Help planning areas. The grants that I write, I had hoped to pass off to others to administer. Unfortunately, not only do I get to keep on administering them, I get to do even more paperwork! Crap. That made me feel crabby.

When the crabby leave work, they go shopping! I needed something for Stormy's wedding this weekend. Amy is a bridesmaid! I spent an hour looking for something to go with gray knit pants, before settling on a sweater dress and shoes at Younkers all for about $60 after coupons and discounts. Bargains made me a bit cheerier.

Aw well - it's only work. I'm sure I'll sleep better tonight!

A few funnies

After my serious and kinda sad post last week about Patrick, I thought I'd post a few funnies I've collected lately from various locations.

Thanks to all who gave me enjoyment from your cleverness! And I happily borrowed them...

These pretty well sum up the way I've felt on various recent occasions. I am home tonight - rare on a Monday. Amy is flying to DSM Friday to serve as a bridesmaid in Stormy Weis's wedding, so I'll stay Thursday night in the big city to pick her up at the airport.

So I worked at home today - even participated in a staff meeting via phone. I made ground turkey and macaroni soup at lunchtime, and was here to greet my honey after work. It was nice. ;>) 

KC with Jud and Kara

We hadn't been to visit Jud and his girlfriend Kara since they had started their jobs in Missouri last summer. Jud lives and works in St. Joseph and Kara lives and works in Kansas City. He spends his weekends in the bigger city. For some reason, St. Joe hasn't been as appealing to hang out in as KC. Why isn't the birthplace of Jessie James exciting?

Now that ISU's regular football season is over, and we're not tailgating every couple weekends, we decided it was time to head that way. Kara's parents, Jud said, had already been down to see them a couple times. Her folks now live in northwest Iowa, but lived in Kansas City when Kara was around three years old. So it's fun for them to re-trace their old stomping grounds.

Paul and I haven't ever spent much time in the city. I went there as a kid, to go to World of Fun. But Omaha was really our destination of choice for shopping and weekend get-a-ways back then. So I don't know my way around at all.

Our buddies Bobbie and Jeff lived in a northern suburb of KC in the 90's and we visited - attending the Renaissance Festival. I'm still wondering why we thought it was a good idea to buy Jud and Kimmy, then around 5 years old, wooden swords. One perfectly cold weekend Bobbie got Packers/Chiefs 4 FREE tickets on the 50 yard line at Arrowhead Stadium - for which my husband could never repay her. A chance to see his beloved Pack in action! With a nearby parking pass. (Except the Chiefs won...). It was pretty cool though.

We attended our niece Katie's wedding in Kansas City in 2006, finally visiting that storied "Cyclone Bar" - Kelly's, later that night. The past two falls, Iowa State played Kansas State in football at Arrowhead. Of course our gang attended and last year we stayed at the Crown Plaza near the Power and Light District - where the Cyclones had their rally. It was a great time!

I made reservations at the Crown Plaza for last night, through Travelocity. It's a 3.5 star hotel. I find, the older I get, the more I like quality sheets and towels. We headed out from Creston around 8 a.m. yesterday, arriving at Kara's North Kansas City apartment just before 11 a.m. Iowa State was supposed to play at 11:30, but lightning delayed the game until 1 p.m., so we hit a cool restaurant in the burg of North KC. It reminded me of a bigger Valley Junction in West Des Moines. This restaurant has tons of sports memorabilia, even old Cyclone helmets! The Cyclones played a valiant game, but lost in the closing minutes to KSU.

Katie with Naomi

Jacob

After the game, we headed to our niece Katie and husband Albert's house in Overland Park, KS for a visit. They have two adorable children - Jacob 2 1/2 and Naomi is 6 months. Plus two nice middle sized doggies. They live in a lovely1960s two-story home in a neighborhood with lots of mature trees. Jake was very intently trying to operate an electric train - with help from Mom and Dad. Naomi was very content with a bottle. It was a nice visit - hope Jud gets together with his cousin Katie again sometime! He and Katie's bro John, who now lives in Orlando, were buddies through the years when cousins would get together.

