Thanksgiving Dinner!

After the race and football we went home to cook dinner.  Don always is helpful!

The kids needed a snack, so they made some crab dip and ate it in seconds.  They also sipped hot apple cider.  Austin loves hot cider.

Dinner tasted perfect.  Poor Ian, he ate too much!

Here we all are!!!!

We invited the missionaries over for Thanksgiving dinner.  We feel that since someone is feeding our son Thanksgiving dinner in Russia, we should feed the missionaries too.  These boys are great guys!  We have really enjoyed them being in our ward.  At the end of dinner we found out that one of them is being transferred to another area (one on the right).  He has been on his mission for six months.  That is the same time as Zach has been on his mission (sigh). 

Then we went and saw Author Christmas in 3-D.  It was cute.  Yeah, cute.

The funny thing is that they gave Ian small children's glasses.  They didn't fit Ian's head with his regular glasses, so Austin wore them.  He didn't care.

After the movie, the missionaries came back over and we had pie.  We ended the night with Don playing is accordion for us.  The missionary who is being transferred wanted to hear Don play.  Don couldn't say no.

It was a great night.  We had fun.  Oh, our bodies are rebelling tonight.  Too much food.

How Do We Start Our Thanksgiving????

We always love to start Thanksgiving with running Catch The Gobbler!!!  It is a great 5K.  It is so fun to see the kids from cross country and old friends.  I love this tradition.  When I asked the kids about this race this year, I was surprised how excited they were for it.  They really enjoy running it!

Of course our wonderful friends, the Abrights were there! 

Not a flattering picture of us.  Oh well.

I think Dallin and Austin were just enjoying this race.  I don't think they were worried about time or anything.

Here I am huffing and puffing.  It hasn't been a good racing year for me.

Austin finishing.

Here I am finishing.

Here is Aubrey finishing.  She kind of gave us a scare.  She was very pale and weak after the race.  We got her some food and she perked up. 

It was a fun race.  Austin got a 24:12.  Like I said, I think he was just enjoying the race.  Aubrey got a 31:47.  Not bad for my little dancer.  I got a 25:22 and 4th place in my age division.  Like I said, it hasn't been a good racing year.  I have some work to do.  After the race, the boys headed over to the ward (church) flag football game.  The boys loved that.

After racing and playing football, they were ready for food!!!!

I Don't Know What To Think Of This.........

Should I be concerned that every time my kids see these commercials they laugh hysterically and say, "Mom, this reminds me of you!!"??  Yes, I am a Black Friday shopper.  Yes, I do pour over my shopping  ads and plan my attack.  I hate to admit it, but even if my Christmas shopping is done I still go out on Black Friday.   But come on, I'm not that crazy!!!!  Uh......at least I don't think I am!

Pretty Leaves?

During this time of year I get so homesick for Connecticut.  I miss the cool air, the smells, and the pretty leaves.  (O.k., I am so glad I missed their big snow storm in October!  There are some things I don't miss!)  Anyway, this week as I drove around Vegas I started to notice how pretty the trees are.  We don't have a lot of trees, but some of the trees we do have were changing color.  Sure, these trees changing color in Vegas are not as dramatic as seeing a whole forest in Connecticut change colors, but they are pretty just the same.  I noticed these trees as I was picking up Austin from high school.  I said to Austin, "Wow, I never noticed those trees before!"  He proceeded to tell me that those trees are all in the quad and the leaves are all turning color.  Austin went on to tell me that when he is in the quad looking at the trees he thinks of me.  He says he imagines this is what it is like back east.  Dang, that kid always knows what to say!  He should of took the opportunity to hit me up for some big purchases!  I might of caved!  I  took these pictures on Friday. It's a good thing I did, because the wind had started to blow and I am sure those leaves are gone now.

Then I noticed my backyard.  My trees were turning colors too.  They were so pretty!  I am glad I got a few pictures of them.

So see, we do get a little color from our leaves in the fall!!!  I am a little frustrated with myself for finally noticing!  Maybe I need to stop, relax, and take a look around more often!

The Annual Pilgramage

Every year I look forward to Veteran's Day weekend to honor our nation's veterans and to make the annual trek to Nellis Air Force base. This year  I made the trek with my little airshow buddy, Ian. I am so glad that he enjoys going with me because I doubt that I would go by myself. This year, I wanted to be one of the first people on the base so that Ian and I could go inside all of the planes and not have people everywhere. Well, my goal was achieved!!! We ran into a group of people who had traveled all the way from Canada to see the airshow....they were so jealous that Ian and I were from Las Vegas and could see the airshow anytime we wanted. I do feel very fortunate that we can enjoy "cool stuff" like this airshow every year. Below are some of my favorite pictures from the airshow.

Largest cargo plane in the Air Force C-5 Galaxy

Cargo area of a massive C-17 Globemaster

                                                                                   

                                                                                 Pilot Ian

Cold War Russian Helicopter - Ian took this picture for his brother Zachery

F-16 Fighting Falcon

The most advance fighter in the world F-22 Raptor

Ian's favorite modern day jet A-10 Thunderbolt

F-15 Strike Eagle

No good putting something like this in the hands of a little boy

Attack helicopter pilot Ian

The famous B-2 Stealth Bomber

Famous P-51 Mustang from the only Black Squadron of pilots during World War II - Tuskegee Airmen

One of my favorite airplanes from World War II  - P51 Mustang

Under the fuel tank of a B-52 Bomber

B-1B Bomber

F-18 Hornet

F-18 Hornet - You do not want to be here when the engines are going

F-86 Sabre from the Korean War

Below are some of my favorite camera shots from the airshow. If you love aircraft, I hope you enjoy these pictures.

Rare B-1B Bomber taking off

Are you kidding? A Japanese Zero fighter from World War II

C-17 takes off...look at the size!!!!

F-15 eagle on full afterburner

F-4 Phantom from the Vietnam war

A-10 simulates a bomb dropping

The awesome Thunderbirds

I have been trying to get this photo for years!!!