The Holidays 2009

The Holidays started for me the week of Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa Joe moved in to Silvergate from Florida. We also had Ginny move back home, a visit from Sam and Julie, and Todd and his friend Griffin came into town for Thanksgiving as well. We started Thanksgiving off with a trip to Julian for some apple pie. It was colder than we all expected, but it was fun to be together. After Thanksgiving we celebrated my good friend Melissa's birthday....

and then it was Ty's turn. It was a bit overwhelming as all first birthdays are.
Christmas time was filled with visits to Grandma and Grandpa, Christmas parties, and sickness. Lots of runny noses have accompanied us this year. We did get to take Sam and Julie out to dinner right before Christmas. It was fun to get to know Julie better and spend time with them. What an enjoyable night. The day before Christmas Eve we had the Greenwood boys over for a sleepover. What a riot.

Christmas Eve included: visits to Grandpa,

(the girls sang Silent Night and we all took turns kissing him under the mistletoe.)

Ty thinks it is funny....then blows him a kiss.

A trip to Nana and Papa Roberts house (where Uncle Wade met Ty for the first time),

And back home for dinner with the missionaries, the making of nog, Christmas pajamas from Grandma, and the Christmas story.

We also had a good friend, Jessica, stay with us for several days as she visited the "main land". We went to the Wild Animal Park one of those days and really enjoyed our visit with her.

We finished it off with a bang tonight as we visited Grandma and Grandpa at their apartment and Grandma gave the kids party favors for the new year.

I let them blow their horns all the way home, then had them in bed by 8:30, which is late for them. I hope you all have enjoyed your 2009 and wish you all the best for 2010! We'll be up early for Kaile's 7 a.m. swim practice tomorrow. We are starting the new year off with a bang!

Tour of Silvergate for Grandpa and Grandma Jones

Hi All! Welcome to beautiful Sivergate. This is a view of the dining hall from the street that runs in front of Sivergate.

This is the front parking lot, and the main entrance.

Here is a view of the landscape and residential buildings on the other side of the front parking lot.

The entrance. Looks like a resort hotel, doesn't it?

The entrance and lobby. Ignore the sleeping man . . .

Another shot of the entrance and lobby-- again, ignore the sleeping man and enjoy the rest!

This is the sitting room just beyond the lobby, all decorated for the season.

This is one of the small sitting areas along the hallways in the residential area of the "estate".

I forgot to give a closer look at the left side of the entry/lobby, where they have the reception desk and mail box.

Here are some of the lovely grounds between the residential wings.

More lovely grounds.

Here is the new East Wing, where the apartment we looked at is located.

More of the East Wing's grounds.

Here is the private dining room just off the entrance to the dining hall which residents can reserve for meals with family and friends.

Here is the main dining room. Ritzy, eh? I'll come over and eat there any time!

Here is the entrance to the dining hall.

And the lobby/light dining area for the East Wing. It also has the huge screen tv and another piano. Note, there are several gerations enjoying lunch together. I also noticed how nicely dressed the residents were--hair done, make-up on, sparkling eyes, snappy step ( they have a workout room) smiling faces. Again, I felt like I was at a resort.

Does this look like a nurse's station to you? I didn't think so . . .

Another shot of the lobby/gaming, eating area of the East Wing (the new wing). The folks were all so friendly.

The main dining hall again. Lots of couples!

Same picture? Aaron, the gal who showed me around today, offered me a free lunch or a BLT to go. Wasn't that nice? President Jones says the food is great--and you have choices. If you don't like what is on the menu for that day, they will whip up a sandwich of your choice. They have a buffet of a variety of things, and a soup-of-the-day. President Jones still calls meal times "chow". He is retired military--I think it's fun to hear him call them that.

You can't see this very well, but at each end of the East Wing's downstairs hall, there is a lovely fountain, with seating areas, and a ceiling that opens all the way up to the second floor, with a balcony and hallways leading off from there.

This is the entrance to the beautiful new ground floor, one bedroom apartment that is available right now. The sliding door leads to a small patio that would fit a little table and chairs beautifully. Enjoy breakfast, read your paper, watch who's coming and going . . . not all the apartments have a patio. Oh, the laundry room is right across the hall from this apartment. How convenient!

The bedroom. Did I mention that you can have pets?

A view of the entrance from the living room. Nice kitchenette with double sinks, refrigerator, and counter space. You can have bring your own microwave and toaster, if you like.

This is the bathroom just off the bedroom. There is a walk-in closet, vanity, and shower and toilet area.

The vanity.

The shower has no lip or rim to step or trip over. You might want to get a shower chair or bench to make it more comfortable.

Here is the view of your neighbor's place from your patio.

Here is a partial view of the patio.

Here is another shot of the East Wing's lobby/gaming, gathering, light eating area again. Such a pleasant, light space! Hope you can get a feel for Silvergate. It really is a lovely, friendly place to be. This month, they are taking a trip to Julian, a rustic town in the mountains. They will be stopping for lunch, visiting a bakery, roaming the town, for those who want to walk a little, and stopping by my favorite pie shop--Mom's apple pie. Last month, they traveled down to San Diego to see Lion King. And they have lots of ongoing activities "back at the ranch" for those who like to participate. Every time I visit this place, I love it. Can I live here when I grow up?

(Actually, Eric and I are planning on it!)