Over the River and through the Woods

Yes, it felt like that after having to take three planes and then drive 40 minutes to finally get to Sunnyside, Washington, for five fantastic days with Kent and Natlie and their family.  George had never been there before, so he was thrilled to see where they lived, view Kent's dental practice in action, and of course, spend time with Ethan and Ella. 

As always, we love to watch our grandkids as they participate in all their activities.  Ella started her first dancing class.  The adults sit outside in a lobby and watch via television.  One can truly get the picture of what is happening then because they don't know anyone is watching.  When one little girl tried to lightly push Ella out of the way, I don't think she will be doing that again--Ella more than pushed back!  Let's just say, I don't think Ella will ever be bullied at school!

Ethan's team was playing the toughest opponent that they had played up to that time.  Both teams were undefeated.  Kent is their coach.  I know this--Ethan's team won by their wonderful defense.  The other team had no chance to score with the great defense against them.  It was a happy day for Ethan (and Kent)!  He told me his dad had "estimated" what each team would score before the game.  He asked me if I knew what "estimated" meant--so cute!  Anyway, they won and that was the main thing for Ethan.

Ella sitting on Grandpa's lap during the game.

We, also, went to Ethan's practice where George kept Ella thoroughly entertained.

George was able to see Kent's dental office and was so impressed.  We saw it after-hours, but he also got to walk through when there were patients in every one of the chairs.

One of the funnest things we did was go to school lunch with Ethan. 

I can't say the lunch was all that wonderful, but recess afterward was absolutely the greatest!  (Do I sound like a first grader?)  All of the little kids loved George. 

First, he had to teach them his special handshake.

Then he told them how they were going to play a game with the football.

He soon had a gigantic group of kids who wanted to play.

So that the little girls wouldn't feel left out, he started teaching them the Gator chant--"Oh say it's great, to be, a Florida gator, oh say it's great, to be a Florida gator." 

Then he had them doing the Gator chomp.  They loved it!

And where was Ethan and Ella during this time?  Ethan was off playing football with his own group of friends--

And Ella had lots of little girls who wanted to be her friend--

As we started to leave, a little girl came up and put her hand in George's.  She told him her grandpa died in a car accident about nine months ago, so she didn't have a grandpa anymore.  Natalie told her she could share Ethan's grandpa whenever he came which seemed to make her very happy.

Ethan had picked out a remote controlled airplane for his birthday, which Kent, Natalie, and I thought was going to be a piece of junk, but George and Ethan went outside to try it out, and it worked fabulously!  The only thing was--you couldn't have roof tops very close, because it wasn't really easy to have it land exactly where you wanted.  But George and Ethan had a great time flying it. 

After five days in Washington, we all piled in Kent and Natalie's car, along with books, games, movies, treats, luggage--and oh yes, six people, to drive to Utah for Thanksgiving.  Kent had a full day's worth of patients which he finished by about 1:30 p.m.  We drove about six hours and got to Mt. Home, Idaho, where we stayed the night in a really nice hotel there.  The kids loved swimming after being couped up in the car for so long.

The next morning, we drove to Ogden where Kent's father-in-law met us with their car.  How kind of the Robbins to allow us to use their car while we were in Utah--they trusted us with their Lexus!  It worked out so great because then Kent and Natalie stayed to have Thanksgiving with her family in Ogden, and George and I drove to Salt Lake City where we had Thanksgiving with Angie's extended family.  Her mom and dad were so kind to invite us to have a huge dinner at the church with their family.  What a way to really enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner--I didn't have to cook at all!

The kids (big and little) had a great time playing games in the gym as well as on a television set up in one of the rooms. 

My dad had come down for the BYU-Air Force game the Saturday before, so he stayed with my sister, Natalie, until Thursday when she brought him to be with us for the weekend.  It was so great spending time with him.  We enjoyed being with him so much.

After the wonderful Thanksgiving get-together, we all went to a movie and back to Kevin and Angie's for the evening.

Friday morning (Black Friday), Connor and Kade woke Angie and I up at 4:20 a.m. so that we could go to Best Buy for video games for Christmas.  You know--we couldn't miss those great deals!  How come the kids didn't have to be awakened like they do on a school day?  They actually woke the adults up!  Hah!  Anyway, it is a tradition that we have Christmas early if we aren't going to be able to be with family on Christmas.  So, we always take the grandkids shopping on Black Friday to choose their gifts.  This morning was the boys' time for shopping.  We couldn't believe the people and tents and lines and garbage every where as we went to stores.  But mission accomplished--the boys were taken care of.  It was mighty difficult for those boys to go home and not play the games--the rule is, you have to wait until the presents are wrapped and we all open them as a family.  Connor, especially, was dying, but he was a good sport to wait!  He told me it was in his genes--his dad, Kevin, always seemed to "secretly" open his gifts, and re-wrap them.  He couldn't stand suspense either! 

