A Favorite Tradition!

I started taking Bailey to see The Nutcracker when she was five years old, and had just begun taking ballet lessons. It quickly became a tradition. Mia asked to go along last year, and this year we invited Brooklyn. McKena and Missy go as a mother/daughter tradition, so McKena doesn't go with us. We are all enchanted by the beautiful sets and costumes, enthralled by the music and dance, and excited to have our very own nutcrackers!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a fun day for the fam. Eden and Dan hosted...everyone contributed their specialty: I made pumpkin and chocolate pies, a pumpkin cheesecake, a turkey, Aunt Lura's pineapple rings with a dollop of cream cheese and pecan mixture in the hole; Christa made turkey, stuffing and gravy; Missy made mashed potatoes and homemade cranberry sauce; Eden made her pear and prosciutto salad, special yams, rolls, and ham. DELISH! We ate, drank and were very merry! The kids all wanted to feed Willy the calf after dinner (probably next year he WILL be dinner!) and the adults played Apples to Apples, resulting in much hilarity!

Why rake?

So you can jump into the big pile!!! And imagine the leaves are hats and cups!!!

Happy Halloween!

Hurray for Melba Elementary School! They still celebrate Halloween the old-fashioned way...with a costume parade and a party! I love being able to take part in the grands' fun. I went to Brooklyn's class party...then decorated my doorway in preparation for trick-or-treaters...we attended the 3-Ward "Trunk or Treat" party...drove out to Eagle to catch the last half of the Meridian vs Eagle football game, and see McKena's costume (good job, Missy!)...then, on to Star for Bailey and Mia! Whew! What an exciting night!

We love the Pumpkin Liner!

Missy always organizes a family train ride to the pumpkin patch. We love it (I am crazy for trains) and the kids love it. We look forward to it every year.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...in October!!

The earliest snowfall recorded in Boise!

September Birthdays and Bishop Bates!

We gathered to celebrate Reed's and Christa's birthdays with dinner and cake. Then we went to a special meeting at the Stake Center, at which new ward alignments were announced and Reed was called to be the first bishop of the newly-formed Shoshone Ward. We will be leaving many friends, but "we will go, we will do" and all will be well.

(the) SOUTH Shall Rise Again

South Junior High School is being torn down, now that the new South is ready to open. All my children attended South...Missy started in 1983, Jay in 1985 (right after surgery on his arm...I was so worried he would get "bumped" and "hurt"), Eden in 1993 (City Champs in 9th girls' basketball), and Dallin in 1997 (the first volunteer quarterback "Who can throw the long ball?" in 8th grade football)...Lots of memories!

My Favorite Friend

35 years of friendship...34 years of it, long-distance! I love it when we get the chance to get together. We can talk, eat, and shop like no other! We ate at the wonderful Brick 29 Bistro, and Applebee's (we always get the exact same lunch!); we stocked up on Craisins at Winco; we hit the mall, downtown Boise, and specialty shops in Eagle. We found bargains galore! We visited with all my kids (2 of whom match up with 4 of hers!). I just love my JoAnn! (What are those old ladies doing with Victoria's Secret bags???) (Lotions and mints!! On SALE!)

Family Reunion

The Bates clan gathered in Boise for the first time in many years...the kids played, the adults gabbed, and a good time was had by all!

By the Sea, By the Sea...

We loved our time in Seaside...total relaxation and fun...Reed's favorite clam chowder at Rockaway Beach...sand dollars galore...walking the "Prom"

The "Bates" Motel

OH BOY! Reed and I drove to Hillsboro, Oregon to sell our b8sball bamboo bats, and then motor on to the coast for a couple of days. Unfortunately, there wasn't a motel room to be had by the time we were done with business. We drove around for 2 hours stopping at every possible motel...no rooms! We knew there was nothing from there to the coast...so we started back toward Portland. AHA! THE LAMPLIGHTER! VACANCY! HURRAY! We won't have to spend the night in the car! Hmmmm. Our first hint was that it shared a parking lot with the Sunset Strip Club...( I think it might have been a "by the hour" type of motel) but we decided to take a chance. I think the photos tell the story...EEUUWW! BUT, we didn't see the mattress until the next morning...we ripped down the rest of the mattress pad and the entire mattress was covered with bloodstains!!!!!!!!! Notice the bullet hole in the bathroom door...and, well, we lived to tell about it!!!!!!!!!