Thanksgiving

The two vacuum boys in our house.
The table all set and ready

The effects of great food!

The men get to clean....

More food...yummy pie. Mike found a new favorite with Hollie's invented Lemon. :)

Mike 'cleaning' shame on him making the missionary do all the work. Thanks Elder K.

The food started to take over, it had the opposite effect on them.

Too much???

I need some more opinions here. Carter has been going on and on about a black ninja that some of his friends see at the school. He has special stones that the ninja has been after, it really goes into much detail. Long story short, his teacher approached me today about how they are a little worried. Then his other teacher walked off and the main teacher said, "I'm not to worried, but Ms. ### is(they one who had left)."
I wasn't really worried about it either until now. Should I be? Carter is only 6 years old. Unless it is the time to break all other news to him about certain holidays etc....then who am I to judge. He is one of the few children now a days who are allowed to have an imagination and let it run. When I try to say that it is pretend and it's okay to say so then he gets all offended and feels bad that I don't believe him.
I don't exactly know what I am asking other than advice/opinion on the matter. At what age do you start breaking down that real vs. pretend world. Also, when I told him that he could always use his imagination to write a book about this pretend ninja he responded, "Well mom, I could but it would be non-fiction because it is real, mom." What do you say to that???

To open or not to open, that is the question?

I would like a blogger opinion on the following. Do you still find value in men opening doors for the ladies? I had three men open a door for me while I was out and about today. I didn't have the kids, it was just me. I tend to get more doors opened when I do have the children. I have noticed that on the bases I get more doors opened verses being out in civilian world. Is this kind of gesture a thing of the past? I will admit to you my feelings on the matter. I teach Carter that it is respectable to be a gentleman. He opens doors, lets the girls go first etc. I try to teach him that although the girls do not NEED him to do these things it is a way to show respect. I myself open doors for all people coming and going if I am right there and find it a way to show people I care. I don't feel this is just a man duty. Although today when this was happening I had men going out of the way to get to the door to open it for me. Each time I thought to myself, that is really kind and accept it as a gesture of kindness. So what are your opinions??

Progression

If you don't mind I am going to have one of those moments where I spew off some thoughts and hope they make sense. I had a great day today. I just had Mason and Brennan (the van was very quite). Maybe that is what provoked so many thoughts. We had to run a few errands and then go on the ultimate experience of a serious commissary run. I am talking the huge load that weighs 5 tons and you pray you will be able to push the cart again after your momentum has been stopped by someone who is obviously in a bigger hurry than you and cuts you off.
We had been to the BX and the BXtra already. Mason had successfully tried his best to get me to buy some Cinnabon and I diligently refused. He helped with getting the items needed and walked out nicely. That is a HUGE achievement for Mason. At the commissary we had the opportunity to wait for a cart that Mason can sit in. You know, the one with the attachment at the back with two sitting portions. Mason likes to sit and that is fine with me. Mason was touching every few people and wanting to say, "Hi." It was funny to see him actually reach out and attempt some communication with people he did not know. This is again something that is out of the norm. Mason sat the whole time, helped with the shopping some. :) Mostly he just wanted to be there and observe people. On the way home Mason and Brennan were watching Signing Time. That is a favorite in our home and something that has helped Mason and the family with communication. Although Mason can't really do any of the signs perfectly he knows them and tries to do quite a few.
This gets me to my point, I think. At the end of the DVD there is a song about doing things in your own time, about everyone shining at some thing and that they are fabulous for what they do. I met a mother just a few months ago who's son was born without a femur bone. That portion of his leg had to be amputated and she was just so sad that this all was happening.(they had been tol deverything was fine from the ultrasounds) I took my four kids over to meet her and just spend some time with her so that she knew someone else went through that, "Trip to Holland when you expected Italy moment with having a child." She was visiting her sister here in England at the time. My kids were crazy for the 5 hours that we were there that first visit and I didn't know if I helped or just made things worse. She went back to Scotland and we hadn't talked since. However, she came down again this last week and saw me again. I do need to say that her boy has this smile that is fabulous and just this happy spirit about him. I adore him and have since the first time we met. He is almost 6 months old and is really doing great. She looked SO much better, so much more alive, smiled and laughed with me, it was so great. I had the best time just being with her and her son. Her and I were talking about the sting of other mothers 'bragging' about their children's accomplishments. Please do not take this wrong. I am so tickled when my kids do something, I brag and have to say a few words. I enjoy hearing about others milestones as well. It is when conversations steer in that direction of, "My kid did that at 5 months and hers was 10 months, he is so good blah blah blah." I do know most of you that read this, I think, and I can say that I really don't think any of you are that mom, but never the less they are out there. This song I was listening to really made me appreciate Mason for all he can do and all he can't do yet. He is fabulous for who he is. Carter amazes me with his mental abilities to get things that some adults don't get. Taylor blows me away with her need for independence and to be a free thinker from the pack. Brennan has this sweet loving personality and is always giving and always thinking. I have realized that my children are so individual and unique. They are truly separate from one another in who they are as human beings. I hope that I can foster in each of them their uniqueness and their talents. That they will stand proud of who they are and what they can do. They will each shine in their way and their time. I always believed this, but today I guess I finally came to know it.

