It has been a busy fall and Thanksgiving is almost here. Three teenagers says it all. We frequently feel a little like dorm parents at a college somewhere. There is a lot of laughter and we are enjoying all of it. Camping, football games, basketball, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies,  BBQ cook outs, school dances like homecoming, winter formals, movies and favorite TV shows. (So glad Alexander will watch a chick flick with me now and then because I am definately out numbered here.)

Busy canning salsa, pears, beets, rasberry jam,  pickles, spaghetti sauce and freezing corn on the cob, green beans, pumpkin pie filling and it is all from the garden. All three boys, carved a pumpkin from the garden and I still had enough for my students and for some friends too.

Camping at Forest lakes after a football game...

and always basketball games. cook outs at home and sit ups in the living room.

 Like I said, so crazy busy and just fun fun fun with trip to Tombstone Az too

I am so glad we have our exchange students here and their being here really seems meant to be.  We love them and it has been really nice having Ben here too. We love them all and there is never a dull moment.  That is my quick update.

Aloha Spirit

I have been looking forward to Ban and Lorena's visit with their wonderful 5 children all summer. Both Bart and I think of them as family. They were here for just 3 days and we packed in so much fun as we always do with them. They live in Hawaii because Ban teaches at BYU Hawaii so we had not seen them for 3 years. Ban and Bart both taught at Mesa community college together before they moved from the Phoenix valley but we have known them for a long time before that. I met Ban many years ago when he was only about 13, the age of his youngest son now. Their kids call us Auntie Nancy and Uncle Bart but I feel like a grandma to them too. We ate good food, went on walks, had archery contests, sang, played chess and had a cook out and bon fire and we made sommores, watched movies, took a drive into the mountains and they treated us to Chinese food for lunch one day, just sat around talking and went to church together. They just left this morning and I am missing them so much already. It is so quiet here. They can be very loud with five children, 4 boys and one sweet little girl. Here are a few pictures of good times with our friends/family with the True Aloha spirit. Love you all tons. Thanks for a great weekend. See you next summer in Hawaii! Surfs Up!

                                          

                                      
Here is video of the boys playing with the bows and arrows.

Europe was a much needed vacation and packed with many great experiences.

Bonn Germany

Near the border of Austria and Germany

Amsterdam the Best thing was Anne Frank House!

Koln Cathedral 1000 years old

Eifle tower with my handsome man!

Stonehenge

Neuschwanstein Castle in the snow

Linderholf castle near Austria border

Fussen Germany

Dinner with good friends in Germany

Ragland Castle in Wales

                                    
                                           Vianden, Luxenbourg a real hidden treasure!
 
 

Caerphilly Castle Wales near Cardiff

Gardening begins soon in Snowflake but first a trip to Europe.

I love garden fresh veggies and canning but I also love to travel. Spring break is next week and I am taking my husband and Dan Number 2 stepson to Europe and the UK. We have a total of 10 days counting travel time.  I am so ready for a break from teaching my beloved first graders.

We will visit Germany, Austria, Luxenbourg, Netherlands, France, London and Wales where the Bowens come from and where my 4 times Great Grandfather John Williams lived and died. His son James Williams the 1st was a revolutionary soldier. Our Bowen Line and the Williams Line actually come from some of the same towns and counties in Carmanthenshire Wales.
We will also visit some friends, Christian and Kerstin Fehring, that live in Bonn. I stayed with them last time I went to Europe in 1994. It will be fun to see them again. She said she is making us a traditional meal from Switzerland. It is called Raclette and is mostly cheese melted on an open fire on veggies. The recipe dates back to the 1200 sometime so it will be fun to try it since the Shields line does go back through the Reiderer and Sente line to the Swiss Alps.  To the town of Maeinfield to be exact. Which is the town the story of Heidi is from.
In Wales we will stay in a B&B called Pennylan Farm owned by Cathy and Dave Bowen, living near the town Monmouth, where the Bowen family came from. We will enjoy Paris, London and many castles. We will go to Anne Frank's house and the Van Gough Museum. I am looking forward to taking some photos with my new camera too.

 When I come back I will see my tulips coming up. We planted about 300 out front in the heart of our drive.  I am excited but for now I have Parent teacher conferences and a few more days of teaching. So for now I am still looking forward to being on vacation with Bart and Dan.