Thanksgiving in Idaho

We just returned from a fabulous yet harrowing Thanksgiving in Idaho.  Let me explain.
The largest and coldest storm of the season hit at the beginning of the week. The storm started in the North making it's way south.  So late Monday night Idaho began getting the storm and by Tuesday night Salt Lake was storming.  We left Wednesday after the storm was over...not so.  The snow was off and on as we left Wednesday about 1pm. Over the drive was okay until... Pocatello and Blackfoot.  The winds and drifting were so bad in Poctello visibility was difficult.  By the time we hit Blackfoot we the highway was one sheet of ice.  We drove 10 MPH from Blackfoot to Shelley, Idaho,  20 miles that endured over an hour.  Grueling!!!

Thanksgiving day was marvelous!!!  Delicious turkey, ham, stuffing, candied yams, rolls the works!!!! It was a freezing cold day, but Jeff and I managed to take the kids sledding before the dinner in 5 degree weather.
We ate until we couldn't eat anymore.  We played games, rested and enjoyed each other's company. We being: Lara and Justin (the hosts), my mom, dad, Jordan, Cindy and kids, Jeff and me and our family.  

Jeff and I were awakened the next morning by a sound known all too well as a sick child.  Jeff started on clean up while I sat by the toilet with Mason offering emotional support.  We all climbed back in bed, but it was not over yet.  The upset tummy lasted all day.  Mason states he counted over 24 episodes from 7 am to 11pm that night.(He lost count a couple of times)  He was one sick, tired, dehydrated boy.  His illness changed direction after a priesthood blessing, some anti-vomiting medicine and some intense hydration therapy.   He was able to sleep the whole night and woke up able to hold down food and water.  Did I mention that Jessica started the sitting by the toilet about 11pm that night?  We quickly gave her some anti-vomiting medicine and she did okay throughout the night.  We stayed at my sisters one more night to allow Mason's tummy time to settle.  I am glad we did or it would have been a long, miserable car ride home.  An extra thank you to Lara and Justin for enduring extra night stay and our sick kids.

On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, we went to an early showing of the new movie "Tangled".  Sooo cute!!!! Everyone loved it (except Mason who was back with Grandma and Grandpa in his sick bed).
We enjoyed all the wonderful leftovers Thanksgiving dinner has to offer.  Yummmmmmmm!

Saturday we had an uneventful ride home to Salt Lake :)  We stopped in Malad to visit Jeff's grandma and had a nice time with her.

We are home cuddled as family in our own comfy home watching a movie and enjoying the rest of the weekend.  

Small accomplishments

I have had these pictures of my kids sitting framed in my craft room.  I wasn't sure how to hang them to make them look like a fabulous artistic piece on my wall. I finally succumbed to hanging them in a straight line.  I didn't pay big money for them just to sit in a stack in a cupboard.  

Jeff finally took the threat seriously and he found this metal wall decor and arranged and hung the photos. 

I love it.

He has such a better talent at decorating than I do.  (Runs in his family's blood)

 This is further back so you can see it is over the couch.  Also no flash used.

He thought the metal piece was representative of a family tree.  It looks great doesn't it?!!

Happy Birthday Jeff

Jeff celebrated his 37th birthday last week.  I think I've noticed his hair starting to thin :)
I made this cake for him with the kids help.  Jessica was incredibly excited to help. She did all the top bikini frosting.  All of the kids thought the "bikini cake" was a funny idea for Jeff for his birthday. The  boys thought of the idea of printing out my head and putting it on the cake.  I liked that added touch.
We had a fun few hours together.  Jeff flew in that day from Texas, I worked the next day and then he flew out the day after that to New Jersey.  No rest for the wicked or weary, something like that;)

Halloween 2010

               Ellie is dressed as cotton candy. Her own original costume.

Mason as Sherlock Holmes.

Jonah as Doctor Watson.

Jessica as a Lollipop. She designed this costume herself. (When she chose her design over mine she realized that she looked like a target. But she didn't care; thank goodness.)

Here is the whole gang. We had a neighbor boy come trick-or-treating with us, he is the boys age.

It was a rainy Halloween.  It gave us a glimpse of Halloween in Seattle.  Luckily Dr. Watson carried a large umbrella that we were able to use. 

Jeff dressed as a bike and I was his biker wife.  We didn't get a picture of us :(

We had a fun night of trick-or-treating with friends and stopping at neighbors for scones and funnel cakes.