OUR THANKSGIVING 2008

This year was pretty small for the most part. Well, dinner was small. We had more kids come later in the evening but for our Thanksgiving dinner there were only 10 of us. It was so small I was able to break out the Christmas china instead of paper plates! LOL That was a nice change. I set the table the evening before and snapped a shot.
It was very pretty and festive! We are all set and ready to devour! We had turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, corn, green bean casserole, sweet potato souffle, rolls and a relish tray! It was magnificent and a big thank you to Mom, Tammy and Krista for helping with the meal. For dessert we had pecan pie and a chocolate cheese cake to die for!

OK! Lets get ready to dig in! Take your places everyone!

Smile for the camera before we all make pigs of ourselves! LOL

OK, One more time and then lets get to it! Mmmmmmmm good! Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving as well.

I GAVE BLOOD LAST NIGHT!!!

YAY! I finally got to go to "Twlight" last night. I've been dying to see it and from all the reports I had heard, it was going to be pretty good, a little cheese factor but entertaining!
I loved it! I'd give it a couple of thumbs up!! Tony liked it too. We thought it was very entertaining. Loved the actors that played the parts and I liked the way they had the vampires made up! I loved the humor that was thrown in and it stuck to the book pretty darn good!

I'd highly recommend it to any of you Stephanie Meyer fans! I'm excited for the sequel. I'll definitely be buying the videos so I take a bite anytime I want to.

Thank you Krista for going with us. It was fun! Thanks for taking our picture with your phone . In my anticipation to give blood I forgot to take my camera along. LOL It was a "Great Date Night"!

Awesome Video

http://deseretbook.com/video/view/46


I saw this awesome video about President Hinkley so wanted to share. I teared up while watching it. We should all try to emulate the example he set for us. He was one of my favorites!

TWILIGHT LOVER'S UNITE !! BITE ME!

I'm still learning to maneuver my blog and when I saw the "Twilight" background, I simply had to change and enjoy it for a few days ....before Christmas! Have you all got your tickets? We haven't yet so we may be out of luck for opening weekend but hopefully not. I'm still not feeling 100% so if I had to wait a few days it would be OK but we'll see. All I know is I'm dying to see Edward on screen! I feel like a teenager with a crush. LOL Remember Donkey in Shreck yelling "pick me, pick me!" I'm saying "bite me, bite me!"

SCOTT GRADUATED... BORDER PATROL

CONGRATULATIONS SCOTT
Scott graduated from the Border Patrol Academy yesterday. (11/17/08) Chris and Princess were able to drive over to Artesia (an 9 hour drive) to attend while celebrating their 1st year anniversary! Happy Anniversary to them as well! Chris called me this morning to tell me all about it. He said Scott looked very nice and they were very proud of him (as are we) and happy to be there. They were able to go to dinner together and spend a little time with each other. Chris got a Hotel suite for their anniversary and discovered it had two rooms so he called Scott and asked if he wanted to come over and spend the night. LOL I guess it makes a difference when you've been married a year! Scott must be lonley cuz he accepted! LOL I'm so glad they were all able to get together and enjoy one another's company. I know Jill would have loved to have gone down and Scott would have loved to have had her there but it wasn't possible. He started the Spanish class today (another 8 weeks) and then he'll be completely finished. He and Jill may have to spend some time in Naco Arizona for a while before hopefully acquiring a position here but at least he and Jill and the family will be together again. YAY! We love you Scott and are proud of you!

AT SCOTT'S REQUEST.....

SCOTT, THESE TWO VIDEOS ARE PRETTY DARK BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT SHE IS DOING. SHE IS SURE A CUTE LITTL THING. BALD, BUT CUTE !! lol

AT SCOTT'S REQUEST.......PART TWO

I WISH I'D TURNED THE LIGHTS ON. THE FLASH ON MY LITTLE CAMERA IS JUST NOT ENOUGH! I'LL KNOW BETTER NEXT TIME.

WHICH COLOR SUITS ME?? and CHECK OUT WHAT MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME!!

I hate my dark hair so I decided to highlight it this morning. Tell me which color is best on me please. I like it a little blonder. It covers up the grey for one thing but a I also feel younger, if that makes any sense...LOL Here are the head shots!

DARK???

HIGHLIGHTED?????

And check out the new Bronco earrings Tony bought for me! I love them! Today is game day so I am sporting a new look all the way around! GO BRONCOS!!

SINGLES, HOLIDAY DINNER / DANCE

Tony is the High Councilman over the singles program in our Stake. Tonight we sponsored a Holiday dinner and dance. We had a band (the same one we watched at the Great Date Night in the summer and they sang "Sharp Dressed Man to Tony) come and play for the dance. It was a BIG success. We had somewhere around 150 show up for the dinner and about another 50 showed up for the dance. It was a lot of fun but a lot of work! We are both dead tired now!
The band warming up before the party started!

Norita Sanders and Keith Johnson. They both performed after the dinner before the dance started. They both sing and play guitar. Very entertaining.

Here we are ...both of us look like we are several months along! Whaaaaa!

