Thanksgiving Weekend

And these 2 sweet daughters of mine drove from Utah just to be with us for The big day!! So glad they were here....it's always funner with a house full...and you can NEVER go wrong with daughters around!!!

Love them!!! Tanner wanted to see how heavy a turkey could be anyway....it's heavy he says!!! A 20 pounder!

We tried cooking it in a roaster Kev bought me that morning...I don't think I allowed enough time for it to cook...it didn't seem to cook as fast as the oven...but then again I didn't have any experience with it either...I will cook in it again and get used to it!! I want to try another turkey!!

And we all made these little turkeys to put on our tables beside each plate....but, we forgot to put them out!!! So they sat on the window seal to dry and look pretty!! Fun to make anyways!
Since Kaylee and Shaylin were here....we just had to get our Christmas tree that weekend too! We went to The Red Barn Tree Farm...I love that place for some reason!! Sure was nice to have the kids together for some photo's too!!!
We were soooooo productive that Saturday!!! We all got ready and went and got our tree....
I took everyone in to vote for my design team entrys...decorated the tree, put up our Christmas decorations, Kev put the outside lights up ( had a fall off the ladder, but luckily he didn't get hurt too bad!), Kaylee made us swiss steak for dinner....so nice to have someone cook in my kitchen....so delicious too!

Shaylin helped me with the lights on the tree while Kaylee made dinner...I swear there are 20 strands of lights on this tree! It took a LONG time this year it seemed! Nice to have it all up all month!! I love this time of year! I am trying to savour the season by celebrating everyday...and making it memorable!! Kaylee and Shaylin come back on the 23rd!! Wahoo!!!! More fun to be had!! I haven't played Rummikub since they left...the game is here waiting for them to return!!!

Christmas Quilt

My latest project!! I love this material...such FUN bright Christmas colors!! I decided that I can have a quilt that I just bring out in December right?! Why not!!
The photo really doesn't do this material much justice...it really is beautiful!! With a tiny specked black flannel back....mmmm, sounds COZY to me!!
I really should be working on my Christmas cards...but it's that time of year when sewing just makes me sooooooo happy!!
AND...by the way....also happiness is...when my girls come home for Thanksgiving!!!!!! YAY

Soccer in Washington

My Son Ryan (27) tells me that these are the funnest games in the rain! But..., when it is blowing like crazy ~ and cold....I have to disagree! This was the coldest game all year...we have had a wonderful soccer season and the weather has cooperated till this game last Saturday...so I really can't complain!! The boys still play and wipe the rain from their faces occasionally, but when there is a puddle right in front of the goal that stops the ball from going in...( on the opposing side ) Thats where we have to draw the line....geez, the goalie could be asleep and still be safe. ha ha. It ended in a tie 1-1....and were glad it was done!! We made a warm fire at home and had a LAZY rest of our Saturday at home!! YAY

Nice and muddy!! I was a little worried about my camera getting wet, as I was taking photo's while holding the umbrella to protect my camera. So I didn't get a photo of our muddy boys....but I wanted to...does that count!? Great sports...these guys!
Then....last but not least...these are my new favorite candy these days! I had to give up hot cinnamon bears because of my crown coming off while eating a caramel...( not good! )
So these make me happy every now and then...and they're cheap!!
Off to get my boy ready for school!!

Down to the last leaf!

I must say...while these things make such a mess of our yard....I do love to see them fall and change colors!! So soon there will be just one left....and we will miss this!! Tan and Jace loved running through them as I was blowing them into a pile!
And of course Tanner had to get inside the pile and cover himself~

So after the fun...we picked up a ton and filled our recycling can FULL...then the rest went out to the street. The city comes by with their big truck and sucks them all up!
And Tanner got to get in the can and smash them all down so we could fit more in..such a BOY!
They were acutally quite helpful....it helped to make a game of it and play for a while. I remember a time when the older kids had no choice but to rake up the leaves. Those were some complaining and whinny days I tell ya!! Now we have a riding lawnmower and a leaf blower which makes it Sooo much easier to pick up leaves with! Plus with an extra 60 plus trees across the street, we get our share of leaves in our yard and on our driveway!!

But...indeed I do love this time or year!!

