Grandbabies are the Best

Dear Family & Friends,

Kitty holding new grandbaby.

Newest grandson.

Kitty writing this week:) We have a new grandbaby! Our youngest daughter, Heather, and her husband, Branson, just had a little baby boy on Halloween. It was her due date and she wasn't even induced:) He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. He is so precious and mom and baby are doing great. This is grandbaby #27. Holding grandbabies is the best. Those really are the best years of your life. Sometimes I wish I could go back, but only if I had a maid and my amazing parents lived next door.  Shout out to all the dads who let moms take naps when they become too sleep deprived.

Had a fun time that evening trick or treating with the some of the grandkids, my oldest daughter, Anna, and her husband. They have a fun tradition of having a fire pit in the middle of their cul-de-sac and all the neighbors gather for dinner, hot dogs, soft drinks, and give out treats. The weather was perfect with a light jacket, wool scarf, and gloves. The costumes are so creative - farmers, fire fighters, princesses, 50's, Nancy Drew, etc. After the little ones had had enough my daughter and I went out on another neighborhood adventure with one of their older daughters. Their oldest child went with friends. It's a tradition that brings back a lot of memories from both my childhood and taking my own children out to visit all the neighbors and neighborhoods. The piles of candy, sorting, and trading were also fun to watch. I limited my intake all week to three small pieces, since sugar and my body don't get along as well anymore.

Farrell stayed home and passed out full sized candy bars to the neighbors to 37 trick or treaters. One small perk of being retired and empty nesters. He had 37 youngsters come to the door. Some came at 9:45, but he had already turned out the lights and retired. We always turned out the lights at 9 p.m. Some of the school districts still have school the next day. Others had the next day off. I would not want to be a teacher the day after Halloween. Too much sugar always made our kids cranky, whiney, and it had to be hard on their teeth. 🎃

Rachel holding nephew.

We had our annual Favorite Things party to celebrate my birthday. We met at my daughter Rachel's home and it was so relaxing. Even Heather along with her new baby were able to come and hang out. We had take out Indian food, held the baby, had cake and a candle, they sang Happy Birthday, and visited. Her sweet husband took care of the kids downstairs and we stayed up way too late. I drove that night to our oldest daughter's house and spent the night. Luckily we went off daylight savings time so we had an extra hour of sleep. 

The next day we went to church together and celebrated an early Thanksgiving dinner that evening with our side of the family. Their neighbor smoked one of the turkeys and our son, Jesse, made homemade croissant rolls. There were lots of sides and pies and we were all pleasantly stuffed. The food was delicious and the grandkids were the best.

Harvest Dinner

On November 2 up in Anchorage was the annual Harvest Dinner/Wild Game Night. The variety of food is always the best part. It's fun to visit with ward members and friends from the neighborhood. Some dishes are more popular than others. Usually by the time I sit down I can't quite remember what all the dishes are. It makes for lively discussions. We were asked to cook a ham, so Farrell decided to smoke it. I always tell him when he comes in from smoking meat that he smells good enough to eat. I think someone should invent men's cologne that smells like smoking meat:) The harvest dinner is a great way to enjoy the cold weather. 

We have had two big snow storms and it's totally winter already in Anchorage. Back in Utah it's still fall. Hope you are all doing well. We are so grateful for family and friends. Stay warm and stay safe. #Think Celestial

Love always, Elder & Sister Badger

Caribou Polish Sausage

Dahl Sheep in Golden
Mushroom Gravy

Moose Burger Lasagna

Caribou Sausage & Beans

Bear Stew

Rockfish in
Coconut Milk

Sitka Black Tail Deer

Caribou Stew

Bodacious Black Bear
on a Beautiful Bun

Halibut Olympia

Salmon Burnt Ends

Black Bear Nachos

Moose Roast

Moose Meat Loaf

Wild Turkey

Curry Mountain Goat