Zane's birthday, Thanksgiving and decking the halls...

Well, this week seems like it had a month's worth of activities! Monday I helped my mom in the morning. Then I took Gwen to dance, she wouldn't dance because her bosom buddy Zoe wasn't there. She just loves dance but she can't be brave on her own. This has become somewhat crippling for her and I am not sure what to do. Lots of prayers so far and more to come! Buck and Anna dropped off Da Vinci their turtle for us to watch while they are in Boise all week. We wrote Thank You cards for FHE and delivered any that were close by. It was a good experience we should do it every week!

Tuesday I was going to go to the temple when my friend couldn't go with me I went ahead and got the donuts for the classes that won the reading contest--one winner for upper grades and one for lower grades (it was an average). I also got some shopping done for Zane's birthday party, that night. I also helped my friend who did the awards for the reading program hand them out that day. It took us about an hour. The kids seemed happy about their prizes. I am glad that is over, now I can focus on my Young Women's lesson. I am teaching next Sunday, all the girls. And of course I have big plans...not really but you know I have some specific goals and they are lofty...we'll see. I was able to get the little boys to piano and get the stuff ready for the party. I even mopped which seems a waste but it made me feel good and isn't that the point? We had the boys over for pizza and then we went to lazertag at Trafalga. It was pretty fun but it took longer (standing in line) than we thought and so we only ended up playing one game. Emily and Timo were out with friends so Izak babysat Gwen. He did great with her. He is very good with little kids. The kids all seemed to have fun. Zane enjoyed it so that's what counts! That night I realized I hadn't really shopped for him, waiting until after the party but I had forgotten that so I was a little panicked when I realized that I had to prepare the stuff for the Louw Thanksgiving that night and get his birthday stuff done.

Wednesday the kids didn't have school so they slept in and milled around playing with Zane's new toys. I ran around getting stuff. I was in charge of the smoked Turkey, cranberry salad and the drink. So I got that done when I got home. We met Tim at my mom's, as well as Taran whom my mom picked up. We went a little early to mix the salad and drink--cranberry lemonade. It was all yummy stuff! We had fun celebrating Zane, Timo and Amber's birthdays as well. Teresa gave some of the funniest cards--it's kind of a competition between her and Keith and they are great at it. We missed Teresa that night she wasn't feeling up to it.

Thursday was Zane actual birthday so he had chosen crepes for breakfast but most of them were planning on going to the Turkey Bowl so I convinced him to go with some cold cereal that I don't buy anymore. So Fruity Pebbles, Golden Grahams and apple juice were his choice! After breakfast Tim took all of them over but Gwen to the school for the Turkey Bowl. It's for all the people in the neighborhood who want to come and play football. Emily was the only girl but she had fun anyway! Gwen watched the Maceys Thanksgiving Day Parade. I actually cleaned up some leaves and stuff in the yard. Tim mowed when he got back. It wasn't as nice as Wednesday but it was pleasant to work in. Last year we didn't have a chance to clean up much before we had snow and biting cold weather. The guys showered and watched football until it was time to go to Grandma Pew's. It was a relaxing day. The food and company were fun. We also celebrated Ammon, Grandma Pew, Timo and Zane's birthday. Zane picked pumpkin pie for his 'cake'. Unfortunately I only videoed him blowing his "8" candle out. We stayed until all the NFL football games were over. We saw all the gazillion cars parked at our Walmart, and the surrounding areas. We almost worried that we wouldn't be able to get into our driveway!:) For some reason that kind of thing doesn't appeal to me even though I am a MAJOR bargain shopper! That night the heat bulb we had just replaced on Wednesday was dropped on the carpet and because it was hot it busted so someone was going to have to get a new bulb on Black Friday!

Friday Tim and I went to the Temple after breakfast. They needed patrons for sealings so we did those. It was really nice, of course. Timo went with my mom to lunch in honor of his birthday. Taran did some music recording with his friend Andrew. Tim took Izak swimming to pass off his 2nd class swim. He did it! He has tried before but was so freaked out it didn't happen. Now to get him to pass the 1st class swim! Emily had to be at the Night in Bethlehem at 5 PM so she ate early. She is a Hebrew girl and she and the other children do a dance and act. Timo went to a friend's that night as well and Taran so we had to be ready to get Emily. I also ran to the store for some things Taran needed and there were still some Black Friday deals out! Amazing! Gwen and Zane watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version). Tim ended up getting the heat bulb for the turtle while he and Izak were out because they went near PetSmart.

Saturday Tim and I went out to my mom's after scriptures. She needed some help in the yard still. We offered Taran and Timo to go or help the little kids with their Saturday chores. They opted to stay home and so it was like a date for Tim and I. Keith and Amber showed up a little after us and then Charl and family. My mom's next door neighbors the Bergesons came over as well. Between us all we had the yard looking good and ready for the major digging happening in January. Because we were so quick we got her Christmas stuff out: outside lights on the bushes and small trees, inside artificial trees set up...She was super appreciative since what we did would have taken her a lot longer than an hour! The kids were done when we got home. Tim had set up our trees the night before but they still needed decorations. He decided to work on the house lights after lunch. It was cold in the shade by then so that made it slow work. I put lights on all the bushes and trees in our yard. We don't have many so it's not too bad. Tim finished at 5:30 PM just as it was getting dark. I helped him as I could handing him stuff. He almost had an accident. The ladder slid and it stopped with about 1/8 of an inch holding him there! I saw it! Freaky! I would work on the tree inside and upstairs while making dinner and checking on him. The kids were in and out and Gwen, Zane and Micah decorated their own bedroom trees. Gwen helped me with the living room tree too. It's a bit of a bummer no one cares about decorating the trees much anymore. So I finished the inside tree after Tim didn't need the ladder. I didn't attempt photos of our outside lights because they never turn out. I think I might try it at dusk tomorrow. We went to the Night in Bethlehem Emily is participating in, a free live Nativity. Our tickets we were assigned were at 8:30 PM. I had reserved 9 forgetting Emily was in it! So my mom used the extra ticket. It was nice to have Taran with us but I forgot my camera! It was really nice and got us into the spirit of Christmas. Maybe we can volunteer to help next year! We put the little kids to bed and then watched Trapped in Paradise on Clearplay--quite a bit of swearing but a wonderfully funny Christmas show! I folded laundry. Tim ironed.

Today Zane had his baptism interview with the bishop so he is set. Timo had his interview so he can baptize him and get his temple recommend. He and Tim went hometeaching after church. Taran went to his ward which only had Sacrament Meeting and it was combined with another ward. He hung out with his one roommate from out of state who was by himself. He came back for dinner and to get all his stuff-he did laundry here. I was able to get some stuff done for my lesson today. I am excited but cautious. I was hoping to get to the other Christmas tree decorated in the basement. Maybe tomorrow. I did get other decorations up yesterday and Friday but I want all the boxes GONE! I enjoyed church the Sacrament Meeting talks were about Scripture Power. This is something I know is true, the scriptures give us amazing power in our lives! They testify that our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ love us, each personally and are concerned about us. That was going to be my Thankful Thursday this week that I am thankful for my knowledge of them. I am not sure what kind of life I would have not knowing about them. They give me peace, comfort and confidence in my future and the power to overcome any trials that come my way. Happy Holidays! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!