Thanksgiving 2018

Thanksgiving fell early this year on November 22 and it was the first time I'd ever made the feast all by myself. Well, Evie helped a little.

We had to go to the store several times because I kept forgetting things. Then Terry went the night before for a last minute essential addition that I hadn't been planning on making and then changed my mind for, Pretty Pink Salad. He had to visit two stores since Safeway was completely out of the ingredients we needed. I also made a gluten free pecan pie, which is my new favorite for the last few years.

The weather was again nice, though not as warm as last year when Nathan and Ana were here, so Terry spent his time putting up Christmas lights.

Noah helped a bit and the littles played. That's Samuel in orange up the sidewalk on his inline skates.

I loved Terry's idea for the bike this time, and it was so much simpler than hanging it on the deck last last year. 

Cutie

That day was precisely my parent's 38th wedding anniversary and they wanted to go away and do a special outing. They left the previous day for a day of fun around the hills before staying the night at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge and then eating a special Thanksgiving buffet at The Latchstring Inn. They stopped over at our house on their way home but were too full to eat anything more. 

The turkey took longer to cook than anticipated and the gravy gave me a run for my money, but I got it all done in the end. It took three times to get it right but #worthit. YUM.

As you can see, it turned out to be just our little family for the meal, which was kind of a bummer. It felt super weird to be alone. But the food was delicious and I didn't have to clean up afterwards.  

We still did our traditional turkey leg picture with Terry and Evie. 

I don't know how Ezra grows since he pretty much doesn't like to eat at all. The punk. Dinner time in an eternal battle at our house. However, he did try the Pretty Pink Sala and he even liked it!

Terry stripped the turkey for me! Now that was an act of love.  

Meanwhile I put my feet up, someone handed me the kitty, and I was in my happy place.

After everything was cleaned up and it was dark, we went outside to see the lights. I like how the bike looks like it's climbing a hill. 

Nov. fun - Luna in undies, Dino park, sweet notes, sickness

The week between the fall retreat and Thanksgiving was full of random happenings. 

For one thing, Luna was in her second heat. Boo. I know we could just get her fixed but I have my heart set on the kids experiencing puppies once...though the three weeks of mess might have changed my mind. Though I do have one lead on a stud so we'll see if that can happen. 

My parents dog-sat over the fall retreat and had the ingenious idea to put boys underwear on her. Surprisingly she complied. 

They cut a hole in some of Ezra's old shorts to complete her outfit. 

Chilling and recuperating after the fall retreat with Settlers and The Tenth Kingdom. 👌

During Noah and Evie's piano lessons the boys and I had been running errands.When I ran out of things to accomplish we went and got coffee and a gluten free brownie from Pure Bean.

And then went to play at Dinosaur Park.

Newly discovered Snapchat filters kept me entertained and the boys laughing. 

💙 Samuel's expression.

Cute little floppy eared boys.

The following day, a Thursday, Evie put to use the sticky notes she had bought at the Awana store the night before. She wrote me sweet little notes and hid them where I was bound to find them. This one in our school calendar folder.

In the refrigerator. 😂

That afternoon I went to work and again with the filters.

A couple days later I came down with the stomach flu Terry had before the fall retreat but it wasn't as bad, thankfully. I still laid low in bed since I could. The littles were drawn up since I was watching The Tenth Kingdom between naps. I do not know how Terry ran around the fall retreat with that stomach virus. 😱

Luna destroyed the new bed we got her for her birthday so I taught Evie how to sew and we fixed it. Luna wrecked it again after this so I had to fix it once again. Stinking dog doesn't get it in her kennel anymore. 

We found Trouncie cuddled up on the sheets in the linen closet one night when we were getting ready for bed. Silly kitten cat.

fall retreat 2018

 The Fall Retreat took place the second weekend of November. In fact, we had purposely moved it  from it's usual place over the first weekend so David and Jazmin's could get married then. Worth it! Though we did feel pretty bad that they still wanted to take part but they were insistent that they really genuinely wanted to. So that's what we did. 

