Teacher's Quorum

Brig brought his Teacher's Quorum over for a quorum activity.  They learned how to make bread, and then made some scones.  I had also made them some banana bread for them to take around to the elderly while caroling.  They were soooo much fun.  Great kids- great personalitites!

Decking the Hall

We pulled out the big tree just after Thanksgiving.  Love the Christmas lights! 

So beautiful, so magical!

Seth so adroit- as he stand on the top of the ladder and precariously places the top of the tree.

Last year I had to get up and down the ladder over and over again, after moving the ladder around the tree - to get the ribbon wrapped around it.  I reminded Brigham about it and he came up with a new plan.

He and Brig laid under the tree and turned it around and around while we unloaded the ribbon onto it.

It was a slick process!  What  a genius!!!

This cutie put up a little tree in his room with colored lights and lights on his book shelf.  I wish we had put him on video.  He was bouncing up and down and hugging everyone saying "Merry Christmas!"

He is pure joy!

This cutie is wearing a santa hat to school EVERY day!  

Festive!

Thanksgivng Week

The kids had a whole week off for Thanksgiving- so Brigham took it off of work as well.  We couldn't go far though because Brig had basketball practice- since he made the JV team.  We did go to Utah for a day and a half and had a great time hanging out with family.

We came back home for our own Thanksgiving Feast.  Since Brigham was on call this year we didn't invite anyone over- cause I would hate to carry on the feast with him gone and this way we could just do it when he was available.  Everything turned out delicious and it was so fun making dinner with the whole family.  

Friday we hosted  Brigham's family- Mom, Dad, single siblings, Sperry Redds, and the Bates.  It was fun to have them in our home.  We ate, chatted, played games, watched a movie and ate some more.

In our 16 plus years of marriage we have only ever had Thanksgiving with our parents twice.   Crazy! 

 We have been amazingly blessed in our lives and we whole heartedly give all the glory to our God!

 God does not look on the outward appearance. I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.

Elder Uchtdorf

Thanksgiving

Rejoice over everything.

Exult. Exhilarate.

Be glad. Be delighted, elated, and bowled over with joy!

Frolic freely, hop, hope, dance on the dare, cheer,

champion the little ones, revel in the riotous light.

Invoke God without ceasing. Pray with passion.

Whatever you do, do not quench the Spirit.

Take care not to douse or dampen the bold blaze in your depths.

Jump into life. Hold fast to it.

Give thanks for everything.

For everything, even the most misshapen and misunderstood,

is the disguise of the divine.

Susan Virginia Hull

Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day!  My words cannot express the gratitude I feel for our wonderful veterans.  Our little community does a great job celebrating.  This year Seth's school had a fun parade of flag bedecked ATV's.  Seth, Laini, Kaleb, Kai and I drove along with them.  I wish I had gotten a picture it was a great sight.  They also had a neat assembly with many great tributes.  Then we headed over to Brig's school where Brigham was a guest of honor.  They had about 25 vet's there and did a great job honoring them and all who have served.  

God Bless America!  Land that We LOVE!

Cupcake

Our little Cupcake had the best frosting!

Sooo fun!

Eagle Court of Honor

Brigham and his good buddy Colbie had a combined Eagle Court of Honor.  They both finished their projects a year ago but we just got around to having their Court of  Honor.  Special thanks to the Thompsons and Redds for coming and supporting us.  

Seth participated in the flag ceremony.

Grammy beautifully sang our National Anthem.

We had a neat slide show of the boy's lives and Scouting.

We shared the Scout Law with everyone in a unique way.  We divided up each of the scout attributes between the two boys and then shared an experience where they exemplified that quality.  I shared an example of Brig's Loyalty and Brigham shared an example of his Bravery.  It was a really great personalized way to share the Scout Law and I loved hearing all of the wonderful things said about these boys.

Seth participated in a "Trail to Eagle" segment.

Brigham and Colbie finished up that segment by talking about what it means to them to receive their Eagle and what they have learned along the way.  It was very touching.

Brig's Grandpa Thompson gave them the Eagle charge and pledge.  Awesome!

Then we all got pinned-Eagle pin and Mom and Dad pins.

We served ice cream sundaes,

and had a table with some of their scouting memorabilia.

It was a fun, spiritual, and patriotic night.

Congratulations Brig!  May you always wait upon the Lord and mount up with wings as 

EAGLES!

Bountiful Harvest

I forgot to record our wonderful harvest this year.  We tried some new things in our garden this year.  We planted Yukon gold, purple and red potatoes. We had some big differences in size- but they were all delicious and the vibrant purple was especially fun to work with.  We also had, spinach, beets, carrots, peas, green beans, corn, cantelope, honey dew, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, artichokes, 4 kinds of tomatoes, green onions, green peppers, serrano peppers, strawberries, raspberries, and grapes.  Our fruit trees were only in their second year- but we got 5 apples, 2 apricots, 1 plum, and 9 cherries.  Love having a garden and making meals exclusively from its bounty!  

A Beautiful Sight

Brother and Sister, together as friends, ready to face whatever life sends.

We watched a great you tube video last night.  It is called- The 5000 Days Project: Two Brothers.  It lasts an hour, look it up if you have time and watch it with your kids, you won't be disappointed.

MuSTANG!

Every boy should at some point in his life be able to get his dream car!

It's a beauty and I may or may not have drag raced a truck that was provoking me the other night.

He didn't stand a chance!

Brigham can't wipe the smile of his face.  Good times!