From there we headed to the Plaza for a barbecue restaurant called Jack Stack. It was only about 6:30 p.m. so we were ahead of the crowd and scored a table pretty quickly in the bar. The guys ordered beer and Kara and I settled on pretty martinis. It was a meat festival - Paul and I both got burnt ends with prime rib and ribs.

We wanted to shop after supper, but it was misting and miserable shopping weather. The stores did look enticing - all the good stuff down there. I must return! We drove to our hotel and checked in - we landed a 2-room handicap accessible suite! What's with the handicap thing? We got a handicap room in Nashville in August too. I must not be aging well...

We decided to walk down to the Power and Light for a drink, ending up at McFadden's - a loud sports bar. There was music, people talking, and televisions with all the various footballs games around the huge bar. The evening crowd was just starting to trickle in. Chicks in their leggings, thigh high boots, and short dresses. It was time for this chick (who obviously looks handicapped) to go.

We crashed shortly after we got to our room. Then at 4 a.m.ish the fire alarm at the hotel went off...lights flashing in our faces. Paul called the front desk and they said they just needed to re-program the alarm, we didn't need to escape. Phew! Two hours later they finally got it stopped! A pillow on my face worked okay - we were lucky the alarm wasn't too loud in our room. They comped us for parking after we complained - $18 for our pain.

We had a yummy breakfast this a.m. with the kids, at a place in the north part of KC. They had eaten there with Kyle and Renee, Kara's parents. I must say, KC is a good time - and I must go back! Jud and Kara are having fun finding their way around the city - reminding me of when I lived in Omaha and Paul would visit. It's exciting, getting to know the restaurants and the shopping areas of a city. They'd like to meet more people, but of course that all takes time. Their jobs seem to be going okay. Life is good!

Patrick - angel at 20

Was it really me who had that baby who died? Sometimes it feels like that was someone else. Have I really grown that old? In some ways I feel like I was older when Patrick was born on December 2 and died December 8, 1991. He had a congenital heart defect that perhaps today they might have detected while I was pregnant. Would that have changed things?

Anyway, I sure had to act grown up then - a dead child with two babies to raise. Thirty four years old. Phew. Looking back, I was ancient!

Now I'm 54 with a child gone now twenty years! I was feeling so casual about today, Pat's bday, until I heard from some of my fam. Cindo texted. Jordie put something on Facebook and Betso emailed. Then Jud sent a text. I saw that Amy posted a photo of the three kids on Facebook and that really got to me - along with all the associated comments. My poor baby boy - his siblings who never got to know him. Thinking about it makes me a little weepy. It still hurts.

I always thought I'd be an "under the radar" kinda person. I wouldn't be the smartest, the prettiest or the nicest. On the flipside - I didn't consider myself a total dog in the looks department, and I know I'm pretty darn smart (or smartass). I wouldn't ever be the baddest - though I knew how to get in a bit 'o trouble. So I didn't think God would notice me enough to pick on me. Hey, I kept my head down!

So I'm still pretty shocked that it happened to me. To us. How did our family get picked to lose a child? Is there someone/something that does the picking? Is it to help character development? To make us learn a lesson? Was it protection from something that would have happened later in Patrick's life - he was destined to be a druggie? Or does stuff like that just happen randomly, and the higher power cries along with us when we hurt?

I still don't have the answers - the ones I searched so hard for right after Patrick was born and died. And I don't know why a good guy like my bro-in-law Boldie had to get an aggressive form of prostate cancer, or Thea is forced to fight myeloma. There are a lot of sucky things in life we all have to deal with. I guess if we knew, then we'd be that thing we call God.

