A visit from my sisters

This is Patricia Vercelli, or Aunty Pat. Becca calls her Little Pat and feels very close to her.

This is Catherine Connelly, or Aunt Catherine. Becca calls her Missy when she thinks her bossy.

This holiday weekend has brought a rare event to us, a visit from my two sisters. Pat is ten years older than me and Cath is 4 years younger. Pat's Dad was Beryl Baker, Nana's first husband. So her maiden name was Baker. Cath and my Dad was John Connelly. Interestingly we never felt other than sisters and brother. Never "half sister" or "half brother". I think we have enjoyed a close relationship.

Over the years, life took us in different directions, and although we got together at various family functions, I don't remember a time when just the five of us spent four days together.

Pat and Cath decided to go on a road-trip. Cath drove down from Sacramento to Azusa to pick up Pat. Then they drove to Mesa. I helped line up a rental here in the park. These inside shots were taken in their "Park Model," as they are called.

We had Thanksgiving dinner together (see last post) on Thursday. On Friday we went to see the new Muppet movie. On Saturday we drove over to Phoenix to try a fast food place we had heard about called "Maui Dog" only to find they were closed for the weekend. We had a lot of time to visit and reminisce and laugh. Sunday morning they continued on their road-trip to Sedona where a friend of Pat's lives. We hugged goodbye in the driveway of their Park Model. It was a special weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holidays are special events at Valle Del Oro. Decorations are everywhere.

This is a big stuffed turkey sitting on the stage in the ballroom

The ballroom is transformed into a dining room to feed Thanksgiving dinner to 1000 of our closest Mesa friends.

Making this Thanksgiving extra special for us is a visit from my two sisters. This is Aunt Catherine beside a Mrs Scarecrow decoration on the wall.

This event is BYOTS (bring your own table setting). This morning Aunt Catherine helped us put out our plates and stuff. There is a marvelous albeit a complicated plan to have a 1000 person potluck. One of things they do is let folks sign up for a specific table but not specific seats. So if you don't reserve your places by putting your plates, etc. early, your group might not get to sit together. We were early enough this year.

Becca helped us with our Thanksgiving theme paper goods.

So at 3PM social hour began with dinner starting at 4. Here is my sister Pat (Aunty Pat) and Aunt Catherine at our table #10. They drove here yesterday from California. They made good time across the desert but when they got to Mesa they got a little lost and didn't get here until it was dark. They were safe but exhausted. After resting over night in their little Park Model (single wide) rental, they were up to joining us for the turkey dinner.

VDO RV Resort provided the turkeys (they cooked more than 400), stuffing and gravy. Everything else is brought by the diners. Our assignment was to bring potatoes. Gramma and her new oven prepared "Funeral Potatoes" using Amanda's recipe--very yummy. Plus she made broccoli with lemon butter--also very yummy. Our table was heavy with all of the traditional Thanksgiving fare from pupus to dessert. Aunty Pat spoke for us all when she said "I should stop eating, but I can't! Everything is so good."

Definitely a day to be thankful for. Hope your was too.

Hi Tea

Today (11/16/11) Valley Del Oro threw one of their gala parties. This one was a luncheon affair for ladies only. The ballroom was decorated to the teeth. (Gramma found out today that Glenda, the park Activities director is a Mormon, which may account for experience decorating cultural halls.) Anyway below is a shot of one of the displays.

Of course the hall was done up in pink and hot pink. On this stage the entertainment came on later -- a singer with a guitar, which Becca really liked. He sang "on pitch," which Gramma really liked. He performed for an hour, mixing music with comedy, some a little "blue" which was enjoyed by the some 400 ladies, most with blue hair.

Here is Buffet Becca, going through the line with Vickie, one of the LDS ladies staying in the park as "a winter visitor" with her husband

Here's Gramma, wearing her Hi Tea finery, with Vickie and Becca. The ladies left for the party at 1o:45 on scooter and bicycle and didn't get home until 1:45--my party ladies!

Auswanderers' plan update

As many of you know, our Plan A was to spend the winter "season" here in Mesa, Arizona. In April we planned to go east, doing family history research and visiting friends and family across the USA. We didn't plan to return to Idaho until July (in time for the Rexburg 4th of July parade). And not getting back into Utah until August. However, two major family events have caused us to make plan changes.

