TURKEY WEEK!

Just a few pictures from the week of Thanksgiving. We had a such great time! Here are just a few things we're thankful for!
1. Karaoke and those purely skilled at dancing!


2. That we don't have any Javelina (A.K.A "giant Rats") in our yard, though some unfortunate AZ residents do!



3. Grandmas, Grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins!



4. Our little Paigey, and now she's 4! Happy Birthday, we love you!






5. Fried Turkey, Fried Potatoes . . . heck, fried anything!



6. Halloween in November, and of course . . having a house full of family to share Thanksgiving dinner with!



7. The temple . . . even without the Christmas lights on!



The list could go on, but since I have already written a short novel, we'll end on that note!

Sedona

Camp Verde

Tyler took this one! I'm so proud!



Montezuma's Castle (Indian Ruins)


Slide Rock Park






Cairns "Prayer Rocks"






Cathedral Rock



This weekend we went to Shane's continuing education conference in Sedona, AZ. It was fun to get away and see the gorgeous red rocks. We went to Slide Rock Park, which is a kind of swimming hole in the summer and the kids put their feet in. I went into red rock crossing park and took some pictures of Cathedral Rock. I could have stayed there all day. It was so quiet and peaceful by the creek and the view was just amazing. Along the trail there was a section across the creek full of "cairns." People pray or make wishes as they stack the rocks. I couldn't believe that they stayed put like that. Such a delicate balance. I was afraid I might step wrong and knock over someone's "prayer." I don't know if they withstand the weather, but I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.

I guess that's only my version of the trip. I'm sure the kids saw the trip through totally different eyes. I suppose that their favorite parts were jumping from bed to bed at the Days Inn in Camp Verde,(which Inn I would not recommend) lounging on the hide-a-bed in the Hilton Sedona, visiting the toy shop in downtown Sedona, swimming in the spa and "trick-or-treating" at the conference hospitality suites (displays from the optometry vendors). One room had a chocolate fountain that they couldn't get enough of. I said to Paige, aren't you glad that we're in this nice hotel? She said, "I liked the other one better. They had Scooby Doo and Tom and Jerry on their TV and fruit loops for breakfast." It just goes to show you, kids just aren't impressed by the glitz and glam. All they want is cartoon network and free breakfast.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween! We went to the trunk-or-treat last night. For all of you who don't know about the trunk-or-treat, that's when you forget to bring your camp chairs and make due with the available seating, which happens to be the trunk. We'll scrub out the chili stains later.


Tonight we went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

Doesn't Ty look happy to be taking yet another picture?



HERE'S TO CANDY, SPOOKS, BLACK HAIR DYE, GUMMY EYEBALLS, WENDY'S and SUGAR COURSING THROUGH YOUR VEINS!!!!!

We finally left the country!

I just have to say THANKS to Heidi and David for being our tour guides at Rocky Point Mexico this last weekend. We had such a great time! Neither of us have ever left the US. We camped on the beach and I have to say that I wasn't even envious of those up the beach in condos. We could just walk right out of our tent and there was the ocean. The water was so clear the first day, great for snorkeling, and the kids were in heaven with all the sand. The sunsets were incredible, the carne asada tacos were to die for and the wind was just right for kite flying. I have to admit, I was a little anxious about camping without facilities, but I'll give a hearty shout out to Rustin and Erica for their better-than-porta-potty toilet tent. Even Paige was fine with using it, and she's pretty picky. I've never seen Shane so relaxed for a 4 day period. He rode quads, snorkeled to the reef and did all of that with a Mountain Dew in his hand! Tyler rode a banana boat for the first time and Paige took her first real swim in the ocean. I soaked up the sun, took a bazillion pictures and enjoyed not hearing the phone ring. We're definitely on board for next year!

Band-aids might cure cancer!

You may as well know the secret we've been keeping. Band-aids can cure anything . . . possibly even cancer. Paige is working on the research now. She started yelling during dinner that her lip hurt. "I think I need a band-aid" she sobbed. When I said "no" the sobs turned to full out screaming and writhing in pain. Sometimes you do what you have to do to make the noise stop, so we headed to the bathroom for a band-aid, and SURPRISE the pain immediately stopped. IT'S A MIRACLE! Dr. Shane's diagnosis . . . sudden onset lip pain. How can you take a kid seriously when they have a band-aid on their lip?