Thanksgiving and First Snows of the Season

Beanie Boys and the one who made them. (I wrote more about these pictures below - I couldn't get these in order.) Anyway, see the happy couple! Just got sealed at the Palmyra Temple, Nov. 27th, 2010.

Greg and I, happy for the happy couple and celebrating after a fantastic dinner at Greg's brother's house.

Payton and Nolan playing bionicles. Payton got lucky and brought these home with him. Thanks Nolan and Mason! Thanks for the sweatshirts too!

This year, our Thanksgiving in NY was a little different. Anita was recovering from surgery, rotary-cuff, so she really couldn't do much of the cooking. So, Bob and I worked to get it done. Greg helped a little, but he still was outdown by his mom and her hurt shoulder. Good thing Greg is so good at keeping our boys happy and out of trouble. He didn't have to do much with Owen though, cuz Owen was sick for a day and a half.

Poor Owen was sick on Thanksgiving, with a fever / sinus infection. He managed to eat after we finished up but was asleep while we ate. Luckily, his illness didn't last more than 36 hours and he was better on Saturday when we went up to Andy and Belinda's. (Greg's brother)

Bob and Gray partaking of the bounteous feast!

I had to get my picture taken too since I helped make alot of this yummy food. I really enjoyed taking a big part in cooking it up this year. It brought back memories of cooking with my own mom. She would let us skip school the day before Thanksgiving so we could help her make up the pies and rolls.

Gray went out hunting with Grandpa Gams on Thanksgiving morning. He didn't want to bundle up but after getting out there he was happy to be covered from head to toe.

We got a little snow on Friday afternoon, in NY. The boys made snowballs with whatever they could scrape up. Above, is Gray's hidden snowball. He was outside for like two minutes to make this and then left it hidden. Funny teenager!

Above, Payton and Owen having fun in the snow. Yes, it reinvigorated Owen from his illness, all of a sudden he was up and moving.

Payton, loving the snow in his new beenie grandma Gams made for him. She made them for all my boys, even Greg! Don't they look sporty?! (picture is the first one far above)

Are you cold yet?

11/27/2010 Sat. morning before leaving to the Palmyra Temple. Greg sitting with is father who went for his personal temple ordinances and their sealing.

Anita and Bob looking much like the happy couple. What a wonderful day! After 39 years, they got sealed for time and all eternity in the Palmyra temple. It was a special day!

Below, Owen and Garrin play video games at their Uncle Andy's house. Our boys like visiting there!

Payton and Noah pause for a moment to show their faces for my picture. Payton inherited some cool Bionicles from his cousins Nolan and Mason. He played with them the entire time he was at their home.

Our boys stayed at their Aunt & Uncle's / cousins home in Newark, NY while Greg and I went with his parents to the temple. After the temple, we returned to Belinda and Andy's house to join them
in celebrating Bob and Anita's big day. Belinda and Andy had prepared grilled steak, baked potatotes, and brocolli for dinner and a chocolate cheesecake! It was like eating out at a restaurant but better because we could play games afterward and lounge around and our boys could play! It was a fantastic dinner and family reunion! Greg's other brother, Nate and his son Garrin came from New Hampshire. It was a big surprise. We were only missing Neal who is living in Arizona currently. (Neal, plans to be in NY for Christmas though, when we hope to be in AZ. If we can't get to AZ, then we will see him in NY for New Years.)

Oh, yes, it's Jess- she belongs to Andy and Belinda.

lft- rt Bob, Nolan holding Payton, Belinda and Anita

Greg and Bob

lft-rt Mason, Natae, Andy
(I think next year we will have to get another real Gams family reunion picture.)


current day, Dec. 10, 2010 below:

Above is a picture of Payton and friend, Aiden, playing in our first Maryland snow - today, Dec. 10th. The elementary schools had a half day, so they were lucky and spent some time in the snow after school. It wasn't much but enough to make some snowballs and throw them!

Noah ventured off down the street to find a little hill to sled on and layed around in the snow - eating it- of course!

Greg just returned home from Hawaii today! Welcome home to the cold and snow hun! Aren't you glad you didn't miss the first snow?!

2010 Blessings

1/25/11
Dear Family and Friends:

We want to share with you our review of 2010. It was a challenging but a good year.


Blessings of 2010 include:

illnesses overcome- Bev's cysts and Greg's tonsilectomy;

bonding memories with family - Payton's baptism which my parents came for, Bob and Anita getting sealed in the Palmyra temple, vacations to New England and AZ

changes & growth- our boys continue to get older and taller and they think they are smarter (sometimes they surprise us)- they are still cute, as long as they keep their insults in their mouths. The boys continue to grow and improve in their various goals at school, home, church and sports. They staying active and have fun playing basketball, baseball and football (fb is only Gray and Owen); Also house projects: bathroom remodeling and carport resurfacing.


church- Payton bore his testimony in church for the first time and was baptized, Gray is now a teacher in the aaronic priesthood, I am now working in Relief Society as first counselor and had to sadly say goodbye to being a primary chorister, Noah is a Weblos scout and progressing well, Owen had his last year in primary which means no more sacrament meeting presentations and he finished his Faith in God goal booklet! Greg is financial clerk, teaches High Priest quorum each 3rd Sunday and helps the missionaries with teaching sometimes. We continue to make new friends and strengthen our current relationships. We have been doing scripture reading, FHE and family prayers more this year than we have in the past! We will continue to do better in 2011.

I know life always presents us with opportunities to grow. I am grateful for these opportunities. I know it is from how we react or deal with challenges & opportunities that shape our character and testimonies. I appreciate my dear family who supports me and I am grateful to do my part in giving and supporting them.

