Thanksgiving Day Festivities

Thanksgiving was a great day! It was warm outside, so the boys had fun playing inside and out. I spent most of the day in the kitchen cooking and enjoying it. This was our menu:
Turkey: Almost put it in too early but caught myself.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce: I tried it this year and LOVE it! It will always be homemade from now on. I’ll have to double the recipe next year.
Homemade rolls: The boys favorite thing!
Mashed Potatoes: I bought potatoes just for Thanksgiving. Normally we just use the dried potatoes but not for Thanksgiving.
Candied Sweet Potatoes: I’m the only one that eats them, so I have plenty! Yummy!!
Corn: canned. Boys other favorite thing.
Green Beans: I think Tim was the only one who ate those…..
Stuffing: I actually forgot to make it for the dinner.
French Apple Pie: No one eats pumpkin pie except for me and I’m not eating a whole one by myself, so it’s apple pie!
Gravy: Tim made the gravy this year with the drippings from the turkey.

We had Sparkling Apple Cider and Knudsen Cherry and Strawberry sodas too. It was a great meal! The boys mostly loved it. It was just us this year and it was nice. We just relaxed and enjoyed the day. We all took naps after our big lunch and just hung out. I LOVE Thanksgiving!

Pach playing Angry Birds Star Wars.

Pickle digging in the dirt.

Bacon playing with the dump truck.

The boys with dinner.

Pickle ready to EAT!!!

Pach ready to EAT!!!

Bacon ready to make a mess!!!

Our turkey. It was yummy!

Bacon going for the drinks.

The French Apple Pie.

Olympic Park, Park City, Utah

Friday was the Olympic Park in Park City. The first stop was the museum. There was a "rocket" (bobsled) in the foyer and the boys LOVED IT!! When we finally were able to pull them away from their beloved rocket, we walked around and read all about the evolution of skiing. It was not quite so interesting to the boys, nor to me. However, Tim really enjoyed it, as he loves to ski. The boys did quite like a few things: the ski jump toy, the downhill skiing simulator and the slalom marble game.

The top floor was all about the Salt Lake Olympics and had props used in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. I found that to be very interesting.

We went outside and looked at the ski jump pools. For those who don't know: there are ski jump ramps with a large pool at the bottom. The ski jumpers can practice year round this way. There are pipes in the bottom of the pool to pump air to help keep the jumpers afloat. There are also big, ok, they look like huge slip-n-slides down the side of the hill. Big ones and little one. I think those might be to just practice form cause there is no jumping. The boys really loved those. Pach had on some running pants, so they were slick. Both he and Pickle climbed up these things and Pach started sliding down, fast. At one point he looked totally freaked out and Tim hurried to catch him. However, just before he got to Tim, Pach started smiling and realized he wasn't really in trouble.

We also saw the bobsled course which was fun to see. It had started to rain so we didn't go all the way to the top but it was still really cool.

After that we headed to downtown Park City and walked around. Thankfully it had stopped raining. It was still a bit cold, in the 40's but not wet too. We all had a great time.

The boys and the downhill skiing simulator.

Tim enjoying the fun as well.

The older boys and the slalom ski run. Bacon wanted to try.

The younger two. Bacon was not going to be left out.

Bacon and dad with the Olympic torch.

The boys in the bobsled, a.k.a. "It's a rocket mom!"

Looking out over the ski jump practice pool.

Another ski jump practice run.

The bobsled course.

Part of the bobsled course.

Carrie Underwood!!

This was the second (and final) concert of the year for me and probably for awhile. I hooked up with my sister and her place, changed, got dinner and headed to the concert. Her GPS said to go one way and that way was BACKED UP, so we followed the signs on the freeway and got there way faster and even got pretty good parking. This was her first every concert, so that was totally fun for me to be a part of.