**it is now 2am and if this didn't make sense and you actually had to read it all..well done. :)**

Aggresive Female Driver...

In my defense I honestly did still think it was 60mph, I was lucky I wasn't even going that fast. Apparently it had changed to 30mph. Seriously, not everyone has the priviledge of having evidence of their speeding. :) This is what happens when Hollie is on her way back from a RS Pres. meeting and she just can't stand that long drive.....
Mike calls me an aggresive female driver..whatever that is suppose to mean. :) Dad, I want no comment from you. :) Because I have an idea of what is going through your head right now. I sure as heck can't deny this one, that is without a doubt my little head behind that steering wheel. At least it gave me something to blog about other than my children.

Mr. Postman

Another Muscial Number with the family. Mason, Mike and Hollie participated in this one. Royal Mail has been on strike, with that in mind you can understand this video a bit better(at least part of it). Mason was so excited to play a part in this and so were the kids to help him be included. He made a handsome postman. However, after the number you see him being led off by a friend. At the top of the stairs he decided to escape and make his own way out. He walked towards the stage front, being blinded because the curtain was covering his face he walked right off the stage! So he sprained his ankle and didn't walk on it that night. He is doing much better tonight and I'm sure it will be totally fine in a couple days. We are very lucky that he didn't do anything more severe. Despite that it was a fun night and pretty entertaining as well.

Life Could be a Dream

Ipswich Stake Music Festival. Mike was part of this fabulous number. The guys sounded fabulous and looked even better. It was great fun to see them perform.

My sister is awesome.....

So this is a small shout out to my family for my November 3rd blog post. I wanted to brag that Mindy is my sister. Everyone looks fabulous, however, Mindy you are awesome. She made her and Kevin's costumes and a little Ariel costume for Sahara(Jamie and Mike's little baby). I was so impressed with these and what a fun family I have. I love to see pictures, but it does make me homesick for them. Chili cook offs and costume contests. Skye, you scared me...geez...no wonder Joshua is crying..you are great!!

King Triton and Ursela...Mindy you are one talented lady!!!
Cards, sewing random costumes with NO patterns, creativity of 10 people, you are amazing.

Step in the right direction

Good news, Mike's car is fixed. At least it was tonight and hopefully will remain fixed for awhile. Finally took it in as Mike had attempted all his tricks.
We received good news today, Mike is going to be lifted from his profile. He has been non-deployable for almost a year and we were concerned about a medical board happening, but that is not the case. This of course means he will be deploying soon, but we are fine with that in our house. It is part of our life. The kids do not know yet, so if any of you far distant relatives are talking to them please don't ask about it. :) We feel it best to announce to them what is happening about 2 weeks before. That way they don't stew over it for too long.

Okay, it is November blogging month and I am suppose to try and post everyday. I don't know that I have that much to say, but it might be fun.

Yes, I know I missed yesterday.


For anyone who could not figure out the clue from the last post now is that time that you will feel just like I did. MONSTER is the answer. seriously, how come I could not think of that? If you are more intelligent than I and it didn't cause you any problems...well keep that to yourself so I don't feel bad. :)