Pappou & Yiayia

For starters, I don't think it's fair that when you finally grow up to appreciate the older people in your life, they are gone. I would loved to have had the opportunity to get to know my grandparents. I would have so many questions for them...

In 1912, my pappou "Gus" immigrated from Greece and my yiayia "Matilda" immigrated from Austria. This was the same year the titanic sunk.

Me (1 yr), Pappou (75 yrs)

Me (5 yrs), Yiayia (70 yrs)

Yiayia's father was a coal miner and he had immigrated before yiayia, her mom and her sisters. Since Price was a mining town, this is where he settled. Pappou's family sponsored him to move to the U.S. because of his age (18) and his smarts. He went to California to join a cousin (who turned out to be a crook), then to Nevada to work building railroads (hated the snakes), and then to Salt Lake City selling vegetables on the street corners. In SLC, he met some other Greeks and eventually he and his new friends decided to go down to Price to make a living working in the coalmines. Working conditions were horrible...

After a short time in Price he became pretty well known for his wit, personality and work ethic. He was told about a confectionery in town, which he later came to own. Shortly after that, he hired, courted and married my yiayia! It was 1920, he was 26 and she was 17!! Then came 13 kids...

Centruy Cafe (once the confectionery)

1992 Platis/Hvala Reunion - Park City

In order of age: Bessie, John, Helen, Nick, Vange, Connie, Mary, Tom, Paulette, Paul (my dad) & Dean
George passed away in '75 and Chris was unable to attend

I spent quite a bit of time with them when I was very little but after we moved to Canada, I only saw them once a year. I remember certain things about their house in Price: the ginormous table and sink in the kitchen, the patio and fire pit (fireplace) in the backyard, the playground near their house, and getting to eat whatever I wanted at the cafe (I also got to sit at the bar and play music on the jukeboxes).

This is me helping yiayia with dishes in her big 'ol sink! I would have been 3 - Jace's age.

Pet Peeve #17 - Republican Recruiters

Please tell me I am not the only person that thinks this is wrong...



Pet Peeve #17 - Mitt Romney called my cell phone tonight

Are you a republican - blah, blah, blah. I hung up. Even though it annoyed me that I got the phone call, it was rather satisfying to hang up on him.

Why is it so dim in here?

I consider myself a pretty bright person. I catch on to most things with ease and have a natural ability to identify problems and solutions to new ideas. I am also pretty good, once I understand the basic concept of an idea, to simplify and improve upon it. When I am presented with something that I cannot wrap my mind around I typically run whatever it is over and over in my mind until the light comes on.

I am waiting...

Mom & Jace

Justin and Dax are away for the deer hunt until Wednesday. This gives me an opportunity to spend some alone time with Jace. Tonight we colored Halloween pictures and watched Cars. He looks so serious when he colors. When I was done with my picture he said, "Good job mom, that looks incredible." Sweet!

2010 Pumpkin Walk - The Magic of Animation

For the past several years, my family has enjoyed visiting The Pumpkin Walk. The year's theme was "The Magic of Animation" and my boys really enjoyed seeing some of their favorite movie characters made from pumpkins.

This year we decided to avoid the crowds and instead of going at night, we walked through it during the day. While you miss out of the sweet smell of burning pumpkin and seeing nearly 500 pumpkins lit up at night, it is still amazing to see what some people can do with pumpkins.

I took several pictures, one of each display, but have only posted my favorites...

For more information, you can visit their website here: http://www.pumpkinwalk.com

Happy Birthday Marie!

Today was my mom-in-law, Marie's birthday. Justin, the boys and I were able to spend the afternoon with her and Dave. We met at the Pumpkin Walk and then went out for dinner. I was actually quite surprised that, since their oldest grandkid is 18, neither of them had ever been to this fun annual event...

Marie is a great mother-in-law. She is not like the typical, nosy, interfering beeotch of an in-law that often hovers over many women married to the "perfect" son. In fact, I would have to say that from the very beginning she has been appreciative (of passing the torch, so to speak) and sympathetic (of my eternal plight) and she certainly agrees with me that Justin is a one of a kind! Ha... Justin actually inherited many good qualities from his mom.

Here are a few things that I love about Marie:

• She's a tender-heart - if there's a tear to be shed, you can bet that Marie and I are the ones shedding them. Whether they are happy or sad moments, things that we witness together or people and events we talk about, if it has to do with our families or those that we love and care about, we tend to become a little emotional. I love sharing these moments with her.

• She loves her kids NO MATTER WHAT. Seriously, this group could frustrate, embarrass, and drive the most stable person insane, but she just rolls her eyes, laughs and says, "OH GIVE ME STRENGTH".

• She loves family time and goes out of her way to make sure everyone is happy, taken care of and having a good time.
  

• She has made wonderful traditions for her family. The Miller Family Classic, Christmas Eve, Pumpkin Carving, Back to School Backpacks are a few that immediately come to mind. Maybe we will add the Pumpkin Walk to this list.
  

• She is an active grandma. Marie spends quite a bit of time with her grandkids. She is a great example to them and I appreciate her for the effort she makes to see them and the fun things she does with them.
  

Thanks Marie for your love and support. I could not have asked for a better mother-in-law.

Gimme a break...

My sweet hubby made the family some chicken noodle soup tonight. Yum! Great job on the noodles hon.