Fun Thanksgiving Weekend Activities!

We thought we were going to have a lot of company this year, but the weather in Idaho prevented that. When we have company we always go down on the strip to show people the sights. Even though we didn't have company, we still went down on the strip to see some of our favorite places. Of course we went to the Bellagio gardens. They changed them up this year, so they were a bit different. While we were there we tried to take our Christmas card pictures, but that is another post.

Austin says that these are some mutant strawberries. I mean, how can they be so big and so perfect??

Check out this chocolate Santa.

We love to go to Ethel M Cactus Gardens during this time of year. Laugh if you want, we love it. It is so pretty, and every year it gets better and better. It is never crowded when we go and there is always a live performance going on. When you go into the garden it is always quiet and peaceful. It is so wonderful. A big plus.....you get free chocolate samples!

I don't know what is going on here!

Forget candy canes, this Santa gives out bags of M&M's. This Santa gives out great treats, but our favorite Santa we will see later!!!!

Thanksgiving Festivities!

Every Thanksgiving we start the day by running "Catch the Gobbler". Let me tell you, it was freezing this Thanksgiving. Now I know you are all thinking, "Yeah right! How cold was it?" It was in the low 30's and windy. We were numb! Poor Aubrey, this was the year she decided to run her first 5K. Great year to try and run your first race.

She made a cute shirt!
Don't we look nice and warm!
The boys love this race because all of their friends come out to do it. It is fun to see some of the old members of the cross country team come out to run!

It was neat to see these guys together again.

Aubrey did really good. She ran the whole time and never stopped the whole race. I made sure I stayed with her. When people saw her shirt, they were so supportive. Now, I don't know if she will ever run again, but I am very proud of her.

Zach was very proud of his results.

Austin has this new thing where he is trying to run barefoot. Ok, don't ask why? I mean really, do you have to? It's Austin, what can I say! He has been researching it and training with no shoes. It's crazy! Here he is at the finish line swiping his timing chip. When you run with no shoes, what are you suppose to do with the timing chip? The funny thing is, other runners were coming up to him and saying how awesome he is!

After the race, the guys went to play flag football with our ward (church). Notice Austin's feet!


Then we ate dinner. Don loves carving that turkey!

We had a ton of company coming down from Idaho, but they all got snowed in. So, just the six of us sat down for dinner. This will be the last time I will have all of my children home for Thanksgiving for two years. My boys would kill me for saying that, but it's true. So this year, I am very thankful to have all of my family together. They loved dinner. Everything came out perfect.

Then we went and saw Harry Potter. They did not like taking this picture! I don't care.

Then we went home and ate some pie! It was a perfect day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is here!!! The other day I was talking to my sister-in-law about traditions and how important they are. After that conversation Austin told me, "I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. We run a race in the morning, eat great food, watch a movie, and then come home and eat more! It's perfect!" See, traditions! That is what is important during the holidays! Austin's comment just confirmed everything my sister-in-law spoke about! Kids love traditions. Like the Thankful Tree! Yep, it is still up and going for another year. All of Austin's leaves are yellow and in Spanish! It is great to see what the kids are thankful for. Yes, even when we get to see that the kids are grateful for Ninjas. On this holiday I reflect on all the things that have happened during this year. I am thankful for my wonderful blessings! I am truly blessed! Last night as I snuggled up with my family to watch a movie, I felt blessed. So blessed to be with all of them this Thanksgiving! I like where I am at this time in my life! It is a good place to be!

Here are some talks that I think are wonderful to read during Thanksgiving!

Because of Your Faith

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-2,00.html

The Divine Gift of Gratitude

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-27,00.html

This Is Neat!

The Opera Company of Philadelphia was instrumental in bringing it together to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "1000 Random Acts of Culture" which they'll be doing over the next three years across the country. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the singers burst into song at exactly noon

I love seeing the faces of all the people. Say what you want about us as a country and a people.......We still love the Hallelujah Chorus!

Princess Lilly Elizabeth Brasier II

Me holding my baby.

This is sooooo funny!!!!! I HAD to take a picture of it. Yes, Princess Lilly Elizabeth Brasier the first died. R.I.P for Lilly the first. It is very sad, on Saturday she died but on Monday I got a new hamster. My parents were like why don't you change the name but in royalty names pass down from generation to generation. She's a Russian Hamster. Yes, you can hold her. She's more calm and the cutest. On Tuesday she growled at me but she hasn't done that since. Which means she's gotten more comfortable around mommy. I was about to get one almost like her except lighter fur but the lady showed me that one had RED EYES!!!!! Yes red eyes, I don't want no devil Lilly. It's just wrong so I got a special normal-eyed hamster. I LOVE her. Now,again, I need to teach her to obey mommy's commands, fetch, and knock down cups I put up. She is sooooo nice and is defiantly my baby and princess.

I Love Fall Colors!

Yesterday I got these beautiful flowers sent to me! Yes, my mom sent me some flowers. I just love getting flowers. I feel like my mom sent me a little piece of home! The fall colors are so pretty. The flowers smell good too. There are even cinnamon sticks in the arrangement! Thanks mom, I love them.

Airshow 2010

On Saturday, Nov. 13th, I made my annual pilgrimage to Nellis Air Force Base with my airshow buddy, Ian. We had a great time together and enjoyed seeing all kinds of airplanes flying or sitting on the ground (static displays). Ian wanted to make the day perfect, so he wore his Thunderbird hat and put on his Alabama Crimson Tide shirt. Our favorite part of the airshow was the roar of the jet engines when the jets turned on their afterburner or flew really fast over the top of the crowd. Ian loved seeing all of the static display aircraft with bombs hanging off of them. Ian had me take a number of pictures of him posing next to these aircraft..... I have included a small sampling below:

One of Ian's favorite airplanes: A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog)

Below are some photos of aircraft at the airshow

Ian was so excited to see this plane fly: F-4 Phantom from the Vietnam War

Ian had me take this picture because he knew that his brother Zachery liked this airplane.....isn't that very thoughtful !!!!!

This was one of my personal favorite aircraft: P-40 War Hawk (Flying Tiger) from World War II

The best fighter in the world: F-22 Raptor

This is a very rare formation of airplanes from World War II, the Korean War, The Vietnam War, and present day.

The day ended with Ian walking through this airplane: C-5 Galaxy.

Thanks for a great day, Ian !!!! I loved spending time with you doing something that I truly love....going to airshows.