Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For Today

10. The sun came out today and will make an appearance tomorrow too!

9. Having the ability to run in the morning so I don't feel so guilty eating my way through the day.

8. Movie theaters that stay open on Thanksgiving. What should I see (with kids)?

7. Emily's preschool teacher who thought of fun crafts to do. Thanks Miss Robin!

6. Motivation to help Emily make more crafts when she got home from school. The boys got Indian, oh sorry, Native American head bands and the girls got pilgrim hats. She wanted both.

5. My moms homemade rolls. I will attempt to make some tomorrow just for fun. They won't be as good, but pretty close.

4. Good friends that cheer me up and always seem to know when I need them. You know who you are.

3. My parents kind and dear. Thanks for showing me what I can be. :)

2. My Five hooligans that keep me entertained at all times. This was taken today at the park, Samantha's head can be seen behind the kids.

1. My handsome husband who works hard so we can buy food and loves me no matter what.
(This is my favorite picture of all time. I never get tired of looking at it...Marshall delivering Samantha 2 years ago.)

Marie Callender's for Thanksgiving?

Yes! My mother in law suggested we go to a restaurant this year for Thanksgiving and my first thought was....NOOOOOOO!!!! But now it sounds like a pretty good idea. I made a chocolate pie yesterday and I will be making rolls today. That means we will be eating all of the yummy homemade things all week instead of just on Thanksgiving. It wouldn't be the same if I didn't. So, the guys still get to do the Turkey bowl Thursday morning. Tyler is so excited about that and then we will head off to have someone else cook and clean everything. Is this bad?

Tyler's game

Tyler had a game on Vashon Island this morning so we woke up early to get to the 8:25 ferry. It was just Tyler, two buddies and me. Marshall was home with the four girlies. I loved hanging out with Tyler and the boys. They were losing 0-2, but came back to win it 3-2. So, they won their last league game!
After the game we rushed to the get back on the ferry, but missed it by about one minute. So we had to kill an hour and the boys had no trouble finding things to do.
Tyler brought his PSP and they traded off.

Then they threw rocks in the water for a while.

This afternoon Ty's team played a tournament game and they tied in the most exciting game of the year. They were down 2-1 and the coach decided to "go suicidal" which means everyone, including the keeper, moves up to offense. We scored again and tied it up. That takes his team into the semi-final game that he will play next week.

My baby is 2

Tyler insisted on lighting the candles for his sister's birthday.

Sam getting pushed out of the way and holding on for dear life.

The happy family.

Day with Hannah

Hannah and I spent the day shopping at the Tacoma mall for her birthday weekend. First we had lunch at the Nordsrom Cafe. It was delicious and we finished it off with white chocolate bread pudding with rasberry sauce. She got a hat in brass plum, a necklace in Limited Too, red glasses and magnetic earings in Claires. We held hands through the mall and she led the way.
She noticed this this speaker with her dads name on it.

After shopping we met up with Emily and Sara at the theater for HSM3. They loved it. Here I am modeling the new glasses. She doesn't take them off!

Celebrating With Hannah

I just got back from celebrating Hannah's birthday with her 3rd grade class. Hannah passed around donuts (Lakewood donuts of course) to all of the kids and they all waited for her to take the first bite. Samantha and Emily came along and they were surprisingly very mild and well behaved. I am typically afraid to let them loose, but I think the bigger kids intimidate Emily.
When we were leaving we were able to sneak in and have a surprise lunch with Sara and the 1st graders. Emily loved getting hot lunch (pizza day) and Sara was overjoyed. She can't ever hide her emotions and I love it.

I only invited the girls to be in the picture. I told the boys it was there job to make faces so they would smile. My camera was left at home, so I had to make due with my cell phone camera.

Hannah and her teacher, Mrs. Geren. She is such a wonderful teacher. Hannah has so many sweet friends in her class this year. What a blessed girl...and mom.

Young and Awkward

If you are reading this consider yourself tagged! I am sure you all have pictures of your awkward stages of life. There are a very few people that never have to be humbled by these awful years. (my sister is one of them) The middle school id pictures show the difference a year and getting the braces off make.
The top picture is when my older brother came home from his church mission in Germany. I am the youngest girl with the pink shorts. Notice the lovely black shoes. I think that was my only pair because just about every picture I have of me I am wearing those. My little brother, Stephen, has the whitest legs I have ever seen, next to my dads.
Lets see your younger years!

This was AWESOME!

On Friday night I decided to have an 80s Halloween party on Saturday. My two Laura friends have this as a tradition, and since they live in two separate states I wasn't invited this time, so I had to do my own. I was a little amazed by how ratting my bangs all came back to me so quickly and naturally.

