Fat Batman

 Coming in the door from the garage this is the sight I saw on the couch. 

 This is what batman would look like if he eats to many Christmas treats and fails to continue on with his working out. 

Oh dear........

I really love Samuel, he definitely is an amusing character.

Windmill has a top

 After us looking at it like this for 11 years, and at least 30 plus years before that.  Because who knows when the original fan fell off. 

We finally Have a top!  Bret and I spent about a couple of  months getting this thing ready.  Scraping off the rust and old oil, spray painting it, and hooking up the tail and all the other gadgets that go with it.  It's amazing how complex these things are.  I re-printed all the lettering on the fan with all the original lettering of the manufacture, and where it was made, and all the numbers and everything.  That was fun.  But finally its up and it's spinning and it looks beautiful.  I smile every time I look out my window and see it.

Thanksgiving

One more Thanksgiving come and gone.  I was so busy with prep and cooking the last couple of days, I didn't even take any pictures.  I know, I'm a dork. 

Kevin and Jennie arrived around 3 o'clock.  I had spent most of the last couple of days cleaning and shopping for food.  We were having one of our own turkeys, so that was an added chore to do.  Actually we ended up preparing six of our turkeys all together.  We have friends who look forward to a fresh turkey every year.  So I've become quite good at plucking and scalding and pulling out those retched pin feathers, although my poor fingers might need a few weeks to recover, it is kind of fun in an interesting sort of way.  I'm so happy that Jaime is living with us.  She is such a big help, not a burden at all and she just really fits in here.  I hope she feels at home as well. It's wonderful to have her. 

We started the morning with cinnamon roles for breakfast, then the prep work and cooking began.  I made some roles, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and Jaime made the famous frozen jell-o, which I haven't had in a while, so it was very nice!  Jennie made sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole.  We had a great time making everything, and an even better time eating it all.  I was so full, and even when my stomach wasn't ready for it, we all had apple and pecan pie, plus a pumpkin cream cheese role, and hot apple cider.  I was sick.  It all tasted so wonderful, I couldn't stop.  But that's what thanksgiving is all about am I right?  Ugh.

When In Rome

 Amber was in her last High school musical last weekend.  It was called When In Rome, and she really did a wonderful job!  She played Julia, who was a thief with a sarcastic and tough attitude. The role was made just for her.
   

I am really just amazed at how at home she is on a stage.  She did not get that from me!  I'm so proud of her though, and will miss seeing her perform. 

This was during her song, which I do have a video of and can't figure out how to get it off my camera and onto here. 

These two guys were her partners in crime, they are trying to train the boy in red to be a gladiator, so he can win the hand of the princess.

During one of the songs.

The training isn't going well.

Amber's a great sword fighter!  Who new?????

Say wha????

Trying to steal from one of the governors wives.

She was great at training the future gladiator.  Must be all that training with her little brothers. 

The Emperor and the princes.

Trying to help out the not so brave gladiator. 

The finale!

Thanking the directors.  It was the best musical I've seen this school do.  It was a cute story with a lot of laughs and great songs, and great performers.  Amber we will miss watching you on this stage.  I hope I can make it out to Utah for your next performance. 

Amber's Marching band performance

 Amber's Senior year will be filled with a lot of "lasts".  Her first one is with the marching band.  Her last year doing this at the football games.  Last Saturday they performed for the community for the last time, before they went off to state competition.  This year Amber performed a solo at the beginning of one of the songs, I'll try to get that video on here, she did such a great job, and had such fun with it.

 I took these pictures after they were done, and getting packed up for the trip to  Glennwood for State competition.  Her last time on this football field in this uniform.  (sniff)

 I'm not really sure which one is her in this top one, but in the bottom one, she's the trombone player right in the middle. 

 She's the trombone player third one in from the end. 

And this is a close up picture of my leg, wearing a lovely pair of denim jeans, which I accidentally took while trying to get the camera from video to photo. 

Homecoming week.

Last week was homecoming.  Amber asked a boy named Andrew Simmons.  He's from Council Bluffs.  They are good friends, and know each other from Stake activities.   I was not excited to go looking for a dress.  It isn't very easy to find one that is modest.  I didn't really want to do any major alterations.  We went to a couple of stores with no luck.  A friend of mine suggested we go to Maurices.  I did remember seeing a couple of dresses the last time we were in the shop.  So we went.  This is what we found.  I was excited. It was long enough, and with a little silk shrug it covered her.  Best of all it was only 56$! 