Below is a video of the band. It sure doesn't sound very good with the little camera I have but honestly, they are a super group! It was a fun evening but I'm beat and going to bed. I'm coming down with a cold and my head is exploding!

Veterans Day 2008

Yesterday was Veterans Day and Tony had it off so I took the day off as well so we could spend some time together and get a few things done. Tony has been off for a few days due to the infection he got in his hand. He cut himself last Thursday. It was a very small cut but it decided to give him a bad time and he's been to the clinic three times now and is scheduled to go in again tomorrow. It is getting better but for a couple of days there he looked like he was wearing a baseball mitt. Swollen, hot and red! The Dr. was worried about the infection traveling up his arm so he is on penicillin and anti inflammatory medication. He couldn't even close his fingers and it's still not completely healed but it's on the mend....thank heavens!
Yesterday we took Joyce (his aunt) to Wal-Mart to develop some pictures. It was fun helping her on the photo machine. After dropping her off at home we went to Costco for a cheap lunch ....LOL... We love their samples. Works great for a cheap date if your looking for one! We picked up a few grocery's and after returning home, Tony was exhausted. The medication he's taking makes him really sleepy so he laid down on the couch and took a nap. I worked the rest of the day on some more on my Christmas projects. Feel pretty good about things. I'm getting there!
Anyway, just wanted to say Thanks to all Veteran's who have served our country. My dad and Chris and Princess especially. WE LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE!

AND THAT'S ANOTHER BRONCO VICTORY!!!

We had a wonderful Saturday enjoying BSU vs the Utah Aggies. Before the game started Tony went to Primary Health to see about his hand. He got a small cut last Thursday at work and it became infected. His hand was very swollen and red and feverish this morning. They put him on antibiotics and are having him come back tomorrow morning before church to see how it is doing.
It was cooler but we avoided the rain so we were happy about that. The band was playing in the parking lot as we entered the stadium. It's just not a game without Kettle Korn. We settled on a smaller bag this time and polished it off before the game even started! Ummmmmm good!

The fog really showed up because of the cool weather. It looked awesome as the players entered the stadium! Go Bronco's!

We won again despite all the penalties! We've got to clean those up! Guess Coach Pete is gonna have to make the boys do more laps than he made them do this past week .

After the game we went to Colby and Krista's to warm up and take the kids to dinner for Colby's birthday. Colby wanted to go to Thai Pad and have noodles.

It was very good! It's a favorite of the kids!

Even Kiddo loved it! He kept saying "Yummy for Nephi." Very cute! He is really talking a lot and I understood 80% of it! Yay! It was a fun day but we are wore out!

My Primary Girls Book Of Mormon Party

I teach the 11 to 12 year old girls in Primary! This year I have 14 girls and we are studying the Book of Mormon. I challenged the girls at the 1st of the year to read the Book of Mormon and if they did we would have a pizza party and movie at my house at the conclusion. Well I had 6 girls who completed it and the rest are still trying but I gave in and held the party anyway. Sister Kim Black has the class just younger than mine and she had challenged her girls as well so we combined the party with the 2 classes. We sent out invitations 2 weeks ago and asked them to RSVP. I heard from all but 1 of my girls so I was expecting 13 to show. Kim wasn't sure on her class so we prepared ourselves to be bombarded by 27 girls! YIKES! In actuality, only 15 showed, Rather disappointing, especially when some that said they were coming and didn't show up! It was a rather high pitched evening if you can imagine girls of that age squealing and laughing from 6PM to 9PM! Fun night for the girls and we enjoyed watching them inner act! Sister Black with Tianna, Courtney, Caroline and Megan

Carley and Jodie and Allie in the back

Jodie, Allie and Cassandra enjoying Pizza and root beer!

Tony was such a big help. He went and got the pizza's while I stayed to let our guests in and here he is serving up brownies to the young ladies!

Finishing up dinner before we start the movie!

We watched Passage to Zarahemla in keeping with our Book of Mormon theme! As you can see, it kinda scarred some of them! It was so funny to watch them jump and squeal! At 1st, Kim thought I'd made a mistake in picking this movie but in the end she agreed that it was very good and all enjoyed it!

These two sat in front of us and kept hugging each other as the intense scenes came on screen!

It was funny to watch them!

This is Courtney, Kailee and Caroline freaking out! GIRLS!

I AM THANKFUL FOR.......

I love November! I love the color's of fall. I love the rain and even the snow, which we haven't seen yet but I'm sure it's on its way. Most of all I love November because it is the month we openly show our gratitude for all of our blessings, although we should do so all year long. After all, we are the most blessed nation in the world!

