Thanksgiving Weekend

It's been a busy week!  Apollo and I went to the cemetery on Wednesday to change the flowers on Mom and Daddy's grave to poinsettias - good thing since it as rained ever since!  It's our first Thanksgiving without Mom, and we sure missed her - lots of great memories of Thanksgivings past though, especially last year when everyone was able to be here for her last Thanksgiving - a blessing.

On Thursday, Ron and I joined the Siegers for Thanksgiving.  We had a delicious meal and a nice visit.  Amanda/family arrived in Clinton around 5 p.m.  We had potato soup, summer sausage and cheese and some other munchies for dinner - and of course, birthday cake!  We celebrated Peyton's birthday in Clinton with presents and a "pool cake" per request.  She liked it and thought it was funny that the teddy grahams were "floating" on gum rafts!  The water was blue jello jigglers.  We sang and she blew out her "7" candle.  Then Amanda and I went to the chaos at Walmart for a TV for them.  An hour later, we walked out with the TV she wanted and a few other bargains.  Not too bad.

Friday was our 11th (I think) annual baking day.  Peyton and Garrison were really involved this year and we all had fun.  Garrison unwrapped the mini-Reese's peanut butter cups and took his "job" seriously.  About 100 of them, so it was a job!  He did great.  Peyton put all the peanut butter dough balls in the mini-muffin tins.  Peyton was great help at measuring the ingredients for roll-out sugar cookies.  They both rolled the dough and cut out the shapes they wanted.  We also made cherry smash balls - it was our first year for them.

Friday afternoon, Amanda and I went to Cummings Men's Wear and bought Ron some new pants, a tie and two new shirts - 25% off sale.  We all went out to dinner at Square 109 on the square.  Yummy food and a good time.  Afterward, the grandparents and the kiddos rode around town to look at the lights.  Due to the rain and cold, the annual Christmas parade which we always attend was cancelled  boo hoo.  The kids took a bath with the jets going full blast and had a great time.

On Saturday after breakfast, the kids had a great time dipping and decorating pretzel sticks and made peppermint candy Christmas tree ornaments - per Peyton's request.  We also attempted to make Grandma's fudge recipe - we were less than successful, but we ate it anyway.  It was a little dry and hard - wish we could make it like she did.  Maybe we'll try again.

After a leftover lunch, Amanda/family went home.  Ron and I are going to Windsor tomorrow to the Christian Church where David Mills preaches now.  David asked me to sing with him for Advent, and I'm also playing the piano for the whole service.  Deb and David and we are going to Sedalia for lunch after church - going to check out the new Kohl's over there too!

We are so blessed - God is good.