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.

HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES

Unfortunately Steve had to work on Wednesday, which was our ward's Halloween party.

Katie was a Renaissance Princess

Becky was a Beautiful Vampiress

Belle was a Cute Devil

Zack dressed as Eragon, from the book of the same name

And I pulled out the costume from 9 years ago and was Dorothy (minus my scarecrow)

We then headed off to the church for the festivities. It was fun to see all the cute goblins and ghouls, but especially cool to see so many of the adults participating.
It turned out to be a fun night that ended with the children trunk or treating in the back of the church.

The Ropers

Madi

Krystal & Taylor

Heston & Bailee

Sandra, Jon, Julie, & Eric
Sara, Emily, Brecken & Kaitlyn

Dayna & Nikki

PUMPKIN CARVING

Tuesday night we brought in some of the pumpkins that Steve and the kids grew this summer.

It was time to carve into those suckers.

Hope you enjoy the pictures...

CH-CH-Changes

Saturday morning we, the Beehives, welcome a new 12 year old girl to the Young Womens organization. Because it was UEA weekend, a few of the beehives were out of town, but the ones who had not left, met at my house at 8:00 am still wearing their jammies. We then drove over to Kami's house to dress her up and "kidnap" her for breakfast.
After getting her dressed in the borrowed witches costume, we all came back to my house and had Monkey Bread and fruit/yogurt parfaits. I love this tradition. It is a neat way to welcome the newest girl into beehives and it gives the girls a chance to visit and get to know each other a bit better.

So Sunday, in sacrament, there were some changes made. Pam, who I have been working with in Young Womens for the last year was released and put into the Primary Presidency. I am very excited for her and her chance to work in the Primary, but feel a little sorry for myself to see her go. She is the neatest lady and I have so enjoyed getting to know her a little better this year. I also think the 12 and 13 year old girls benefited much from her lessons and I'm sure appreciated all that she taught them.

Then in Opening exercises for YWs, Julie, the 2nd Counselor, told me that we would no longer be reciting the Young Womens theme. I was so surprised. I love the theme and every week took pride in saying the words that were contained within it. I am sure there is a good reason, but I will miss hearing the Young Women in my ward saying these words every Sunday...

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love him. We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places . . ." as we strive to live the Young Women Values, which are:

Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works and
Integrity

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 12 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

FAMILY OUTING

Thursday and Friday the kids were out of school this week.

Friday turned out to be such a beautiful day, we decided to load up the bikes and rollerblades after lunch and go down to the Jordan River Trail.
Steve, Belle and I donned our roller blades while Zack, Katie and Becky lead our way with their bikes. It was fun to roller blade with Steve. It made me think of rollerblading in San Diego together...memories.

The girls were so cute on their bikes. I still sometimes struggle with how much my babies have grown. Zack and Belle ended up trading vehicles. Zack began roller blading with Steve and I and Belle manned the bike.

After about 2 miles we stopped at a little playground and let the kids play and run. Steve and I pulled out our reading material and found a comfortable piece of grass to sit on and soak up the sun.

My children may be a getting older, but they still seemed to enjoy their time on the playground...going down slides, hanging on the monkey bars and playing tag with each other.

A few of us took a walk to the river to find the great blue heron that had flown by us and landed in the water. Unfortunately we could not get close enough to get a picture, but it was fun to sit on the shore and toss rocks and talk.

It was a fabulous way to spend the day together. I love my family and these simple moments that we spend together.

TEDDY the HAMPSTER

Tuesday after school Hailey came over to play with the twins. They decided to take Teddy out to play in the front yard. I have never thought I would have a hairy rodent like creature intentionally living in my house and then we got Teddy. I actually enjoy seeing the girls play with him. They giggle and laugh. A sound I truly love.

MAKING STRIDE for BREAST CANCER

Last year, 2007, when I joined Weight Watchers, my leader Lynda mentioned a Breast Cancer Walk that Weight Watchers was sponsoring and was trying to recruit members of our Wednesday group to join her. I had not been very physically activity and did not join in, but this year when she mentioned it, I was one of the 1st ones to sign up to walk. I have so much more faith in myself and my abilities.

I had a second reason for wanting to walk in this particular event. My friend and neighbor, Tiffiny, was diagnosed this past spring with breast cancer. I still remember standing outside of a friends house after we had spent the evening discussing that month's book club selection and telling me that she had been diagnosed and what the prognosis was. The even bigger impression I was left with that evening was just how positive she was. She was so confident that everything would turn out okay. So once I heard about the walk I called Tiffiny and invited her to do it with me and she graciously agreed.
For the past few days leading up to this walk, the weather forecast was a little SCARY...cold, rain/snow...hmmmm. Did not sound like a good time, but even when I was on the phone with Tiffiny last night and she was telling me that our friend Dayna would not be able to walk with us because she has a bad cold, I knew I could not back out. It just seemed so important to go with Tiff and walk and show my support for her and what she has been through this year. And at the same time do something healthy for myself.
We totally lucked out..it was cold, but no rain or snow. It did not begin to rain until we finished out 4.2 miles and got into my car.
It was a good day for a good walk with a good friend for a good cause.