WE ARE SO THANKFUL...WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED!

I love this time of year.  It gives us a chance to reflect upon all the blessings we have.....something we should do everyday but for some reason we do it with more intensity this time of year.  We have so many blessings.....a wonderful free country to live in, a warm home, more than enough food to eat, clothes to wear, an awesome family (immediate and extended), the gospel which brings meaning and purpose to everything we do....I could go on forever. We have been blessed and we are so THANKFUL!

 We are thankful for those use their talents to bless our lives.  Erin had surgery in September and her doctor, Dr. Crombie, went above and beyond in making Erin feel comfortable with her and good about the surgery.  Needless to say she did an awesome job with the surgery.  Thank you Dr. Crombie.

 We are so grateful that Austin is in the Oregon, Portland mission serving our Heavenly Father.  He sent us some pictures this week of the Temple and his visit with an investigator.  So appropriate since we love the Temple.  Thank you for being such an awesome missionary Elder McNabb.

 UHHH...not quite yet Elder McNabb!!!

 Jordan got to go to Oregon with Bill this week and miss a day at school.  He wanted to go see Hailey and Mal but Mal was home sick so he went to work with Lee.  He had a great time being a Nyssa Bulldog for the day.  We are so thankful for family!

 Caitlin was so happy when they came home for Thanksgiving and saw that the fence was done and the horses were home.  She and Ryan went for a little ride and then took Kalli for one.  We are so thankful to live where we do and have animals.

 I think that she is a natural....don't you?

 Here we are at our traditional Thanksgiving feast.  We were so blessed to have Grandma Seppi with us.  How grateful for her love and influence in our lives.  We are so thankful for Grandma Seppi.

This was Kalli's second Thanksgiving and Hannah's first.  We are so thankful for little ones.  We loved our children as little ones (still do) and we love those grand babies.

 Grandma Seppi loves those great grand babies, too!

Hey, Griff looks pretty natural with a baby Hannah....what do you think?

Kalli and Hannah's Visit

Kalli and Hannah came to visit for 4 days.  Ryan had business meetings in Atlanta so Cait brought the girls and stayed with us.  It was so fun to have them.  What sweet girls, Kalli and Hannah are.  It took Kira a couple of days to figure out she had to share but then they did pretty good together.  Cait and I took the girls over to visit great grandma Seppi.  She loved rocking Hannah.  And here she was worried that she wasn't ever going to have Grandchildren.  Silly grandma......

 Great grandma Seppi and Hannah

 Cait, grandma Seppi, Hannah and Kalli

 Oh so sweet!

Kira is reading a book to Kalli.....

Game 11 - SUU vs NAU

It 's been a crazy year.  SUU beat two undefeated teams this season and then lost to some that hadn't won very many games.  They ended the season right when we beat NAU in not one, not two but three overtimes.  NAU had only lost to Arizona St. all year.  It was such a fun game.  Again, it was snowing outside but we were in the comfort of an indoor stadium.  Griff had 5 catches, one was called back for a hold.  He played awesome all year.  The most important part is that he made some great friends.  It is ALL about the FRIENDSHIPS!

 Warming up....

 Great game T-Birds.....

 The receivers and their coach, Fesi Sataki.

 There is no greater supporter for Griff than Whitney!

 Griff, Henna and his baby girl Austyn.

 Shawn, Bryson, Dave, Griff and Whit.

 I love this boy.....it's been so fun to watch him play!

 LaVel, Brennan, Fatu and Griff

Henna, Fatu, Griff, LaVel and Easton with the trophy between SUU and NAU.  SUU is the first to win it!

 Congratulations Griff and teammates!

On the drive home from the game I got this picture in a text.  Austin was eating at the Bishop's home.  So fun to get these......

Let it snow...

Why is the first snow of the season so pretty and then when we get it in March and April it isn't so pretty?  We were kissed by Mr. Winter the first week of November and it was beautiful.  I just hope we have it for the Christmas.....there isn't anything cozier than a white Christmas....

 Josh loves the snow....he couldn't wait to get out in it.

 Here are two snow angels......Kalli and Kira.

Such a good missionary....

Austin has been to dinner a couple of times at our friend Brittany families home.  Brittany and her boyfriend Kenneth have been to our home with Griff and Whit quite a few times.  Brittany is from Oregon City which is close to Portland.  They are not members of the church so this is a great opportunity for Austin.  They love him.

Game 10-SUU vs UND

Blessings come in different ways....and our blessing for this game is that UND has an indoor stadium.  I flew in Friday afternoon just as the snow started coming down.  It was much prettier knowing that we didn't have to sit in it to watch football.  Whitney flew in later that evening.  We got to do a little shopping on this trip.  Grand Forks isn't a big town but their football facility is really nice.  It has a hotel connected to it along with a conference center. 

Once again, the game was a close one and we ended up on the losing end.  Every game is so close.  After the game, they were having a Holiday fair in the convention center so Whitney and I went to it.  It was fun to look around at the products that are unique to North Dakota.  

On Sunday, I had a 5 hour lay over in Billings, Montana.  I experienced a first for me.  I was there about 30 min. before the 1 pm Sacrament meeting was starting.  So....I got a cab and went to church.  The cab driver asked me on the way, "Did you fly up here just to go to church?"  I enjoyed Sacrament meeting so much. I'm grateful that where ever you go in the world, when you walk into a LDS Sacrament meeting, you feel like you are home.  The funniest thing was waiting for the taxi after church with my bag outside of the church.  I really felt like a bag lady.  I was standing to the side of the building so not to be so noticed and the cab pulled right up in front of the church.  I was trying to gather my things and get around to him.  He didn't see me and got out of the cab to go in the church.  I had to real hurry around and call out to him....that is the last thing I wanted was for him to go into the church! It was a interesting experience.

Trick or Treat.....

The best part of Halloween is seeing all the little kids dressed up.  This year, Kira's primary teachers, Landon and Malory Davis, had a Halloween party for their class.  Since Kirstin was at school, I got to take Kira.  It was so fun to see all the cute kids excited for the holiday.  Brother and Sister Davis did an awesome job....the games were so fun and the treats were yummy.  All of the kids had a great time.  

We went to the ward trunk or treat Halloween night.  Jordan and Erin still love to dress up.  Jordan made his own costume.  Erin went as a penguin.  We had a fun time at the ward party.  Another Halloween.....Another fun time!

 This is princess Jasmine....aka Kira.

 Libbie Hobson, _____ Taysom, Kira Rose, Lillian Bastian, and Anyssa Bonn...such cute girls.

 Pin the face on the pumpkin....

 Lillian, Kira and Libbie....such good friends.

 Jordan made his own weapon for his Optimus Prime costume.

 Here's Jordan's loot and I don't think he is going to share it with anyone.

Oh how I love this penguin.....

Trick or Treat.....Sister Valentine texted me this picture of these spooks who showed up on her doorstep on Halloween.  Elder Jolly on Austin's right is his companion.