Thanksgiving Day 2011: The Food

Thanksgiving is a day to eat and give thanks for all we have. It's also the day I cook all morning, eat for 15 minutes, and then clean up all afternoon. This year was not different except I had additional help. Rylee wanted to help so she could learn how to cook. Ryder wanted to help because he was hungry. Decorating takes lots of energy and he was starving. Reganne just wanted to watch tv.

Our meal turned out awesome if I can compliment myself. Good food, good friends The Wheelers, and sunshine.


The cleanup took awhile to complete. Just as I sat down to read the Black Friday Ads the little voices came that they were hungry again.


This time for snacks & desserts

Rylee....All For Me

2nd round of desserts, treats, and snacks.

Dacoda & Reganne... No for us.

We all went downstairs and crashed in front of the tv to watch Zookeeper. A cute movie for a tired family & friends.

Is it time yet to decorate???

Thanksgiving Day 2011: The Lights

Ryder has been so excited about Thanksgiving this year and not for the turkey, but to decorate for Christmas. All week he has asked how many days until we can decorate and watch Polar Express?



He was up early on Thursday morning and once he discovered it was the day he had been waiting for there was no stopping him. He followed Dave around the house asking if it was time yet to start?

Ryder waiting outside the bathroom door for Dad.

Finally, it was time to start and he patiently followed Dave around the yard with at least a hundred questions.

Don't fall Dad.

New Santa Blow Up.

The end result, nighttime pictures are not the easiest.

Now the question is when are we decorating inside?

Jubilee of Trees: Fashion Show

Monday came with a flurry of getting ready for the Jubilee of Trees Fashion Show. Rylee & Reganne were so excited to model again this year. Ryder was excited to go, but not so sure of modeling for everyone. Dave decided to watch the store so Natalie and her daughter could participate.

How do we look?

Posed in front of Dad's tree.

Ryder with his NICU Poster

I was excited for him to see it. However, he wasn't impressed by it but made sure that the baby in the picture was indeed him.

Did I really sleep in one of these?

He was full of questions about the bed. Was I as small as the doll inside? No you were a little bigger. As we talked about the bed people walking by asked if he was the boy in the picture. The main question was is he ok now? Which he just looked at them and buried his face in my skirt. I then said yes, very normal.

Waiting for the show to start.

And waiting...

More waiting....

It was finally time and everyone did a good job showing off their outfits. No tripping or mooning the audience this year. As soon as we were off stage it was a mad dash back to school for the girls as to not miss any of the fun activities planned for the afternoon.

Dave worked into the night and Tuesday all day to complete the dismantling the trees and delivering them for the foundation. This is always a fun weekend, but we are always glad to see it come to an end.

I Am Decorating

Saturday is the time to pick up the house and especially the bedrooms. The kids finished after much procrastination and arguing. Rylee asked for tape. I went to investigate what she was doing. She posted a sign on her door to please sign in before entering. She taped the paper and pencil to the door.

The tape never seemed to reappear. I asked Rylee if she still had it? I don't know what the reply.

Ryder promptly told me it was on his desk. Why do you have it? I am decorating was his reply.

Here is his sign in sheet.

You have your choice of marker, crayon, pencil, and oops the last marker fell off.

If you missed that sign in. Here is another one with the added touch of pictures to color on.

I am thankful for creative kids, washable markers, and scotch tape comes off.

Jubilee of Trees: Rylee's First Concert

The Jubilee of Trees started this week. This is always a great event to start the holiday season. It is full of Christmas trees, music, and fun activities. This year's charity concert was Colin Raye on Saturday night. If you don't know this about me I am a huge fan of his. Whenever he comes close to St George I try my hardest to attend. This year's event is no different, except that all monies raised goes to the NICU at Dixie Regional Medical Center. This is another place that holds a special place in our hearts. Grandma JeanAnn also came down and she had an extra ticket.

Yeah, My First Concert.

Rylee came along as Grandma's date. She had a good time other than having to wait in line forever (general admission seating), loud music (Mom's music), and late hours (lasted until 10:30). I asked her if she wanted to go to another concert. She replied not for awhile, a long while.

Ryder's NICU Poster...Graduate of 2007

He was lucky enough to be selected for his year. The 28 days he was there they had approx 30 babies in the NICU.

NICU Display

Ryder was one of the first babies to use the "Cadilac Bed" in our NICU.

Oh, Christmas Tree...Dad's Tree

Dave again this year helped design and make decorations for the Foundation's Tree. Three designers did a really good job.