Everyday stuff ~

These guys just happened to stop by when we were in the middle of a game of spoons the other night...so they joined us....Elder Vaenuku said that was the funnest game he had ever played. He's from Tonga, and has never seen snow!! Sure hope we have a VERY white Winter for him to see!! They are a crack up! Elder Armstrong taught us how to play music with the straw.

Something about cutting a V at the end you blow through, making it flat, then blow...( hence the chipmunk cheeks on Jace...ha ha)....then as you cut the straw off...the notes get higher...so Jaycee tried it....and it really worked!!

And for blogging sake...heres a look at our halloween costumes this year.

Pack Meeting

So can I tell you how long it's been since I've been to a pack meeting?! Ummm...Darin was 9 or so.....that would be 16 YEARS ago!!! Here we go again!! This was Tanner's 1st...and he earned his bobcat badge...he actually earned it in May when he became a cub scout...but it's taken us this long to get a scout master and do a meeting! YAY for Bro. Pedersen!! 1st flag ceremony and all!!

The boys were trying to remember their cub scout promise~
It is fun to have a cub scout again...pinewood derby in January!! Wahoo!!! Tanner has been waiting for this event since he came in to scouting!!!

Ok....now seriously!!!

This was the picture in the packet that came home from picture day at school!!

I know this is ridiculous...because I can obviously take better pictures of my kids...but school photo's are just this classic part of Elementary school that you just have to bite the bullet and do right?! Hmmm ~ this has me thinking twice....so OBVIOUSLY we will have retakes on Nov 3rd!!

The cutest grandkids!

YEP...pretty sure mine are the cutest!!! I need a current picture of my newest...little Natalie, but I just love this picture of Julia and Zach. Zach was being silly picking at his toes, and they were both laughing their heads off!! Priceless photo if you ask me!

So these are their halloween pillowcases I'm sending off today....last time Julia used hers for trick or treating...hey whatever works...I think they're fun, and they have a ton of toys...I know this is something that is different for them. And they seem to like them. Actually Zach just started sleeping with a pillow....so he gets to get in on these too!

Then next month they get these...Julia loves anything to do with princesses and Zach is totally into spiderman. Tanner was too...so I am sending him some of Tan's spiderman bedding as well.

Someday.....I will have grandkids close~? Maybe I'm dreamin' too!!!

Confefence Sunday (better late than never!)

So for years now, we have been going over to the Sandbergs for Conference on Sunday's. We have hot chocolate in the morning, followed by a HUGE brunch after the first session. Then we play games in between sessions. Well...this was our last time there....( insert sad face! ) They sold their house on Lake Tapps, and are renting a house in Arizona. Todd is still here running the business during the week....but it will just seem so odd not to get togerther at their house anymore. We also go over for the 4th, and boat over to their dock in the summer time. I guess things never stay the same, and we just have to be grateful for the time we had. So we will still include them in our quading trips, their motorhome is still here in Edgewood with their business.

This is the Hawkins Family....our conference, quading, camping buddies too!!

And here we are, in our jamas all comfy to watch conference. It was a nice day, and as always a wonderful conference. So glad we have friends to get together with!!

Finally feeling better!

Man, when I get sick, I do it up right!! Seems like I layed in bed forever....at least a week. It all started off with what I thought was the flu....so I was just letting it run it's course right?! Well, when I had no other symptoms I decided to go and get some bloodwork done. My back was killing me, so I suspected a kidney infection. The bloodwork confirmed that theory, so I started on these giant antibiotic pills, and I can finally say that I am starting to feel like myself again...11 days later!! Hooray for being well!!!

So yesterday I finally put out my fall decorations...I still had my freedom/4th of July stuff out!! Terrible,....except that it really just blended in with my folkart stuff, so it didn't look 4th of Julyish! Feels like fall now though!! Tanner went to Meeker Mansion with a friend and pressed some apples, so I need to make cider tonight with the juice....smell the house up good!!! Mmmm,. I really don't like apple cider, but I do love the smell!!

Guess we need to make a time to visit the pumpkin patch and do some carving's...how time flies!!

Where did Sept go?!

