Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! In Spokane, we had Grandad come and stay with us for the long weekend. He helped me finish many of my projects (I've always got SO many going!) and spent lots of quality time with JR while I was working. We decided to forgo a traditional turkey dinner, and instead had Thanksgiving fondue... Delicious! Jacqui and I are very thankful for all of you this year and for all our supportive family and friends. We really are very blessed and are thankful for that. We got to talk to Grandma Dixie and Grandad #2 on Skype, which was fun. Jacqui sang them some of her school songs, and Grandma sang her the little white duck song, which tickled her pink!
We went to Red Lobster for dinner the first night Grandad was here by Jacqui's request, they are new in Spokane, so that was a nice treat. We talked about what we are thankful for throughout the weekend, and Jacqui did remind me before I posted this that "Mom I know what you are thankful for... You are thankful for such a cute kid! (as she is beaming with her missing teeth)". And truly, I am thankful for my cute kid, as well as our good health, and that we are both learning so much in school, that I am employed in a job I really enjoy, and for all we have. It is a year to give much thanks, and I am thankful for all of you. So, thank you, all of you, for being great family, supportive friends, and loving to us in every way possible. We would not be able to accomplish so much without your prayers and support, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice is back in town and Jacqui and I were able to go and take our friend Cori, and her friend Devin. It was a great show this year with Cars, the Little Mermaid, the Lion King, and Tinkerbell and her fairy friends. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy were the hosts, and we had such a great time. Jacqui dressed up in her princess dress that Grandad (#1) bought her in Mexico, last year the dress was way too big, and this year... well she has obviously grown a lot since last year! Cars was fun to watch the different characters slide around the ice and figure out how to get Mickey and Minnie's care running. Her favorite part of the show was the Lion King, "because I like the lift up part". She liked the duet skating with the lifts and all the pretty animals that were part of the Lion King. Cori, Devin, and I really liked the Tinkerbell part of the show and watching all the fairies work on bringing spring to the world. The costumes were so colorful and sparkly. Jacqui also really wanted a picture with Tinkerbell, so we all got a picture taken for the scrapbook, that I scanned for the blog. She was quite the princess watching the show and we are blessed to have the opportunity to go to fun events like this!

Jacqui's Kindergarten School Picture

We finally got Jacqui's school pictures back. Amazingly, she took a pretty good pic, since they herd them through pretty quickly :)! You can see her 2 new 'grown up' teeth coming in the bottom.

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day, and we all have many people to thank for their service to our country and their bravery and potential sacrifice for the allowance of our way of life. Grandad and Grandpa Jim served in the Army and the Air Force (although it wasn't called the Air Force then, it was the Air Corps) at the end of World War II. Grandpa Al was a military policeman in the Army, and Jacqui and I have many friends in Spokane who have served in all branches, the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and even the Coast Guard. Many of us get this day off as a federal holiday, and do not know its history or even what we are 'celebrating'. A brief history of Veterans Day off of Military.com follows:
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Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.
Celebrating the Veterans Day Holiday

If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday — Saturday or Sunday — the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management — a complete schedule can be found here. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.

United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov.11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day

Memorial Day honors servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.
President Eisenhower’s letter to Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, designating him Chairman, Veterans Day National Committee

The White House Office
October 8, 1954

Dear Mr. Higley:

I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.

I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.

Sincerely,

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
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We are blessed to live in this country, to have men and women who are willing on a regular basis to serve our country in protecting our freedom and fighting for justice, dignity, and equality. Many of your friends and even extended family may be veterans. Please recognize their sacrifice and their service and tell them thank you. They always appreciate it so much and do not get this recognition or thanks enough. So thank you Grandad (#2), Grandpa Jim, Grandpa Al, and all our other friends who have served and contributed toward the freedom we take for granted. We love you guys and appreciate everything you did and were willing to do for this country and for us. Thank You!

Halloween

Halloween this year was pretty fun with Jacqui. We were able to go to the Gonzaga Trick or Treat, which is nice, since it is all indoors! One of the college kids (freshman mostly) take a group of kids on a tour all around the grounds and to the different dorms where the kids Trick-or-Treat in the dorms. The college kids dress up for the little kids, and they are all so excited about the costumes and the candy. We were able to take Lyrik and Autumn this year, as Verna was in the hospital, and we all had a Blast! Jacqui decided to be SWAT cop this year. She picked out this costume back in early September, and has been excited to wear it ever since. She wanted to be just like Hank and Grandpa Al... She loved all the attachments; the cuffs, baton, binoculars, badge, and especially the whistle. Gonzaga had a little carnival with a cakewalk, making cookies, fishing for candy, and all kinds of treats. The kids had a blast, and I was so thankful that we were able to be indoors and warm most of the night... What a fun costume and what a fun night. Hope the rest of you had a great Halloween!

October Outings

Last week, Cassie and Christa went to a Rascal Flatts concert! We've been to their concerts before and they never seem to disappoint. It was a late night for a Thursday, but worth it.

Mike and I had fun dressing up this year as Tinkerbell and Bam-Bam!