Farewell Galena

Saturday night we had a lovely evening at Chris and Kimberly's house. They hosted a farewell party for us and we had so many wonderful people come to wish us well on our journey to Utah. We had fun eating and visiting. I have been very blessed with the many associations I have made in Reno. And I can say that I have definitely learned a lot about myself over the past two years.

Gloria, Steve, Rob, Anna, Sariah, and Leah

Kelli, Larae, and Kimberly

Rinar and Rose

Paul, Brett, and Brian

 Rachel and Rusty were not able to make the party because they had a long drive back from Sacramento. So Rachel invited our family over on Sunday for some cake and ice cream. The kids had a lot of fun playing with their family and that gave us time to visit with each other. Rachel and Rusty are fun and we enjoying hanging out with them. I wish we had been able to do it some more. We will really miss them a lot.

But the kids sure loved the dessert.

Ugly Sweater Party

Because I got the mad thrift store shopping skills, Rinar and I were looking suh-weet for a white elephant/ugly sweater Christmas party at Molly and Jimmy's house last night. Before we even left the house, I knew we had a winner when Julia asked Daddy why he was wearing an ugly sweater.  Bingo! Yes, she really did say the sweater was ugly. My girl has quite the eye. My sweater was so-so ugly. I know I can do better. All future thrift store trips will include sweater perusals. I am determined to find something uglier.

 

 

The party was a lot of fun and the white elephant presents were truly hideous.  Rinar's gift was picked first: a box of travel soaps from the many different hotels he has stayed at over the years.  Nobody wanted to get stuck with his gift. It must have been traded at least 20 times.

 

 

Rinar first got a pair of over-sized overalls, but they were soon stolen by Diane and Mark. They then proceeded to model them, together, at the same time. It was just too funny.

 



Besides my awesome lion cookie jar, the hot item of the night was this corduroy jacket. Everyone wanted it. Rusty even wore it to church today. They all took turns modeling it, holding a Conan the Barbarian goblet.

Mark, Rusty, and Jimmy

I tell you, this very last minute white elephant party was a blast and I know we are going to have to do it every year from now on.

 

Galena Harvest Festival



This weekend was our ward's Harvest Festival.  It was lots of fun.  I was able to whip up a costume for Julia in the afternoon...Strawberry Shortcake. She loved it.  Harry wore Raef's old pirate costume, which is now nice and dirty, I am happy to report.  Who ever heard of a clean pirate anyways?

 

There were lots of fun little games to play and prizes to win.

 

 

 

There wasn't enough room on the hayride for all of us, so Molly and Jimmy took Julia and Harry with them and the kids loved it.

 

But Julia had a hard time processing this monkey mask. She was very confused.

This is just what we needed to get into the holiday mood. I even broke out the fall decorations and let the kids put them up around the house.  Good times.