Happy Day!

Our laptop has been out of commission for about 3 months. Blogging is not much fun sitting on a hard chair at the main computer. It is much more fun in my comfy red lazy boy in my bedroom.

Abe brought me home an early Christmas present: A repaired laptop computer!!!!! Oh, happy day! Even though it is late, I had to share this piece of good news. I am in my lazy boy even as I write. All is right with the world.

Sunday

My girls woke up sick this morning. Faith, at least, was legitimate. She had an evident upset tummy (no more details are necessary). Bethany and Elinor immediately claimed sore throats, and who am I to argue -- I'm only their mother. Since Abe or I was definitely staying home with at least Faith, we gave the other girls the benefit of the doubt and they stayed home too. Cannon stayed home because we are afraid of him at church and it was nap-time anyway. So Abe stayed home because I was doing Sharing Time.

Clark and I went to church alone. We sat on a small bench. It was marvelous. Testimony meeting was beautiful. Is it always that good and I'm just too distracted to notice? I was uplifted. I'm ready for another week.

I did not like Sunday when I was a child. It was so boring. We couldn't do anything. It was always sunny on Sunday, but we could never go out and play. This is all from my young perspective, of course. Oh, how I LOVE Sundays now. They are by far my favorite day of the week. Yes, church can be challenging with Cannon, and their are responsibilities at church to take care of, but those few hours at home in the evening with all my people around are THE BEST. Time to prepare yummy food, sharing an evening with good friends or family, reading together, talking, games. There is no pressure to go out and do anything. No need to spend money on Sunday.

Sunday is the day I do not worry about the stresses of life and have a day of peace. Tonight I feel grateful for the Sabbath Day.

Must Share

WARNING: The following images are disturbing and should not be viewed by young children.




























Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!
Here's my dad at Halloween!

This is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Here's more.


















Many of you don't know my dad, in which case, these pictures are still hilarious.

But if you do know him, this is hysterical! This man is UBER conservative.

Have I Fallen So Far?

I have a matter I need to discuss.

Yesterday I took Bethany to the Festival of Trees for a dance performance. She was great and I loved watching her. But I want to know why EVERY woman I saw there was dressed to the nines, had the most stylish handbags, had no hair out of place, and had faultless make-up---- including the ones with perfectly stylish babies and strollers.

I'm aware that I fell off the fashion train some time ago, but SHEESH! Where are these women coming from? What do they do all day? Does it come naturally to them? Do they do anything besides worry about what they're wearing and how they look?

Listen to me. I sound horrible, but I'm truly flabbergasted.

Honestly, I try to make myself lovely. I put on makeup everyday. I do my hair almost every day. I don't wear t-shirts and jeans with holes in them. I suppose I do wear my tennis shoes too often, but they are really comfy and I'm a busy woman. I exercise regularly.

So my question is-- Have I fallen so far off the fashion train that I cannot even sort of relate to these very "done up" women?

I take the time I need to get ready in the morning, but then that's it-- I'm done thinking about my clothes and hair. I've got my people to take care of; we've got school work to do, books to read, music to practice, scriptures to read, meals to make, jobs to do, friends to call, cardboard spaceships to build, hugs to give, ouchies to make better, a toddler to keep off the table, piano lessons to teach, callings to fulfill.

Years ago a friends told me what she told her daughter: "Pretty is as pretty does".

I don't think I'll be able to catch the "fashion train" again, but hopeful I can catch the "pretty train" by doing pretty things.

Faith Gets a Phone Call

Faith got her first phone call from her cousin, Eliza. Eliza is Baden and Mary's oldest child and they live in Spokane. Eliza and Faith have always had a special friendship. They are very attached whenever we get together. Eliza is a very articulate, talkative, and spirited. Faith is not so articulate, not usually very talkative and perhaps the sweetest little spirit ever born. They LOVE each other.

Abe snapped these pictures of Faith during her first phone call.


"Eliza? Is that really you? I can't believe it!"















"Okay, serious question. What are asking Santa for Christmas?"















"You don't say!"


















"Please, Dad, this is a private conversation."
















"You can't be serious!"















"Does your mother do that too? Mothers can be so exasperating!"















"I guess it is time for bed."

















"I'm so happy you're my cousin!"

The actual phone call lasted much longer. I think they would have kept on talking indefinitely, except that a much needed potty break on Faith's side ended the call.

Thanksgiving

Three bedrooms, one living room, and one family room.

Four adults, and 10 children- ten and under.

2 days and 2 nights.

A lot of food and one VERY DELICOUS turkey.

Not much peace and quiet, but a lot of good times and good memories.

Please forgive this horrible, beyond horrible picture of me. We can't all be beauty queens at every moment!

But I had to put this picture up to show you the secret way Emily taught me to cook a turkey. In an oiled paper bag.
No, it doesn't catch fire. We didn't do anything else to the turkey (except wash it). We put it in an oiled (with vegetable oil) paper bag and several hours later----WALAH!!! The moisted, most delicious turkey I've ever eaten.


Emily is one of those people who just knows how to do everything. She whips up perfect pies, she does construction and home improvement projects on her house. I get tons of homeschooling/mothering ideas from her. She is a good person to know!

Here was our masterpiece as we unwrapped it. Glorious!








Abe and Justin were childhood friends. Abe has a remarkable memory about his childhood, but Justin's memory put's Abe's to shame. This man remembers EVERYTHING; every detail about not only his own life, but everyone elses.
They love to tell stories about the past.
I'm kind of glad I didn't know Justin in my youth. I don't think I'd want to remember every detail about my past that he would remind me of.




Clark and Issac. The computer was generally a peaceful place for these two strong personalities.
Here you have two oldest children who each have masses of younger sisters.











They had a good time playing some Turkey Day football at the park.















And then there were girls. Lots and lots of little girls. In this picture they are helping clean the kitchen floor, "Pippi style", with baby wipes on their feet.
This is Abe's idea.












Little girls, little girls, everywhere I look I can see them.















The feast.
















The kiddos.
















Grandma and Grandpa Cannon to join us for the festivities. Grandpa showed those young boys and dads that he can still play football.













Oh, happy day! The pies.

It was a wonderful day.

"I'm Dreaming of a Golden Turkey"

That title is the precursor to "White Christmas".

I am about to attempt my first big turkey. I've done a turkey breast in the crockpot before, which I quite like and was tempted to do this year. But Abe encouraged me to try a big bird. It is defrosting in my fridge right now and I actually dreamt about my bird last night. I had to get out my roasting pan this morning to make sure it would fit. It does. Barely.

We are anxious for our good friends from Pocatello to join us for Thanksgiving. They have five little people. They homeschool. The dad is working his way through school. They are not rolling in the dough.

As you can see we have A LOT in common and we look forward to great conversation and lots of knowing laughs. But before that can happen, my little people and I must get this house in shape. I think we're calling off school for the whole week. I just decided that right now. Yep, stick a fork in me-- I'm done.

Random note: My high school history and government teacher had two sayings that I try to use whenever I get a chance. They just make me smile. As a Thanksgiving gift I will share them with you. Feel free to use them whenever you get a chance.

1. Stick a fork in him. He's done.

2. The chances are Slim to none, and Slim's out to lunch.

That's the great thing about a blog. It's yours and you can write anything you want. Even if it is completely ridiculous and you're in one of those moods. My apologies. I've got turkey on the brain.