We had good seats, 4 rows up from the floor, straight back from the stage. The opening act was Hunter Hayes (I think). I'd never heard of him, nor had my sister but ALL THE TEENAGE GIRLS knew who he was (or at least it seemed like all of them from the screaming).

Carrie's concert was quite the undertaking with big projection screens that moved, the videos, the airborne craft, sparkles, beach balls, leis, confetti, smoke and fans. It was pretty cool though. She played all of her big heats and some of her smaller ones. She had 4 or 5 wardrobe changes and they were interesting, especially the brass knuckle gloves (that's what I call them). They are little gloves that only cover a small portion of your fingers, like brass knuckles. I'm told those type of things are very trendy right now. I think they are ridiculous.  I found she really likes dresses which are short in the front and long in the back, at least most of her outfits fit that description. Some were ok and others were, well, interesting.

The only bad part was the sound :(  The sound guy was either really bad or has a hearing problem. On the quieter, slower songs, everything was fine. However, on the louder, faster songs there was screechy feedback. It was like the sound people didn't notice, though they should have. It was still a fun concert.

The opening act. He was ok. All the teenage girls LOVED him.

Mols and me. It was her first concert ever. Yay it was with me!

The Concert is starting!

Carrie Underwood!!!!

I really liked the lighting here.

This was her best outfit by far. She was hanging from the rafters during this set.

Duet with the opening act. You can't see it but her pants are horrible!

Closing out the show. Singing the last song of the encore and the title
song to her tour: Blown Away.

Temple Square (Salt Lake City)

We had a great time in Utah. We stayed in Park City, Utah, which was a new adventure for us and a great one. It was really nice to have a condo with plenty of space for all of us and our things. We had 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room and of course, the main area.

We decided to spend a day at Temple Square with the boys. We wanted to show them the Salt Lake Temple, the visitor center, the Tabernacle and the Conference Center. So Wednesday was the day.

I had to pick something up from my brother, who works in downtown Salt Lake. We stopped by his office (on the 3rd floor) and he took us up to the 18th floor (top floor) to see downtown. You could see everything! The boys favorite was watching the planes land and take off from the airport. We had a great view of Temple Square and got some better pictures of Uncle Sam and the boys (no one was crying).

Then off we went to Temple Square. It was great with the boys. We stopped a reflecting pool and got a few pictures. On the way, Bacon found a chestnut and kept it with him the whole time. Whenever it went rolling away (which was very often) one of the other boys would give it back to him. The funniest moment with the chestnut was in the Tabernacle. The floor slopes a little bit and he didn't know that. The chestnut started rolling and he ran after it. When he bent over to pick it up, he face planted into the floor and his little legs flew up in the air! Tim and I started laughing! He just hadn't expected that sloped floor!

The boys got to see The Christus up close and personal. They were pretty well behaved as we took a few pictures and talked about it. As you enter the visitor's center where the Christus is, sits a large, square table with a model of Jerusalem in it. There are buttons to push which light up places important in Christ's life and death: the Mount of Olives, His Tomb, the Garden of Gethsemane, etc. There are also buttons which narrate what each place is. Pach LOVED it. He stood there with grandpa listening and watching everything.

We got separated from grandpa, grandma, Pach and Pickle at the Conference Center. Bacon and I headed one way to meet up with Tim, who had to go the long way with the stroller. We also got a bit lost but eventually found the right spot. During our tour we ran into the boys with the grandparents. Bacon ended up falling asleep but they all had a good time.

After all that, Tim, the boys and his parents got in the van and headed back to Park City for the night. I got in Tim's parents car (thank-you for letting me borrow it) and headed off to Sandy to my sister's place. I changed, we went to dinner and then headed out to the Carrie Underwood Concert. That will be on the next post.

FAVORITE PARTS: We found all three Halloween costumes for 85% off (my favorite). I think their favorite would be getting candy and chocolate from The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The boys (Tim included) were in heaven.

Better pictures with Uncle Sam. The top floor of Uncle Sam's work place.