Oh ya...school started..we had shopping, back to school nights, academic nights, piano...sports started...( a big YAY on this one )...alot of driving to and from, but sooooo worth it! Soccer is just getting going...we had an intense game last week, and won 1-0, The boys played so good...and they were actually passing and taking shots at the goal...sounds simple...but some days it just doesn't happen!
Tanner loves playing the goalie...and he takes his job very seriously!! Check out this shot I captured of him protecting the goal so WELL...man I think if he did the splits...he'd of had the whole thing covered!! He's good!
Then Jaycee is playing 7th grade volleyball, and she practices everyday! 3 matches...with only 2 left. She really likes it, and is trying to be peppy and competitive...something that doesn't come natural to her! She's so opposite of her Mother!! It's fun to watch....they have 2 teams at Aylen, there were so many kids who wanted to play.
And..Jaycee... ".how dare you ask me to ride home with you Mom...when my team is riding the bus back to Aylen from Edgemont Jr. High.....just meet me at Aylen ." So I won't be asking that question again will I!? It was cute in itself actually that she wanted to ride with her team!

Then Tanner asked if I though he would be able to start learning how to play the piano this year? He said he though he was ready...he wanted to be able to play when he went on his mission! Cute!! He has seen alot of missionaries come to our home and play for us, and he thinks that would be so cool!! He is pretty good about practicing so far....he does have to be reminded where it always just came natural for Jaycee and Shaylin. I'm glad he has the desire to want to learn!!
So we have 7 practices a week between both kids....2 games a week, piano every week and then a day to rest...Sunday...hooray for Sundays! I think I make 20 trips to Aylen a week...and about 10 to Karshner....since we live in the one mile radius...the Puyallup school district cut the bus routes...apparently saving them 10.3 million dollars...well, it's wearing me out this saving money thing! Tanner and I ride bikes to school...just until the rainy season starts up...then that idea is out the door! So till then, I just put on my Taxi tierra and away we go!!! I'm Happy that Fall is here...I love this time of year!! Oh ya, I guess it's time to take my ( Freedom ) 4th of July decorations down and decorate for fall....on the list for tommorrow!!!

Twilight MOMS

All ready to head up North to see what all the fuss is about! Port Angeles and Forks, where the Twilight books are all about! I loved those books!! Were gettin' all ready for the 2nd movie to come out ~ "New Moon"!Margee and I got together to make little journaling books to put all our Twilight treasures in, and our thoughts for the get-away!!This little town of Forks really revolves around this series...it's cute!!

( Me, Margee, Devon, Colleen and Jackie )
We were CRAZY~ we woke up on Saturday at 6 am...( you see, that's the crazy part...MOM's on a little getaway where we CAN sleep in but don't! ha ha )..,and we went down to First Beach to watch the sunrise...it was beautiful trying to peek through the clouds...we had sliced nectarines and even read the scriptures on the beach...then right to treasure collecting!! These ladies are alot of fun!!
We stayed at Suzie's place in Forks...such a cute little house!

We had fun checking out all the sites that were talked about in the book and the places where the filming took place. Nice to be with other Twilight lovers as well!!

And a special thanks to Kev for taking over and helping me take a night off!!

Sand Lake Dunes, Oregon

There is NOTHING like quading along side the water at the Beach!! Full throddle, free like a bird...it's the best!! This was the first time we took the new Motorhome out...Kevin bought it at the auction the first of the summer, and he's been fixin it up all summer! It's sure smooth ridin' and great to stay in!! It's amazing how much just 8 inches wider makes!! So nice!!
So we had alot of choices...ridin at the beach...hill climbin' or doin the trails!! What a great place for the quads...and their owners!!
I was pretty fond of the trails....so many to explore....but watch out for low fallen trees! Yikes!

Jaycee could have stayed on the beach all weekend!!
On the way home...just 15 miles away was the Tillamook Cheese FActory, we couldn't be that close and NOT stop by!!

Tanner wanted to be different and try Pumpkin ice-cream....but he traded it in for the good ole' root beer float ice cream instead!!

Cheese, cheese and more cheese!!

We had a great weekend. Only 4 1/2 hours each way, and we couldn't have picked a better weekend to ride....very nice! We have to get serious now and stay home for a while and get some things done!! Sure glad I married a spontaneous man who likes to travel and see the world!!