BLACK FRIDAY

It's the most wonderful time of the YEAR!!!

BLACK FRIDAY arrived...

I picked up Dayna, Annette, Annette's daughter Rachel and Stacey and we stopped and got some hot cocoa before standing in line to get into Smith's Marketplace when they opened their doors at 5:00 am.

It is fun to race for the great deals, but it is a blast to be with such good friends. I seriously think I laugh the hardest during those shopping trips. I am not sure if it is because of the company I am keeping or my bodies reaction to the lack of sleep.
Speaking of lack of sleep, while we were standing in line to check out Rachel found the photo booth at KMart and slid inside and took a quick power nap. I have to admit I was a little jealous she got a chance to close her eyes for a few minutes before tackling the remainder of our shopping excursion.

About 12:00 pm we decided it FINALLY go and have some breakfast. We put our name in at IHOP and about 30 minutes later were seated for a much deserved meal. As we looked around the table, the exhaustion was finally started to show on all of our faces.
Stacey was the first to get dropped off. When I opened the back of my van, the pile of bags and packages began to fall out. We definitely took advantage of as many of the deals that were being offered out there. Good Times were had. I can't believe I have to wait 364 days until we get to do it again.

THANKSGIVING at GRANDMA'S

This year's Thanksgiving was at my mom's home in Ferron. We woke up and were on the road by 5:45 am. My brother had driven from California a few days earlier with his little family. It was our first chance to meet Lil' Louie who is only 2 months old. He was such a good baby. He was asleep most of the time we were there. So I spent much of the time just cuddling him and taking in all of that wonderful baby smell.
Since our family has grown so much, mom decided to have a children's table. The kids seemed to enjoy having a place all their own. They came to the grown up table and loaded the plates with turkey, dressing, corn souffle, green beans, yams and rolls and then went back to there own place. It was nice to sit down with my brother, his wife Mabel, Mom, Pop and Steve. Definitely one of the things I am most thankful for this year is my family and Steve's family.
Becky enjoyed being on of the 2 children luck enough to receive the turkey leg.
Little Annie, my niece, enjoyed feeding herself mashed potatoes. Before long she will find a comfortable place at the kids table and join in on all the fun.

GRATITUDE

This year for Thanksgiving I made a GRATITUDE JOURNAL. At the beginning of November, during Family Home Evening, I taught the lesson about gratitude and told the family about the journal I was assembling. I asked them to think of the things, throughout the month, that they was thankful for. I was not not sure what kind of responses I would get.As Thanksgiving Day began to draw nearer, the kids would as me questions like, "...is it ok if I say I am grateful for toys...can I write it in poem form..." It made me hopeful that they were actually putting thought into there responses. And here are some of the thins that the children said they were grateful for.

Zack: Of all the things I could be thankful for, I am thankful for my freedom to speak what I want, when I wish. I am proud to have this life and the choice to be an American. I am also thankful for my religion, an LDS Mormon. I love to have something to believe in as lives end and new ones begin. I am proud of the choice to believe in Christ, and have a chance to live in the ETERNAL City in Heaven. I am proud of simple things, things that are important, however, for everyone. I love to have thanks for every little or large thing.

Belle: I am grateful for a roof over my head, food, water, health, family, ears, school, tv to entertain us, Grandma, friends, clothes, toys, money, pencils, paper, paint, shoes, healthy stuff, earth, everything.
Katie: Thanks for a roof, a bed, protection, a blanket, a fireplace, toys, fire, the earth, love, heaven, trees, plants, pets, clothes, a family, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Becky: Count my blessings for company, grandparents, love, family, cousins, bible, plants, baptism, animals, home, food, beds, weather.

LOOK out PARTRIDGE FAMILY...

While we were visiting Grandma and Papa's this past weekend the kids started up their own little band.

Zack had brought his oboe to practice for an upcoming school band concert.

Katie brought along her guitar that she is bought 2 months ago.

Belle found Papa's tin whistle to jam on.

Becky added some soul to the mix by blowing on the harmonica.

And lastly was Anastasia bought up the rear on he recorder.

It was incredibly loud, but very cool to see them all kind of hanging out.