Winter Solstice

 The shortest day of the year.  The sunlight on the Butte Road reminded me that we are now on the upswing of daylight hours.

 Auntie Camp!!!  Sweet Sheyanna had a garage full today!  She normally shoo's me away, but this year she asked,  "Do you want to help?"  I fully enjoyed watching all of my cousins' kids craft together!  Such personalities.

Thankful People

The day before Thanksgiving Jeff got to explode pumpkins while Ellie taught for a half day.  Conferences done, we got to start break at the farm with the Gonzaga game.  All was well with the world.

This year Micah's birthday was ON Thanksgiving!  So this was his last picture at age 4.  Cute kid.  I hope he's still cute when he's five...

 Grace and I were in charge of decorating the garage for the feast.  We got a little creative.

 Jeff made his brussel sprouts with bacon!  Delicious!

Earlier in the morning, Papa went to the ER, in great pain.  We later found out he had gall stones, but the day of Thanksgiving was a bit subdued, with G'ma coming over with Jerry for dinner and then returning to the hospital.  November and December were pretty hard on G'ma and Papa this year.

 That evening, all of the aunts and uncles went to be with Papa, and were pretty scared that it was serious, so the cousins and Diane's friend, Sue, held down the fort while the real adults were away.  Cards and puzzling ensued.

 And Micah had a humongous piece of pumpkin pie for his birthday dessert!  Lucky!

 Papa hung on overnight, much to our relief.  We all took turns visiting him in Pullman.

 This was the Garner Minchu year at WSU...the 70's 'stache will live in WSU infamy.

Auntie Camp 2016

That Auntie Sheyana is a crazy (brave!) lady!  She hosted FOURTEEN children in her shop the Saturday after Thanksgiving for her annual Auntie/Grammy Camp!  The kids love this time--they get to create Christmas gifts for their parents AND play at Auntie's house!

The Morrows and Lochheads visited G'ma and Papa across the street during camp hours.  G'ma and Papa put us to work decorating their house for Christmas!

Levi's Pigs

 Easter evening we got to go help take care of Levi's pigs--Joshy had been asking!  Gracie and Megan only got THIS CLOSE, due to the "icky" smell.  The rest of the time these two were picking dandelions in the driveway.  :)

One of these is "Big Gun."

 Joshy got to feed the pigs marshmallows--what a treat!

Look at this cackle--he's loving it!

Weighing the pigs...

This was the perch that he found that helped him see everything.

He got to help mix in the feed...Auntie said, "Josh!  That was just the right amount to pour...how did you know?"  He shrugs his shoulders and said, "I just knowed."  No big deal.  :)

Very fun visit.  Thank you, Auntie and Levi and Jerry!  We still talk about the pigs...mostly when things smell a little off, Joshy shouts, "I smell pigs!"  :)