Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving.

We enjoyed Thanksgiving in Colorado with my childhood friend's family, the Eckert Family.

We considered driving to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with the Locey extended family. It's a good thing we didn't go to Utah. On Wednesday evening the battery on Wendy's car died just a mile from home. I replaced it. On Saturday morning the alternator died. I replaced it. Perhaps the two were related. In any event, I'm grateful that I had the skills to fix both items. I'm also grateful that we didn't have to fix them on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

On Thursday night we got ready to try out the hot tub, only to learn that it is not working. I spent some time on Friday trying to diagnose it but it didn't get very warm. On Friday afternoon I played games with Brandon and friends from work. Wendy ironed table cloths, boys shirts, her shirts, my shirts, and my pants. The boys had a movie marathon and played. We enjoyed having a few days off.

Wendy made a heroic effort to get the back yard tidied up before the arrival of our first snow last week.

She cleaned out 4 flower beds and cleaned out the climbing vine in the corner of the yard. It took her 3 days to get it the way that she wanted.

She broke the fork while digging up the ground.

The garbage man took our normal garbage and 9 extra bags full.

 

The boys were very excited for their first snow in Colorado and got dressed to play.

They made snow men, had a snowball fight, and rolled in the snow.

They were even excited to clean off the driveway.

 

I got caught in the first snow coming back from Colorado Springs. The normal 75 minute drive took over two and a half hours. At one point after being stopped for a few minutes, I found that when I stepped on the gas pedal the wheels spun, but I didn't move. All around me were semi trucks on the side of the road in a similar situation. Fortunately, I was able to slide into the lane next to me, regain traction, and continue on my journey.

Wendy tried acupuncture for the first time. The acupuncturist said her pulse is too low and that she should consume as much coffee, tea, and hot alcohols as possible. She came home with these huge hickeys on her back from what's called cupping. Cupping helps loosen muscles and encourages blood flow. If you watched the Olympics Michael Phelps had some cupping marks on his body.

Last Friday night our friends the Ryans came for a quick visit on their way to Iowa. We enjoyed seeing them. We went to the Rec Center in town and swam. Everyone had a good time. They returned yesterday to their home. Because I was working on the car, Wendy and the boys met them at Union Station.

They ate lunch and had a grand old time seeing each other.

Last Saturday my work hosted an open house. Wendy and the boys were able to see the office where I work and learn a little bit about what I do. It was great. Later that day, Wendy's parents arrived on their way home from Mexico.

(They'd been there for a short trip.) We enjoyed supper with them Saturday evening. They came to church with us on Sunday morning. We took them to the airport after church.

I grew up playing with Mike DeMonbrun from 2nd grade through the end of middle school. His family moved to Colorado before we started high school. Mike now lives about 20 minutes away from us and his parents live about 25 minutes away. On Sunday night we drove to Mike's parent's home to celebrate his father's 70th birthday. We had a great visit. Mike's dad makes delicious prime rib!

Per my suggestion, we set up Christmas on Thursday night.

Wendy was surprised because that isn't generally what I like to do. I am trying to be more jolly in the season. She called me an amazing guy. I'll take it. I'm usually more like the Grinch.

Be Well.

 The boys Lego creation.

Pie Party, Paint, and Politics

We've been in Colorado for 13 weeks. In the last 2 weeks,

• We celebrated Sweetheart's birthday. Hurricane and Underfoot decorated the cake with our family, a pumpkin, a spaceship, and a droid.
  
  
• We trick or treated in apparently unseasonably warm weather (Last year there was snow. This year there was none with temperatures in the low 50s.)
  
• We transferred all our cars with Colorado license plates and titles.
• An American flag was placed in front of our house. We are so happy to have a place to fly a flag.
  
• Sweetheart and I stayed up too late on Tuesday watching the results from the election. We read yesterday that the last time there was a Supermoon, Truman upset the presidential race against Dewey in 1948.
• We have assembled 2 new bookshelves and unloaded most of the boxes in the loft.
• Three of the 4 exterior doors were painted red. The paint wouldn't cover and after 5 coats, I returned to the store. They replaced the paint with a new quart. Two coats later and voilà, painted doors. The brush strokes show which is bothersome. They might get to be sanded down, primed, and repainted next summer. We are starting to need our exterior doors.
  
  
• The day I started painting the doors we also painted white and blue so it was a red, white, and blue kind of day.
• The kitchen got painted blue. The Golden Gate Bridge color was Underfoot's favorite color in the house. Alas it is no more.
  
  
  
  
  
• An electrician came to put in 4 new outlets. One is a welding circuit that Sweetheart hopes to use one day.
• The island in the kitchen got a new outlet as well. This would be the 5th outlet installed. The outlet was put in closest to where the cooking action happens in the kitchen. This convenience has rocked our world.
• ALL the baseboards are painted!!!
• ALL the doors on the main floor are painted!!!!
• Pie Party pressure helps us accomplish a few things like hang pictures on the wall and put up our family tree. Pictures on the wall helps with the feeling of being moved and settled for me. If left to Sweetheart, there would never be pictures put up.
  
  

Underfoot went on his FIRST EVER field trip. He had a lot of fun visiting The Plains Conservation Center. 

The boys participated in the Primary Program. One Sunday a year the children present the songs and teachings they have been learning all year. Each boy shared a statement about prophets and temples. They sang every song. They smiled a lot. We loved listening to what they shared.

The Pie Party was a lot of fun.

We were more ready than we ever have been. I reduced the amount of pies I normally make.

The house was full and lots of conversation. Most of the pie was eaten.

Be Well.

 We took Underfoot to school, and there was a full rainbow. 

If you look carefully you can see a double rainbow. 

It was there for about 10 minutes then gone.

 I went to bed one night to find a sweet note and treat.