Thanksgiving...

Well, this post is about a week past due but I wanted to put some pictures up from our crazy Thanksgiving.

Originally we were planning on heading to Billings but things didn't work out exactly how we planned...though I was looking forward to it, I think things actually worked out better.

Monday night my parents were traveling back from St. George and got caught in the HUGE November snow storm that hit here and arrived close to midnight. They of course stayed with us that night and were hoping to get back on the road Tuesday so my dad could make it back to work the next day. As luck, or maybe providence had it, the roads were all closed between here and Montana. I was secretly praying for that so we could selfishly have them for Thanksgiving and it worked! Because there was no way he was going to make it for work on Wednesday they decided to stay and have Thanksgiving with us. I was thrilled. We didn't have to navigate the crazy storm to travel to Montana, we got my parents ALL to ourselves, and we didn't get sick from Spencer and Jacque's family who had some icky stuff going around.

Thanksgiving day dawned and was as cold as ever with a temperature in the single didgets, and snow drifts everywhere, so football was out of the question for Cory. And unfortunately my Mom had got sick with a cold and didn't get to come eat Thanksgiving dinner with us, but the day was still nice. For dinner we ate with Cory's Dad's side of the family and we all met at the church. It was really nice. We played lightning in the gym while we were waiting for dinner, and I wasn't too shabby for a pregnant lady. After dinner the entire family played dodge-ball. It was really fun! Briggs kept telling me for days after that playing in the gym on Thanksgiving was soooo fun!

Here is my first ever lemon-meringue pie (before I baked it) that I made per request of my Dad. I grew up watching and sometimes helping my Grandma Burnett make them but I had never attempted one before now. I think it turned out quite well, though I can't compete with her great pies!

Ethan helping me make our favorite Lion House rolls Thanksgiving morning.

Getting ready for the feast!

Silly boys!

Hailey (Cory's cousin) with her hubby Nick and her Dad Reed

My in-laws Carl and Judy

Brooklyn eating carrots from the table

Cory and I left standing during lightening. I think he won this game!

(I borrowed these two pictures from my sister-in-law's blog. Thanks Mindy!)

Me and my Dad

Getting the balls ready for dodgeball

Get ready...Get set...GO!!

...and the mayhem begins!

We finished off the night playing Ticket to Ride. It was a nice day!

Also, I want to mention that when my parents come my dad always offers to help fix/do anything that needs to be done around the house. Being home-bound I got a little extra help which was nice. My dad fixed: 2 lamps, 2 clocks, hung our huge clock and my 5'x8' mirror, and installed 2 shelves in the boys closets! Thanks Dad for helping Cory with his honey-do list!!

Today....

This morning we woke to lots of rain and shortly after it turned cold and wintry. In fact its 4:30 and most of us in the house now have our pj's and cuddly sweatshirts on. After picking up the kids from Grandma's and Grandpa's we headed home in a huge snowstorm. Shortly after getting home I started making taco soup, corn bread, and pumpkin pie for our visitors that would be coming in mid-afternoon. Brooklyn helped me with the pie and then shortly after went down for a nap.

Briggs kept saying his head and neck hurt and eventually put himself down for a nap. A rare occurrence for him. He slept for about an hour and a half and woke up with a fever. We've all (minus Cory) had the cold that seems to have an endless life. So, I sure hope it isn't anything too serious.

Meanwhile Ethan has been in his world of creating different forms of race tracks for his motorcycle and earlier asked Cory if he'd recorded any monster trucks to watch...Cory said, "no." He then proceeded to ask if he recorded any racing...Cory said, "no." Finally he asked, "did you record anything with wheels?" What a hoot, that boy and his wheels!

I also have to officially note that Cory has finally "arrived!" Today while watching football he could hardly contain his excitement when he told me that he just discovered the "fast-forward-30-second-button" on the remote that is perfect for fast-forwarding between football plays because it doesn't go past the play but lands at the perfect spot every time! If only I could have discovered that for him for Christmas; I think he would have been happy as a clam with that knowledge! Now I have to think of something else ;-)

We also got a few visitors today. My Dad, Mom, Sister Crystal and her husband Gabe came and ate a late lunch with us this afternoon on their way down to Utah for a few days. It was a short 30 minute visit where we learned about the "Mighty Ducks" hockey team that Crystal went and saw in Canada during high school...or was that a movie; I forget, but we sure got a good laugh out of it. Then they took off so they could get back on the snowy, icy roads. But as always it was good to see them and the kids loved having them here!

It's not quite 5 now and it's starting to get dark...I think tonight is the perfect night to retire to bed early with a good book...

Anniversary...

(I found this great picture of the antlers with lights)

Last night Cory and I went to Jackson Hole Wyoming to celebrate our 8th Anniversary. So it's official, we are closer to 10 years than 5, and a good thing because life keeps getting better!! I couldn't ask for a better person to spend my life with! He truly is my best friend and I was happy to be able to spend the day with him all to myself! And I'm thankful that Cory's parents were gracious enough to watch the kids while we went. The kids were sooooo thrilled to have a sleep-over at Grandpa and Grandmas!

The drive down was beautiful, though I didn't get any great shots of it! Here is a shot I found online of the ski hill at night...It really is beautiful!

