We ARE Family

As we have experienced our holiday family experience in Virginia and vicariously shared all of the experiences of our children through the wonder of our families blogs, I am deeply impressed, again, about how important family is and how incredibly blessed we are to belong to this family. Thank you, each and every one of you, for who you are and what you bring to our family. Love you all.

Thanksgiving

We started the morning with quite a startle from our Thanksgiving visitor. This is a Sandhill crane and they are very loud. He made it quite close to the house before letting out quite a squawk. David ran screaming. The kids quietly crept outside and attempted to feed it grapes. It squawked a few more times and looked at us like we were stupid. Then walked away. They don't eat grapes. Note to self.


Enjoyed a little post dinner walk and fish.
Who doesn't love a little beach time on every holiday?
Oh, now that is just cute.
Now that is a family! Happy mom!
Grilled to perfection. Oh, yeah, I said grilled. Never going back.




We enjoyed making everything together and having a semi quiet dinner. Everyone had specific items to make. Collin made pumpkin bourbon cheesecake (thank you James), Ethan made Marshmallow almond key lime pie (umm, best key lime pie ever!), and Chloe made a cherry pie. Never made pies from scratch without the aid of sibling or parent. They actually worked! Who knew? Don't forget April who wowed us all with some fantastic rolls. We were happy to spend it just us, but missed family. Can't wait for Christmas!

The Holiday

Happy Thanksgiving, my wonderful family.

You know, I never feel so lonely and distant from all of you as I do on holidays. I think that, growing up, we were always pretty independent as a family when it came to holidays because we lived so far away from all of our extended family. It was as though we were ingrained with the understanding that we were all we had, and somehow that leaked into my adult life.

I am grateful, ever so grateful for the family that I head in this little corner of the world, but my heart is pining, even after more than a decade after its creation, for my parents, brothers, and sisters that all have their own corners of the world. I kind of wish our corners could be more like niches in the same log or at least short spokes around the hub of a not-so-large tricycle wheel. I know, however, that we're in the right place at the right time, and I trust that all of you are, as well, so our corners we maintain in happiness and peace.

In other news, we've finally scheduled Joshua's baptism for Saturday morning. We've been waiting for Grandma and Grandpa schedules to align with ours, and they still might not, but we just can't withhold from Joshua any more. You are all, of course, invited for the 10 am service.

Happy Thanksgiving, from our family to ours.

Yes, I meant to do that.

Intermountain Healthcare celebrates kidney transplant milestone | ksl.com

Intermountain Healthcare celebrates kidney transplant milestone | ksl.com

All things Family

So....I started a new blog and I know what your thinking. No one knows better than me how truly pathetic I am at blogging. I had the feeling this last conference to start a blog on families. Maybe it was just my inner spirit dying to sit on my own soap box for a while or maybe it's more than that. Either way, here it is. That said, I would truly love your thoughts on my blog. Feel free to be critical or overly accommodating...which ever you prefer. I can handle both. :) I really do want to know what you think so I can make it better. I appreciate your love and your help. Oh yes...and I may use some of you in my blog. If you are entirely opposed to that you should let me know. You can find my blog at http://defendfamily.blogspot.com James I would love to add this to the family blog...how do we do that? Lots of love!

A little post summer fun!

I just got back from the pool. It was great. The kids were swimming and I was reading. I love me a little sun!

We will be spending Thanksgiving alone this year. I think it may be a first for us. I think small and simple will be o.k. We are assigning all dinner items out to the kids. Except the turkey, which Joe will be grilling this year. So cool. We are going to do an outdoor movie Thursday night and go to the beach Friday. I can't think of a better way to spend Black Friday. Yes, we are doing a little shopping, but the items I want go on sale Thursday night at 10. I get to avoid all the electronic crazies!

Great Quote

My new friend was over and we were talking about how to budget and other fun things. Yes, I love talking about budgeting. So, we were talking and they use a cash system, so I asked if at the end of the week if they are out of cash do they still go on their date. I absolutely loved her reaction and had to share it with everyone. In a very matter of fact way she said that of course they go and that it doesn't have to be in the cash budget because "going on a date is much less expensive than marriage counseling!"

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Yes, dad they are people after your own heart. Thank you for teaching us well!

