Well after a filling Thanksgiving meal, we have time to wind down. Brad and Brian are watching Tiger Woods on tv and Sayre is at Heather's house. Me, I am in the scrapcave.

Before Jim and Judy came over I finished a project that I had planned since the summer time. Brad helped me hang my family picture frame and then figured out where to put the wall rub-on. I think it turned out great. It is exactly how I wanted it. Now if we can just finish the outside of the house (stucco and paint) everything will be great.

Brian and I are off to Prescott tomorrow for his pitcher's camp. I'll drop him off and then head to some serious shopping. I have my ads and my wish lists and think I am prepared. Hopefully I will get lots of good deals and cross lots of things off of my list. I sure will give it a try.

Success! Today we went to the Hualapais to take family pictures. Jennie, Roger and Zack went too. We traded off taking pictures of each other's families. The weather was gorgeous, in the 60's. We pulled off the side of the road and hiked up a wash and took lots of pictures. Everyone was cooperative and we ended up with some good pics that we'll be able to use for Christmas projects.

Now I only have to decide on what my Christmas cards will look like and I'll be set. Well, after making them too. Hey, I have a week and a half before I need to have them done. No sweat, right?

Well, so much for a quiet evening at home in the scrapcave. Teenagers have invaded my home and the brought the "Rock Band" with them. The noise level from the living room is quite loud. Sayre and many of her friends have come over to enjoy some noisy time together. It's kind of funny. They are really getting into it. Good thing I'm not tired and ready for bed. Here is what my living room looks like right now:

Oh, well there are years to have quiet evenings. I'll take the noise and the kids.

We just had the best day. My side of the family met in Wickenburg for a family picnic. We wanted to do family pictures of the (great) grandkids for my parents and grandparents since the last time we did them Caitlin and Seth weren't even born. The weather was gorgeous at around 80 degrees. Who says fall isn't nice in Arizona? My mom (with help from us girls) convinced my grandparents to come. My dad's sister, Aunt Harriet, also was able to come. The only missing member of the family was Dawn's husband Brian. It's cotton season and he has to work 7 days a week. The kids played. The adults talked. We all ate our lunches and then we got down to business. There were logistics to deal with: where to take the picture, who to go first, how to arrange each family, which camera to look at, how to get everyone in the picture, etc. Well after many tries, some good, some bad, some ugly, we were able to get some good pictures. We'll have to print them up and post them around our houses. Here is the grand total of us:

In the back are Chris, Barbara, Brad, Joan, and Dawn. Next are Wendy, Crappa, Landon, Tristan, Seth, Sayre, Megan, Katie, and Dad. In the front are Connor, Caitlin, Gram, Mom, Aunt Harriet, and Brian. We are so lucky that we have a close family that can get along with each other. We have so much to be thankful for.

Well, I'm back home after a whirlwind trip to the desert valley. Brian traveled with the band to the Arizona State Marching Band competition on Saturday and I met him there. Dawn and Wendy and their kids came to watch. The band did a great job and earned a superior with one caption for visual.

After they announced the results, we went to dinner. We had a nice time and everyone got to catch up. I followed the girls to Casa Grande and stayed with Wendy at her house. We played Rock Band with the boys. I didn't do so bad for it being my first time. Then Wendy and I watched What Happens in Vegas. This morning all of us went out to Gram and Crap's house to see them. They both seemed good and happy to see all of us. It was reassuring that they were ok.

While we were at the band competition, Sayre called with the news that she had been accepted at Southern Utah University. The school is in Cedar City, Utah. It meets her requirements that not everyone from Kingman goes there. It is colder than home, and it works for Mom because it is not too far away. We'll see if that is where she ends up but it is still exciting!

This coming week looks to be another whirlwind, but at least we have Tuesday off. I'll be baking cranberry bread for the fourth graders and having lunch with Jennie and BK. It should be fun.

Well I've done well so far on my gratitude journey for November. I have things written each day. Sunday I was just grateful for time to spend in the scrapcave. I even have a project to show for it.

Monday was Brian getting math finally and only doing a moderate amount of whining about how much there was. Then it didn't even take him as long as he thought. Tonight I am thankful that my book fair was able to do almost $5000 in sales. I was not very optomistic last week because we were barely over $3000. I guess the last two days were good after all. That makes all the hard work worth the effort. Plus I get more money to spend on books. Yay!

Another Saturday

OK, I'm getting in the Thanksgiving spirit. I have decided that I will journal one thing every day that I am thankful for in the month of November.

For today I am thankful for time spent with Sayre. We went to Bullhead to do some Christmas shopping (I am planning ahead). We separated for a while in Kohls but got back together and looked at all sorts of things. We heard Christmas music and argued over which ones to listen to. It put us in the mood to put some Christmas decorations out early. (I did suggest a few Thanksgiving items to be interspersed.) We went to Target and then to Sam's Club. We spent a lot of time laughing too. Later we went to church together. I have to remember these moments when she's gone next year.