Saying goodbye to Nickie 12-13-2019

During the summer of 1998, we had 3 foster kids live with us.  13 year old twins, Alyssa and Nickie, and their little sister Mindy, who was 3.  Their parents were trying to get control of an addiction problem they both struggled with.  We have some great memories of the time we had with these kids.  Over the years we have been able to keep in touch with the girls and their family.

On Dec. 3, 2019, Nickie, who also struggled with addition, died of an over dose.  The funeral was held Friday, the 13th.  I was so impressed with the family that adopted them and their siblings.  We have come to love the Wharton family so much.  It was fun going through old pictures from when the kids were living with us.  The twins are now 34, which is the same age I was when they were living with us.

Till we meet again...

Finished cabin pictures

For those of you that wanted to see finished cabin pictures....

 This is the loft

On the main level there are 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen/great room.

The basement has a large game room, a bathroom, and a theater room.

It's totally finished!  Now time to play!

We had Thanksgiving up there, hoping it will be a tradition.

Thanksgiving 2019

I was so excited to have Thanksgiving at the cabin!

The "Teri's" we going to go to the cabin with us....

Wanting everything to go smoothly, I decided we should bring the frozen 20 lb turkey down to the cabin ahead of time to let it thaw in our fridge down there.

So the Friday before Thanksgiving, we took Rex with us down to the cabin, and had a great time, and delivered the turkey.

In an adoption Dean was working on, the baby was born, and we needed to take off to St. George.  So the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we headed south.  We were planning on driving back on Monday after a court appearance, but a huge winter storm came in, and the roads back to SLC were terrible, so we stayed and extra day in St. George.  On our way home on Tuesday, we decided it was too dangerous to make everyone drive in the terrible weather, so we stopped by the cabin to pick up the turkey and bring it up to SLC, and just have Thanksgiving at our house.

The snow was so beautiful!  We hiked up to the cabin, with the intentions of driving the 4 wheelers down to the parking lot, with our turkey.

Well....when we got up to the cabin, we realized we left our keys to the 4 wheelers in the car, down at the parking lot.  So we dragged the turkey down to the car.

Then on Wednesday, while talking to Teri, she said they were all game to try to make it to the cabin.....so we loaded up the turkey, and hauled it BACK down to the cabin!

Everyone made it to the cabin safely!  I was so excited!  Outings like this is why we have the cabin!

Caitlyn and Deena made us an awesome breakfast.

We got the turkey going, table set, and all the side dishes started. 

We made our traditional dip to munch on while we prepare the feast.

Time for a hike around "the loop".

 Kami and Kaycee chasing the wild turkeys!

This is one of our favorite spots on the loop, from here you get an awesome view of Sanpete County, and you can see our cabin.

After our hike we enjoyed hanging out at the cabin, while we waited for the turkey to finish cooking. 

 Oh, and have I mentioned that Lucy's eyelashes are crazy long!

 Caitlyn and Lucy have matching outfits.

 

 When I went to check on the turkey, I sadly discovered the oven had accidentally been turned off!  Wasn't even close to ready!  No worries, I just happen to have turkey sticks in my fridge.  Used the mashed potatoes and the turkey sticks to create this turkey, I don't think anyone will even notice!

 Here is Dean getting ready to bless the food.  I thought it was funny to take this picture...he didn't.

 This is proof that you can still get still get sleepy even without turkey!

 Its fun to watch the wild turkeys, they are so big!

 Lots of playing in the snow.

Dean's pants got wet, and we don't have a dryer up there yet...but who needs one?! 

 Our first Thanksgiving at the cabin!  I hope it becomes our new tradition!  Maybe next year we will have turkey!