When we got there we walked around for a bit and then we passed a salon and Cory had the best idea yet when he asked me if I wanted to go get pedicures. Of course I was thrilled since I can barely reach my feet to wash them or put my shoes on and he assured me that Chad Ochocinco (a football player, for the sport illiterate ;-) gets weekly pedicures; I took that as a cue that it was "a-okay" after all he did suggest it right ;-)

We've been before but it's been years and it was really fun and a great way to pass some time between window shopping in the cold.

We went into some fun stores, two of my favorites were this Christmas store that was decorated to the hilt for the holidays and it really got me excited for Christmas and a candy shop (as Cory puts it, "a store right up my ally"). At the Christmas store I fell in love with their pricey decorations (which I could never afford or would ever pay for) but I did get some fun photos. I told Cory that I really wanted to hang our tree upside down. I think that is a perfect solution for all those pine needles that get knocked off every time the kids play under the tree or put presents under there, not to mention it would be so much easier to keep clean and vacuum, and besides it is such a fun idea that you only see in stores! Cory said he'd help me so we'll have to see if it will happen this year! So fun!

The Candy store was a very miniature version of my all-time favorite Candy Emporium in Red Lodge Montana, but I did take a trip down memory lane as I saw all of the long red licorice ropes, fudge, pop rocks, old fashioned candy and bought some zapos (the candy that fizzes in your mouth).

After we got our fill of window shopping we headed to dinner and ate at the Silverdollar Bar and Grill. It was our third pick but apparently we went at the "slow" time of the season and some restaurants close during the month of November. Maybe next time we'll make it to the one we really wanted to try. The food was yummy though. We tried their award winning corn chowder, which I've never had before and was a bit leery about, and we both really liked it. In fact I went online to see if there were any pictures of it but I didn't find any, what I did find was their recipe, posted on their website of all places. I tasted like a potato and cheesy vegetable soup with the yummiest croutons just underneath the surface of the soup covered in melted cheese. The croutons were our favorite part; super creamy and yummy! For dinner we ordered the bleu cheese crusted fillet with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. It was good! Cory and I are definitely a fan of the bleu cheese or Gorgonzola on our steaks. A little bit goes a long way and makes the taste extra special.

Wort’s Famous Corn Chowder

2 Large Yellow onions Diced

6 Stalks of Celery Diced

2 Carrots Diced

2 lbs Frozen Corn Kernels

1/2 Tbls Garlic chopped

1 1/2 Tsp White Pepper

1 lb Bacon Diced

1/2 Gal Chicken Broth

1 lb Red Potato’s quartered

3 cups White Wine

1/8 cup Dried dill weed

Flour

Half and half

Par boil potatoes and cool and set aside. Sauté bacon until crisp. Add vegetables, wine,

dill and cook until tender. Add flour and cook roux stirring well and being careful not to

brown. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender. Add

half and half until chowder is of desired consistency. Chowder made be made without

the half and half and stored until ready to use adding cream to desired amount of soup.

Soup may be garnished with croutons and topped with cheddar and Parmesan cheese.

Place in oven or under a broiler to melt and brown cheese.

After dinner we headed over to watch the Jackson Hole semi-pro Hockey team play against Missoula Montana; which was fun. I told Cory "you know I'm going to have to cheer for my state of Montana" which I did. They however had lost by 6-3 when we left a few minutes before the end to hopefully beat all the folk there that had one-too-many beers to drink. Aside from the children, Cory and I were about the only ones there without a Bud Light in our hands...a little scary! I told Cory that it was very clear that this was the hot spot on the weekend, socializing, having a beer or two with friends and watching some fast action fights. We did see 2 1/2 fights, which Cory was all about, as for me, I just felt bad when they happened. I told him I do NOT want our boys playing hockey and he said that in the future he thinks this is a "boys only" activity; I think I rained on his parade when I didn't get all excited. But I actually enjoyed the fast-paced action.

The game got over at 10 and we headed back over the snowy Jackson pass to get home just before midnight. It snowed most of the way and was a bit scary when I saw several deer at several times along side the road...but thankfully we arrived home safely. It was a good thing we left last night because it has been heavily snowing since.

Here's to another year! Love you hun!

All Ethan wants for christmas is...

his front tooth...

Last night Ethan lost his first front tooth...or should I say Cory pulled it out much to Ethan's reluctance! Last year during preschool he fell off a rocking horse and impacted his front tooth. It always looked a little dead after that and this past week I noticed his front tooth was kind of sticking out. He let me touch it and sure enough it was pretty loose.

After about 3 or 4 days it was just time to yank that thing! He didn't want to eat certain food because he said it hurt. Ethan refused to touch the tooth when it came out but it was completely hollow inside; definitely a dead tooth. After everything he asked for ice cream; the boy knows how to milk a situation. We agreed that we'd go the next night for Family Home Evening and he didn't let us forget it all day.

Here are some pictures...

He looks so devastated! Brooklyn was all about getting a front seat to the action and then right there to comfort him.

Putting his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy. He was hoping for "2 monies" and I told him that he would probably get "2 monies" and then opportunistic Ethan said, or "3 or 4 monies?" I said we'll just have to see.

The tooth fairy left 2 dollar bills. He was a pretty happy boy this morning!

P.S. Be sure to take our poll on the side bar...take a guess...