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.