Silly boys!

From Uncle Sam's office building. Temple Square. 

Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Temple Square.

Inside the Tabernacle, Temple Square.

Salt Lake City Temple

The boys in front of the Cristus Statue at the
Visitor Center on Temple Square.

Uncle Sam's Birthday!!!

We arrived on Monday the 8th in Park City, where we stayed this time. Tuesday the 9th was my brothers birthday. We invited him and my sister to the condo we were renting for a little birthday party. Sam (my bro) chose a Black Forest Cherry Cake and we picked up some vanilla ice cream.

It was little gathering. We were there with the boys, Tim's parents were there and then my sister Molly and of course, the birthday boy.

He received some handmade cards colored by the older boys. There was lots of pink and purple on the cards. Each boy signed his name and it was cute. I let the boys pick which present they got to give Uncle Sam and then put the cards in the respective bags. Sam opened Pickle's first, which was a half-pint of homemade blackberry jam. Anyone who knows Sam, knows he loves homemade blackberry jam. Next was Pach's present, a batch of homemade Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies. Those are Sam's favorite cookies. Needless to say, Uncle Sam gave out and received some serious high-five's for those gifts!

It was fun to be able to celebrate his birthday, on his birthday, with him and my sister. It was really nice to spend time with family too.

It says "Happy Birthday Sam!" If I'd known how dark it
was going to be, I would have picked yellow......

The goods. The card showing is the one from
me, Tim and Bacon.

Pickle's card and present.

Pach's card and present.

Pure happiness. The cookies didn't travel as well
as I'd hoped but that was no problem for Sam.

Bacon, getting some cookie love from Uncle Sam.

Cutting the cake. I forgot to get candles. :(

Unhappy little boys. 

Still trying for a shot of happy boys.

The boys shooting Uncle Sam with their guns. Ha! Sam said,
"Show me your guns" meaning muscles and they
put out their fingers making their guns and starting shooting away!

Off to Utah (a.k.a Cougarland)

We decided to take a vacation to Utah this past October so Tim could see BYU play someone. He chose the BYU vs. Oregon State game. We headed up a week before the game and decided to do the drive up in 2 days. We stopped in Henderson, NV and had a painful night. We've done this a few times now and though we think it's a great idea, it isn't.

The boys go absolutely NUTS in the hotel room. This time was even worse because Bacon was added to the mix. At one point, Tim and Pickle got locked out of the room, I was indisposed, which left Bacon and Pach to run free. Bacon, we found out later, kept picking up the phone and calling the front desk. Later, he threw up a little from all the excitement. That added with the poopey diaper.... We got lucky with the dinner. It drowned out all the other stink. When we headed to bed, I started out with Bacon but later ended up with Pach and Pickle and Tim was with Bacon. The older boys wouldn't sleep on the pull out bed because it was "ouchy". Indeed it was a highly uncomfortable pull out bed. So I suggested they sleep with me in one bed and Tim could sleep with Bacon. Well, I laid on my back all night with my arms wrapped around 2 little boys. Not very comfortable. When I didn't have my arms out, I was getting kicked and punched by little hands and feel. Tim was getting knocked around my Bacon, who doesn't lay remotely still when he sleeps. At one point I woke up to use the bathroom and Tim was barely on the bed and Bacon's head was mid-thigh on Tim and his feet in Tim's face. Needless to say, we didn't actually get very much sleep that night.

The boys loved it though. Pizza delivery to the room, all sorts of new pillows and things to play with and the all exciting breakfast buffet in the morning! All in all, it wasn't a horrible night but not the most pleasant one either. Here are some photos of their joy:

On our way! Bacon had a great time with that computer.

He is wearing 2 different clip-on ties.
He wouldn't take them off. He kept saying
he was a missionary.

He really likes to put shoes on.

The all exciting cupboard. That occupied his attention for
at least 45 minutes.

Pickle attacking Pach. They were hilarious!