OuR flOcK Of tURkEyS

Mom turned on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Maggie was thrilled to see Hannah Montana. Zoe was shaking her booty and loving it too.

Maggie & Zoe were our pre-dinner entertainment. They were playing a lovely duet.

Camille's pre-dinner assignment was to help set the tables.

You did and awesome job Camille!

While we were getting Maggie's patch on Camille thought she might like to try on too. They had fun playing pirates. Arrgh!

Zoe's pants kept falling down and Camille was having fun "helping" her pull them up.

Neither caffeine withdrawals or kidney stones will keep me from my Dr. Pepper!

Starr was part of the keep-things-cleaned-up crew.

Dad making the yummy mashed potatoes.

Mom and Zoe checking out Dad's job.

Mom doing one of the many things she does best.

Glenn having fun peeling potatoes. What a man!

Shelly helped out too.

Lauren, Trent and Landon relaxing and listening to some music before dinner.

Kinley was the main attraction for us!

Dad was in charge of rounding up the troops to get ready to eat.

The Justin's and Sadie

Lindy, you're a superstar! (in your own mind)

Justin snuggling with Kinley.

We celebrated Kayle's birthday a day early. Happy forty something!

The smiliest baby ever! Hayden and Linda.

Mandi and I left for a few minutes and took Zoe with us. She fell asleep before we got home. I laid her on the couch and Sadie crawled up next to her and snuggled in under her blanket and fell asleep.

Later in the evening a game of scrabble broke out.

Shelly, Lauren, Mom and her helpers, Sadie and Zoe.

Doubles hula hooping. The next Olympic sport?

Sadie is a most helpful little mommy!

Proof that I was there too. Cute hair Mandi!

The Time Has Come

...to say farewell

I made both of these quilts while I was in High School. They have both served their purpose and we had lots of good times together. The large peach and green blanket kept me warm for lots of years. I used it on my bed and to wrap up in the winter. It was tied with embroidery floss which came untied and after this last washing it was just a blob of batting crumpled up in a sack of fabric. The downfall of the blue blanket was that I had made it a quillow where my feet would inevitably end up. It started to rip at the corners of the pocket which I repaired a few times, but when the side started to come apart and the fabric was so thin the ties started to rip out I decided that it was time to say goodbye. I told Glenn to take them to the trash and then Mom suggested taking them to the fire barrel. Glenn and Landon were all over that suggestion and soon...

...my two quilts were nothing but a memory! Tear!

(Thanks for the great pictures Landon!)

A Blessing?

I am choosing to look at this as a blessing. Usually one of the first words learned is NO! Luckily we didn't get the wrath of Zoe's NO! NO! NO! until just a few days ago. Today I was doing something she apparently didn't approve of and with the attitude of a teenager she stuck her hand up to my face waving it back and forth saying NO NO NO! I really wish I could have captured it on video.

Making Friends

Today was our first time attending our new ward. This is how Zoe spent park of sacrament meeting. She was on the floor doing some coloring when the little boy in front of us started looking a little jealous. They just looked at each, talked a little while and had a good time. Not a bad way to get through sacrament meeting.

I Forgot...

I took these pictures of Kinley on our last visit and forgot to put them on here. So here's to you Kinley, the newest arrival from Heaven.

"Little girls dance their way into your heart, whirling on the tips of angel wings, scattering gold dust & kisses in our paths" - Author Unknown

Just for Ethan

I thought of Ethan when I first discovered this train yard. They actually make the tanker cars here in Evanston.

This is part of the building where they are made.

This train was pulling away with two new shiny tank cars on the end. I wonder where he is going.

There is an old train depot that they are in the process of restoring. It's pretty neat and when it's done it will be really cool. These pictures are of some of the old cars that have been left there. The weeds have grown over the tracks behind this white tanker. Obviously he has been there a while.

This long silver car has people painted in windows. This was a dining car or at least someone painted it to look like one.

Tell your parents you want to come visit Evanston so you can see the cool trains, Ethan!