Happy Birthday Ashton!

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Thanksgiving

Our original Thanksgiving plans were to drive up to Rexburg for the day, because had to work Wednesday and Friday. But one of the good things about Allen losing his job, was that we were able to leave for our Thanksgiving vacation sooner. We spent Thanksgiving with his family this year and we stayed and Kelly's house. The kids had school Monday and Tuesday, so we left really early Wednesday morning. We wanted to do a session at the Rexburg Temple and they closed early for the holiday. Surprisingly we left just 30 minutes later than planned and made it to Rexburg with plenty of time. Glenna and Holly watched our kids for us, while Allen and I went to the temple. It was wonderful - thanks Glenna and Holly. Kelly, Holden and Katelyn came over to Holly's for lunch that afternoon and we all just sat around and visited. The boys all played the many video games available at the Powell's residence and Sammi, Katelyn and AJ all played in the snow.

That evening we drove over to Kelly's and had pizza for dinner. Kelly treated us girls to a "spa party" with her Mary Kay inventory. Danni wasn't feeling super well and had fallen asleep, so Katelyn, Sam, Kelly and I got to do a lip mask and foot soak. Rock wanted in on it too, and ended up stripping off all his clothes and climbing into everyone's foot tubs. It was hilarious!! Shane's brother, Lance, and his wife, Gina, also were visiting from Lehi for Thanksgiving, and my kids fell in love with them. Rock took a special liking to Gina and would not let her out of his sight. This visit was the first time he met them and from the moment she walked in the door he went right to her. Which was unusual because he is usually so shy. I'm pretty sure she loved it to, because she let him get away with anything. Lance got a little jealous.

Thursday we woke up and got everything ready for lunch. We deep fried two turkeys and had all the trimmings. Dinner was wonderful!! Thanks for cooking, Kelly. Then we went up to the rec center Kelly and Shane have a membership to where Kelly had rented the big hall. We had a bounce house, ping pong table, foos ball and a little kitchen. Holly and her kids came over and we all had pie while the kids just played and played. Afterwards, we headed back to Kelly's and played board games and cards and ate and ate and ate leftovers and pie. I finally found someone that liked to play games as much as me - thanks Gina, it was tons of fun!!! And of course, we made others play with us.

On Friday morning, Kelly watched our kids and Allen and I went to the Idaho Falls Temple with Holly and Rick-another wonderful experience. After the session we ate lunch in the cafateria and was able to ask lots and lots of questions, thanks guys. Unfortunately, that afternoon we had to leave because I had to work at the hospital that night. The kids ended up staying to play and visit with the cousins and we planned on meeting in Pocatello on Sunday. But, on Saturday, Glenna ended up bringing the kids home because Rock and Danni both were homesick. It was a great Thanksgiving!!

New Moon

After many months of planning (since we saw Twilight in the theater) my friends and I saw New Moon. We had a get together beforehand and watched Twilight and ate goodies at Nichole's house. She did a great job decorating and setting the mood. She also had games and prizes, it was lots of fun. Then we went to theater to see the long-awaited film. Thanks for the fun times, girls!!

Happy Thanksgiving

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Rexburg Trip

As a last minute decision, Allen decided to visit his sisters and mom this past weekend. So Saturday morning we left for Rexburg. We tried to get there early enough to do a temple session, but we got away from our house too late. We stayed with Kelly and Glenna came over to see us. Holly had sick kids so didn't make it over. But we had a really good visit. One of Kelly's cats just had kittens and the kids loved on them. Rock had a blast with those little, itty, bitty things. He would not let them be for a minute. There were times when he caught him carrying the kittens upside down, other times when he was carrying them around but the neck. It was surprising that they got away alive. If he accidentally let one go, they ran and hid under the furniture and Rock would just scream and try to get them out. He had all the kids scrambling to help out, too. For some reason, he has practically everyone wrapped around his finger and he knows it.

As we were leaving town Sunday night, we stopped and Holly and Rick's to say hi. Rock had just barely fallen asleep in the van and slept through our whole visit. AJ and Sadie wanted him to wake up so badly so they could play, but he just would not, until right before we left. We stayed for a couple of hours and had a really good visit. Luckily, the weather was good for us and we had a good drive home. The weekend was a success!

BINX

Becky and Randy and family went to California for vacation this week so we were able to dogsit Binx. The kids are loving it, especially Rock. Binx is a great dog. He loves to be played with and just lays there so Rock can cuddle and hug on him. Unlike our dog, Max. Max just runs and hides. So, needless to say, Rock is absolutely eating it up. The girls keep telling us that we can't give Binx back. So as we talk to Becky or Randy we keep telling them that they may not get their dog back. The girls actually came up with a plan to put Max in Binx's kennel and just drop off the kennell without saying anything. That way we get to keep Binx and by the time they find out Max is in the kennel, we are long gone!!

Happy Birthday Zach

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Saturday

On Saturday we went down to visit my sister and her family. Allen has been wanting to help Randy finish up some projects that were started, and Saturday they worked on the front yard again. I worked Friday night, so I slept for a few hours before we left. We headed down about 1pm. The kids were able to play and were so happy to see each other. Friday was Audrey's birthday and the weekend before was Becky's, so we took down their gifts. Becky made us dinner and then the kids watched Aliens in the Attic before we headed home that night. I don't think the guys got as much done as they had hoped, but the front yard is looking really good!!

A Forever Family

Happy Birthday Audrey

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Happy Halloween

After our big day at the temple we were finally able to focus on Halloween. Sam decided she wanted to be a nurse this year, Danni wanted to be a chearleader and I found the cutest pattern for a pirate for Rock. I had to rush in order to get all the costumes done in time, I was still working on them Halloween morning. Sam isn't a huge fan of Halloween, all the masks and scary costumes scare her, no matter what we say. Our usual routine is a small area of trick or treating while it is still very bright out, then as a family we go to dinner and a movie. It is a small compromise to make all the kids happy. This year with Bubba not feeling well, we got take out from Costa Vida and rented movies. Sam and Rock went to about 6 houses when Sam declared she was done. So we came home and had family time. Bubba was pretty upset that she didn't get to dress up and go out, but she still got PLENTY of candy from us. Rock was none too happy with us when we made him put his costume on, he hated the hat and the patch, but he was so darn cute that I just had to get pictures!

Postpone the Baptism

So a week and half ago, Danni started getting sick. She started out with just a sore throat and then started fevering. Last Tuesday morning she woke up complaining of having a hard time breathing. In the mean time, Rock started fevering and coughing and then Allen did as well. I was trying to keep them all at home and just wait out the virus, but when Danni complained of having difficulty breathing, I decided we should go to Instacare. It ended up that the three of them had H1N1 virus. And because the antiviral medication is in short supply this flu season, they wouldn't prescribe it for them. We came home with cough medication and instructions to treat the fevers and body aches with motrin and tylenol. Needless to say, we had to cancel Bubba's baptism. She was devastated, which made Allen and I feel terrible. We will reschedule her baptism for the next Stake Baptism Day, but to Danni it seems like forever away. Allen and Rock are getting better, their cough is still lingering, but doesn't sound as bad as it was. Bubba's last temperature was on Sunday, but her cough still sounds horible so she hasn't gone back to school just yet. And Sam and I are doing great, just trying to put up with ornery, sick folk. Hopefully, we stay well this flu season.