This was a couple donut eating game. Marshall got into it a little too much and scared the others, I think. He thought it was a kissing game, or at least wanted to make it that. We haven't seen much of each other lately. ;)

My brother, Allan, and his wife Jennifer trying to beat us.

Cardon couple - He was wearing his HS jersey, from the 80s of course.

Duby couple - Richard Simmons and Cindy Lauper, maybe?

Norton Couple - Patty had turquoise nail polish on, nice touch! She also provided the rad tunes.

Vaillancourt Couple - Had to drive 30 minutes for their babysitter, but grandma is worth it.

My big brother, Allan and his beautiful wife Jennifer. Our kids all played at my house and loved being together. Although the house looked like 9 kids had been there playing.

Ahh, still in love after 16 years!!

Pictures of the Patch

Messy pants, Samantha got so muddy and loved it!

Not really wanting to touch the dirty pigs.



Samantha and I went along for Emily's preschool field trip today. It was cloudy and cold, but dry. That is about all we could hope for. Samantha was a little nervous on the hay ride, but was tough and then didn't want to get off. I bought some corn on the cob, like I do every year, from the farm. It is always so delicious. I will go cook it now...

Last of Hawaii, ready for more.

"An eternal family begins when a young couple kneels at an altar in the holy temple of God and make covenants with each other and with God and receive His greatest promises. This sealing is preceded by each making and receiving covenants which, if they continue worthy, will bless them in this life as well as in the life to come.

The father and mother are equal partners with different roles in nurturing and teaching their family members on the journey to immortality and eternal life. To have full meaning, how can life be other than an eternal process?"
(President James E. Faust)

Home

We took a red eye flight Sunday night to get back while the kids were still sleeping Monday morning. I had to wake them up since I couldn't wait much longer to see them. It was a fun reunion and then I sent 3 of them off to school. What a great MIL and SIL I have.

Here are some pictures of the race. It was incredible.
Here I am on the wall waiting for the cannon to sound beginning the Ironman Comp.

Sea of bodies racing through the water.

After the swim there were ladies there with kitchen gloves ready to lather you up with sunscreen. Some also grabbed some new clothes and shoes for the biking. The pros have their shoes connected to their bikes and they stay in the same clothes.

The professionals getting to their $10,000 bikes. Notice the shoes hanging on the pedals. One poor woman ran to her bike rack and started to scream for help. Her bike was missing and she was acting like she was going to die. It sounded like she was the wicked witch of the west melting into nothing. One of the volunteers came over and found her bike two slots away from where she was looking. One minute sure means alot in this race.

From the 112 miles on the bike they went on to run a full marathon in the extreme heat and humidity. Most of the athletes that had done this world championship course in the past said it was the worst conditions because of the heat and wind. Marshall left me out on the street watching the marathoners run by. Since they went down the road 5 miles and then had to turn around about come back down the street I was able to see the front runners. I really just wanted to cheer on the female winner from last year, Chrissie Wellington from Australia. She won this time by more than 10 minutes! She won $110,000 cash and about $400,000 worth of stuff from the sponsors.

As soon as the top female came in at about 9 hours and 6 minutes into the race Marshall and I started our shift in the medical tent. We volunteered for 6 hours and it was eye opening. These poor athletes crossed the finish line and then collapsed or when into convulsions. I was a "runner" for 4 doctors including my Dr. Marshall Nickel. They gave the guys and girls IVs, chicken broth for the sodium through a straw, anti nausea medicine as some couldn't stop throwing up, blood tests and other things. I had to get supplies, make beds/cots/lounge chairs for the next patients to come in. I mostly loved sitting by the patients and hearing their great stories. They were all great and so appreciative to the docs and staff. I hope to get back there someday.

Kona

We are having a great time getting ready for the race on Saturday. This morning we rented a kayak and enjoyed the beauty of the island. The athletes continue to train and we can't wait for it. There is a tiny spot where 1800 racers will begin the swim at the sound of the cannon. They say it will get brutally physical as they scrap for a space in the water. It will be highly entertaining. There are about a hundred professional racers that will begin 15 minutes ahead of the rest...lucky them. These pics are taken with Marshall's cell phone. The digital camera will have to wait till we get home. My wonderful sister in law and mother in law are taking great care of my kids. I talked to Tyler today and after school he went to his piano lesson then Red Robin for dinner and on to Krispy Kreme to see how the donuts are made. Of course he ate one or two while he was there. After that Alexis (MIL) took Ty and Hannah to the bookstore where one of his favorite authors, Brandon Mull, was doing a book signing. Ty thinks he is in heaven, but misses us.

I got a little hula lesson on the street from this cute Hawaiian lady.

