Thanksgiving Day 2008

Kalleen and Mom pounded out some tunes on the piano. It was a test to see what they could remember. The girls played dress up and house with their animals.

Of couse, there was a Dalls Cowboys football game and it was a BLOW OUT!
The Cowboys smoked 'em.

This was the small gang that gathered and it was lots of fun to gather together as a family.

The turkey turned out great!

While the Turkey is steaming.....

Slide down the stairs on a cushion....Austin calls it Streamin'!

Sweet Dreams!!

We were all settled down for the night. All the kids were in bed, it had been a long day and I was headed for some much needed 'sweet dreams'. I made it to the bedroom and Steve was in bed reading his book (he's on vacation) and I got ready for bed, climbed in and was just getting settled when I hear something under the bed. "Steve, what was that?" "huh?" "I just heard a noise, is the cat outside?" "I think so." "Okay!" So, I settle back in and there it is again. "Did you hear that?" "huh?" "There is something under our bed, something is rattling under the bed!" "I didn't hear anything." "Well, I did, turn on the light, is Austin behind our bed?" So, Steve surveyed the room..."nope". (back to reading). I sat there very quiet and waited for the noise. "There it is! Turn on the light! I know I heard something and I am going to find out what it is!" "It's probably a huge MOUSE and it's going to get you!" He's such the protector! At this point I am thinking to myself (but I could have said it out loud) why aren't you down here trying to figure it out! To which he would reply, "Because you are!" And then I see it.....a little arm poking out from under the bed! "AUSTIN! GET IN BED!" He left the room giggling....

Gastroc. Recession.....what is that???

Zac had surgery today! I think I was more nervous than he was until just seconds before they wheeled him down the hall to surgery.....he started to show a little nervousness. The surgeon said that he was very pleased with the results and expected Zac to heal quickly. What is Gastroc. Recession and who knows if I am even spelling it correctly? Zac had about a 3% range of motion in his foot/ankle area. When he played sports, he played in pain. He just doesn't know that. The tendon in the back of his leg was so tight that is was causing his arches to fall. We tried inserts for a couple of years and they made a difference in his arch but not in his range of motion. So, the doctor suggested this surgery. The surgeon would go in past his calf muscle and clip the tendon. It just snapped! There was so much tension. The doctor is thinking he will have a full range of motion after this surgery. He will be in a walking boot for 6 weeks and then he goes back in to get the other leg done. The scar tissue will build up and grow between where the tendon was clipped but still will not be as tight. If the boot can keep his foot at a 90 degree angle it will allow the room he needs between tendons to give him a full or almost full range of motion. He was pale and in a little pain as we left the hospital but that lasted about 20 minutes and he was back to the Zac we know and love. He hasn't had to take any pain pills and it is possible he will experience some cramps in his legs (he had one in the hospital) but so far.......SO GOOD! He is a great patient! The doctor said Zac is a strong, muscley kid!

It was my Teacher's fault!

So this week Austin brought home a test from school. He missed one of the questions on his test so he did not get 100%......."But Mom, it wasn't my fault....I'ts my teacher's fault... she just needs to do a better job teaching me!" I met with his teacher this week and told her what Austin had said. She burst out laughing and said, "Well, I kinda told them that but not in those exact words, what I said was don't be too upset if you missed something because it just shows me what we need to work on." Intrepretation is EVERYTHING!

Get your head in the game!

This week was basketball tryouts for Courtney. And the results are in.......Courtney made the team. She is really excited for this basketball season to get started. They begin practicing every day and some early mornings. She is on the JV team but will probably get the opportunity to play on the Varsity team. Right now, she will just work hard, play hard and sleep!

Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for -The taxes I pay because it means I'm employed . . .The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have more than enough to eat . . .My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine . . .A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home . . .The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking . . .My huge heating bill because it means I am warm . . .All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech . . .The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear . . .The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby . . .The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive . . .Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive . . .

Grocery Smarts!

This has been my latest adventure and well worth the ride. For those of you looking to cut costs in your grocery budget (and you live in Utah) you need to check this out. It is FREE! It has been a very welcome tool to my grocery budget. I go to this website prior to going grocery shopping and I "create" my grocery list based on the items that are on sale. It is also great to match prices with Walmart. My family has also learned that unless I have a coupon....don't even ask if we can get it!

Emily is in trouble!

This is funny....to a point. When Nicole and "Emily" would play in the kitchen, I would tell Nicole, "It's time to clean up your mess." and she would reply, "I didn't make this mess...."Emily" did." So, I would turn to "Emily" (her imaginary friend) and say, "Emily you need to clean up this mess and you need to convince Nicole to help you." So, Nicole would say, "I will help you this time Emily, but I didn't make this mess!" Nicole was 2!

..and the pumpkins went KABOOM!

Well, we had an idea to get rid of the halloween pumpkins and it was GREAT fun! We took the pumpkins out in the hills and had a little target practice with them. There wasn't much left when we finished!

TRUNK or TREAT!

Megan was a Rose Maiden, Austin went as a Clone Trooper. Michelle and Don were here for Halloween and Dustin went as an Indian and Rachel was a Princess (in the making). Zac was a cool dude for Halloween.