Success

I made it. Another November with 100% posting. Amazingly, I am not all caught up, but I have done enough posting that I feel I can stay on top of things through December. We'll see though. I am known to take an ample siesta from blogging after spending 30 days attached to my computer.

Today was a perfect day to switch gears. We packed up our thankful turkeys (plus one) and put up the Christmas tree. I have some cute pictures but I am too lazy to edit them right now. Plus I am trying to watch an action movie while typing and it isn't going so well.

So I'll leave you with one more turkey. June had a book report project to make a 3D turkey. Then she answered questions and pinned them to his feathers. She removed the papers so she could keep her turkey as a decoration. I think he turned out pretty cute.

Now to go finish watching the movie with my other turkey. (Insert picture of Tyler here. Ha ha.)

Blackedy Black Friday

Last year was much less crazy in the shopping department on Black Friday and I chalked it up to more online shopping and, of course, the fact that many of the stores opened the day before, on Thanksgiving.

This year was the same story. We gals didn't leave until seven a.m., crowds were minimal, and lines were almost non-existent. Granted, we weren't after any of the 'hot' items. I did hear of check-out lines in Best Buy circling the store. One lady said a man came by saying if you bought a printer, he would move you right to the front of the line. She gladly accepted his offer, bypassing hundreds of people. (She plans on returning the printer...that seems kind of shady to me, but I have never been a very devious shopper.)

I was done with most of my shopping already, but I still found a few great deals for the kids. Also a toy for mom and dad, but I can't tell you about that yet. (Gotta keep Christmas presents a secret.)

The kids had a relaxing day as well. Dressing up is a common past time at Grandma's. Guess which kid?

This one is a little easier to guess.

Nothing like breakfast as a princess.

Later, Grandma talked us girls into trying something new she found at the fair. It is lipstick that dyes your lips so it doesn't come off when you kiss someone. (Or on a glass, etc.) It is quite the process putting it on. You have to stretch your lips so the dye can get into all the cracks and crevices.

Then you have to put on three coats and then some gloss. End result is some pretty vibrant lips. Yow!!

Not sure if it is quite my style, but it was fun to try something new. Jami declined the added color. Kat looked rather striking with her dark lips. We all went out to lunch and had a great time. I really like going out with the girls.

Games were played by all. On Thanksgiving KJ had this amazing roll in Farkle. He started the game with a roll of 7100. The goal is to get to 10,000, so naturally he smoked us all.

We played lots of chicken-foot dominoes, and we introduced the boys to Mao.

We ended the evening with throwing all the kids into the suds-mobile. (Apparently they were out of bubble bath, so Grandma used dish soap.)

Check out the frosted Daisy.

It was a great weekend. We always love to spend time with Jami, Kat, Kolby, JR, and all the cousins. I told Tyler today that we needed to get a picture of each family before we left. He dutifully dragged everyone outside for a picture. Kolby's family was up first. Tyler made a mistake I make all the time and he didn't check the camera settings. I give you Cazier's in a snowstorm.

Some might call it a REALLY blown out photo. I tried to darken it up, but sometimes there isn't much to darken.

Tyler redeemed himself by taking very nice photos of JR's family.

Cameras are tricky things. I have a hard time blaming anyone for not taking a perfect picture because I mess it up all the time. Plus, if the settings are shallow, it is hard to get everyone in focus. JR tried here, but didn't quite make it.

I took my turn behind the camera. My only goal was to get Dad to smile. I almost got him...

 Goodbye for now Idaho and family. Every time we come there are laughs and love waiting for us. Thank you for being so awesome!!


p.s. That was Daisy up there. Almost forgot to mention that.

The Feasting

Besides the fact that I still think Thanksgiving has more food than anyone really needs, I had a great time and there is no substitute for family time. Tyler had the camera this time. Forgive some blurry pictures. I left them in because they are still of great people.

I'm not sure how to share this next information. It is much easier to relay good news than bad. Barry (Tyler's Dad) was diagnosed a week ago with pancreatic cancer. It is not operable, and Barry does not want to do chemotherapy. (The result would be the same regardless, chemotherapy would only delay the end by a few months possibly.) He doesn't have a lot of time left. Most probably less than a year.

It has been a difficult holiday with many tears knowing our time with Barry is limited. He is such an amazing man with a strong testimony of the gospel. He has always been an example to me and I treasure his advice and wisdom. He is currently serving as the Branch President of the Singles Ward in Idaho Falls. However just a day after his diagnosis, a general authority came to extend to him the calling of Stake President. The call never came as news of his imminent death was shared. But I think Barry can feel confident that he is worthy of great responsibility from the Lord.

I will miss him terribly when he is gone. (Everyone will.) He always has a way of cheering those around him. I hope that we can do the same for him during the time we have left. When it is his time to return home, I'd like to think that he will be watching over us still.

