What I have to be grateful for

As it is Thanksgiving I have looked to the past year. We have had trials and they were hard to get through, but we survive and hopefully learn the lessons necessary to progress. And we do get blessings. That is the best part. And we have been well blessed. So I would do well to count my blessings. And I will share my blessings with you. !st and foremost I am blessed with an awesome eternal companion. He is here for me through it all and I love him very much. Without him , us there would be none of our many blessings. So now here goes our blessings ... Our four truly wonderful children, and the joy and wonder they have brought to our lives. And the family they have added to our lives. The friends, and wonder of the adventure added by all the people in our lives...

Nicole the oldest daughter is a planner and is organized, Chris her husband is a Salt Lake city cop and they a bring us much joy. The fact that they are only 4 hours away makes it easier to go visit for the weekend . Jennifer our second child is very busy girl but keeps it together by taking time to run, will be doing a 5k thanksgiving morning. Her husband Dallas works in theReno R.C. Willey store. He is a hard worker. They live 8 hours away so our trips their are not as often. but we do get there a couple times a year. And when we do we have a wonderful time.

Crystal our third child is the peacemaker of the family and has never liked conflict, Her husband Tom is in the air force so they move a bit and are farther away. He is a neat guy and we truly enjoyed their visit. They live 19 hours away in Texas so we don't get to visit them very often. We miss them and so were truly blessed that they were here about 8 days.

Patrick, our son, the youngest of our children. He lives in cedar so is close by and we get to see him about once a week which is nice. He is our hard thinking child always looks at every thing from every angle. His girlfriend Shelly is a fun girl and very hard working. She seems to fit right in. so were glad she joined us.

Victoria our oldest grandchild, She is eight and very mature, Already she was to old to be at the "kids table" What a funny girl.

Christianna almost six and every bit of her is full of energy. She is constantly on the move, No moss will grow under her. Ethan just turned,five totally up for whatever is new and exciting. He's into superheros like his dad but still likes trains ans lines his toys or my hair clips up in a row. What a funny guy.

Alexandra (Alex) Turned four in July. She is such a sweetie So quiet and easy going it was fun to watch her run and be loud with her cousins.

Aurora (Rory) will be three on Dec 1st . She is way into pink, but what a smile , when you get her to smile that is. She just enjoys being alive either following her big brother around or leading her little sister.

Pee-a-boo little Emmalene the youngest at one year what a delight she already has tons of personality. Has the patience to wait for attention , most of the time, and a smile always ready for you.

So this is what I have to be thankful for the joy they all bring to my life, the good health we are blessed with and the love of my family. So on this Thanksgiving day I am thankful to Heavenly Father for all he has given me and all the things He gives me that I forget to thank Him for . I truely am blessed. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!!

Good times with family

Well, we are back to normal , what ever that means! I've cleaned the house changed the beds and did lots of laundry. I was beginning to think the neighbor had brought over their towels , didn't know we had so many. I haven't had to run the dish washer for a whole day, It had been run about 3 or 4 times a day for the last week. but let me re cap a bit.
It all began on Sunday afternoon the 9th when we got home from church not only was Pat here but also Tom, Crystal and miss Alex. And so the fun began. We played Rock band and went to St George one day shopping, just spent time catching up. Thursday Tom and Crystal went to Vegas to visit their friend Cory, So I had Alex all to my self. She is such a sweetie after my meeting a t guils we went to the park.
About 10 pm Chris, nicole, and girls got here and about 5 am Friday morning Dallas, Jen and kids got here. Ron had the day off so we let the good times roll. Sat we took Family pics what a wonderful looking group. From Reno,Nevada; The Hall Family: Dallas, Jennifer, Ethan, Aurora, Rory, and Emmalene. From Salt Lake, Utah; The Fairall Family Chris, Nicole, Victoria, and Christianna

From San Angelo ,Texas; The Tierney Family: Tom, Crystal, and Alexandra, Alex

We are so very blessed. I will add some festivities later.

Sunday

So after church we had delisious taco soup then it was the marshmellow gun war at first some of the guys were not into it that is until they saw how much fun everyone was having. Emma was happy to just eat the amo...

Alex has me in her sites
This is a scarey trio... Pat had modified his gun and he was actually giving welts with his shots that is to the adults.

The kisd also had a coupl sac races Victoria won Christianna didn't get the jumping concept she was actually runnung in her sac. But it was way fun to watch

Little miss Rory putting her shoes on for Church What a cutie.

As it got dark and we were getting the kids settled down a bit Nicole Chris and girls headded back to salt lake and Cory back to Vegas. Teh rest of us played games and just goofed off.

More fun

So after the pictures were done we took teh kids home for nap time the guys and shelly went shooting and the girls prepared the thanksgiving feast.

So dinner was fabulous and all enjoyed themselves, the extra guy is Crystal and Toms friend from Vegas.

Tom adn Nicole totally got into the pumpkin pie...

And this is when Nicole made adn amazing discovery... "I totally forgot to add the sugar!"

Which we all thought was ratheramusing and as a result the pigs got to have a couple pumpkin pies happy thanksgiving for them also.

We ended the night playing games Scattergories till very late it was a really loud game but loads of fun. Once we got past teh arguing the answers and around the table.

Family Pictures

Then we all changed and made ouselves beautiful , drove over to the college and took family pictures. Here are some fun between shots. the kids were chasing grandpa and this is when they caught him. Nicole and her daddy

Ron adn Francine so happy to have everyone together getting along as they did the whole time it was pretty awesome.

Patrick and girlfriend Shelly chilling
Sweet picture of mommy daughter time.

Thanksgiving for the clan

So after the awsome breakfast there was time to chill and get im some story time. Jenni did this with the kids. Some were more interested than others.

Crystal having a happy little moment of her own!!!

Chris and Emma cheesing it up for the camera.
While Tom gives horse rides to the kids. O.K. everyone pile on!!!

Yummy breakfast

So oddly enough the kids wake up bright and early, so what to do for fun? Make a yummy breakfast with all of them helping. So that was the plan. with a bit of guidance they did a great job. Victoria mixed the gravy to be sure it didn't stick and she also enjoyed the fruits of her labor.

Even miss Emma helped by her mere presence. she laid right in teh middle of the kitchen floor so she could be a part of all the fun.

Christianna placed the biscuts on the pan ready for the oven.
Rory cut out the biscuts...

That Ethan and Alex whipped up. Pretty good system all and all.

And so began our Family Thanks giving celebration. What an awsome start.