Ganon and Heidi are having a new baby! It will be our 24th grandchild--our 11th grandson, we understand.

And Jennifer, our oldest granddaughter, is getting married on March 10, 2012.

So, Gramma and I puzzled over what to do. We knew that we needed to be present for those important family-changing events. We ruled out taking the motorhome into freezing weather and we didn't want to drive the car up there again. So what's left? Flying! We dread flying and all that that entails. But we began research. Have you ever heard of Allegiant Airline? We hadn't either. Amanda had heard about them, known for cheap rates. She was right. The three of us, round trip can fly for about half the cost of Southwest. Howeva, we soon found out why. First of all it doesn't fly to Salt Lake City

The closest we could get is Idaho Falls. Well, that's OK. Amanda's family lives near "IF". Which is also close to our dentist. The pretty good news is Allegiant (pronounced like pledge of allegiance) flies out of a tiny airport near us. See below. So getting to and from the airport won't be too complicated. So why the cheap rates? Well, they don't fly everyday. And on the days they do fly, they only have one flight. And checked baggage is expensive. We haven't actually seen one of their planes. We hope for the best.

So, here's what our, always tentative, plan looks like. We are here at the Valley Del Oro RV Resort here in Mesa. This is our third year here and we are comfortable with the weather, the place, the people and the community, and did I mention the weather. And we are what they call "Winter Visitors" at our ward here, where these folks have made us feel welcome. As an added treat this year, Papa's sisters (Aunty Pat and Aunt Catherine) will be visiting with us for a few days at Thanksgiving. And at Christmas time, Ganon and Heidi's family will be coming to Mesa where her parents have a home. Gramma and Papa are looking forward to a little time with David, Rebecca, Sarah and TJ.

Our flight to "IF" is on February 23. We hope to spend a few days with Emma, Lily, Carson and Macy (and their parents). On March 2, we will drive down to Utah to spend time with the UT families, meet the new grandson, and participate with Jennifer and Sam on their special day.

The Auswanderers fly back to Mesa on March 13. On April 2 our plan goes back to Plan A. We'll try to keep you in the loop.

Trunk 'r Treat '11

Last night (10/29) our Arizona ward (Ellsworth Ward) teamed up with the Pueblo Branch for their annual Halloween celebration. Gramma's iPhone captured the early parking lot scene as they were setting up for the Chili cook-off, which preceded the candy part of the night.

Once again Becca chose to dress up as Walker Texas Ranger. She now has a Walker shirt (a gift from thoughtful sister Amanda) and an actual Texas Ranger badge and a black cowgirl hat. And she sports a sign that says "Walker Texas Ranger" that gets many comments from adults handing out the candy ("I love Chuck Norris," "Why doesn't he just use his gun?"). Papa's sign says "Walker's Prisoner". That sign gets laughs.

Gramma dressed up as an Hawaiian Lady. She sat near our trunk to pass out candy to the trick'rtreaters. She even decorated her car with Hawaii license plates. yuk

Here is our trunk with a big pan of candy. Gramma is not quite sure what is in the lower corner. She was sure she was alone when she took this photo. spooooky

Eventually the parking lot filled with cars and vans with open trunks and bowls of candy to pass out. There were dozens of running, laughing children dressed up for Halloween. Gramma enjoyed visiting with them as they came up to our car. She really loved this little Rapunzel, who reminded her of grand daughter Sarah.

This holiday is one of Becca's favorite. She begins getting excited when the season decorations go up in the stores. Yesterday she was pumped all day. She loves her costume. And the actual event didn't disappoint her. This was the biggest trunk'rtreat we have been to over the years. It is a wonderful, safe event hosted by wards all over the church. We have been to wards in Azusa near Aunty Pat's, Monterey with Meg's family and Aunt Catherine, Provo with Ganon and Heidi's family and twice near Amanda's, but they were indoors because it was so cold--once at a school and once in a barn, don't forget Kailua, and now Mesa. Becca and I visited every vehicle. She knows the routine, "Trick or Treat," she sings out. She happily explains her costume. And says "Thank you" as we walk away. Coming home she was very happy. Her pumpkin bucket was full of treats she had collected. She said to Gramma and me, "Thank you for trick or treat" Good fun. Good memories.