George and I then went to see Carter play in a basketball tournament.  His team is just getting started in AAU.  Even though they didn't win, Carter gave it his all.  It was really fun to watch them.

Carter is No. 6

In addition to Great Grandfather Rigby, his other Great Grandfathe Stohler also came to the watch his game, so I took a picture of them.  How many kids have both "greats" at a game?

When we got back, it was now the girls and younger boys turn to go shopping.  I didn't have enough eyes to see all they wanted to show me.  Kim, Angie, and I were going here and there and everywhere, but again we got finished, and the kids seemed pretty excited.  In addition to shopping for the kids, I was finding things for the three couples--Keving and Angie, Kyle and Kim, and Kent and Natalie.  My brain was on over-load for sure.  Kent and Natalie met up with us and it was off to the BYU bookstore, to get Taylor his birthday present--he turned 18 years old today (November 27th).  I can't believe time has gone that quickly.  He will be leaving on his church mission in just one year!  He wanted a BYU shirt for his birthday, and a sweatshirt for his Christmas present.  George and I had a great time reminiscing of our school days while we were on campus.

The kids loved writing on the BYU banner wishing the team good luck!

Someone had put some bad graffiti (a red U) on the banner, but the kids took care of that!

My dad loves BYU football as much as the kids do!  He is sad to see the season almost over!

While we were at the bookstore, Connor came running over to me and said, "I think I see Cassie's brother!"  Sure enough, there was Trevor.  We had the nicest visit with him.  He looks so happy and loves attending BYU.  He is some smart kid--he is taking Hebrew next semester!

That night, Angie and I busily wrapped all the presents, while some of the guys and kids went to the BYU basketball game for Taylor's birthday.  Christmas isn't Christmas without seeing the excitement of a child!  Even though the kids knew what was in most of the presents, they were literally bouncing off the walls.  We told them, we would open the presents after breakfast in the morning (Saturday).  They knew they would have a hard time waiting that long, but they did it!

Saturday morning, Kevin and Angie made a wonderful big breakfast, and after everyone got there, we all went to the basement where the kids already had all the presents divided out. 

George welcomed everyone and told them how much we loved them all.  He tried not to make too long of a speech because he knew how excited the kids were!

We always start with the youngest on up even though the older kids always try to talk us out of it.  Hah!

Ella - 3 yrs. old

Brady - 5 yrs. old

Brady with his dad and mom - Kim and Kyle

Hannah - 6 yrs. old

Hannah with her dad and mom - Kevin & Angie

Ethan - 7 yrs. old

Ethan with his dad and mom - Natalie and Kent

Jenna and Lauren opening their little Chinese dolls we got from vendors on the Great Wall of China.

Jenna and Lauren - both 9 years old

Jenna with her mom and dad - Kyle and Kim

Lauren with her dad and mom - Kevin and Angie

Kade - 10 yrs. old

With his dad and mom - Kevin & Angie

Carter - 12 yrs. old

Carter with his dad and mom - Kim and Kyle

Connor - 13 yrs. old

Connor and Koda with their dad and mom - Kevin & Angie

Taylor - 18 yrs. old (with his birthday present)

Taylor with his Christmas present--would you say he loves BYU??!

Grandpa Rigby watching as Natalie and Kent open their very special gift from him--

The New Testament with beautiful pictures inside as well.  It will be a treasure forever!

My sister Joyce, put together a beautiful remembrance book of our trip to China which we gave to both Kevin and Angie and Kent and Natalie.  They loved it!

Kyle's family definitely needed luggage for how much traveling they do!

Carter, Connor, Kade, & Ethan -- I think the early Christmas was a big success!

The three brothers - Kyle, Kent, and Kevin

Kent and Natalie's family

Kyle and Kim's family

Kevin and Angie's family

What a great time we had! 

While the younger kids played, the older "kids", including the dads and grandpa, got ready for the BIG game--BYU against Utah.  They all bundled up for a pretty cool day. 

Although Angie didn't go to the game, she got dressed up in her new outfit Kevin gave her.

While the guys were at the game, the girls went shopping and to lunch without kids--Jenna and Lauren babysat and did such a great job! 

Shall I say, the wives and grandma were pretty tense the whole day about the result of the game.  We definitely wanted a happy group to come home--but, not only were they all happy, they were ecstatic when the game turned out to be such a cliff hanger with great results in overtime!

George and I spent the night at Kyle and Kim's.  Sadly, we had to get on the plane the next day.  What a marvelous time we had for the past nine days--to be able to see three of our children and their families, and to spend time with my dad who is 86 years young--the only thing better would have been to have the other four children and their families.  It was truly a blessed Thanksgiving for us!