Thanksgiving Day Feast

For Thanksgiving, we were able to travel to St George and enjoy the weekend in my Mom and Dad's new house. My sisters Becky and Shareen and their families were also able to be there. Even with 16 of us in the house, it never felt overly crowded. We had a great time.

My mom spent hours in the kitchen preparing food. We all helped out at different times, but she was alway there. She deserves some sort of medal. She did a great job.

Here is the table set and ready to go. I guess Elizabeth is trying to decide where she wants to sit.Some of the food right before we gave thanks and ate. Mike, Shareen, with Mia in between.

Elizabeth, Kennedy, and Camille. The five little girls were quite the pack over the weekend. They had a great time. My Dad helping with the dishes. Relaxing, watching a little football while the food digests for a minute.

We had a great Thanksgiving. Thanks for hosting and having us, Mom and Dad.

More posts to come of our other adventures. . . .

Blessings

Tis the time of year to count our many blessings, and I know I have many of them. as we take off for our Thanksgiving weekend, I thought I would give my top 10 things I am thankful for (in no particular order). . . . .

1. I have a wonderful family who love and support me. And I am even more lucky to have this from not only my side of the family, but David's as well. How lucky could I be?
2. I have four incredible kids that make each day a new adventure, and they always keep me smiling. ... or sometimes frowning as well!
3. I am so fortunate to have a husband that supports my goals and aspirations, and even gives great foot massages and pedicures! We have had a great 13 year journey so far.
4. I am greatful for our DVR. .. I hate watching regular television when I have to watch all the commercials. There's nothing like being able to fast forward through all the annoying stuff you don't want to see.
5. I am so thankful for great books that I can escape in. I always have to have a good book, and several others waiting in the wings to be read.
6. I am so glad a good friend of mine talked me into starting a stake aerobics class again. I am thankful for the wonderful ladies that I meet with every Tues and Thurs morning to exercise.
7. I'm greatful for music and dancing. I love it when the kids dance around the house and when I hear them singing and enjoying life.
8. I am greatful for deals found online. I love getting a good deal. .. especially this time of year!
9. I am so fortunate to have a business that has thrived. When we started CK Playground Apparel two years ago, I never dreamed it was going to do as well as it has. This has been a huge answer to prayers.
10. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday (I am greatful for holidays and a mother who taught me to love and appreciate every one), and it leads right into Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our savior. I am thankful for this special time of year and the joy it brings to me.

Have a great Thanksgiving! Eat all you want and have a great time shopping!

Where's Mia?

This evening I was making dinner, and all the kids had come in from playing and were starting their homework. After several minutes, I realized I had not seen or heard from Mia for a while. I wasn't too concerned because she will often play in her room by herself. So I went down the hall to check her room, and she wasn't there.

I still wasn't too worried at this point, but I called out her name, and there was no answer.

I continued to look through out the house, but couldn't see her anywhere. Not in the bathroom, or downstairs, or in the other kids bedrooms.

I called out in the yard, but no answer, and I couldn't see her anywhere.

Panic is starting to set in a little at this point. I walked down to the neighbors to see if she had run down there with out me being aware of her leaving (it has happened before). .. . .they were outside, and had not seen Mia.

Ok, so I am really getting nervous at this time. I go back in the house to tell the kids to get their shoes on so we can start to scan the whole neighborhood when I think to look just a little more closely throughout the house.

This is what I find. . . .

Fast asleep in the corner. Mystery solved.

Isn't this fun?

While Mom and Dad were here, Mom got me watching Dancing With the Stars. I haven't really watched this too much before, which is surprising considering I really like to watch dancing shows like So you Think you Can Dance. I will probably have to watch the rest of the season now. But this dance featuring brother and sister Derek and Julianne Hough is so much fun. Aren't they just amazing to watch?

kicking and stroking

Today in church, we had a recently returned missionary talk. He had served in Russia. There were just a couple of small insights that he shared that I liked quite a bit and want to remember.

One time while on his mission, Elder Holland came and spoke. He told them a story about an olympic swimmer (he didn't name who, but maybe it was Phelps?) who accomplished more than any swimmer ever has. Some one had asked the swimmer one time how he had managed to be such a great competitive swimmer. He said that he kicked and stroked when he didn't feel like kicking and stroking.

Our return missionary used this analogy to service to others, as well as other things in our lives. How often are we willing to serve and work even when we don't feel up to it, maybe we are exhausted and just want to relax and take it easy for a while. The really strong, are willing to "kick and stroke" even when the times are tough. He also mentioned that his mission President and said that he wanted them to return home "on a stretcher".. . . meaning that they had given every thing they had and had worked so hard they could do no more.

How many of us are willing to serve in that way in our lives? And I don't just mean church service (although that is important). . . . I mean service in the community, to our family, neighbors, friends, and family? I know that I am not close to being on my stretcher (not that I am stiving for the stretcher, but ). . . . I have a lot to give that I keep inside. It is good for me to look inside and analyze what I can do better. What more do I have to give?

The rest of Halloween. .. + St George

I have been meaning to post these pictures for a few days, but just don't seem to get around to it. So here are the other kids with their Halloween costumes at the school parade last week.

Here is Luke, the nerd. This was pretty easy to throw together. Button up shirt, glasses, calculator and pen, and some bad teeth. Here is Kennedy. Not sure what to label her as. .. rock star? hippie? Whatever works.

Mia. . . some sort of princess? Dance star?

All the girls re-used old dance costumes. I have to get use out of them while I can! Of course Elizabeth was little red riding hood. .. you saw her in the video posted below.

We took off after school on Friday and drove to St George to meet up with my Mom and Dad. We found a neighborhood for the kids to trick or treat. .. . so no worries, they still got plenty of candy. The weather was great, and we went out to Snow Canyon on Saturday to enjoy the views and a couple of hikes/walks. Luke got sick during the first hike, and Elizabeth was whining, so my Dad took them back to the condo to rest. The rest of us stayed and had a good time. Mom and Dad. Their house is getting so close to being done! Hopefully in time for Thanksgiving! In Jenny's Canyon. It was a pretty neat, small canyon, and even better, a really short hike to get there!

Family of Four? This is who stayed behind for the whole afternoon (+ my Mom, of course). I was beginning to question why we kept Mia, but she did pretty good.

Elizabeth's Halloween Program