When I think of Patrick - the miracle was the way our loved ones carried us through that awful time. And beyond that, the way others, some we didn't even know very well, reached out too. It was very touching. And I'll never forget our dear friend Father Howard. He alone makes me give the Catholic Church a pass on many transgressions. The guy spent a couple years stopping by our house, just checking on us, making sure our marriage survived the loss of a child.

He even loaned us money for medical and burial expenses - though he said it was from an anonymous parishioner - I'm sure it was him. Having someone give you an envelope with $2,000 cash in it, saying "just repay it when you can," was shocking. Humbling. We gave it all back quickly - we were fortunate that our parents helped with the funeral expenses. But I have never forgotten that loan.

Bless you our angel Patrick, on your 20th birthday. I learned many lessons because of you. I feel blessed to have a wonderful husband and two other fantastic kids.

For everyone dealing with the difficult things in life - may you be surrounded by loving people who help carry you.

The Landlady

My landlady Joan is no lady...she's my friend! It's Joan's birthday today. We went out to eat at Applebee's. Joan had a coupon. It was nice chatting with her, until the high school cheer squad arrived - all twenty or so all chatty and LOUD.

Oh well, we just talked louder. It was fun anyway, just catching up on each other's days.

Joan and I get along well. She's so easy to get along with - even tempered and never moody. I try to be a low-maintenance roomie. And she's a low maintenance landlady. In fact she even takes care of me - washing my towels and sheets.

We like lots of the same TV shows, like Revenge and Parenthood. Sometimes she watches funny shows like Modern Family with me but often you can find her out at her dining room table surfing her laptop, while I'm in the TV room on my laptop.

I'm so lucky to have a nice place to live like this. I thank my lucky stars each week for Joan - the birthday girl!

A few things

• Are you one of those people that has your Christmas Tree up?  
• Did you decorate your whole house with lights already? Our neighbors, the Stofferahns (okay it was Todd) put lights on their house and the trees. 
• I took my fall wreath off the door. Woohoo! I'm not sure when I'll take that next big step.
• I don't think I'll put up the big tree, because we won't even be here for Christmas! Jud won't be home at all. The big tree takes up so much room! Don't tell Paul but tomorrow I'm going to seek out a small pre-lit smaller tree that I can just set out on my coffee table.
• I stopped at World Market tonight. I love that store! They have great international foods and drinks. Plus their greeting cards are very funny.
• I wish I had a Wii at Joan's place as well as at my house. Over the weekend, I updated my Wii Mii and put new ones in for the rest of the fam. Here I am. And this time my Wii Fit age was 46. My head looks kinda big - doesn't it!

Post turkey day Goldsmith Christmas

All too soon...our fabulous most funnest (yes, I know that isn't a word) Thanksgiving ended. Okay - it probably wasn't the most fabulous ever. Amy and Kara dislike football (except the Cyclone football..and I'm not so sure they even like watching the Cyclones play). And on Thanksgiving Day, first the Packers game was on (Paul's fave team) and then Jud's fave team was on (Cowboys). Jud did play checkers while he watched the Cowboys. That's what love will do to ya. Paul didn't even pretend to want play anything with me whilst the Packers played...

Anyway, it was great having everyone together. It was hard saying goodbye to Jud and Kara who were heading out for Sioux Center (in Northwest Iowa where Kara's parents live) Friday morning. Amy, Paul and I took off around 8 a.m. for Earlville for the Goldsmith fam gathering. We stopped briefly in Story City at the half empty outlet mall where I purchased some undies at the Vanity Fair store. Paul got some Packers sweats.

We pulled into E'ville about noon, and headed to the town mealsite - where the elderly residents meet to eat each weekday at noon. The Goldsmiths reserve the building each year for this date. Only Paul's sis Carol was there, so we grabbed her and took off for Dyersville to get a snack and watch a bit of the Iowa vs. Nebraska game in a local pub. I had a hard time keeping from cheering out loud for the Huskers - even though I'm not a fan of theirs, they are the lesser of 2 evils in my book. Carol was afraid I was going to get beat up - by the many black and gold clad fans in the pub.