And here we have Amber with her date.  It was nice that he could drive here himself. 

One of the dress-up days was pajama day.  Amber wore some silk camo pj's and her camo snuggie and her favorite teddy bear.

On the same Saturday as the homecoming dance, Amber had a marching band competition in Glennwood.  (it was a hectic day) She won, Outstanding soloist!  She has a great solo, and she just nailed it!  She was very happy.

And I had to put this in.  Our goat, Pippen, got his head stuck in a feed bag.  He was walking around bumping into things.  It was too funny.  Bret finally came to the rescue.

Our pond

 Okay, this is what the pond looked like before.  The top pic is the south end and the bottom pic is the north end. The posts are for the dock.  The north end didn't change any. 

 We thought is just wasn't big enough.  So we drained it about 5 feet down.

 Bobby Fox came out and did some more digging for us.  We had quite a muddy mess for a while and almost everyone in town, was curious as to what we were doing now. 

 He has such a nice touch!

 Now here it is!  This is the south end looking north east.  We decited to leave a little Island in the middle. 

 Sam and Keaton went swimming last Saturday.  It was a nice sunny day, and the water was just right.

 They even enjoyed out little beach area.  They played for hours, and it was wonderful to see our kids enjoying our pond.

what's going on.

Just an update on what's been happening around here lately.  School  is in full swing, and along with that, for Amber is a crazy schedule.  Early morning seminary, before school marching band practice, then after school jazz band practice, she also has play practice 3 days a week from 7 to 9 for the musical that they're doing in November.   Plus her work schedule at Fareway, piano practice, and her homework.  She's getting strait A's and I'm amazed.  I  never could have done all that.  She's such a wonderful daughter.  Ben is in Marching Band too for the middle school, and he has soccer as well. Keaton is in soccer and I'm not coaching this year.  I just thought it would be to much with everything else that's going on right now.  Sam didn't want to play this year and I'm fine with that.  It's hard having three boys, on three different soccer teams.  I'll make him do it next year.  Ben won't be in the AYSO soccer league anymore, and the high school soccer season is in the spring.  Also I won't have a daughter at home anymore, (sniff) so all her Saturday activities won't need my time.  I'll probably coach Keaton's team next year.  It's kinda fun. 

Youth Hunting season is this week, and Bret and Ben have been going out most evenings this week.  Looking for Ben's first buck, to put in the freezer.  He's getting a little frustrated because he's seen big bucks on the tree cams that we've had out all summer, and none are showing up during shooting hours.  Amber got lucky the first time she went out, she got a big beautiful buck.  The next year her first time out, she did the same thing.  So I think Ben had high expectations.  He's not very patient when it comes to sitting still and quiet for hours.  But hopefully he's appreciating  the whole hunting experience and not just the trophy.  Spending time outdoors, with his Dad. 

We've just got done digging out are pond some more.  I think it's finally the size we want, and we've got a little grassy island in the middle that hopefully some ducks or geese will make their spring time home.  That is if the dogs will leave them alone.  We've planted about 30 spruce trees along the southern side to give us some privacy from the hyway and in the spring we'll plant some different bushes and trees among them to fill it in real nice, so in 15 years it will block the pond from the road.  Skinny dipping anyone????

Early Morning seminary is going well.  I've discovered that an hour nap around 2 is very helpful.  although it doesn't happen as much as I would like.  Bret likes it better when I get a nap, so I'm not nodding off to sleep at 8:30.  Our cuddle time has definitely taken a hit.  I try to make up for it on the weekends.  I have 3 kids in my class.  Dallon, a Jr, Preston a Freshman, and Amber, the Sr. They like to talk, and argue about the best band, or movie, or about anything really, So I try to teach a lesson each day.  I found food helps the boys keep quiet pretty good.  I'm learning a lot I didn't know about the Old Testament, so that's been a plus, I don't know how much the students are getting out of it.  But I'm trying. 

