Thanksgiving 2012

We started off our Thanksgiving day by making homemade

Pioneer taffy.

Pictured here is only half the batch. 

We ended up with enough to take a couple of baggies full to neighbors.

Just cut the taffy ropes into bite sized pieces and wrap them in wax paper to store or gift.

Next it was time to start our turkey roasting away.

This year it turned out so moist and delicious.

In years past, since living in this part of the country,
 we have typically enjoyed this holiday with friends. 

This year was the first time we did it with just our family.

We live far away from all of our extended family now that Kelty and Duane, 

who joined us for Thanksgiving in 2010, have moved to Utah from Chicago.

Avery's favorite = turkey legs

Brinley's favorite = fruit salad

Aspen's favorite = "Mommy, I don't really like this meal."

Mommy's favorite = mixing all the food together into perfect combo bites

Daddy's favorite = fruit salad and rolls

This morning began with a typical work day for Dad.

At home we were able to fit in another fun (SIMPLE) project.

(Aspen)

Plates filled with baking soda + food colored vinegar + medicine droppers =

Fizzy filled fun

(Avery)

(Brinley)

By the end the project morphed into a finger painting mess. 

Cody prohibits Christmas music or decor of any sort until after Thanksgiving...

as you can imagine we have been listening to Christmas music all day.

Today

Today the girls enjoyed a fun play date with my friend Amy's girls. 

Them made these darling little turkey treats and homemade pillows, 

because that is the kind of"play date" my crafty friend hosts.

 

When they arrived home we got right down to business and created our first Thanksgiving break project, GAK (aka slime or flubber).

It's really simple, directions HERE.

Above Avery is attempting to create potty sounds by pushing the GAK into the bottom of the cup.

 

The picture above offers a small glimpse into the overabundant Cody Young eyebrows

that all four of the girls inherited. I foresee lots of plucking in our future.

They started with simple twisting an stretching...

next they were pretending to be leopards with spots...

and just now they moved to face mask GAK. This was really cool and fun until Aspen tried taking it off and we realized that it was melting onto her skin, this caused her to start freaking out and crying (you can see the beginning of the freak out if you look at the picture closely) 

and freaking out more.

No more face or body GAK in our home, but they are happy again and playing tame 

GAK at the island with their hands.

Two Celebrations

Last Monday we celebrated Cody's 35th birthday!

We invited our friends, the Rynearson family, over for a homemade 

Cafe Rio dinner and banana sour cream cake.

 

On Friday we celebrated our 11th Anniversary.

It was a momentous occasion because this was our first anniversary 

when Cody was not in medical school or residency OR fellowship!

Cody surprised me in the morning with these beautiful flowers, 

a wonderfully touching card and a few of my favorite treats. 

He also planned a date night which included a drive to Cincinnati 

to see Brian Regan live. We laughed our guts out!

Before the show we enjoyed dinner at McCormick and Schmick's where we ordered 

this dark chocolate bag dessert filled with berries for dessert.

The 4 hours of total driving time that night provided us with the opportunity to talk and talk about what matters most to us...each other, our children, our faith, our family.

The respect and admiration and love I have for my husband is ever increasing 

and I look forward with comfort and joy and gratitude to the next weeks and years and decades as we continue our journey together.

Love In Action

 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 This is the first and great commandment.

 And the second is like unto it, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mathew 22:37-39

Mormon Helping Hands :: Hurricane Sandy :: Rockaways, NY from Joshua Brown on Vimeo.

35

Happy birthday to a wonderful father who did this with the 

girls last weekend after their Saturday chores were completed and checked off.

 I was grateful to have a good talk the other day with my brother who called from England to offer support after what many are calling, myself included, a devastating election. 

During a debate held at the Oxford Union last week my brother stood and spoke to a crowd of 2,000 detailing why Romney's policies would have made our world and our country and safer place. I agree with you brother.

 The next day he sent along this quote:

 "You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed with concern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given to live with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil. If you choose to concentrate on the dark side, this is what you will see...Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with many good and sincere people. God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it."

 ~Richard G. Scott

 This was a good reminder to focus on the majestic beauty and wonder of this earth life amid my ever growing concerns for the future of our country. 

 HERE is a wonderful talk, well worth 19 min. of your life. 

11 month old GSG

Presenting the sweetest little Green Smoothie Girl.

She loves these powerhouse drinks packed with fresh kale, spinach,  

carrots, a variety of fruit, beets, chia seeds, flax and wheat germ.

 

Thank you Reese for being a good example to your eldest sister who is 

STILL struggling to drink our delicious green smoothies.

PS- I attended a lecture by the GSG herself here in town just a couple of weeks ago!

She gave a terrific presentation and briefly talked about the oils we love and swear by in our family.

Can't Let Go.

My friend Stephanie said it well.

I am not in a place to say more right now, so check out her post.

I pray that THIS type of mentality will not saturate our great 

nation anymore than it already has.

It's Gonna Be A Good Day!

We believe in you Mitt!

Women for Mitt

 Attending this rally was my priority today and it felt great!

Never before have I felt so passionate about any political 

race as I do about this one now.

Stories told by friends and political figures alike all had a similar theme.

Mitt is a man of integrity and character 

and was so long before the camera's began rolling. 

He is a person who has lived up to the promises he has made

 and has a public record to prove it. 

I am one of the "women for Mitt!!!"

Behind every strong man is an amazing woman and Ann does not fall short!

Here she is after the rally singing my sign.
 

 Had to include this funny picture I snapped of Cindy McCain.

What an honor it was to join with other women and show our support!

As I was exiting the parting lot the bus with police escort drove right by.