Our mother dear turns 85

It's been a whirlwind of activities around here lately. Here's a few things we've been doing:
We had a big birthday bash for our mother dear who just turned 85.
A combined birthday party for Courtney and Ellie.
Thanksgiving at our place for 15 of us.
A baby shower for Courtney at our place.
Goodbyes to the out-of-staters (with two hangers-on remaining for an extra week.)
Several activities with the youth in our ward to prepare for and execute.
Who can even think about making Christmas preparations?? Not me. Not yet.

I'll start with the 85 year old birthday bash for Mary F. G. P. E.
It was splendid. I got to spend four WHOLE days with Mom and my dear brother Paul, plus three of my sisters and their spouses. It was so fun to hang out and visit, play games and just relax. It was the best fun to honor Mom and to do some of the things she enjoys. She took us all to the Providence Inn which is now a fabulous bed and breakfast in Providence, Utah of all places. Mom attended church at this building when she was a girl. It was fun to walk around the building with her and listen to her stories of the past. It was very nostalgic and the evening we were there is snowed about 8 inches, much to her delight. She lives in a warm weather climate during the winter and it was fun to have a beautiful snow storm come in and cover the ground with white. We ate wonderful food, attended the temple, played a trivia game on her life and just paid tribute to an amazing lady, our mother.