Bret was supposed to go on a hunting trip in Canada, on the 17th.  He was going with his Dad and Bruce Burger to Quebec for Caribou.  On the 16th the outfitter called and said there wasn't any Caribou near their camps so if they come it might not be very fruitful.  Bruce wanted to wait until next year, Bret decided to as well.  Poor John was already on his way and had to be contacted from his hotel in Canada.  So he had a nice flight to Canada for nothing.  I felt bad for all of them.  They were really looking forward to this hunt.  Bret was looking forward to being with his Dad, and hopefully to put some meat in  the freezer and a mount on his wall.  But he's been home all week, which I like, he has been doing morning clinic, and then coming home in the afternoon.  We've been getting lots done outside.  We're getting the windmill fan and motor ready to put up, lots of stuff is being planted, and we've started building the dock on the pond.  Speaking of.  Last night Bret has an hour before he has to take Amber and Ben to the church for Mutual.  So he says "Amber, wanna go out in the boat?"  So he grabs his drill, some pliers, and a level, and they go outside.  I'm not sure what he has in mind.  So 15 minutes before they have to leave, I go outside to tell Bret it's almost time to go. I find them in the little row boat out in the pond by the two posts that we're going to build the dock on.  Bret says "Hey, in my truck is a vice wrench go get it for me.  I've dropped the one I had in the water."  Then Amber tells me that Dad almost went in the water when the boat moved away from the post while Bret was hanging onto it with his feet in the boat.  His body was over the water and he almost went in.  But Amber managed to get the boat back so Bret could let go and get back in the boat.  Amber gave me her cell phone just in case.  Then while trying to get the cross board screwed into the two posts, the level they were using fell off the board and went into the water.  The water is about 15 feet deep.  So after a lot of apologies from Amber, Bret tells me to go get the other level.  I'm getting a little upset because its time to get going to the church.  Bret is in charge of the activity and he really shouldn't be late. So I get the level and toss it to him in the boat.  Amber was just saying to Bret, "You better not tip the boat!  I don't want to have to explain to everyone at the church why I'm all wet!"  Not long after that, Bret had screwed in one end of the board, and wanted Amber to switch places with him so he could screw in the other end.  Well they were both standing, which was their first mistake, then as they were crossing in he middle back to back the boat tipped and Amber screamed, and Bret yelled, the boat tipped and in the water they went.  They came up sputtering and gasping, and Amber was NOT happy!  Bret had his drill in his hand and quickly got that back in the boat.  Amber had knee high rubber boots on and was having a hard time staying afloat.  They were filling with water and weighing her down, so she quickly swims to me and I help her out.  It's a steep bank where I was and she almost pulled me in as I was trying to pull her out!  Bret was just laughing, and decided that since he was already in the water he'd try it find his lost tools.  He found the level, but dived a few times for he wrench, but no luck.  Then he just pulled the boat after him and swam to the beach so he could get out.  Amber hi-tailed it to the house so she could dry off and change.  They needed to leave in 5 minutes!  So anyway pretty funny.  I'm just glad it wasn't me.  They made it to the church, and Amber took a shower when she got home, and I have some wet muddy clothes to wash.

Well it's almost 9, I didn't get my nap today and I'm really starting to feel the sleepiness take over. 
Until next time my loving friends and family :)  

Ben turns 14!

Benjamin's 14th birthday.  He's waited all year for this.  He's hoping now that he's 14 his voice will change and he'll start growing hair on his face, and he wants to grow like 2 feet!  Let's hope he gets his wish soon.   

He got a new watch, because his old one was to small for him.  It was also old and had a velcro strap that didn't want to stick together anymore. 

Sam wanted to get him a hotwheels car.  So here we are.  They already have hundreds of them lying around all over the house!

A new wii game.  Conduit 2.  Not to happy about this one, but what do you do.

Sam and Keaton both got Nerf guns for their birthdays so now Ben has one, his is the biggest, and now they can all battle with each other and have a great time.  Now I get to pick up nerf darts that are all over the place.

Ahh the lego sets.  He loved this one!!!!

Ben's a hawkeye fan, and I saw this pillow pet and thought, "Why not?!"  He loved it!

Go Hawkeyes!!!!

We had a yummy cake, and all sang happy birthday, then went to Council bluffs to eat at the Olive Garden.  That's where he wanted to go eat.  I thought he'd say Pizza Ranch or Burger King.  My little boy is growing up.  I asked why Olive Garden and he said, "I love the breadsticks!" 

We were all sitting at the breakfast table one afternoon, and saw this little guy sitting on the back of our deck chair.  Ben loves bugs of any shape and size so he had to go and play with it for a while. He was a very good subject to photograph.  He had some wonderful posses.  So cool!  Ben is growing up and appreciating nature more, because he didn't ask for a pickle jar, so he could keep this thing in the house.  After watching it climb around for a while, he took it to a little tree and let him go.