Zeah, Denise, and Tabitha were some of the first to arrive at the church on Friday, November 9th. 

Sarah, Prae, and Sarah. 

Lots more kids.

This was the first year that I actually drove up on the bus since Terry had gone up earlier in the afternoon to set up and stayed since he was feeling sick. Oh yes, I almost forgot about him catching the stomach flu the night before. It was awful.

He hadn't been feeling well all day but the beef stew I made that night finished him off. It was way too heavy and sat in his belly like a rock until it demanded to come out. He literally sounded, as he often says in a story about Ernesto, like a bear roaring in the forest. Once he got it all out he was able to sleep but felt super weak the following day. He manned up and went to the church to oversee the packing up of the audio/visual equipment. Thankfully he had lots of help, but even just showering that day was hard. 

Two of the girls in me and Denise's small group, Ana and Jada (Jada is Jazmin's youngest sister).

More of our girls: Ashley, Emily, Ellie, Maleiah, Alaina. 

When we arrived I was blown away by how well Terry was. He seemed completely normal! We thought it was a miracle, and though I am sure the Lord really helped him through, he did say he didn't feel well all weekend. I just pushed through. That night he slept so hard and deep like a little kid. We sure crashed hard when we finally went home on Sunday.

It was Noah's second year attending and Evie can't wait til she can go.

The youth group has been challenged to take part in memorizing another book of the Bible like last year, this time Ephesians. Noah and I had been working on the first chapter since September and he did way better than me, but I mostly had it down. Ransom, me, Noah, Jada, Talitha, and Ashley.

Here we had just finished and look a little happier. These are the only photos of me from the whole weekend! The life of a retreat photographer. 

Small group time later that evening. I was so pleased to get to sleep next door alone with Terry in our own cabin, but the girls were fun. And loud. Really loud. Ha!

The youth leader prayer meeting the following morning. 

We gave the newlyweds the audio/visual job so they could stay together. 

Terry nearly gave over the emcee job to someone else but dug deep to find the energy. You really couldn't tell he was run down, but he was.

There were about five churches present so it was completely packed out.

Lots and lots of kids!!

Game time in the sun. 

Zoe, Denise, Zeah, Jazmin, Hannah, Katrina.

Josh, Ethan, R. twins, Conrad, Moses, and name I can't remember. 

Elena, Lindsey, Maggie, Sarah, Mia. 

Riley, Prae, Abby, Savanah, Sarah, Jazmin, Halie, Brianna.  

Noah, David, Landon, Jack.

Better picture of Noah and Jack, and Asher in the back.

These two from another group cracked me up.

Jaz put the play glasses on Zoe. 😂

Terry setting up the next game. 

A line of Crows and Cranes, and they ran one way or the other depending on what he yelled.

Terry yelling out instructions.

Denise won a sniper toy soldier and hid it in her scarf all weekend.

Run!

I like all their surprised faces.

Noah again.

It's a tradition to steal the 7th grade girls table and they were my girls this year. They were so confused, ha ha.

For the afternoon free time I went on a hike with what turned out to be all Rimrock kids.

So pretty and refreshing. 

When I got back I found Noah playing Gaga ball.  

David took his small group bouldering for the free time. Love this picture.

Ana, Savannah, Asher playing capture the flag. 

Silly kids ran into the frozen pond again this year. Sarah was the only girl to go until sixth grade Kaleah jumped in at the last minute. Crazy girl! 

Prae carried her up the hill so she could get a hot shower before dinner. 

Kaleah's dad Shane was our speaker for the weekend and did amazing. He taught on the spiritual disciplines and it was perfect since we've been talking so much about seeking the Lord in youth group. He gave us the tools to follow through.

We stuck Kaleah on top of the pizza boxes this year.

Ransom squashed them down when she didn't move them at all. 

Worship time that evening. Rimrock led the music for the weekend and they were so good.

We played a fun outside game that evening and the following morning was Ship to Shore. Steven directed as always.

An obedient line of students.

Three men in a rowboat?  

Jellyfish is my favorite.

There's Noah in the middle. 

One final worship session.

One final session with Shane and it was time to go.