Life Lately

 I was just commenting to John the other day that I couldn't believe we were one week away from Christmas.  I said it really snuck up on me this year.  He said I say that every year.  He's probably right, life just keeps cruising by.  I got my cards all sent out and the presents wrapped.  I still need to cook my turkey and do a little baking.  Sam came home the 19th.  Holly is working on Christmas day but she'll be home the 28th.  Can't wait to have everybody under one roof for a little while again!

This is my letterboard for the month of December.  John and I have been doing so good watching our waistlines, but all the yummy holiday foods are not helping us. 

I filled my new cedar planters with some green from our woods and pinecones from a store.  Yes, I bought pinecones.  Yes, we have literally millions of pinecones in our yard.  Unfortunately, they are

quite small and never open up nice.  

Holly is loving her latest nursing assignment in Salem.  She is becoming pretty attached to the Hiemstra family down there.  We are so thankful they are taking such good care of her.  

John and I joined a new small group at church about a year ago.  I am biased but I'm fairly sure it is the best small group in the world.  We have a lot of fun together.  This is from our Christmas party.

Before the party, Jeff and Jess showed us their new milking carousal.  It was amazing.  I kept thinking how much my Grandma would have enjoyed seeing it.

Our first snow of the season.  I think it happened on December 9.  Thankfully, it only stuck for an hour or so.

I found this pic on John's phone and it just cracked me up.  He loves his cat.

I also found these on his phone.  Sometimes I just need to stop and thank God that I live in such a beautiful place.

Also thankful for good friends.  My elf came with me to coffee one morning.

That time we invited ourselves along - Part 2

Before I get started, a little elf off the shelf pic for you.  He got into Grampa's bubblegum machine last night!

Some more pictures from our Thanksgiving trip to Arizona.

We walked around Grand Canyon University's campus.  

And went to an Arizona Cardinals game.

Yes, Katie did eat this entire steak.

A family walk.

Chin up contest.

Gilbert, AZ (Holly's old stomping grounds).

Our last afternoon there, Katie took the Polar Plunge into the pool.  She needed an incentive to do it so I promised her five passes on dishes when we got home.

We've never flown on Southwest before.  I really liked picking your own seats.  On the flight home, we even got the first row.  Never had so much leg room before!

So glad Paige's family let us crash their Thanksgiving in Arizona.  We had lots of fun and are planning our next vacation together!

That time we kind of invited ourselves along - Part 1

We did something wild and crazy for Thanksgiving this year.  We rented a house in Arizona with Paige's family!  Her brother Jackson goes to school in Phoenix and when we heard they were going there for Thanksgiving, we sort of invited ourselves along!  Mark, Jayleen, Reese (Jackson's girlfriend), John, Katie, and I left very early Thanksgiving morning.  Sam and Paige flew in from Sioux Falls the day before.

The sunrise was beautiful from the plane.

I love the sunshine.  

The temperature was in the seventies the entire time we were there.  A little too chilly to swim in the unheated pool but most of us stuck our feet in and one of us took a plunge.

Family trip to Costco to get supplies.

Making supper together.

We stayed in Scottsdale.  

Walking around downtown.

They're all big kids but they still want the dads to push them on the merry-go-round.

Thanks Sam for picking a girl that has such a fun family!

Part two of "That time we invited ourselves to a vacation" tomorrow!

Our elf was a little jealous of our trip and wanted to pose by a cactus too...or maybe he's pooping in the cactus?

November stuff

Before I get to some November happenings...our elf appears to have partied a little too hearty with the golfing buddies last night.

We had conferences for Katie the beginning of the month.  All of her teachers said she is a great student.  A few of her teachers said she is a little too chatty with friends in class. One teacher had her draw picture for her parents on the back of their progress report. 

John takes Katie out for breakfast every Thursday morning.  The week of conferences, she had Thursday and Friday off; she wanted to sleep late so John took me to breakfast instead!

I have been really tempted to get one of these giant skeletons for my yard.  They are kind of expensive, but I think I can totally justify the purchase if I use him for more than one holiday right?!

I saw this on Facebook the other day.  It is the cast from "Breakfast Club".  I LOVED that movie.  Remember the Brat Pack?  I watched all their movies.  Some of them appear to be aging better than others.

Holly had a five day stretch off from work so she came home for a couple days.  

I bought a turkey and was planning to do a complete Thanksgiving dinner for her since she had to work the holiday but then I found out Andrew and Cheryl (the cousins she is living with) were having their Thanksgiving the day before just so Holly could be part of it.  I didn't feel too sorry for her then.  

So I saved my turkey for Christmas and made her take me out for a burger instead.

We spent a day Christmas shopping, she met up with friends, had a sister date night, and her and I lost super bad to Katie and John at Code Names.  I love having her around but also love that she is really enjoying her assignment in Salem.  

Andrew sent me this on Thanksgiving.  I so appreciate them taking such good care of her!