Oh, and here is another great one. This one is just for Michelle. . . .

We were in the car and James asked Michael if he was croaking. He had to ask a couple of times before Michael could understand what he was saying. Once he finally figured it out Michael replied, "No, I'm not a frog."

Well, there are my fun quotes for the weekend. I hope you are all having a great weekend!

Snail with shoes

I know this is mostly for Marquie...

But it's funny and pointless enough to be mentioned anyway.

Love ya'll

http://www.wimp.com/shoeson/

I just have to do this.

Friends...Romans...Countrymen...Lend me your ears...er...well...at least your fingers.

I have a new website and business. Check it out. Thanks

WWW.HAVEYOUCAUGHT.ME

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!!!!

White Chicken Chili

I just want to thank you guys for the White Chicken Chili recipe in the family cookbook.  Before I joined the family, I had never even eaten White Chicken Chili!  It started to grow on me and I just couldn't ignore how incredibly easy the recipe is (Mom's version) and it is now my go-to crockpot recipe.  I've relied on it again and again to feed company.  You just can't beat an amazing meal that you can put together ahead of time and don't have to prep for!  Okay, so I do prep a little by soaking dry beans overnight but I love not having lots of work to do on the meal right before people arrive at my house.

It's great.

Also, what's the link to that crockpot cookbook you all love?  My sister that came to visit works full-time and she could really benefit from an awesome cookbook like that.  I'd also like to take a look.  Anyone have a good crockpot roast recipe?  I've got a roast in the freezer and want to make a roast with carrots and potatoes surrounding it.  Know what I mean?

I have had enough!

Professional football is such an interesting thing. Today I fulfilled my assignment with United Airlines to host our top Atlanta customers at our annual customer event at the Falcons game. It was a big game against New Orleans. You know, this was a real struggle for me. It is just a big show. The actual game is second to the whole pageantry and... Well, I have had enough.

First, Sunday is the Sabbath. Yup, it sure is and that hit me so hard today that at times I cried. I do not like to work on Sunday. Do not like to travel on Sunday. It is a sacred day. Again, really driven home today.

Second, this is the second week in a row that I have not been "at my post". That is something that I have determined should not happen again. Many things happened last week and this week that, while handled well by the counselors, it would not have hurt to have the bishop there. In fact, two people, both of whom I have great respect for, noted that last Sunday it was evident the shepherd of the flock was absent.

Third, professional football is getting mean. Just downright mean and nasty. I watched hits that should not have taken place. There was no cause. Play was either over or would not happen but the shots took place. Reminds me of why I no longer care for professional basketball. The finesse is gone.

OK, enough. I am tired but please all know, dad/grandpa loves you and cares deeply for each of you.

My Second of the Day!!!

Who wants to come for Thanksgiving and do this with me?

Just published my first android app!!!

It's called "Candy Jar Estimator" and to the left is a very oversized picture of the app icon.

Here's to hoping...

Quote of the Day

‎"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." —George Bernard Shaw

I came across this, today, and thought I would share it. In a world where people are always trying to "find out" who they are, perhaps they should stop asking questions, and start making decisions. Of course, then I thought, "well, we're not trying to create ourselves, we're trying to align ourselves with who we were before we came here and who we want to become when we leave here, and that's not really creation, that's more like discovery." Then I decided that's exactly what Mr. Shaw was expressing with "creating" as compared to "finding," and then I felt good about the quote again. Phew. Enjoy.

Happy Halloween!

We had a wonderful halloween! The weather was perfect, the costumes were adorable, and the company was fun...and we do not have 17 pounds of candy, but it should be sufficient for about a year. Mom...the pictures are for you. We had a bee, witch, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger. The rest of you can enjoy them but she specifically requested them. Lots of love!

What the candy???????

I just wanted to let everyone know we had a great time trick or treating last night. Well, Joe and the kids. I hung out with Brandi (best friend and former neighbor), and passed out candy. I definitely enjoyed it. Oh yeah, we also are enjoying ourselves a wee bit o candy.....

17 pounds of it.

I know crazy huh. Yes, I really did weigh it. I am going to chop up a bunch of the candy bars and freeze them for dessert stuff and whatever. So much candy.