Tradition with a Twist

I always take my granddaughters to a performance of The Nutcracker ballet, and give them a commemorative nutcracker to keep.  The twist, this year, was a different venue.  We have always gone to the Morrison Center on the Boise State campus, to attend Ballet Idaho's production.  Last year, I was so disappointed...the orchestra pit was empty!!!  No live accompaniment!  The prices went up, the value went down.  This year, we attended the Eugene Ballet performance at Jewett Auditorium on the College of Idaho campus.  I had fond memories of Missy dancing with this company.  It was a fun evening.  The girls enjoyed the different staging of the classic. 

                    I picked up Brooklyn and Bellamie, then Bailey and Mia.

                        Finally, we arrived at Missy's, picked up McKena...

                                         chose our nutcrackers by color...

                                             waiting for the curtain to go up..

                           we love The Nutcracker! P.S.  I looked at last year's photos, and only one of the grands was taller than I.  Now...they just grow up so fast!

Sweet Sixteen

Our oldest granddaughter has reached the ripe old age of 16...and is she ever sweet! 

                                        We all got together for dinner, cake, and presents!

                                           Everybody sing...

                                      Happy birthday to you!!

Happy Halloween

I only have 4 grands who still go trick-or-treating...they grow up so fast!!  Actually, these 4 trick-or-treated for the very first time last year...while they were living on the farm, there was no such thing!  Their school used to do the traditional parade, and that was fun.  Now, no school parade, but other fun stuff...

                                                 Peter Pan...

                                                 Indian Princess...

                                                  Top Gun...

                                                 and a "girl musketeer"...

                                                    Happy Halloween!

Our American Girl

Last year, Bellamie  was chosen to model in the American Girl Doll Fashion Show.  She decided she would like to try it again this year.  Eden encouraged her to go for it, since her usual goals and interests center around tennis, basketball and flag football. 

                                                 Good job, Bells!

Late Bloomers

We have enjoyed such a mild Autumn...temperatures in the 60s and 70s...no frost yet!  So, I took a tour around the yard and documented my "late bloomers"...the weather has changed today: high in the 40s and snow in the foothills surrounding Boise. 

                              Geraniums still luscious...

                                      The very last rose...

                                 The dahlias...

              Reed's cousin, Karen, is married to Martin, who is one of the foremost authorities on growing dahlias in the U.S.   I can't seem to preserve them over the winter, no matter how I try.  So, I will take their photos and then say goodbye until next year, when I will purchase the next batch!

On the Road with the Broncos...Colorado Springs

Reed's cousin, Tom,  and his wife, Kathy, invited us to come to Colorado Springs, stay with them, and enjoy some sightseeing and the BSU vs Air Force football game.  Well... we certainly enjoyed their company, and the sightseeing!  Unfortunately, the outcome of the game was NOT to our liking!! 

             The tour of the Olympic Training Center was inspiring...

                           Had to recognize synchro...my sister went to the Rome Olympics in 1960, with a demonstration team, before synchronized swimming was an official sport.

                                          Citius...Altius...Fortius

                                 Garden of the Gods is awe-inspiring...

                                    Balanced Rock has a little help from some mortar.

                                     

                                     Here we are at the Air Force Academy stadium...

                                    Again, inspiring to watch the entrance of the cadets!

                                     Inspiration stopped when the game commenced.  Ugh!  Minus 60 minutes of football, we had a wonderful time!

It's Official...65

My birthday was not highly anticipated, but greatly celebrated and appreciated!  The surprises started Thursday night.  Reed arranged for me to take a glass-blowing class.  It was something I will never forget.  Interesting, fun, and HOT!  I made a pumpkin...to be forever displayed as part of my Fall decor.

                        It starts with a glob of molten glass... I will be rolling it on that table to start shaping.

                           Stick that blob back in the "hole" and twirl and twirl and twirl...trying not to let it flop.

                           This would be the blowing step...he is rolling the tube back and forth, I am shuffling along, blowing into the end. 

                   Almost done...have to add the stem...

                                    ta-da!

Football Jamboree

                    Cache is playing tackle football for the first time this year.

                     Second from the left, #81, he plays quarterback, and when it's his turn...

                      he steps onto the blue turf and the season begins.  By the way, he is an Oregon Ducks fan...what????

Little D is Three!

Durham wanted a "Supohewo" birthday party...I asked him which superhero he liked best.  "All of them."

                                      Happy Birthday Durham!!

Happy Anniversary

I volunteered to plan our 44th Anniversary Dinner...getting six retired couples together should be easy, right? Ha!  We are all busy as ever, it seems.  Finally, the date was set, reservations made, the day arrived...I got sick.  Stomach flu took its toll, I missed my party!!!  I was so sad...I sent Reed with instructions to listen to everyone's stories and return and tell me everything. 

We have been celebrating together for 34 years.  Quite an achievement: marriages that have lasted 44 years, and friendships that have lasted too!

Bailey's Art Camp

I thought Bailey would enjoy Gramma Camp with an emphasis on the arts...so we began at the Boise Art Museum:

                                       In the ceramics gallery, this piece represents river rocks...

                                  This huge installation is called Angle of Repose, made with fusible web, otherwise known as interfacing or Pellon in the sewing biz.  In the shape of a cornucopia, filling the space of a gym-sized gallery, this is intricate, beautiful, and truly unique.  

                                   Then we took the Boise Public Art Tour...checking out various styles of architecture.

                              Bailey especially liked the Art Deco Hoff building, inside and out.

                                       The public art "Totems" represent native culture of the Northwest.

                             We took in  the DaVinci exhibit which inspired a Mona Lisa pose.

                             We took a break while Bailey honed her Weathergirl skills...and played with the green screen.

                          We ended our day at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival..."The Merry Wives of Windsor" given a  1940's vibe.  She said, "This has been the best day!"   For what more could a grandma ask?