Last Sunday Dinner with Brandon for a While

Owen made waffles Barrett made Julia Child's perfect omelets
Celesa and Carrie
Gregory and Brandon

Sunday Dinner - Taco Night

Sunday dinner....nothing special except that every time it is special. I love Sunday dinner and because I was sick we missed last week. I really missed it. Today I took a picture because we added a table so we can all sit together. Eleven together. It made me happy :) Greg, Owen. Brandon, Steven, Amy, Ana, Kristen and Carrie. Note shown: Barrett, me, Seth and Hannah.

Let it Snow - It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

Today was full of exciting stuff. It was so cold that it started to snow. It is the first of the season and it came off and on. Of course, everyone is hoping for snow all night so the schools will call a snow day...this would affect the kids, Carrie and Barrett. We will see.

The first Sunday of each month, our ward, since we attend last in the building, has been doing a Break the Fast. So the regular Sunday night dinner crowd from our house all brought food for the Break the Fast. Because they didn't announce it last Sunday, only about five dishes showed up so they canceled. We came back to our house, with a few additions. Sean and the missionaries, who didn't have a dinner appointment because they were counting on the Break the Fast. Nice to have a full house. Steven, Sean, Carrie, Owen, Ana and Kristen

Brandon, Barrett and Steven.

Elder Stevenson, from Samoa, with Seth in the snow.

During church today Janice invited us over for a Christmas sing along. There family used to sing like this on Christmas Eve and Janice decided to bring a bunch of people together to have a sing along impromptu. So after dinner, we all headed over to Janice and Jerry's. Norma and Larry were there, Scott-Janice and Jerry's oldest, and the whole crowd from our house except the Elders who had another appointment.
Carrie was a good sport playing all the christmas tunes.

Brandon and Carrie

Scott, Greg, Steven, Ana, Barrett and Owen

Ana, Steven, Barrett, Owen, Janice and Brandon

Greg, Steven, and Ana

Scott, Kristen, Greg, Norma and Larry

Owen and Sean

Carrie, Scott, and Barrett

After singing, Janice read a Christmas story to the crowd. You could hear a pin drop.

Listening....Greg, Ana, Barrett, Steven, Seth, Brandon, Sean and Owen

After story time, we finished with one last song....We wish you a Merry Christmas! Followed by Spiced cider, brownies and ice cream. For me, it was my fifth brownie of the night :)

It was a great night. Until the singing at Janice's I really didn't feel much like Christmas. I wasn't down about it, but I just didn't feel it nor did I want to do the regulars like listening to carols on the radio, etc. Tonight got me in the mood. I am very blessed to have the family and friends that I have. In addition, I am grateful to have had this experience at Janice's. Janice and Jerry have lived in that house for about 50 years and Janice lives there as a child before that. For many of us there tonight, we have many memories of the Bennet's from either being raised in Placerville, or for me building a friendship with Janice. I will miss her being in that house. I am glad to have this new added memory - probably one of the last.

Sunday Dinner

Carrie comes over for Sunday dinner and this Sunday she took pictures of the boys to send to Michael and Tacy. It is great to have everyone over for Sunday dinner. It is a joy in my life.

Greg, Brandon, Barrett, and Seth

Owen, Barrett, me and Greg

Thanks for the pictures Carrie :)

I love Stake Conference!

We went to the Saturday night session. Brandon came with Owen and me. Greg didn't come and Barrett spontaeously decided to go to the movies with Seth. The meeting was good; it was about sharing the gospel. I commented last night that you really can't explain the meeting because the message was only part of it. The spirit was very strong and most of what I learned came through the spirit, so all I can say is that is was good.

Sunday was the same for me. Sunday was about the temple. It was beautiful. The best part was that Pres. Watkins called us firmly to repentance. He said whatever you are doing that is keeping you for going to the temple, cease doing it. Again, these were spirit teaching moments. That is why it is so important to come to these meetings. So much counsel but just empty words without the spirit. I made many decisions on what to do to improve my life.

When we got home, I had to laugh at our sabbath day activities. I tease, we have lots of fun together and I am glad that everyone comes over for dinner.

Greg and Seth are shoot dart guns; Brandon, Ana, and Barrett are playing Go Fish.

Happy Mother's Day

I must say this is by far one of the best Mother's Days I have had. It is such a blessing having both of my boys home. Grandma came for dinner. Also, a blessing to have her here in Placerville with us.

One of the great things about having the boys home is having their friends as part of our lives. Seth and Brandon are really part of the clan.

Here is my Mother's Day cake. Chocolate with a dark pink cream cheese frosting that was very yummy. Greg spend two days working on the cake. He also grilled pork chops for dinner. April made a lovely salad and Barrett made The Green Beans for the meal. Brandon made fish and Seth cleaned up for me. A wonderful day all the way around.

Its also great having a girl hanging around the house too. April gave me Japanese Cherry Blossom shower gel....my favorite scent from Bath and Body Works and she said that she would do all the girly, spa stuff with me. I've never learned how to do any of that stuff and don't have girls to learn with. I think it will be loads of fun.

Sunday Dinner at the Hamps

Every Sunday we have dinner at our house. Well, its always kind of been around, meaning the boys would have friends over and I would feed them. Seth and Brandon have been regulars for years except when Brandon was off at college. Adding people to the group started when Barrett and Michael C. went off to college and then Greg off to school and Carrie and I were kind of empty nesters. I was used to having people at the house and she was game for not having to cook so it worked out. Then the kids (Barrett, Tacy, Michael, now Brandon) came home from school and the tradition stuck. Now the Mackeys and Christensen's come every Sunday and we love it. This Sunday, Alicia's family was going to come too but then she had a baby! Kristen took an emergency trip down to Bakersfield, sad that her good friend passed away. So it was just us...good friends, good times.