To all our extended family and friends, we are happy for the memories we have made with you in 2010 and hope to build on those in 2011. Our relationships with you all give us joy. Thank you! We wish you all the best in 2011.

Hugs from: Greg 40, Beverly 37, Gray 14, Owen 12, Noah 10, and Payton 8

Nov. 2010 family picture

The holidays are here! It's hard to believe but we actually got studio photos this year! Here is one of my favorites. Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful for each other, our family and friends. God bless us everyone!

September

I think this month flew by without much pictures.
So I am going to list somethings which I hope to add pictures to later.

Football games and school started the end of August, then:

Sept. 2- Greg and my 15th Anniversary (went to the temple, ate out for lunch)

Sept. 8- My 37th Birthday (ate out at Chili's- yipee no dishes)

Greg has had alot of tennis matches and a tournament and is now #3 on the tennis ladder at work! At the end of Sept. Greg had a week business trip (we ate out at Denny's- which I really don't like- yuck); I've been busy with my new calling in Relief Society - Monday meetings, service, and new teacher training meetings; Boy Scout/ Cub Scouts began; I'm trying to jog more again- finally feeling better and running without injuries; homework, back to school nights; ear problems getting resolved finally- I have fungus in my left ear- yuck!

Oct. General Conference and Gray's birthday weekend, in-laws visiting. Miniture golf, air soft guns, lunch at The Green Turtle, football games- Gray scored 3 touchdowns!
News of Greg's folks getting sealed in temple come Thanksgiving! I'm searching internet to find tickets for Christmas holiday but its only looking expensive and we are out of frequent flyer miles. Maybe we will just stay here and get a dog.?? Any poodle mix for me- cost more but years without fur/ hair all over the house would be worth it!

Now its time to rotate clothes, colder weather is here and I've got to dig out pants and sweatshirts from boxes so my house is a reck during this process. (Washing blankets to put back on their beds.) My list of to-do's is growing faster than I can keep up so now my office and various places of the house are clutter again, hard for me to keep up! Oh well, time goes by too fast to have a spotless house! (I still like our home, community and life here in Maryland.) We are into our 4th year here, a new record for us!

Medieval Times

This was a family outing I finally convinced Greg that we must do! Noah and I were more interested at first, but they all came around once we were there. Payton, of course, loved it. We all enjoyed the show and food. We rooted for the Black and White Knight but it was scripted for him to perish early on in the games.

Yum, time to eat! And we get to use our hands!!

Our squire or server whatever... but look at the food! We got like half a chicken plus baked potatoe, soup, roll, ribs and a drink. Now, let the show begin!

Noah trying to look mean.

Noah, Owen and Payton all got swords. Poor Gray, he said he didn't care for one but he is also becoming a thrifty person. (As I am writing this up, I realized the boys have not played with their new swords for a couple weeks.) New things become old quickly- another fact of life Gray understands now. Young Gray's birthday just past... I'll get that in the next post.

Payton is trying to look scarey but he can't stop smiling and Noah's about to crack up. Below, you can see how happy Greg is to be waiting. We came early so we could get better seats and the over hour wait was no picnic for my knight. We did spend more money (Greg's favorite thing to do) to see the dungeon of doom- a medieval torture chamber with artifacts and written details of what they did to people. Horrible!

Owen happy to sport his new crown.

Payton and I liked the falcon. It flew in the show too. Medieval Times was a good experience! Will I do it again, no- but I am glad we did take the opportunity to do this before they got too big and thought it would be just silly.

Noah's birthday- The Babe & Sports Museums

Noah is into the double digits! It is crazy how time flies! 10 years, a decade feels like 2 years.

This year so far, our boys have been wanting not just cake for their birthdays. Starting with Noah, he got a chocolate pudding pie!

Make a wish, 5th grader!

New clothes for a cool school year!

Below are pics from the Baltimore Sports Museum. With no school to contend with, we had a free day to celebrate Noah's big birthday.

Happy in the huddle.

We learned that Baltimore was the Colts before the Ravens and Johnny Unitas was their star QB.

Oops! Noah bumped into Payton!

We learned about the African American Baseball League too! The Baltimore Black Sox were big.

I also liked the old fashion radio to my left.

Owen and brothers play a virtual soccer game.

Trying on some Ravens' helmets.

I wondered how many other heads used this helmet..... hm.

Group photo at the Babe Museum. Noah loves his brothers!

Picture of the Babe I had to include, with his second wife and his daughter. Doesn't she look alot like Drew Barrymore? I think if they make a new movie of the Babe, she should be cast as his daughter. What do you think? Below is the bed that Babe slept in! Ooooo!

Some interesting history was in this museum, and you could feel it in the streets as you walked in Baltimore. I love historic cities! (The boys will appreciate this later.) Much of it, they did enjoy now. Like this penny suvenior Noah got.

Noah did a report on the Babe in 4th grade so this was neat to experience as a follow-up fieldtrip on Noah's birthday. We learned Babe Ruth was born George Herman Ruth, Jr. If you want you can read more about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Ruth

Owen and Payton standing in for some pics of what we saw and read at the museum.

Noah Gams is the Babe of our family!

It was a hot, summer Monday - a gorgeous day for indoors between 1-3. I think we played tennis that morning, then picked up lunch at Chick-fil-A and went to the museum. We had a homecook meal for dinner and dessert (Noah's choice). I'm sure we relaxed and watched a movie that night. oops, its slipping my mind- I'll have to ask Noah and correct this later if need be.