Turkey Time!

Thanksgiving! We decided to make our own little turkey and eat at home this year. We invited Shaun's parents to come enjoy the day with us! Everything went perfect...except for maybe the turkey getting done in 2 1/2 hours instead of the estimated 4...and the yams almost burning...and my most favorite, Shaun dumping the banana cream pie all over the floor! BUT, I am thankful that the pie didn't hit the floor until after we were done eating what we wanted and were putting it away! And I'm thankful for the fact that I saved the yams and they were still delicious! And I'm thankful for the "warm" on the oven dial that kept our turkey hot until we were ready for it!

But, I'm most thankful for my little family and the time we got to spend together. For my hubby that helped me cook it all and didn't make me touch the raw turkey (YUCK!), and who loves me for me! For Tayson who drew me the best turkey picture ever, and still cuddles even though he's "too big" for it! (Is 6 years old too big???) For Haylie who kept saying "I'm a turkey! Gobble! Gobble!" all day long, and her sweet, mischievous spirit! And last, but not least, all my extended family that I got to visit with this weekend! I would be lost without my family!

There are so many other things that I am thankful for in my life! There isn't time to list them all! So, I'll end by saying how incredibly blessed I am, and always will be while surrounded by those I love most!

A Week In a Blur!

This week has gone by in a blur with so many things happening! My goal this week was to get a good head start on studying for finals. I didn't. At all. Oh well, I've still got awhile yet.



Tuesday we went to Karate. Tayson is doing great and learning tons.



Wednesday we had an issue with lying, which resulted in early bedtimes. I didn't mind at all! Shaun was up at school, so I had the evening to myself! HEAVEN!!!



Thursday we went the the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert! We picked up Tayson from school, sent Haylie with Grandma Dodge and drove down to Layton where we met Shaun's family for a yummy dinner at Famous Dave's. Tayson was a bit wound up and excited about the concert, so needless to say, we weren't on our best "restaurant" behavior, but oh well! Then we went and enjoyed the music! Such fun! I have three of their songs on my playlist, so if you've never heard their stuff, make sure to check it out! They are awesome! Then came the long drive home. By the time we wound our way through traffic and found the freeway again, Tayson was sound asleep!



Friday started good and ended even better. I got a phone call from Tayson's school saying that he was a "paw print" winner! Yes! That means he was on his best behaviour. That's always good news to a mom! Then we got Chinese food for dinner - our treat to ourselves after a crazy week! Then came the phone call....Shaun is being flown out for a job interview! Wow! His hard work is finally starting to pay off! Way to go, Babe! I'm proud of you! We still don't know where we will end up or what we will be doing, but we are definitely excited for a new chapter in life!



So...that's our week in a blur! Maybe things will settle down soon....but maybe not! :0)

The End Is In Sight!!!

Today is a happy day! I finished reading the last chapter of my Psychology book, did the last homework assignment and now I just have to study for the final....which is 3 weeks away! Yea! I only have one more section to read in my US Institutions class, one more assignment and the final! I CAN DO IT!

Christmas shopping for the kids...DONE! Well, except for stocking stuffers, but that's easy! Shaun's Christmas is almost all taken care of too! Just the little things now.

This Thursday we get to take Tayson to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert! It is our little family Christmas tradition and we were able to take Tayson last year too! He absolutely loved it! If you haven't ever heard their stuff, you need to check it out! I'm a bit worried that Tays will be too tired for school the next morning, but there is no way we were going to miss this! Why oh why is the concert not on a Friday?

We only wish that Haylie was old enough to take with us. However, she is staying the night at Grandma and Grandpa Dodge's and is sooooo excited! She usually goes with Tayson, so she will have a blast having Grandma and Grandpa all to herself! The spoiled little thing! It should be a fun night for all of us!

It has rained all day today! I love the rain! I keep trying to convince Shaun to get a job in Seattle, so that I can have rain all the time, but I guess we have to go where the jobs are, huh? Speaking of which, Shaun had two interviews this last Friday. It still seems so weird to me that we are getting that close to graduation! So proud of my smart hubby! On that note, this blog entry has made a full circle....The End IS In Sight!!! Woohoo!!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today, November 6, is my dad's birthday. What an amazing man! At first I was going to write 55 (his age) things about him, but that would be the LONGEST BLOG EVER! :0) So, instead I've decided to write down a few things that I remember, treasure and cherish about my dad.



One of my most favorite things that I remember from when I was a little girl is that some nights my dad would come home from work with a little brown paper bag. He would put it on top of the fridge and we weren't allowed to peek inside until after dinner. It always had my very favorite thing in it....CANDY! I would watch out the window, waiting for dad to come home and to see if he had a bag in hand! What a cute, simple way to say how much he cared!



I remember going to work with my dad. We got to get a HUGE soda out of the machine. These were not the little cans we have now, but the big glass bottles! At least they were big in my eyes. I would sit on his work table, and Dad would put me to work sorting buttons, nails, money and all sorts of odds and ends. I always loved the smell of his shop! Now Tayson gets to go to work with Grandpa and do the same things! What lucky kids!



On Sunday's sometimes we would go for a drive up the mountains. When it was hot, this was the only way they could survive me. My dad would whistle, I would sing, and life was grand!!



Now my little Tayson has this incredible bond with Grandpa. No one can deny it, understand it or touch it. Nothing compares. They hike up Green Canyon to the cave, go fishing at First Dam, shoot BB guns, cuddle in front of the fireplace and just hang out. Tayson would be lost without him.

He calls me Care Bear. No one else does. It's just for him.



These are only a few of the things that I love about my dad! There just isn't room or time to write them all down, but I just wanted to give a little tribute to him, say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and I love you....

Go Obama!

GO OBAMA! We got to watch election night and it was a very moving, motivating and exciting night. I'm proud that our country has come so far. Now hopefully President Elect Obama can take us a bit further in the coming years...I'm sure he will. I think that he's the right man for the job and it will be a nice change for the White House and our country! Onward and Upward!

P.S. I thought of you last night, Grandma Wendel! I knew you'd be happy!

Halloween!

Have you ever seen a more cute Snow White or a more handsome Indiana Jones? I haven't! My favorite is the sucker sticks hanging out of their mouths! We couldn't keep them away from their candy this year!!

Halloween was a busy crazy day for us! We went to Tayson's school and watched the Halloween Costume Parade. Then we came home, shoveled down some dinner and were off for a night of trick or treating! The kids didn't get a ton of candy. I think they were too worn out to go for very long, but they had a good time. The kids even got to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. Lucky things! They are spoiled rotten! Shaun and I went out, didn't get home until 4 am and then slept in till 11. It was so nice to sleep in! What a fun Halloween for everyone!

Sorry that this update is so short. I've got two tests this week to study for, so it's going to be a crazy one! Later....