November 2011

We started out the month with our first Olympic party for our teams of piano students.  The blue team won gold by earning points during their piano lessons the previous months.  We have Jona Melo, Emery, Brooklin Stapley, and Kai Standley!

Next was the yellow team with a silver medal with Caden, Dawson Featherstone, Elle Melo.

In 3rd place, is the black team with their bronze medals. It's Carter, Haylee Stratton, Cayler Wilson, Madi Stapley.  Everyone was rewarded with Hershey chocolate bars.

Then we have our next 2 teams who were very close competitors!  The green team, Aydia Melo, Grant Woodbury, Callie Wilson, Ella.

The red team with Jaratt Earle, Ryken Featherstone, Brinly Stapley.  Good job team players!  We had fun playing some unit review games of notespelling and having yummy treats!  Such fun!  The teams are all mixed up now with new team players and colors to wear.

Now for Thanksgiving time!  We were so excited to have the Hasslers and Carters come join us in a festive celebration!  Cynthia, Mike, and Abby are always so splendid at helping me in the kitchen!  Here we are the night before making our many delicious pies!  11 year old Abigail knows how to make a pie from scratch!  Wow!  Did I even know how to turn on the stove at that age??

Here is the finished result.  We kept a close eye on Curt so he wouldn't dig in too early!

Doesn't it seem like we just wait and wait ALL day to eat the delicious turkey dinner? And then it takes all of 2 minutes?!  What's up with that!  Here are the cute anxious taste testers!

Even more cute cousins waiting to eat!  What is Carter doing?  He is going delirious with anticipation!

Yes ofcourse the adults had their own table!  Where is my beautiful plate of food..I think I was too hungry to take a picture but it was the usual!  I really thought I took one..oh well.

Pumpkin pie eaters!

The glamour girls Sydney and Jenna.  It's really happening that we have teenage cousins now.  Crazy!

Cute Evey and Sam!

Notice that Evey just had whip cream for dessert!  Don't ya love that about holidays!  You can eat whatever you want..that is our rule anyway!

These cute teenage girls were thrilled to come shopping with the adults at midnight at Kohl's.  It was RIDICULOUS!  Lesson learned, never go to this store at this time of year ever again!  We stood in line for 2 hours..ahhh!  It was all about the experience right?!

Lori, Cynthia, me and Spencer waiting in line for our LONG wait!  Take my advice, online shopping is the way to go!  Curtis was busy at home with Mike on multiple computers ordering things from our wish lists!

One of our many fun cousin moments!  We love dancing together and the little girls love to get rides (be swung around) from the older ones!

Sydney is a FABulous hairstylist which she is going to pursue as a grown up!  Yay!  She is so good to do her cousins' hair!

Good times at the redbox getting ready for their fun babysitting night while the adults go out and party!  I tell ya, it is very lovely having teenagers.  We get to actually go out without hiring anyone!  It is life changing!

We had a fun hike at Red Cliffs!  It was the most beautiful I have seen so far!  This is the lovely elephant tree trunk!  So cool!

The boys LOVE adventure.  They can't just stick to the trail, come on!  It's more fun to venture off!

WOOO!

Evey is not so sure about this cactus..typical Evey fashion!

We were so happy and THANKful that our cousins drove SO long and far to be with us on this wonderful holiday!  Thanks guys!  We can't wait to see you again!  Happy Thanksgiving!