Trimming the Tree (and house)

We took down the Thanksgiving decorations and decided to put up Christmas.  It was a fun day of cleaning, decorating, listening to Christmas music and enjoying the simple delight of children.  Livy was a big help to Tommy and stayed by his side a lot of the day.  Everyone did great at helping out. The kids were super excited to decorate "their own tree".  They made paper ornaments, used toys and items from their bedrooms to adorn the tree.  The are super proud of their own tree and are now fighting over who gets to sleep on the couch next to it at nights.  The rule is to take turns sleeping by it, but only on the weekends, not school nights.

 

Thanksgiving 2012

I love Thanksgiving.  I love it for the awesome food, the fabulous family and the atmosphere of gratitude.  I just love grateful people and this time of year, this day specifically, makes everyone thankful.  I just love it. Here are some of our festivites:

 

Olivia with cousin Abagail at their preschool Thanksgiving Feast.

There is something cute about little kids having a party.  Just love it.

 

On Thanksgiving day, as many of our family that could, went into the school cafeteria to help serve Thanksgiving Dinner to the community.  I just love this part of Thanksgiving. I love not thinking about yourself and focusing on others and your blessings.  I was grateful that this year Mary Shelton let our young kids help.  Howie did a great job with the gravy, Kenzie held down the deviled egg station and Livy and Crayton loved putting rolls on the plates.  They did a great job. 

Maria and I agreed that we need to get oursevles one of these totally aweome industrial dishwashers for our homes.  The dishes are super power washed in about a minute and a half.  We actually liked doing dishes!
 

Later this day, we finally had our Thanksgiving dinner. It was small, just us and mom, dad and Sheree's family.  We had it at our house and I was in charge of the turkey.  I was very scared and intimidated.  I read a ton of articles on the internet and watch a bunch of videos in preparation.  I used a digital thermometer and it turned out perfect, not dry and overcooked, but simply perfect and moist.  I got lots of compliments, which was nice because I had been so nervous. I made a new recipe and it will become a Thanksgiving staple for our family.  Sweet Potato Souffle.  It was more like dessert than a casserole.  It was heavenly.  Even Spencer liked it, that says a lot. The pies were good too.  Mom made pumpkin, I made a french chocolate silk cream pie, apple, and a blueberry cream pie.  They were all very tasty.

 Dad, Spencer, Me, Mom, Howie and Tommy

 Brigs, Ely, Livy and Evelynne

Tommy, Logan and Sheree

 

 

Good food, good people, great service, lots to be thankful for, doesn't get much better than that!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Howie's Hard Earned Basketball

Let me tell you about Howie's Basketball.  He rocketed into reading in the last two months or so. He has been reading lots of books and then taking the Accelerated Reader test on the book, giving him points.  Every book in the library is assigned a reading level and points.  Being in second grade, his books usually are .5 to 1 point books.  He informed me his teacher recently told his reading group they can no longer take tests below 3rd grade reading level.  So they are doing pretty well.  He doesn't always get 100% on the tests, but is doing great.  He told me he wanted to save up for a basketball, but couldn't remember how much it was and thought it was around 100 points.  For some background, his school has an AR store that comes about 3 times a year and the kids use their AR points accumulated to purchase things at the store.  Howie has 46 points.  That is huge considering his books are .5 and 1 points books, that is a lot of books.  None of us, including Howie thought he would be coming home today with his long awaited and hard earned basketball.  We were happily surprised and he was/still is on cloud nine.  He informed us that the basketball was only 40 points.  It was even raised from 35 to 40 points.  He used his other points to buy a Christmas bell.

 

We are happy for him.  I am most happy that he likes to read.  What is cute is to watch him take such good care of the basketball beause he had to work so hard to earn it.  He has ownership in his basketball and it means everything to him.  That right there, is something hard to teach kids today.  I am so glad he taught himself this lesson.  Way to go Howie!  We are super proud of you and your accomplishment. 

