Thanksgiving 2023

Thursday was our Thanksgiving dinner.  We had taken the whole afternoon prior to prepare the pies and a few dishes but we also had a full morning the day of to prepare the turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, pomegranate salad, and the relish tray.  Sarah brought the yams and rolls and Kendra brought the green bean salad, and stuffed mushrooms.  There was tons of food and we enjoyed everyone's company.

The kids sat at the kitchen table while the adults ate in the dining room.   I had some fun Thanksgiving worksheets for the kids as well as the annual turkey hunt.  Toward the end of the night we played a game of pictionary that all of the kids participated in...even Eric:)

After that we played the The Name Game.  The kids had a hoot playing and wanted to play it two more times.  It is fun having the kids be getting old enough to play some of the traditional games!

It was a great Thanksgiving celebration!  I loved the family time and having everyone together.

The kids being silly

Brach, Rafe, Rafe, Scout, Brady, and Chloe

                                                         Kaitlyn, Casey, Haivyn and Merik

Me, Gary and Rick

Skylar, Sarah, Henry, Charles, Daisy, and Eric

 

Thanksgiving Prep

Last Wednesday Kendra and Sarah came over for a day of Thanksgiving preparation.  All of the kids were here at the house just enjoying cousin time while we spent the afternoon pie making.

We made a total of ten pies with a eleventh crust prepared for the banana cream.

We made three pumpkin, one cream cheese, one lemon sour cream, one chocolate, one buttermilk, one german chocolate, one blueberry sour cream and one peanut butter.  Kendra put the banana cream together the next morning.  Sarah also prepared the yams while I put together the raspberry jello.

It was a long afternoon on our feet but was so fun having all of those pies to show for it!

 

St. George

In the middle of November Rick and I took a quick trip down to St. George for a baseball tournament that Rafe was in.  It was so fun!  I love watching baseball and cheering him on!

We got up early Friday morning the 10th and drove to Santa Clara where his first game took place.  It was a close one but they came out on top!  The next game was also won but by a lot larger margin.

After the game we tried out a new restaurant on Bluff Street called Los Tapatios.  We were all super hungry and had our fill! Poor Rafe was having troubles swallowing and could not eat much.  I felt so bad for him because he was hungry and was crying.  Later that evening in our room at La Quinta, Brach and Rick were able to give him a blessing.  He did a little better the next day.

Early Saturday morning Rick and I drove over to the temple for the LAST DAY of the temple open house.  What a treat it was for us to walk through OUR temple.  We were both filled with emotion as we walked through all of the beautiful rooms.  So much has happened inner lives since our wedding day almost THIRTY FIVE YEARS ago.  What a beautiful life and family we have been blessed with.

We are so grateful!

 After the Open House we had breakfast at Denny's and then took a drive up to Santa Clara to Frei's Market.  We found some casaba melons and bought four!  I hadn't seen any all summer so that was a nice treat!

Next we drove over to Ivins to look at some roads for the city.  Since we were there we drove to the Tuahcan Theatre for the Saturday's market.  We didn't buy anything but had a fun time looking at all of the handmade stuff!  Next we drove to Mesquite where Rafe's games were for the day.  The weather was perfect and so fun to be there.  It was an exciting game but because of one bad inning they lost the game.  With still one more game to go we hated to leave but it was already 5:30 Nevada time and we needed to drive all the way back home.  They ended up winning the second game! YAY!

It was a quick trip and we got home really late but we were so happy to get to this tournament and to support our Rafie!  Go Cowboys!

HALLOWEEN

 Halloween was a great day.  Rick and I woke up about the same time (around 7:00) and just layed together talking.  I had just come home the night before after being away in Vegas for a couple of nights.

We were just enjoying some pillow talk when Rick got an alarmed look on his face and said, "Oh No!"

I asked what was wrong and he said, "The temple!  I am supposed to be at the temple this morning!"

I think with me getting in late and the thought of just hanging around for the day with me go the best of him.  He quickly hurried into the shower and got dressed and took off.  He was able to make it to the temple by 9AM.  Just three hours late!

Chloe had her preschool parade at 12:30 so I went to that.  The preschoolers are always so adorable.

Especially our little Coco girl!

Kendra was helping in Rafe's class for their Halloween party so I picked up Chloe and waited for her to come back with all of the kids.  She hung around until about 5:00 and then said, "Well, I better get going home to get the kids ready for trick or treating.  

After she left we drove to Tooele to Cold Stone/Rocky Mountain Chocolate to get a caramel apple.  

That sounded like a fun treat for Halloween.

Unfortunately, they were completely sold outs we settled for an ice cream.  

We came home and had our chili dinner and then sat and played games at the dining room table while all of the trick or treaters came by.

Here are our little cuties!

Haivyn was a cat.  Kaitlyn was the Dia de los Muetros.  Merik was Jack Skelington.

Fun costumes!

Next the Phelps' came to visit.

Daisy was Tinkerbell, Charles was Rocket (raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy) Henry was Voldemort and Eric was Superman.  Cutie Pies!

Lastly, Kendra dropped by with her kiddos and they all looked so cute.

Chloe was a witch, Brady was a Ninja turtle, Scout was Squints, and Rafe was a cowboy.

   About 8:30 we headed downstairs to watch a fun show.  We watched To Kill a Mockingbird.  What a great show.  It's a classic and was a good pick.  We enjoyed our ice cream and the show:)

We stayed up late and just had a fun evening.

Until next year......Happy Halloween!