Merry Christmas

We feel so blessed by our little clan. We wish you a happy Christmas Day and Peace, Health and Prosperity in 2010. Oh, and lots of visits to Grandma's House. We love you all.

Build A Bear

Grandma and Grandpa took Megan, Henry, Zoe and Lincoln to Build A Bear yesterday, then to Hire's. None of them came home with a "bear" but we did come home with a small zoo!
We hope they had fun and that they take good care of their new friends. We miss you Alisha, Cory, Noel and Ellie!

Happy Thankgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Mom and Dad having a traditional dinner (buffet) at Grey Cliff Lodge. Due to logistics Stevens family couldn't be with us. We will celebrate next weekend along with Megan's Birthday.

A Story, Sand, and Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=518XP8prwZo

(something is wrong with "embedding" link on youtube}

This girl is drawing pictures on sand, on a table. She is telling a story about Eastern Europe in 1945. Believe it or not, it's from a European TV talent show.

Be prepared to be wow'd.

Changing Seasons

This is the difference a day makes. Having four seasons is beautiful.
Wish you were here to share it with us.

Life's Changes

Four Generations (not the best pose/smile from everyone, but still good)

This little article is good for everyone, at any age, whether you're looking to the future or remembering the past. Our roles change through out life.

Transitioning through Life’s Phases
Midlife Crisis

In our youth-oriented culture, the process of aging is not honored as it once was. There have been societies that looked to those who were older for leadership, understanding that their life experiences must have brought some wisdom with them. Our society tends to put more value on looking youthful, so when the time comes that we don’t look, move, or feel the way we once did, this causes a sudden jolt to our perception of ourselves. We can look at this shift as a crisis and fight against change, or we can take the opportunity to transition smoothly to a new phase of life.

We spend our youth learning who we are and what we are capable of accomplishing. As we set and reach our goals, it is easy to identify ourselves by our roles. At some point we may feel very comfortable in the idea that we have a complete understanding of ourselves. This is, inevitably, when things change and we get to see ourselves from a new perspective. Those who have reached their goals may wonder where to go from there, feeling uncomfortable with the new choice of parts to play. Others may have to let go of an identity that was built around a goal that was not reached and decide from what foundation to rebuild. Although it can be challenging to shift into a new expression of self, we may find that we’re better suited for this fresh path of self-discovery and the new perspective it brings.

Whether we find ourselves facing a midlife crisis or any life transition, we can take the time to get in touch with our inner selves. From the unchanging spirit within us, we can accept and embrace the changes that come with the human experience. Examining where we’ve been and what we’ve learned can point in the direction of all that we would like to do now and in the future. When we anchor our identity in our spiritual nature, we understand that physical change does not change who we are, but only offers another perspective from which to experience, understand, and celebrate life.
(from The Daily Om.)

The Royal Hawaiian Trip

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I don't feel like writing a thousand words for each photo here, so, I'll let them speak for themselves. We had a wonderful time. We are so blessed to be able to take trips like these. We'd love to be able to take all of you with us.

We stayed at the Royal Hawaiian, the second oldest hotel on Waikiki.






Freshly baked Macadamia Nut bread.





Steven, I thought of you while watching this fire dancer.






Afternoon Tea on the Veranda of the Moana Surfrider. The first hotel in Waikiki, in 1901, during the steamship days.










Our view from our lounge chair the first morning. This is before it became crowded.




Someday I'll own a real Panama Hat, fedora style. Actually, they're made in Ecuador. The price is based on the quality (re: fineness) of the weave. I tried on a "regular weave" that was $475 and a "super fino" fedora valued at $11,000. This is from the Monte Cristi hat makers, considered one of the finest.



Our lounge chairs, beach umbrella, and the warm Pacific Ocean await our return.

Pumpkin Hunt

Alisha and family were in town this weekend so we had them and Steven and family over for a PARTY. We made it a theme party, The 1st Annual McFadden Pumpkin Hunt and Pumpkin Decorating Party. The little ones got to hunt for a hidden pumpkin and a bag of goodies with their name on it (I know, the two year olds can read yet, but they found their bags anyway), pick donuts hanging from the tree, and decorate their pumpkin with paint. Now we can't forget the food. We made homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Here's the photos. Hope you have a great Halloween! Boo!

























And finally some of the homemade Macaroni and Cheese.




And that's the way it is. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!



BOO! (again)