We made it back to Earlville intact! And soon the rest of the Goldsmiths began to trickle in. We finally got to Matt Vorwald's wife of like 3 years - Beth. And the plethora of new Goldsmith bambinos - 4 since April! We held the usual gift exchange - draw numbers, select according to numbers and you can steal someone's gift, up to 2 times. I ended up with an indoor/outdoor thermometer. Quite functional. We ate ham sammies and cookies. It's always fun to see the Goldsmiths and get caught up on their lives.

Katie, Chad, Karen, Kurt with babies

All too soon it was time to scoot home to Creston - Amy had a bridal shower the next morning. Stormy Weis is getting married in 2 weeks! 

The gang's all here

Our gang arrived Wednesday - Thanksgiving Eve. Amy flew from Denver into Kansas City, and Kara, who works there, picked her up at the airport. They drove up to St. Joe, where Jud lives, and on up to Ioway they came, arriving about 6 PM. Paul and I were awaiting with open arms.

It had been a long short week for me. I was only in DSM from Monday morning until Wednesday. But I suffered from migraines all three days. Yuck! So I was pretty puny by the time I worked in my cubicle until 10 a.m. yesterday morning and stopped at the big HyVee grocery store to pick up a few things - a Mexican dip, salads, wine and crescent rolls. I finally felt good enough to eat something on my drive home.

I didn't need to feel crappy on the big day that my kids were coming home! A short nap was in order. By mid afternoon I started to perk up. Paul browned some burger and I put together some enchiladas for supper. I didn't want anyone to go hungry! They pulled up to the house right at 6 PM, and Odie wasn't the only one wagging her tail with delight!

We got the dip and chips out, and cocktails were in order. I decided I best not tempt the migraine gods with liquor - so I stuck with water! Supper was just was right as the five of us talked and laughed over enchildadas. Love having the fam together again.

Afterwards it was Wii time baby. That's right, we started playing Wii Fit. Kara kicked our butts in bowling. Then Rachelle drove in from Ankeny. Rachelle is Amy's college roomie, and she was looking forward to a night of partying in Crestonia - where the night before Thanksgiving is epic!

We broke out Just Dance 3, and Amy and Rachelle shook it up right on the living room floor. It was such fun. Chelle challenged Jud to a dance off and it was a close one. I loved all the laughter and just plain fun being together.

Just after 9:30, it was time for Amy, Rachelle, Jud and Kara to hit the town. Paul dropped them off downtown, and they spent the next 4 hours hanging out in three bars, catching up with old friends. Later, (or earlier Thursday) Paul's phone rang, and he got to go pick them up - they were a little rowdy. He had some funny stories to relate when he got back - stuff they had told him on the ride back. I was wide awake for quite a while after that, even though I didn't pick up duty.

Rachelle is a city gal. She had such fun partying in Creston - but she isn't used to partying in bars with people wearing steel toed boots. And people with camo hats and shirts on. She even saw a guy with a knife scabbard on his belt - and she was impressed (or concerned)! Not stuff you see clubbing in downtown DSM. Her powers of observation are impressive. I am in bars with those folks many weekends and don't even notice.

Paul and I attended mass this morning - it's a routine of mine on Thanksgiving. And it's not even a Holy Day (cuz I miss mass those days...). But I do miss attending on this day with my pal Deb who no longer attends our church. Even so, I have a lot to be thankful for. Family, friends health - the list goes on. Life is good and that higher power is the source.

When we got back, the little party animals - Amy at least, was up. The rest of them slowly trickled in. And we've had a great day watching football (don't expect Amy and Kara to say that part was great), playing Wii, and we worked in a little food too. First, I dragged them outside for a photo op in the afternoon. It was 60 degrees out! The Iowa Silk chocolate pie from Upper Crust Bakery - my pal Cynthia Wolf, was great. And the turkey, stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes and scalloped corn were excellent too!

Posing in the wind

Amy and Rochelle ham it up