Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We ate at my parent's house and Mom's cooking is always great. She complains that as she gets older her cooking gets worse, the grandkids just looked at her like "huh?"

I've been such a slacker at blogging lately and have a whole bunch a birthday photographs to post. We've been celebrating birthdays at our house and life has been very busy at work. I'm hoping to download some pictures soon and update my blog.

I just wanted to stop and post how thankful I am for all of my friends and family and for my "new blogging friends". I have so much to be thankful for:

• Like I said I am thankful for my family. My parents are always there to help me out with whatever I need and I rely on them so much, as well as a big brother who I know really does love me. My other brother is away so I don't get to see him as often.
• As I was helping the boys clean the family room last night and cussing the mess under my breath and as I was listening to all three kids fight and tease this morning, I had to stop and think how thankful I am for them and that they are healthy children. I may get frustrated and definitely they test my patience but they are such a blessing in my life.
• I am thankful for my beliefs and for the Savior and his sacrifice. I can't believe that we are about to start the month of December and the Christmas season will be upon us.
• I am thankful for the seasons, even though I complain about the slick roads and cold weather.
• I am thankful for the medical professionals who have been there to help our family with minor and major incidents.
• I am thankful for mine and Todd's employment. I am also thankful for the co-workers that I have, they are a lot like family and it makes my job much easier.
• I am thankful for a roof over my head and that I can turn up the heat when I am cold.
• I am thankful for my freedom and for those that have fought so that we can enjoy our freedom.

What are you thankful for? I hope that this Thanksgiving you took a moment to reflect on what you are thankful for. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day, take the time to thank a Veteran for their service. This is my post from last year.

http://coldav.blogspot.com/2008/11/veterans-day.html?zx=d24326f481377a04

Happy Birthday

I have been TERRIBLE about birthday wishes since August. I've missed my brother Blaine's birthday, September 23, my niece Brentlie's birthday, October 8, and my babysitter Sheila's birthday, October 26. Sorry guys for not wishing you a Happy Birthday on my blog. I did remember their birthdays though, just didn't blog about it.

Tomorrow is my brother-in-law Smokey's 40th birthday and my sister-in-law Tammie's birthday. I hope that you both have a great day and a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

The month of November is a busy one for birthdays. Brodie will be having his birthday on the 20th and will be 17 and Harleigh will be having her birthday on the 23rd and she will be 8, not to mention two nieces birthdays in November too. I guess I definitely better get better about blogging birthdays!

They Did It Again!

They did it again, Sunday evening came and the boys volunteered to barbeque steaks again. I'm telling you, I could get used to this. One problem I can see in the future though is the Idaho weather, we're going to have to move the grill to a place safe from the snow and cold so they can keep up this new "tradition". Jayce used to be the barbequer but lately Brodie has wanted to join in. They sit outside and laugh and talk while the steaks are cooking but, of course, Harleigh was feeling a little left out and had to go out and supervise until I told her to come in the house and help me with the potatoes.

Note to self - pick up more steaks at the grocery store!!

Halloween 2009

Saturday was Halloween and even though we had been celebrating for quite a few days we celebrated all day long. We started out by going to Grandma and Grandpa Bagley's for the traditional pumpkin carving/pizza party.

Now as you can see my dad has carving pumpkins down to an art with his "power tools". Some would say it is cheating, I, on the other hand, think it is pretty smart and a whole lot faster!

Jayce, Harleigh, Maryanna, Cody, Grandpa and I carved pumpkins. Grandma supervised and Brodie and Michael showed up for the pizza.

After carving pumpkins we went home and Harleigh and I made a gingerbread haunted house.

Later, Harleigh and I went trick or treating at Grandma and Grandpa Bagley's house.Then went up to Aunt Kim and Uncle Smokey's where we posed with a tiger, kitty, and Tigger.

Emma looked so cute in her kitty costume on her first Halloween and Kaydn found his Grandma Kim's candy so really was there even a need for him to go trick or treating, oh yeah so everyone could see how cute he was!

Harleigh and I then headed home, lit our Jack o' Lanterns, and Todd took her around the neighborhood trick or treating while I made pumpkin pies for Brodie.

We were all home early and it was a very relaxing Halloween evening just in time for us to change the clocks and "fall back" making the kids think they could stay up another hour.

Class Halloween Party

Friday was Harleigh's Halloween party which I ended up helping with. I wanted to get a few more pictures of the party but never quite got away from the game I was playing with the kids to take pictures. At the end I wanted one of all of the kids in costume but give them costumes, candy, and games and there is no way they are going to hold still for a picture so I just told them if they wanted to, just to be CRAZY.

As you can see they could do that!

Dressing Up For Dance

On Wednesday, the pirate put on her costume again. Harleigh's dance class dressed up in their Halloween costumes. I thought all of the girls looked so cute that I had to take a picture of the girls.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, and More Pumpkins

The Saturday before Halloween, October 24, I went with a couple of co-workers to the U Pick Red Barn in Idaho Falls to pick out pumpkins to carve. Dave took his two youngest kids and I took my two youngest kids. Brodie didn't want to go so he hung out with Todd. We also took Sheila along. If you can believe it was her first time picking out pumpkins to carve. Sheila had never carved pumpkins before so we wanted to give her the "full" treatment.
The kids posed by this "huge" pumpkin. Notice Jayce's pose, he told Sheila "you might as well just pose and get it over with, she'll keep bugging you". Hum, do you think he was talking to me?? Didn't work for Dave's son Conner though, he wouldn't pose for me by the huge pumpkin. Brodie and Dave's daughter Lidia were along later but I couldn't get pictures of them either.
I've never been to U Pick Red Barn before but my blogging buddy, Janiel, told me about it last year and it was a lot of fun. We picked pumpkins, the kids went through a straw maze, and there was a train for the kids to ride on. After picking pumpkins we went back to our house to carve pumpkins and make sure that Sheila was able to get into the "guts" of carving pumpkins.

We had chili and Dave roasted pumpkin seeds, which I have never had before and must admit that they were pretty tasty. We then headed out to the straw maze. I've never been before. The boys have been several times but this was the first for Todd, Harleigh, and I and I seriously wondered if we were ever going to get out. Luckily a couple of college students came back in to rescue their friends so we could follow them out.Which wasn't a moment too soon, we were all cold and ready for a much needed cup of hot chocolate. We finished the day off at our house with more hot chocolate and games on the Wii.