Slow Start

It looks like I am off to a slow start at recording and sharing this wonderful new year. I like a good reason to "start over" and to "try a little harder to do a little better" {favorite quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley}.
Today we visited with Grandpa Bear at the ranch for a little bit. Every time we visit I wonder why we don't take more time from our lives to share with him. His cheerful attitude and wonderful stories make me a happier girl when I leave. And the kids just love to tease and show off for him.
After school we took my shaggy-headed boys to get their hair cut by Aunt Adrienne. She always does such a great job. Adrienne, how do you always keep your house so clean and uncluttered? I want to be like you when I grow up!!

Just In Case

Just in case the 100 photos that I printed and the 100 cards I bought and the little messages I typed up don't make it to your mailbox before Christmas.

Just in case you don't get a Christmas card at all from us.
(Only because I do not have your address)

Just in case I can't do it all:)

Just in case....
Please know we wish you the very Merriest of Christmases and the
Happiest of New Years

P.S. I think that I have figured out the whole video thing. (at least I got them on the computer!) Be Prepared for some awesomeness coming your way.

Big Green Egg Turkey

Thanksgiving was at our house this year. It started out with the traditional turkey bowl, held in our yard. I think the only winner is the team that has the most fun. {How can you have a competitive football game with 6 to 10 year olds?} During the game the girls found a kitty that they carried around the yard the entire time. What a patient and good-natured animal to be so lovingly abused for such a long period of time. I'm wondering if that means that we have a cat now? It's name is Smokey, for what it's worth, and it's always trying to sneak into our house. I found it in the coat closet yesterday. P.S. I've since found out that it belongs to our neighbors who were away for Thanksgiving. It was fun while it lasted!Now, I'm sure the question burning in your minds is: What is a Big Green Egg Turkey?

Well, THIS is the Big Green Egg. It is a grill/smoker that will cook anything to perfection with a taste out of this world. Our favorite is salmon with asparagus. It can cook a mean steak too.

And THIS is the Big Green Egg Turkey.
Yes, it is for real. And it tasted just as good as it looks. We brined the turkey overnight and then in the morning we stuffed it with a mushroom stuffing (no, I do not like mushrooms, but we wanted to do it right) just under the skin. The recipe said that if the skin ripped you had to stitch it closed, so Nate took his stitching talent to the turkey, and voila! After 5 hours on the grill, we had a scrumptious turrkey.

This is Andrew. Need I say more?

For A

I really like to take pictures. Pretty amatuerish, but fun nevertheless, especially when I have such darling subjects like my nieces and nephews. Here are a couple from our "session."

I really did start a post about our Thanksgiving, but got a little crazy busy. I'll try to finish that before Christmas:)

A Little (Big) Favor

So, my second cousin-in-law is a phenomenal photographer and she agreed to take pictures of my beauties. I would like to brag about how wonderful they are turning out. I did promise, though, that I would respect her maternity leave (it's a boy - love little boys). So, no, she's not available now. I guess I'm just one lucky girl. And she's a great second cousin-in-law. Go to her blog to see her wonderful artistry and my loves. Allie Hoopes

Proof That I Was There Too

Amy, this one is for you. I really was there with Nate in the Bahamas. But really, who wants to post a swimsuit picture?!?!?!

This is Noah, bringing back the football Nate threw for him. The kids loved it that Nate played football with a dolphin.

And I got to hug him. He was so funny with a great personality, and it was fun to watch him play and be distracted. The football was only there to keep him on task, but I think we enjoyed the football part most.

And I forgot to tell one of the funniest stories of the trip. On the day we flew out, my mom showed the girls on the map where we were going, and looked at it periodically throughout the day. About dinnertime Emma said to my mom, "Grandma, is my mom in the Obamas yet?" What a perfect statement for the day after the election, coming from a little girl in a Republican household.

BahamaLand

Nate and I were blessed to have a little "get away" last week. Several months ago, a company sent him a brochure about a conference they were hosting at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island of the Bahamas. And he decided he wanted to go. It was a very fun and incredibly relaxing trip. My mom flew out (THANKS MOM!) and stayed with the kiddos for the week. I'm pretty sure that it was great for all of them. Clay even had to take a living show-and-tell (grandma) on Tuesday after we got back. He told some pretty random things about her: how Uncle Andrew's car used to be hers, but he's the youngest and needed the car; how she let them play the x-box when they were done with all their chores; how he likes to play at her house because she has a huge Rescue Heroes ship that they can play with when they go there; but the very cutest thing was at the end, and the teacher asked if there was anything else, he wrapped his arms around her and said, "and I love her." It was just so sweet I wanted to giggle. They made bracelets, turkeys out of cookies, and chocolate butterflies for Vanessa's cupcakes. It sounds like they had fun. I think they needed a break from me just as much as I needed a little break.

Nate, cruising down this insane slide that tunnels through a pool of sharks. Funny thing is that you go too fast to actually see any of them.
Lovely beaches Lonely palm tree

Even more lovely beaches

Amazing aquariums


Unique cultural experience at the Fish Fry.

The rats were much bigger than the fish, but the fries were surely bigger than the cockroaches.

Beauty

The t-shirt says it all. Many people in the Bahamas sported t-shirts declaring their support of the newly elected American President. According to one fellow we talked to, he is the man who will create peaceful resolutions and cure the ailing US economy, on which the Bahaman economy depends for its own well being {tourism}. I really hope they're right.

Atlantis Resort

Morning walk on the beach. Quiet. Peaceful. Salty ocean air blowing through my hair. Ocean waves teasing my toes. Rhythmic pounding of the waves against the shore. What is there not to love?