3.14 for Breakfast

Pie for morning festivities has been a tradition for a while in the Cazier household. Barry bought pies at three different stores so we could sample the wares and choose the winner. I vote Raspberry pie from Frontier Pie. I believe that was Barry's favorite as well.

Things are always a little chaotic in the best way during Thanksgiving time. Tyler and I alternate picking up the camera. We get random shots here and there. There isn't always a lot of rhyme or reason, but I picked out my favorites from the morning. Hope you see something that makes you smile.

I am sorry that I didn't get a picture of Pearl. She came to me later in the day with the messiest raspberry pie face you ever did see. I think she was busy licking the last bits off the pie plate. I sent her to the bathroom to get cleaned up instead of getting the camera. Pity.

Stay tuned for the evening feasting...

Excellent

The Young Women have an evening each year called 'Young Women in Excellence.' They showcase  projects and experiences finished in Personal Progress. Personal Progress is not new to me--we did it back when I was young. But they certainly have changed a lot of the program. Now there are ten hour projects that need to be completed for each value. (Yes, I'm assuming at the moment that my readers have some previous knowledge of many things LDS. If you don't have any clue what I am talking about, just nod politely and continue reading. You don't really need to know all the details.)

June has been in Young Women's for a total of two months, not nearly enough time to have finished the multiple experiences that lead up to starting a ten hour project. But any contribution is applauded on this special evening. It is quite a fancy affair. They rolled out a red carpet and made cute decorations.

They had a table for each value. June did her small (not ten hours) project in Divine Nature. She read some talks, asked me what characteristics are important for Motherhood and then she practiced patience for a couple weeks. Here she is being cute. And yes, she kind of lives in that mint hoody right now. It is definitely 'red carpet' material.

Here is June with some of her cute friends.

Next year I expect she will have some projects to show off, but for now I am content to enjoy even her small achievements.

Even Bloggers Need a Day Off

Watching a show with the hubby tonight.

Ever seen Flawless?

It is streaming on Netflix right now.

Thankful Turkey 2014

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving time without a new turkey at the Cazier's. This is turkey number 9. Next year it will be a decade of turkeys. Crazy how time flies.

This year was Pearl's year to chose the turkey design. I usually just type 'turkey cartoon' or 'turkey drawing' into google images and let the kids pick the one they like. Then, we try to get as close as possible while still making it our own.

Luckily I am pretty good at looking at something and drawing freehand on my own. (Granted, this is usually with simple images. No shading or detail please.) I put my computer on the table next to me and minutes later I had this guy sketched.

Pearl loved him. She showed everyone her turkey and talked about him all the time. Here she is doing a flapping turkey imitation.

He didn't have a lot of wing space, so we drew messages all over his body. I liked how he turned out.

He looks like he is ready for dinner. Let's hope 'turkey' is not on the menu. Actually, we already ate our turkey this year. Tyler gets a turkey every year from his work, and he texted me the day it arrived. I told him, "Good, we can put it in the freezer next to the one from last year." (Since we never have Thanksgiving at home, sometimes I forget about the turkey.)

Tyler texted me the next day. "Want turkey for dinner tonight? I left it on my desk overnight and it is nice and thawed."

Don't worry, it was well packaged, so he didn't have a puddle on his desk. But I did cook the turkey so it wouldn't go to waste.

But we wouldn't eat this guy. He looks too...strange.

Happy Thanksgiving. May you be thankful for all your blessings.

Shaking Trees and Raking Leaves

Come to think about it, the pine tree has not been dropping needles as much this year. Last year we raked them up and made a huge nest around Halloween time. This year I'm sure Tyler has mowed up plenty of them, but there haven't been enough to really worry about them, let alone rake. (Maybe it just sheds every other year??)

Our other leafy trees have dropped their cargo in accordance with Fall regulations. Some of them had a little extra help. There is a little tree on the sport court side of the fence that has funny pods. I believe it is a locust tree, but June calls the pods 'banana shakers.' Pearl likes to stand and shake the heck out of the tree. Amazingly, the pods don't really come off, but Pearl is often covered in a flurry of yellow leaves. I took a picture back when Pearl was getting some good use out of the shaking.

The kids are very good about helping if we ask and many times this fall they have been motivated to get the rakes out on their own volition. I caught them helping one day and being adorable, of course. Daisy is working hard.

I know Pearl is a blurry blob here, but I loved how she would get a scoop of leaves and then throw them in the bigger pile.

I think this rake is bigger than Daisy.

Ivory got some cool gardenish gloves from trick-or-treating. She was using them while she raked. (Which is good. Some of those handles give you slivers.)

 Most of the leaves are gone which is good because snow is just around the corner. We woke up to a dusting on the ground this morning. Jack Frost is starting to leave not so subtle hints that he is setting up camp and staying for a while.

Goodbye Fall. *sigh*