Two more days for this awesome event.

I am grateful for two ears to hear the music I love. The great people who give of their time and money to attend these events. The wonderful medical professionals we have here in Southern Utah and their willingness to serve and love their patients.

2011 Adoption Celebration

This years celebration was at Vernon Worthen Park with all the adoption agencies in the county participating. The crowd wasn't very large and they were hoping to break a record with people being touched by adoption all in one place at the same time. They did have fun activities, food, and fun with new friends.

Handprints of all attendees being touched by adoption.

The girls had to make a print for Dad and they improvised.

Reganne's rainbow hand.

Yummy treats for a cool morning.

Doughnuts, hot chocolate, and soda.

Rock Climbing... Rylee wanted to give it a try.

Go Rylee, Go higher.

Up she goes with Reganne cheering her on.

It was fun morning with a special purpose. We are so thankful to be part of this group and knowing that this all because a special lady gave us the greatest gift of becoming parents to two awesome girls.

What did you say?

It has been a couple of weeks full of funny conversations and Dave & I asking "What did you say?

Look Mom, I'm a doctor. What did you say?

This was actually a flower hair clip that he clipped to his hair.

Reganne, what did you have for lunch?
I had chicken, nuggets, fries, and seaweed.
Seaweed??
Rylee, what did you have for lunch?
I had chicken nuggets, fries, and Kiwi.
Reganne did you try the Kiwi?
I licked it.
Did you eat it?
No, I licked it.
Did you like it?
It was ok.
Why didn't you eat it?
Because, I licked it instead.

Grandma can we have fish legs for lunch?
Ryder fish don't have legs.
Yes, they did we ate them.
When?
At Chuck a Rama.
We did?
Yes!
We ate shrimp.

I am sure there have been many more, but these are the latest. Kids say the craziest things.

Saturday Exploring: Zion National Park

Ryder was the only one excited about going hiking at Zion. Dave worried about the weather, Reganne & Rylee worried that it would be to cold, and I worried that I mixed the dates up and it wasn't a free day. Much to everyone's surprise the day turned out nice and you only needed a jacket. We also discovered that the kids have never been here. The last time we came was in 1994 on our first trip to Southern Utah.

Our first stop was at the park museam to look at displays and watch a quick movie about the park. Then we were off to explore. The falls colors were bursting around us.

Museum

The only one excited was Ryder.

We tried to find an easy hike for everyone. Emerald Pools was supposed to be the best one. It was perfect for us and about 100 other people.

This was perfect stop for a fall picture and collecting leaves.

Water Falls at the Emerald Pool

You can even walk under it.

Reganne was all for it, Ryder wasn't sure, and Rylee said no way she wasn't getting wet.

The Pool

Come on Ryder it's ok.

He was walking with his pants hiked up not to get wet. However, the water was coming from above not below. People around us were chuckling at him.

Another picture perfect spot. Smiles all around now. Could be we were headed dow the trail.

Mom's turn for a picture.

Wow!

Double Wow!

Time to stop exploring and eat lunch. We stopped at Wildcat Willie's very expensive and not very good.

The trip was successful they all fell asleep on the way home.

Were can we explore next month........

Saturday Exploring: Ghost Town of Grafton

This was Dave's weekend off and we were without plans or activities. It was Free National Park Day what better time to explore our neck of the woods. The weather promised to be cool with a 20% chance of rain. We set off with jackets.

First stop was the Ghost Town of Grafton.

Check out this house. Yuck there is a dead bird in one of the rooms.

Let me see!!!

Are there really ghosts?

The church / schoolhouse

Like Little House on the Prairie

What next??

The cemetary

What are the mounds?

A quick stop to the cemetary and checking out the names & dates on a few tombstones. Ryder asked why they planted flowers on the mounds. We tried to explain. However, his response was. So you die, they bury you, and plant flowers in you.

Time to get back in the monster truck and check out more things.

Soccer End of Season Party

The perfect way to send a crazy season is to have a party. Everything seems better when you party at the end. Thanks to AYSO Board (Craig Nebeker) for having the vision. There were smiles and squeals of delight when spotting someone from their teams. We had a good crowd for swimming, pizza, cookies, and prizes.

Pizza

Prizes

Swimming

More swimming

and even more.

This is the perfect way to end on a high note.l

The Pink Pirates

We must have a team picture before everyone left for the season.

Brooklyn, Nicole, Katie, Angel, Reganne, Kaylee, and Coach Heidi

Missing...Shelby & Coach Emily

How goofy can we be?