numero uno thanksgivingo

Over the past few years we have developed a tradition of holding two Thanksgiving dinners. One is on the actual day and the second is on Friday. It is simply wonderful to get my favorite meal two days in a row. I like it even better that I am not expected to eat them both on the same day. Our first meal was at the Turners. Yum yum yum! Everything was perfect. We even got to enjoy the company of Scott's great Aunt Doris.

15 weeks

Gabe always wants to get in on the action. He sure loves his "Baby Melia"

because adam and danielle are so worth the trip.

My brother is a big fat smarty pants. His super-mega brains have taken him to medical school and now all the way to Wisconsin for his residency. Three years is not so long these days, but it's long enough to start missing them.

Adam had a deal of some flights that he just wasn't going to be able to use. I wanted to use them. Really I did. It's just with six kids and a new baby I didn't see how I'd swing it. Not by myself anyway. Then one day Adam talked Janie into coming too. That was that. I had my ticket and with a bit of finagling was on my way. My mom is a life saver. Thanks. It was weird going without Scott and the kids. I had Amelia, but that was it. It was a strange mixture of freedom and homesickness all wrapped together.

Kennedy was nice enough to let me stay in her beautiful pink princess room. Amelia and I shared the twin bed. I couldn't have been more welcomed. The first night we went to Kennedy and Seth's German school to a light festival. It was fun to hear Kennedy and Seth sing and speak in German.

Friday Adam had to work so Danielle took us to the quaint little town of Cedarburg. We then went to a fish fry with long lines, greasy delicious fish, and polka music. Good times.

Saturday we headed out to Chicago. Traffic was horrible but it was well worth the drive. We only lost one of Adam's kids and she was shortly recovered. We visited Wrigley field, played with the giant "Bean", rode the subway, and ate some delicious pizza.

Sunday all got up bright and early for 9 a.m. church. This was not an easy task with 5 adults, 6 kids, and one bathroom. We pulled it off, and even though Danielle was coming down with the Flu, we all made it to church. Living in Utah we are indeed spoiled. Within a mile of my house there are at least six LDS meetinghouses. In Wisconsin we had to drive 30 minutes to reach the nearest one. I am ruined. I love going to the church in different areas. I love to see how the church is the same wherever you go. It is such a testimony to me of the truthfulness of the gospel. Their ward also has a lot of residents and med students from Utah.

After the meeting Adam took us on a tour of the hospital where he works. My brother is a doctor. I think somehow that makes me cooler. I am sure of it.

Monday Danielle most assuredly had the flu. She was far to sick to take us out, so instead gave us a map and her keys and we were on our way. We visited the most amazing little "hole in the wall" spice shop called The Spice House. They had the most awesome blends of spices. I am now going to get all my spices by mail order. We then headed down to the Milwaukee Public Market. With our tour guide sick we weren't quite sure what to do. Even wandering around aimlessly were were able to have a good time.

Thanks Taintor's for having us out. It was a great trip.

good bye Grandpa

We will miss you Grandpa. We're sad our time with you is at an end. We're glad you are now with your sweetheart again. It's the way it should be, you two together.

Scott's Grandpa Hilton passed November 6, 2009. With both of my grandpa's gone before I left Jr. High, he became a grandpa to me. My kids loved him too, and he loved them. He had an especially soft spot for Gabe and Isabella, who always had kisses and hugs for him.

He was an extremely generous man who always took care of his family. He was notorious for slipping his us money. He loved to visit but was sure to keep it short. He was always the first to arrive (10 minutes early) and the first to leave. He loved books and nuts which made buying him presents easy. There is so much more that could be said about Grandpa that I am failing to mention. I think the thing that impressed me the most about him is his love of his family. He will be sorely missed.

We all gathered together to remember and celebrate his life. As sad as funerals are, I always enjoy the side effect of having the whole family gather together.

After the service we headed off to the only place you really can take a group as big ours, Chuck-o-rama. I think Grandpa would have been pleased.

GO UTES!!!

Because I have a little baby my ticket for extra cold home games goes to my kids. Aunt Lisa was kind enough to loan her extra to us and Mariah and Jaden both got to go. They profess to be die hard Ute fans but I suspect they're real motivation for wanting to go to the games is to eat treats and spend time with Grandma Judy.

13 weeks