A Different Thanksgiving!

It's always nice to mix things up a bit especially at holidays where tradition seems to rule.

So that's what we did for Thanksgiving this year!

We still had our traditional kids vs. parents soccer game but because it was cold and we are California wimps, we opted for indoor soccer instead!

Thank goodness we know someone with keys to the Church building!  The kids were pretty silly especially after they won the soccer game 12 to 4 or something like that!

 

Nathaniel held on to his ball the whole time!

Then the kids put on their traditional Story of Thanksgiving play but this time it was a roadshow!  They came to our house after their dinner to perform it for us!

Here are the Pilgrims riding on the Mayflower!

Two famous Pilgrims:

Making their home in the new land.  

(I spy some Indians in the background!)

Samoset alias Michael who had his long speech memorized!

All of the Indians are welcomed!

They caught a turkey for their feast!

And everyone took a bow at the end!

The director and narrator:

Doesn't everyone always at the end of their Thanksgiving dinner when the scrumptious pies are brought out say: We should have had the pie first because I don't have much room for any!

Well, that's what we did this year!  We had pumpkin pie and other pies and goodies at 6:00 p.m.  Then at 8:00 p.m. we had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls and lots of other good food.

I didn't take any pictures of the eating but here is Jeff's family to give you the idea:

So it was a different Thanksgiving but maybe we have started some new traditions!

Thankful for Grandkids!

I love hearing about anything my grandkids are doing!

Two Students of the Month!

Painting Get Well pictures!

Thanksgiving crafts!

The United States out of play dough!

Kindergarten Thanksgiving feast!

Band Concert!

I understand Sam played in something called "Trombonafide!"

We actually got some rain in California!

Losing that first tooth!

My Dad makes having great grandkids look like lots of fun too!

Here he is in Utah meeting Grayson, his 50th great grandchild!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Introducing my new hip!  That's my personal x-ray the surgeon presented to me!

 Just before the surgery: I'm trying not to look too worried!

 Recovery!

Later I was moved to a private room with this pleasant view:

I only spent 24 hours there in the room.

Now I'm home working on using my new hip!

Big Weekend!

This past weekend saw some fun events in our family!

The McClellans went to Missouri for the BYU football game and Fireside.  

They loved the fireside and got some pictures with team members: Mitchell Juergens

 Harvey Langi

 Tajan and Kyle Johnson

Ready for the game!

Meanwhile Kathryn and Amelia perfomed in a piano recital!

They each performed separately but they also played this duet: Aura Lee.  It was great!

Kathryn also performed on the violin.  She played a duet with her teacher, Lindsay Draper:

Here are some of the students posing with their teacher, Shannon Draper.  So proud of the great job they each did!

Joshua had a soccer game which Dan was able to attend.

His team is the Clash!

Julia perfored in her high school musical: 

Julia as the Ghost Flapper!

Busy families!!

Thank You, Veterans!

Recently my Dad was asked by one of this great granddaughters to share some information about his participation in WWII for a school report.  Here is some of what he wrote along with some photos!

New Recruit: Camp Farragut, Idaho

Officer Training: Miami, Florida (Bottom Right)

"I joined the United States Navy  in 1944 which  I considered my patriotic duty, that our country was at war and was assigned to  a ship that I served on for two years...

This is the ship. LST #891 shown here in Guam.

 ...Our ship's captain took  orders from our Admirals and Generals and President Roosevelt  to fight the enemy and restore our many islands and countries that the enemy had captured and occupied.   

The Officers (Back Row 3rd from Left)

Deck Division (Front row, 4th from Left)

One of our duties was firing at the enemy, and to deliver tanks and marines to the islands and countries involved.    

We sailed all over the Pacific Ocean, and  were involved in the Philipines, Guam, New Guinea, Korea, China, Indonesia and Iwo Jima and others, and finally, Okinawa, Japan where we were when the atom bombs were dropped ending the war.

 I was and am still am thankful for the opportunity to serve my country, and of course to be returned home safely, which many  thousands did not, who are the real heros of the war."