Thanks for giving

Isn't thanksgiving just nice? We had an AMAZING weekend full of family, turkey, pies, visiting friends, dishes, sleeping, black Friday shopping, cleaning, decorating, movies, smiling for photos, holding new babies, playing football, running, more movies and turkey.
Turkey is really my favorite food of thanksgiving. I'm a real meat-eater and I just can't get enough turkey and gravy on my plate... In fact hunter was sent back at thanksgiving feast #1 to get me an entire plate of pit-smoked turkey with luscious gravy.
Mandi and Clint (hunter's sister and husband) hosted the fam bam Wednesday night for pie making. Their neighbors and our good friends Ty and Matt's parents the Hansons always have a huge fire pit in the yard and invite all to come throw their turkey or ham in the 'oven'. It made a delicious bird for the next day.
Pie making is an annual event most anticipated by the garners as they are serious pie makers... All scratch. Really everything is made from the bare ingredients. It's a busy, aromatic night.

The following morning hunter and I got up to find that our birdie was still slightly frozen... After my silent swearing and frustration, I chilled out and went along my turkey prep as usual and after a little less than an hour of skinning and seasoning the bird was set to go. Thank goodness! Total thanksgiving day nightmare no. 29 "frozen turkey".
Hunter then joined the ward machos for some morning football in our neighborhood park, while I venture out for a brisk walk/run. I called my mother an her sisters and my good friend Harmoni. After 1.5 hours of conversations an 2.5 miles of distance, I headed home to shower and get reay for Wheeler-palooza.
Hunter's mother is one of fifteen children and many of those children's children have babies of their own so it's quite a production when the Wheelers gather....but the food is out of this world! So so good and so so much! In the picturs below make sure to notice the fancy candy turkeys that aunt Julie made this year... So cute! Shelly my sis in law is modeling them for us.
June, Reagan, Maesyn, and jake pose for the camera too.
Notice the pies and my awesome mother in law, sisters in law, and cousin in law.
Afterwards we had another fabulous dinner at my parents house which was opposite of the wheelers, there were 5 of us. Hunter and I really have the best of both worlds with our families. My mom did the best job with all the sides and hunter and I brought the turkey and stuffing. E
We then enjoyed a relaxing movie and it was off to the garners to prep for black Friday... My favorite day of the year!!!

Suppa Tribe

Happy Thanksgiving, Suppa Club!  Jenny and William and June hosted.  Lovely atmosphere, food and friends.  Red wrote about it too.   She gives all the details- as it WAS her party.  

My contribution- Butter Pecan Cheesecake with chocolate ganache 

aw.... this face. 

It's NOVEMBER!!

Goals for November:

***Keep a list journal every day of
 1.  What I am thankful for
 2.  What I accomplished that day.
 3.  Acts of service that I gave or that others gave me.

This is the one I am really excited about....


***Bake something every day from now until Christmas.  


This one is crazy.  I might or might not blog about each one of them here.    Also, this is an open invitation to come over any night to taste or take some of the baked goods.  I'm totally serious.  And I would be very excited if someone actually came over.  
-Tonight I'm making Chocolate Chip Cake- an old favorite from my mom's kitchen. 


***Never complain about being cold. 

Halloween 2011

I am terrible at taking pictures.

That said, this is Hunter at my parent's Trunk or Treat party.  

Hunter dressed as my Dad.  Hilarious.  Dad was so happy and honored I think. 

This was my favorite trunk.  It looked WAY better in person.  But it was a scene from Tangled.  Cute. 

We hosted our ward trunk or treat (with tons and tons and tons of help that I cannot even list because so many people helped!).  This is me and Hunter in our official Halloween 2011 costumes.  Mary Poppins and Chimney Sweet Bert.  These were SO FUN to wear.  We've been putting them together these last few weeks.  

Hunter actually made a fire in our firepit this day so he could properly cover himself in real soot.  

And he made his own chimney sweet broom/ brush thing. 

A special shout out must go to Jenny and William for volunteering to DJ our party.  THANK YOU!!!

Halloween night we kept it simple by making pasta, carving a pumpkin and handing out candy.  

I've been throwing a baby shower?

I think this is a very good excuse for not blogging in months.  

And!  it is also a great reason to blog!  

My in-laws and I were happy to host a beautiful shower for our soon to be new niece- Abigail!  

The happy parents, Sarah and Benson can't wait to meet their little girl! 

Throwing showers is one of my favorite things in the world.  

We had a yummy brunch-type menu. 

Mini quiche, skewered bacon, buttermilk waffles, fruit & granola parfaits and fresh fruit .

Love this view of the spread. 

A few games and activities...

There is a question as to what Abigail's middle name will be- so Sarah asked for suggestions from shower guests.

Aunt Becky, Grandma Pam (who celebrated her birthday on the shower day!), and Auntie Mandi

Sarah opening her lovely gifts.

Great-Grandma June Dorothy even came!  This might have been her last venture out of her house.  We love her so much!  Glad she came. 

Four pregnant girls at the shower! 

See better pictures at the Sarah's post about her party. 

I've been visiting Temple Sites?

Gilbert Temple!  Totally worth the time to go visit if you haven't already.  

And this was like 2 weeks ago- so it's already more advanced than that! 

Mummy and Daddy

I've been in Utah?

Fall break 2011:  Utah Trip

I had a flight scheduled for Saturday morning.

Friday afterwork, Hunter and I were puzzled as to why he was not coming with me on my trip to Utah?

We couldn't figure out why...

So I called the airlines and cancelled my flight.  

We packed the car- really fast.  

And drove into the night!

We arrived at our buddy-friends Aaron and Kaci's at 2am.  We had a good chat and went to bed.

The next day we went to the Draper Utah Temple.  

Great View! 

The Cardons. 

It was freezing and there I was in my cute Arizona Summer outfit.  

Met up with friends for Pizza and thrift shopping.  

Spent a day with Laura and Steve and this new baby:

Hi Andrew.  

Great trip full of pumpkin bars, pumpkin cookies, apple pie, babies, friends, naps, fresh air and love.  

I've been dressing up?

Daphne is the best party host.  She threw a "Fourth of Ghouly" party- which was amazing in theory as well as in total production!  Basically it was a Patriotic Halloween party.  Great job.  

Here's a quick video of the surroundings, including, Jenny (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds) and baby June (Octopus' Garden).  

Hunter and I were Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter- back from the dead.  

WE threw these together in like 30 minutes- go us.  

Haunted Mantle- I loved the faux fire and mix of spooky sounds that Daphne created herself!  

Original artwork as well by the hostess. 

"I want you..."

And of course the un-photographed food was SOOO GOOD!!!   Shrimp, steak, cheese, and carrot soup!  YUM.  Thank you, Daphne!  

I've been cleaning?

Our friends, Kim and HL, moved into their new house that we've all been anticipating!  Hunter and I went over to give support and help out a little bit.  It was also Kim's birthday!  They are great new friends and we were glad to be there for them!  

*HL is not challenged... he is making a stupid face.  Kim was not pleased when she saw this picture.