Thanksgiving Weekend

11/25—Darrin took the day off to help with Thanksgiving prep.   We watched more of the demolition.  Darrin took some time lapse video that was super cool!

  

He also helped by entertaining Ella who is ever looking for someone to play with. 

I got a few things ready the night before: pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and cranberry salsa. 

11/26—Thanksgiving Day!  We started the morning by prepping the turkey.  It was definitely a team effort. 

The finished cranberry salsa.  It was actually really, really good! 

The finished turkey!  We cooked it upside down in hopes that all the juices would run to the bottom. 

Chad really wanted to us to fry the turkey, but we told him no, so he ended up doing a turkey breast himself.  Which looks better to you?!  lol.  They were both good in the end; both tasted like turkey!

Ella and Luke both made one of these in school!  Perfect for table decorations.   

Pie central. 

Sassy Ella!  Hanging out by the cool whip.  I’m pretty sure that’s what she ate the most of during dinner. 

Almost ready to eat!!  The turkey took longer to cook than anticipated, so we ate about an hour later than we planned.  Ugh.  Things never seem to go according to schedule!

The kids pigging out!

After lots of chatting and playing, it was time for PIE!

Jason and Ryan decided to have a pie eating contest and see who could finish a slice of blueberry pie the fastest.  Ryan won!

After the pie, we got the kids coloring place mats for Meals on Wheels.  Instead of exchanging gifts on the Hancock side, we are doing acts of service instead.  This was one of them. 

The finished thankful tree!

11/27—We went and saw The Good Dinosaur with our cousins.  The kids liked it; I thought it was nothing original, but that’s just me.  We got Panda Express for dinner and then played games with Chad and Julie afterwards. 

11/28—Darrin took the boys over to Mike and Tanya’s to watch the BYU game.  They gave Tanya the movies we are donating to a children’s hospital (another one of the service projects). 

Demolition, race, and birthday

11/20—I hosted breakfast club this morning.  I decided to get bagels and made this breakfast casserole.  It was a fun morning with yummy food and good friends.  It was also a great excuse to get a jump on the Thanksgiving cleaning and de-cluttering!

That night Darrin and I snuck upstairs to play old school Super Mario Brothers 3.  We made it to world 2 and then gave up.  By that time the kids had discovered us and kept begging to play too. 

11/21—The kids needed to burn some energy so I took them to pool to swim.  It was freezing outside, but we had a nice time in the heated pool. 

11/23--I really wanted to do a thankful tree this year, but had a hard time finding time to do it, so I gave the job to Josh. 

It turned out pretty well!  We added the leaves on Thanksgiving day. 

11/24—They started demolition on the old houses across the road.  Boy was it fun to watch!  I hardly got anything done I need to because it was so distracting!  It’ll be fun to watch to the progress and building of a new neighborhood. 

Darrin took me out to lunch for my birthday at Potbelly’s.  Then Ella and I hit up the mall on the way home. Ella loved Charming Charlie.  She tried on this furry scarf thing.  I guess she thought it was a belt. 

Birthday selfies!  Ella asked me all day when my party was going to be.  I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I wasn’t having a party like she imagined I should!  It was cute though!

At the last minute the kids (Josh and Luke) decided they did want to run in the city Turkey Trot.  So we headed over to the track to participate. 

The 2nd graders had to run around the track 1 1/2 times. 

Warming up with the other 2nd graders.

On your marks, get set, GO!!!!

Luke won first place for the 2nd grade.  Way to go buddy!!!  And you can see…it wasn’t really that close ;)

His 1st place ribbon!  He also won a gift card to Albertsons (to buy a turkey lol) and a pass to go ice staking. 

Josh participated in the 6th grade race.  They had to run 3 1/2 laps.  He won 2nd place!  He lost to a very tall and fast 6th grade boy.  He got a Dick’s Sports gift certificate and a free donut!

Very proud of my runners!!

We went to Outback Steakhouse for my birthday dinner.  Our kids were super well behaved and almost made it too easy to eat out.  The coloring book and the basketball game on TV entertained them while we waited for our food.  The only problem now is that it costs an arm and a leg! 

Love the chocolate bread!

We came home and ate the yummy pumpkin cake that Darrin made for me! 

What great kiddos I have. 

Silly faces!

I had a great b-day!  Thanks for all the texts, messages, cards, and gifts!  xoxoxoxoxox

Comic of the day

James’s Restaurant

by Josh Hancock

soccer parties and birthday GNO

11/1—In primary the kids had a lesson on service.  They were given 3 little squares of paper and were supposed to put a smiley face on each one, then do an act of service and leave the smiley paper behind.  I found this on my night stand the next day.  Luke knows this is my favorite candy :)

11/4—My little ballerina!

Luke had his soccer party at a local burger place.  Coach gave out trophies and bought each of the boys an ice cream!  Go team lollipops!

11/6—Josh arranged a service project for his Faith in God.  We went to the Wright’s to move some firewood.  The weather was great and the kids worked hard for the most part :)

Later that night was the ward harvest festival.  Darrin participated in the pie eating contest.  Although he didn’t win, it was fun to watch!  This is a before picture.  The crowd was too thick to get a during picture. 

11/7—Josh and Andrew had their last soccer games.  It was raining and cold.  We had a quick party after each game to hand out trophies.  Andrew’s team name was the War Heads. 

And Josh’s team was the Fire Breathing Sour Patch Kids. 

11/9—Snuggled up and watching Studio C for Family Home Evening.

11/12—The kids had parent teacher conferences.  Andrew wrote this paper, and it was on the wall next to his classroom.  One of his wishes is that his dad’s knee would get better.  I thought that was sweet.  They are all 3 blessed with great teachers this year.  I love each of them for different reasons!

Luke spent the day with Zack and Christopher on the day off from school.  They had a blast going hiking, eating at McDonald’s, and playing at Zack’s house.  This is a pic Zack’s dad sent. 

11/13—Girl’s night out to celebrate birthdays for Laurie and I.   

We had such a great night!  I love these neighbors of mine!

11/18—Ella was at dance and I skipped going to the gym early.  My punishment was to run the hills around Miss Heidi’s house.  Yeah, next time I’m going to get up early.  These were brutal!!!  Today I can barely walk. 

There you go friends!  Caught up for the moment.  It feels great!  Next week is Thanksgiving.  We are hosting here.  I went shopping today and bought Mr. Bird.  I ordered Christmas cards last night.  Now to study for my infant development midterm that is coming up.  Bleh.  I’d rather do anything else.  Those are some awfully random thoughts, but that’s what in my head! 

xoxoxoxoxo