I just want to take a minute and give thanks for:

My wonderful husband! I love him so much. We laugh daily and I am so grateful for that! He and I are perfect for each other and I am so grateful to have found him! I am thankful for the Priesthood which he holds and honors! I am thankful for his patience and kindness towards me ALWAYS! He has never raised his voice or said an unkind word! He's wonderful! I am thankful for my parents who have loved me unconditionally and taught me so much! Because of them I learned the value of hard work. They taught me to be honest and kind. They taught me to have a sense of humor and enjoy life. I love them and wish I lived closer but I am thankful I can get in a car and drive a few hours to see them. I am thankful for my husbands parents who have accepted me as a daughter and loved me unconditionally as well! I am thankful for my siblings. What wonderful people they are! All successful in their own ways and people I never grow tired of. I am so grateful we are close and love one another and are always there for one another. I am thankful for my children and Tony's children which make OUR family! What a group of great kids! I am grateful for all their spouses and what a blessing they are to our children! We love them all! I am thankful for the times we share together and that they are all hard working individuals, raising families and teaching them righteous principles. I am grateful for each and every one of them. All 24!! And the grandchildren! A grandmothers true Love's! How THANKFUL I am for them. 22 so far with another sweet spirit on the way and I'm sure more to come! They are all so beautiful. I am proud of each one of them and think I have the best grand babies ever! Each one is so special in his or her own way! I love them all and I am thankful for each one we are blessed to have come to our children's home! I am thankful to live in America! We live in the most magnificent country ever! I am thankful for the freedom to vote. I am thankful to my father who fought in WW2 to protect the precious freedoms we have. I am grateful to him for his courage and sacrifice. And I am thankful for my son Chris and daughter in law Princess, who have have also served in Iraq to defend the freedoms we hold so dear as well as help that country to obtain freedoms we take for granted. I think of the people in Iraq holding up their blue inked finger to signify they voted! For the 1st time ever! We are so blessed to live in this great country! I am thankful for the restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. I am thankful for a young boy of 14 who sought the truth, found it and had the courage to stand through hatred and opposition in defence of that truth! We have so much to be grateful for: family, friends, food, homes, churches, temples, clothing, running water, seasons, fresh air to breath, freedom of speech, freedom to vote! I could go on and on! We are so blessed and we need to show more gratitude for what we have! I love you all and I am thankful you are all a part of my life! HAPPY NOVEMBER AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sophia's Baptisim

Sophia, right after her father confirmed her a member of the church.

Sophia and her daddy.

The McGregor family with a little stowaway (Leah, their cousin)

Sophia (She looked so pretty)

Sophia and her best friend Cali.

A cute little Andrew with all the pretty girls.

Tonight, we went out to Kuna for Sophia's Baptism. There were 4 children baptized. Sophia looked so cute in her little white jumpsuit. She was all smiles. Her father confirmed her and gave her a beautiful blessing. It was short and sweet and a pleasure to see her take the plunge.

HALLOWEEN...PART TWO!

Jason and Donna (Michelle's parents)

Nephi's mommy made him a "Yabba" costume, which is his little plastic dinosaur (his favorite toy, along with Elmo, Yabba goes everywhere with him. However, he didn't seem too interested in wearing Yabba. His mother would get and arm in and while she was putting the other arm in he would manage to undress the one already in. It took 3 adults to finally get him ready to go. It was fun to watch.

He showed up in some pretty stylin jammys and we managed to get a smile out of him.

This is a picture of mommy trying it on her own before recruiting help.

Livi in her pretty Princess Costume.

Deedra, the good witch from Nampa!

Bridgett and Brogan. Beeeautiful!

The Hippie Floyd Family!

Alex in his "Backyardigan" costume.

Stillman and Michelle were "Dorothy and the Scarecrow" from Wizard of Oz. Little Jayden was "Toto" but at this point he didn't have his costume on. He fell asleep and I don't think he ever got his costume on. Luckily, he wore it to the Ward party last night.

Garrett was the cutest little Lion you ever did see. He grrrrred on in a while too!

Blake was the "scariest"....... A title I'm sure he was proud of!

Livi and Ellie were beautiful Princesses while Nikki was a cute little kitty.

We pretended to be BSU BRONCO fans! It was very convincing!

Garrett, trying his luck with the pinata. I think he's laughing at it!

Melissa and Blake trying their luck with the "Dangling Donut"......I think Melissa won!

I had all the kids start "Trick or Treating" at Michelle's home so I could give them the goodie bag I made for them.

The kids planned a Halloween Party this year titled "KISS" which stood for: "Keep it Simple, Stupid" We all met at Stillman & Michelle's for a dinner of soup, rolls, salad, wiener wraps and cinnamon rolls. The evening was beautiful. It wasn't cold so alot of us sat on the patio to eat and the kid's ate fast and played in the leaves. After dinner, Michelle started to take pictures of families while others tried their luck at eating a hanging donut without using their hands. The kids also took their turn at busting the bat pinata open. We enjoyed watching the kids play and when it got dark all the families took off to comb the neighborhood for goodies. Mom and Dad Norton and Tony and I stayed at Stillman's house to tend to the "Trick or Treaters" and listen for Jayden who was sleeping. There were so many kids that we ran out of candy and had to turn the lights out. At that point, Tony and I left G. & G. Norton to tend the baby and we went home to see about our own "Trick or Treaters." It was getting late so we only had about 6 show up. Soon G. & G. Norton showed up at our home and we watched the movie "Emma Smith" while all the kids went to Deedra's to watch a scary movie. It was a fun evening.