Here we are shopping at some fancy shops by where our friends are staying.

Iron Man

2.4 mile swim in the Pacific Ocean

112 bike ride

26.2 run

Are you serious? Yes they are!

I am currently in Kona, Hawaii for the Iron Man World Championships. It is amazing to see these super athletes train here. This morning I went out walking as Marshall is in class all morning at the iron man sports medicine conference. I sat at the start point of the competition as the swimmers continued to train. They jumped in the water and I sat amazed at their perfect form. On Saturday we will volunteer at one of the medical tents from 4-10 p.m. The competitors will be crossing the finish line during that time. I am Marshall's "runner". I guess that means I do what he tells me, this just makes it official and I get a t-shirt to wear. We are also planning on going out into the madness that morning to see the beginning of the race.

These athletes are so intense it is scary, or maybe I am just jealous.

For now I am enjoying the sun and my husband.

www.ironman.com - check it out

My Soccer Stud

I can't say how happy I am that Tyler loves soccer. Going to his games is one of my favorite things about the fall. This year he has a great team and coach. Some of his best buddies are on the team and that makes it so much better. Today he scored two goals and had two assists. They won the game 6-2. More than the goals, I am just proud that he is so aggressive and level headed on the field.
In action...

Tyler after the game ready to cheer with the team.


Tyler enjoying the park after the game.

The girls all love to play at the park during his games. They don't watch the game, they bring snacks and play. Here is Sara on the monkey bars.

Summer's gone, fall's here.

I haven't been the last two years to our local apple orchard with my girls, so this was the year. I took Samantha along to Emily's field trip. Last week was an "off" week for me and once I tripped with Sam in my arms I should have just gone home then. Unfortunately I stayed and it was not fun. I chased Sam around and tried to keep her from fighting with the other kids. They all wanted to push the same stroller. It wasn't horrible, but I now have massive bruises on my knees from the fall. I was holding Samantha so I couldn't use my arms to catch myself, it was all knees. What a klutz. The next day my tooth broke and I had to go in for a crown. Having five children didn't prepare me for the pain that came from the prep for this crown. The dentist was not as great with the numbing as I would have liked. She got into one of my jaw muscles and a week later I still can't open my mouth very well. Why would anyone want to be a dentist???? I have to go in next week for the crown and I am already having nightmares. Pray for me.
We did get some cute pictures of the orchard. The pumpkin patch field trip is right around the corner. That is my favorite.

The tour guide, Nolly, the apple lady.

Happy Birthday Sister!

Heather has truley sacrified so much for this beautiful country that we live in. I thought it appropriate that I share this great picture with my reading audience.

Heather has been with me through the fun times (filling our pockets with brown sugar and hiding in the woods to stuff our faces), and the bad times (getting caught burning the sap on the trees in the backyard. That was not a fun punishment was it!? Stephen promised not to tell. We'll get him back good someday. ;) Actually I think we tortured him enough. I can think of a million good and bad things that we have shared and I love thinking back on them.

I am thankful that we are still able to help each other grow up and become better people. I hope you enjoy your birthday even if your husband is out protecting the candidates instead of cooking and cleaning for you. Have fun with your second workout of the day tonight!

Gig Harbor

Gig Harbor is one of my favorite places. It is my #2 place to live in WA right behind University Place. I love the views of the water and the country feel. A couple of weeks ago we went to a bbq at Marshall's co-workers house and it was fabulous. They live on a farm/ranch. They have sheep, dogs, cats, and a big garden that I am so jealous of.

We came straight from church, so we were starving and dressed up a bit too much. When we got there they had baskets all ready for the girls to go and pick veggies out of the garden. I ate several of the yummy tomatoes right off the vine. So good! She also had a tea set for the girls to play in the playhouse. It was a dream for my kids.
Tyler not afraid to get dirty. Poor guy had to be out in nature in a tie!

Samantha climbing the ladder to the loft.

Tyler, Emily and Hannah on the loft. There was a bucket set up on a pully so they can water the flowers that are out the window up there. Tyler stood and played with that for over 30 minutes! He loved it.

Walking toward the garden.

Samantha with her delicious tomatoes.

Trying to get in the fence and play with the sheep. Not a good idea.

This is the garden house that they just built. The loft is inside. There is a little sitting/sun room too. Perfect place to read or hide for some peace.

As we sat and ate dinner out on the lawn we saw deer come by and eat the apples on the ground that had fallen off the tree. To be one with nature, you know I love it. My poor daughter, Sara, had an allergy attack though. Apparently the playhouse is also the cat house. Sara's eyes were all puffed up by the end of the 2nd hour so we had to hurry her home to a good washing and then to sleep it off. We can't wait to go back.