Sweetie is 9 months

ZOO with 7 kids, 4 babies, and 6 adults

We have all the kids here from Tuesday's playgroup plus a few extras. Very fun time and beautiful weather.

If you happen to be counting children the "7th" child is showing her green sleeve on the right.

You would think 4 strollers made it easy to spot us coming, but actually at the zoo we just blended in with the crowd of strollers.

Cutie Pie!
Look Mom! My first orangutan.
Time to go in the monkey cage. Squirrel monkeys that is. The nice zoo volunteer wanted us to know that the monkeys pee on everything, including that chain the kids are touching.

GROSS!
Cute monkeys, though.

Sweetie liked her first monkey experience, I think... actually, she is focused on teething.

She is not easily impressed. Can you tell?

Remember those chains...now it is time to wash up!

On to the next exhibit. Thank you for opening the door.

Remember the strollers. Very thoughtful.

Helper Junior. Takes after his mom.

My monkey.

All in all, a great day with a bunch of kids. I had dreams about it going really bad with that many, but I was pleasantly surprised.

After Church...

When we get home from church, we always ask the kids, "What did you learn today?" Well, Travis was joking around and was talking for the baby about what she learned today.

Travis said in his cutest baby imitating voice, "Daddy, I learned all about sleep at church today. I also learn how to play with CJ." Remember, he is pretending to talk for the baby. Travis didn't sleep at church, the baby did.

Princess (age 8) chimes in, "I didn't know you could learn about sleep and playing with CJ in Young Mens!"

Travis, "I am not in Young Mens anymore. Remember?"

Princess, "Well, what are you in? Old Mens?"

TOO FUNNY! Travis actually goes to Elders Quorum, for all of my non-LDS blog readers out there. Travis worked with the youth in our church for several years until about 10 months ago. Now he helps the Bishop schedule appointments as the Executive Secretary. It still is funny.

The one handed blue bandit (with his cast) did have Makenna today, while I taught Relief Society (our women's organization in the church). The lesson was on an article from the Priesthood Session of October 2007 General Conference called "Slow to Anger". Check it out!

Turkey Day 2007

We have had Turkey Trot (kids racing at school), the Turkey Butcher (that seems self explanatory), and finally we have reached Turkey Day!
Yippee!

Today we did the usual...

played football with the ward (notice the blue cast on Travis' hand) JT joined in the fun, too.

We were invited to a friend's house for dinner. I still made turkey dinner, but it is always more fun to eat with people who seems like family.

We definitely missed being with family.

Holidays are just better with those you love. THANK - YOU Sipe family for inviting us over.

The kids had a great time, too.

Travis got to play football in the morning, take a nap and watch football in the afternoon, then eat dinner with friends. He had a great day!

It is now the end of the day. Seth took this picture of me blogging. Yep, that is a messy desk. If you ever come to my house and the desk is clean you know that you are a guest. If you come over and my desk looks like this - you are like family!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We did. We missed our family, but feel blessed to be together and have a steady job in Phoenix. We really are grateful for a roof over our heads. I hope you have had a memorable and loving day!

Happy Thanksgiving

What makes turkey dinner feel like Thanksgiving to you?

My blogging friend Trevlyn needs only stuffing and pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes with gravy (right?). My friend, Amy, needs cranberry sauce and a good sweet potato casserole.

I need quite a few things:


Turkey,



mashed potatoes,



gravy,
stuffing,


green bean casserole,


and homemade rolls. I also need


apple and


pumpkin pie. Are you hungry yet? I am. I can't wait for leftovers. YUMMY!

I am so thankful for food. I am thankful for family. I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for lessons learned. I am thankful for more lessons to learn. I am mostly right now thankful for...

running water and the ability to take a shower after the turkey butcher.

What are you thankful for?

The day before Turkey Day

BUSY DAY, but what day isn't busy. I had 3 major events happen today.

1) made rolls 6am - 11am

2) preschool feast 11am - noon

3) turkey butcher 4pm - 8pm

Read on to hear about my Wednesday.

Princess and I made rolls all morning. Very fun and she actually did a lot of the work. YOU GO GIRL! No pictures of the event, but here are our results:
Dirty dishes

and bags full of rolls!

I tried a new roll recipe that I really liked! Here ya go!

The Spicery's Rolls - a restaurant in downtown Glendale

1-1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup margarine

1-1/2 tea salt

1 cup sugar

1-1/2 cup additional water (not boiling)

6 ounces evaporated milk (small can)

1/4 cup yeast (that is correct)

9-1/8 cups flour

In a large bowl, pour boiling water over margarine. Add salt and sugar and stir well. When margarine is melted, mix in additional water. Stir in evaporated milk and yeast. Let bubble. Slowly add flour. Turn out on a floured board and knead about 10 minutes. Next, grease a large bowl thoroughly, put the dough in it and turn it over so the surface will be greased. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, punching down twice, about 1 hour. Form into dinner rolls, let rise until doubled. Preheat oven to 375* 20 minutes before baking. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 36 rolls. (These rolls are HUGE! I made these for preschool, but didn't have time for them to "double in size". They were still good. Very sweet compared to my dinner rolls.)

Preschool lunch

Red Headed Monster had a Thanksgiving feast today. TOO CUTE! We provided the rolls. Lunch was rotisserie chickens, corn on the cob, apple sauce, and pumpkin pie. YUM!This craft was a potato cut in half with feathers of things they were thankful for. ADORABLE!

Hiding from the group picture.

Getting ready to jump off the top - no, seriously.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving.

Turkey Butcher 2007

Remember the turkey lady (from the Turkey Trot), well...we went to her house and killed our very own turkey tonight. If you have a weak stomach don't "look" on. I tried to warn you.

It all starts with picking out the right turkey. 29 turkeys lost their lives tonight for the sake of Thanksgiving (a moment of silence, please). We give thanks. Now, back to the how to get a real turkey dinner.

Then...the chopping block (the boys loved this part)

Yes! That is what you think it is.


These are some facial reactions to the beheading. Shocking! The sound of the turkeys flapping under the wheel barrel is haunting.


Next comes the hot water and feather removal. Now the gross part - cleaning the turkeys out at the tables.

All wrapped up and done! Good job Travis!


The kids had a GREAT time.
Friends having fun and catching up at the party!

We had a great time and can't wait to get our turkey the old fashion way next year!