NOVEMBER ALREADY?

November is here whether we are ready or not.  We learned a new concept concerning a pumpkin during our Fast Sunday meeting.  At home evening a man told his son that cleaning the gunk out of a pumpkin was not a very spiritual activity.  The 7 year old son replied by saying, “Dad, we take all the gunk out so we can see the light.”  What a beautiful concept in the eyes of a young boy.

Saturday we went to Parker’s championship game.  They played a good game and won 14-6.  

We had fun with Nixon while his family was in Salt Lake watching Ava dance.

buddies

Sunday after church, all the Utah families (Di couldn’t come because she was ill.) came for pie and ice cream to celebrate Dad’s birthday Tuesday.  Fun was had by all.  I baked 5 pies so no one left hungry.

I am so blessed to be married to such a good man.  He honors his priesthood which blesses me daily.  We enjoy being together and working on projects.  He is a direct answer to prayer and I am so glad I was listening.  He keeps me on the straight and narrow and I love that, even though I don't always show it.  His daily testimony by the way he lives strengthens me in so many ways. I love that he loves his family so much  He cherishes each one of you and those precious children you have added to our eternal family.  They are such a joy.  We love the Plan of Salvation and that we can always be together forever.  So much for the preachy; he still isn't right as many times as he thinks he is.  (She is wrong again!)
Thursday Dad went with me to work on Milt's house.  It is a fun little place. 

 Dad put shelves in his closet, vacuumed floors, emptied trash and hung many of Milt's beautiful paintings.  It makes it look so homey now.  I finished putting more of his clothes away and deeply cleaned the bathroom and kitchen.  Oh, Dad also hung some curtains.  It is really looking good now.  Milt is still confined to his wheelchair and is waiting for his prosthesis.  He calls it his peg leg.  He will be able to do the normal things when he gets his leg.  It snowed all the while we were working.
We turned the little boat over all by ourselves.  We are so healthy and strong.
Saturday was Riley's birthday.  Boy do we love him. 

 Do you see some Clark here?

and Jonny?

Riley holding baby brother Jonny.

He is such an example of an obedient young man.  His friends call him the Preacher because he wants to pray before every game. He is an example to his peers of what an honorable young man should be. They just took state.  He watches after his siblings and is a helper around the house.  He is just fun to be with.  The only problem is that when he took off his helmet I had a startle because it was Clark out there.  If he follows in the footsteps of his father he will be just fine.  He has a great example, just hope he learns to tell time.
We went to the BYU game that night with 43 degree temperature and ended with a wind chill of 17.  Lands were we cold.  When I returned from the restroom, I had to laugh at Erik and Shanelle.  I wish I had thought to take a picture but I was too cold and couldn't wait to get in my blankets.  They were huddled together and all I could see was 4 eyes.
Kelly and his kids took the extra tickets and had such a good time.  It was so good to be with them.  They are good kids.  Kelly's not too bad either.

Kelly, Stacey, Cory

Today we went to Erik's ward so we could see the kids in the Primary program.  They did very well even though Asher was hidden by the piano.  He knew the words to every song and sang right out.  Camden knew his part and sang with gusto.  Kolton was glad this was his last Primary program but still sang and did his part well.  We realized that next year we will have only 2 little ones from each famiy in the Primary.  Shocker.
Here are some leftover posters from my classroom I thought you might like to share with the kids.

We are so thankful for this season of the year when we are constantly reminded of the many blessings we have been given.  Above all we are thankful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ which is so intertwined with family.  We are so blessed to be born of goodly parents who taught us from our youth the Gospel of our Savior.  We were blessed to live in families who loved us and cherished us.  We are abundantly blessed with the children our Father has sent to us and trusted us to rear in the teachings of Christ.  Our blessings are added upon with the addition of each grandchild bestowed upon us.  As our family continues to grow we have been blessed with an outlaw addition whom we love, Tyler.  We pray the Lord's blessings to be with us all in this coming year.