Thanksgiving 2009 and Nauvoo!

We had the best Thanksgiving. We decided to visit Brad's good High School friend, Matt and his wife Kenzie out in Kirksville, Missouri. It was a long drive due to Thanksgiving traffic, construction, and a bad wreck... but we made it and it was totally worth it!

We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with some of their friends. It was nice to not have to prepare anything! I was very Thankful for that this year!

On Saturday we drove about 1 1/2 hours to Carthage Jail and then Nauvoo, Illinois. It was really neat. We went at a great time of the year because we were able to be the only people in each building so it was very personalized.

Carthage Jail was a special place. The spirit was really strong there- it was a calm, sorrowful spirit - it is hard to explain. It just seemed super still and quite, a very reverent place to show our respects to Joseph and Hyrum. It was really neat.



We were able to do a temple session in the Nauvoo Temple - what a beautiful temple! It was absolutely gorgeous and I was amazed at how big it is. It was for sure the best part of the Nauvoo experience. Brad and I were the witness couple and it was a tiny group of less than 20.



This picture is across the street from the main entrance of the Temple. That is the Mississippi in the background. It looks more like a lake!


This picture is neat because this is the point where the saints crossed the Mississippi River headed west and they were forced out of the city they built up, Nauvoo. The Trail of Tears, a path walking towards the Mississippi, was neat. They had quote boards following the whole trail. I took a couple pictures - they are in the slideshow. Again the spirit there was just a calm, quite, peaceful reverence. Amazing.

I was a neat experience to learn more about the MANY sacrifices the Saints before us made. It was a great time of year to visit because I am sure Thankful for Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and the countless number of men, women, and children who sacrificed their lives for the Gospel.

Enjoy the pictures - there are a lot!

Christmas Cards for Caycen

(click on the picture if you can't read the small print) I'm on the Coaches vs. Cancer committee and one of our little guys isn't doing so well. If you are interested in sending Christmas cards to his family please do. They could use every smile possible right now.

If you know any OSU fans who would be interested please pass on this message to them!

Cowboy Basketball is HERE!

We went to the Women and Men games last night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. It was a nice change to be able to watch a game with Brad :). I'm sure he was wishing he was out there playing but the cards haven't been dealt that way so that's how it is. Hey, a FREE Education is more than we can ask for.

The girls were fun to watch. They have some really good players and it just made me realize how out of shape I am. Oh how I wish I could still run a suicide in 30 something seconds. haha Keep DREAMING

The boys looked decent. They had some really GREAT moments but some SICK moment’s too :) typical exhibition game.

The new players that I love so far:

31 Pilgrim - I wish we would have had him last year!!! I can't remember any of our big men ever pulling double doubles! He has a good head, unlike moses. We need that! Someone who goes out there and worries about himself and plays ball, all Marshall is worried about is who is touching him and getting their arms off him

14 Penn - Nice to have a switch up from Byron, he pulled some nice moves and it will be fun to watch him play the awesome big 12 point guards. It will also be nice to see Keaton play a true 2 guard instead of being the back-up point guard.

21 Gully - HE IS a MINY TERRELL!!!! He is only a freshman but I think he has tons of potential. He was really scrappy and I like that.

Those are the guys who stuck out to me but I think our freshman have tons of potential – as well as the team as a whole. This year might be a little shaky because of lack of experience but I have high hopes.

Obi made a pass last night that brightened my day! Hahahahahaha! He chucked it down the floor WAY TOO FAR and it bounced out of bounds. It was a classic OBI pass that I haven't seen for awhile so it was nice.

We got a kick out of Coach Ford. There was one timeout when he was SCREAMING AT BRIGGS (the do-it-all manager kid), “BOARD, BOARD, WHERE IS MY BOARD!!!!” Brad was yelling – Binky, Binky, Give me my Binky!!! Ford can't get anything for himself - pretty hilarious. But, he does a good job having Briggs and Joey being his "go-to guys".

I love this time of year. Only two more home football games to focus on and then it's all BASKETBALL!!!! :)

Happy Birthday Alexis!

It is my little sister's birthday today! I love her to death and I hope she has a great birthday. I can't wait to see you in a couple months sis!

When the trees turn

ORANGE ,


When we turn pumpkins into vampire cats and little monsters,

it's HALLOWEEN!!

We had fun making our last minutes costumes come to life! We bought an Afro and used the old Napoleon Afro from two years ago and then threw on some jerseys and it got a little funny! Brad bought a crazy $1 makeup mask... it was pretty hilarious!


The boys at the party...
Cassie, me, and Kristin at the party...


The Pirates... Cute Kristin and Braxton!


Brad had fun last weekend at a ward hay ride party while I was helping sell at the Affair of the Heart in the city. He fell in love with Tractors...

Babies!

Well, It looks like there is a common theme in my family.... Nick and Tristan are expecting their 3rd! CONGRATS to them! I'm so excited. I am impressed with Tristan because this will be her third all under the age of 3!

Soccer Star!

Brad got Bullet a soccer ball and he absolutely loves it. He will whine forever when you show him the ball until he gets it... pretty funny.