 

 

Boise Temple Youth Celebration

So the youth in the Boise, Idaho Temple district (most of Boise Area and all the way across Eastern Oregon up to La Grande, OR) have been practicing for more than the last two month their dances to get ready for the temple celebration for the prophet.  Many hours have gone into this production and it came off beautifully!  I was lucky enough to get to attend, transporting 12-13 year old youth to the center.  They were not able to participate in the dance, but got to be there and be around the prophet.  I got lost, and was late getting them there, so we had no other choice, but nosebleed seats.  We were literally in the top most row of the Taco Bell Arena.  After it started, we saw a silver lining to our situation.  We could see the entire floor and watch the dancing moves which looked like a kaleidoscope.  It was actually pretty awesome.  It helped to look at the Jumbo tron to see closer.

 

 

When the prophet arrived, he was greeted like a rock start.  I have never heard such electric applause before. It was amazing!  The youth love their prophet and he loves them.  He encouraged them and played along with them.  He is young at heart.

 

 

Just loved hearing him, President Thomas S. Monson, our prophet. He is such a special man. He is mutlifacted: he can connect with the youth and make them feel special, as he can be serious in general conference and deliver a solemn message. He is so wonderful and such a people person. You can't help but feel his love for you.

 

p.s. President Monson had fun with the kids.  One time during the night, he caught a young man's eye and encouraged him, gave him permission to kiss the girl next to him that President Monson could tell he liked.  He did and both he and the girl were super happy!  What a cute, personable man.

 

The dance routines were amazing.  Each stake was different and wonderful all in its own.  I thought this one was particularly cool, WWII dance with ended with them making the American flag and bursting out into song, God Bless America.  The prophet liked this one as well and gave the a standing ovation.

 

At the end, there was a flag waving during the last song, in coordination with the dance on the floor.  It was awesome to see the arena in a sea of flags waving to the prophet. 

 

I don't think I will ever be able to forget this night.  I hope the Beehives that I shuttled to and fro will remember this night as well.  It was unforgettable.  Me with some of my beehives: Bailey, Madi, Lyndee, and Anna.

Twilight......an end to the saga

So we went to our annual Twilight movie.  It was a fun tradition that we had started and wanted to finish,  So here is a look back at our tradition.

 

Twilight 

11-22-2008

Maria, Me, Lori and Mom

 

New Moon 

11-24-2009

Lori, Mom, Becky, Maria and Me

Eclipse

7-2-2010 

Kacie, Tammy, Maria and Me

Breaking Dawn Part 1 

11-18-2011

Lori, Sheree, Tammy, Kacie, Maria, Me and Mom

Breaking Dawn Part 2

11-16-2012

Sheree, Jen, Lori, Maria

Me, Tammy and Kacie

 

 

 

Well, there you have it, an end to the book saga.  We aren't what you would call twihards, but we enjoyed a ladies night out each year.  What will be the next series we can do this with?

 

Happy Birthday Kaylin

 My Aunt Susan called us last minute, on a whim, as they were going down to the cemetery.  They invited us to come with them and celebrate my cousin Kaylin's Birthday.  I loved the invite and we were glad we were able to go.  Every year, their family sends off balloons on her birthday.  It is such a great way to celebrate her life.  Kaylin, we love you and miss you daily!

 A Squirt Wreath I made for Susan a few years ago.

 

 

Happy Birthday Kaylin,

love you forever

 

Boise Temple Open House

We were able to take our family to the Boise Idaho Temple Open House.  It was so wonderful to take them through the temple and see their faces in such awe.  They both enjoyed it so much. It was special. They have changed so much inside the temple, that it was simply amazing.  Feels like a whole new building.  We are excited to have the temple open again and close again. We were lucky to have Tommy's parents, Clyde and Sandy Rushton here with us that day.  It was nice to have them go through the open house with us.  After wards we went out to lunch.  Such a beautiful day. Families can be together forever, through temples.  Such a beautiful plan. I hope my children can always remember this special day.