Getting the Christmas tree.

So, we went to get our Christmas tree. It was a beautiful day. Not raining, not real cold. Just a nice day for looking for that perfect tree. It seems every year one of the kids gets in one of these tree nest things for a picture! This year it was Luke.

Sam and David looking for that perfect tree? Or not!

The kids all loved this tree. I do not know why we did not get this tree. It looks lovely in the pictures. Maybe it just seemed to soon. And it is pretty skinny on top.

Everyone has their favorite tree. Luke's was too small.

Isaac's was a little taller but still not quite it.
Okay, this is a nice tree that David picked but you have to admit it is the wrong color! We kind of like the green ones.

Sometimes it gets a little confrontational and you have to take the saws away from the children.

Isaac cut down the tree we found for Far Mor.

Hannah cut our tree down.

She was very proud of herself.

This is my job, push the tree to the side as they cut to help them along! I know I look like I put on a few pounds over Thanksgiving, but I am carrying the camera, my phone, extra gloves and car keys in my jacket pockets!

The two lumber jacks!

This is where our tree once stood!

Here are the boys waiting for us to pay for the tree. They don't really mind this part because the girl in charge of the tree farm is really quite cute!

Here are the trees loaded in the truck. And the boys putting up with mom and posing with the trees.

Here is the tree the first time we brought it in. It was touching the ceiling and we were unable to put the star on.

So, Rob took it back out and cut off a little more. Now it fits. We always have the tree in the house for a day or two before we decorate it. Sometimes it looks so nice it makes me wonder why we put all that stuff on it! But put stuff on it we will! Right now it smells so Christmassy! Millie

More Thanksgiving pictures!

Tommy playing something with Luke looking on.

Kathi had us all put on name tags with our name and a word that started with the same letter to describe us. Here is David looking through a dictionary to find the right word!

Julie finally getting her food. She is usually the last because she is watching over her sugar rolls. This year I am happy to say we did not have a burnt batch!

Stina and Dale chatting over their dinner.

I love this picture of Rob's mom Barbara and his Aunt Fran visiting as they ate.

Of course we have the pictures of Hannah with her bros. Here she is with David.

And her she is with Isaac.

Rob and Sam.

Millie and Hannah. I was magnificent Millie and she was Helacious Hannah. I don't think she minded so much until she looked up the meaning of helacious!!

Luke and Kurt. Got to love that hat!

Sam and David.

Carol, Julie and Kathi hanging in the kitchen. Julie's famous sugar rolls are pictured in front of Carol. Yum!!

Rob and the questionable drink. It was a mango drink with a raw ingredient (can't remember what it was called, started with a K) and the label said it was full of love. It tasted like it was full of alcohol! So he threw it away.

Tommy plugged in and Caleb.

The boys always have a pinecone was outside. Not sure what was happening here with Caleb. Obviously not his best picture!

Frank handing out the project he and Julie have been working on for Christmas. Each family got one. I would have taken a picture of mine to show but I don't have one yet. We were not expecting Cindi and Arlee so mine went with one of them. I have been assured I will get one!
Then I will post a picture.

I thought this was a picture of David and Sam playing the piano at the school while we were cleaning up. But it is a picture of them playing the piano after we got home. Millie

The people!

This year we had more people than ever come to our Thanksgiving Feast! It was great fun. It begins with everyone bringing in all the food. And this year Kathi (Rob's cousin brought name tags, which was a great idea!)

This was the cool boys table! Valerie and Stina were also sitting there.

Another cool boys table! With Chase in the background. Kathi also brought place mats and napkins in holders for the tables. She added some class to our party.

Henriksons in front, Hemmingers and Lee Soder in back.

Bobby John's (we still call him that!) and Jeanne's families. Plus Steve Taylor with his back to us!

Courtney and her fiance here. It was a surprise to us all. His name is Keith and the wedding is planned for April 28.

Grandpa Frank and Ike's family.

This time Jerry and Lee and Deb in front and the Henriksons in back! In the left is the food line.

Orey and Peg and family. It was fun to have Robbie and Sydney there.

And an added surprise. Cindi and her family showed up in time for desserts. Yes that is Ben with a girl!! Arlee and Stu and the girls were also there. Our final count was 52!! It was great to be with everyone. Thanks everyone for coming and for all the fun. Millie

Oh my the food!

Once again I failed to get pictures of our Thanksgiving feast! And believe me it was a feast. We had an table set up for just the desserts and another for the salads and appetizers. Then we had the main buffet area with the turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy, dressing, veggies, and rolls. Of course mom's sugar rolls were a hit, they always are.

We were in charge of one of the turkeys. Here it is still in its bag and full of stuffing. Does not look so big here. It was a 20 pounder.

Also did cranberry relish. It is just so pretty. Maybe not so much in the picture!

We also did 10 lbs of mashed potatoes. Yum!

A cherry pie that sprang a little leak but was still very good.

And a couple of pumpkin pies. I tried to be creative and do the little pumpkins around the edge and in the middle. The other one had little turkeys. Just made for extra crust! Oh well. It was great eating with all the other food! We all got way too full! I always think I will not have to eat again for a few days but seem to be hungry later that night and have to have another piece of pie and pull out the left overs! Will definately need to do some extra walking today! Probably at the tree farm looking for the perfect tree!! Yay!! Millie

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I know this is a picture from last year's feast, new pictures may come tonight, more likely tomorrow! Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving and have the opportunity to reflect on all you have to be thankful for. Millie

I am thankful the leaves are all gone!

Yes our tree is finally bare! Yea! No more raking. We are so happy. We have had 3 days of almost non stop rain. And not the light little showers you may be thinking of. We are talking downpour, water running in the streets rain.


Isaac and Luke are tired of being in the house all day so they built a shelter with the tarp and put the picnic table under it!

It is a little saggy here because they need to dump the water off it! They played and carved sticks and enjoyed being out side even though it was raining. It was nice to have them out side for a while! Millie