Quick Question

Do you love your mattress? If so, please let us know which one you have and why you like it. We bought a rather spendy mattress less than a year ago and we loved it for about a month. Now it is a terrible double canoe bed that we just hate. We wake up every morning with aches and pains...please help!

Polar Express

This last Friday night we took the family up to Williams, AZ for a ride on the Polar Express. We had such a great time. We caravaned with the Thomas's up to Williams (about 30 miles west of Flagstaff) and checked into the hotel. After a buffet dinner we went back to our rooms to get the kids changed into their PJ's for the train ride. We were on the 6:30 train headed for the North Pole. They gave us hot chocolate and cookies and then read the book "Polar Express" to us during the ride. When we got to the "North Pole" we could see the facade of houses and trees all lit up outside with Santa and one of his elves waving at us. On the ride back to the train depot, we all sang Christmas carols and then Santa himself came into our train car. He gave each child a bell and we could all hear them ringing. Case was so excited because Santa remembered him from last year and commented on how much he had grown. When we got back to the train station, we went and saw Mrs. Claus and then wrote a letter to Santa and did a few crafts. The kids then got to pick out a small souvenir in the gift shop (it was included in the package) and then we were off to bed. When we got up we went to the buffet breakfast and then went to see the trains in the light. Then we were on our way home...the kids had so much fun. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone with small children.



















The kids looked so adorable for church on Sunday that we had to take pictures...don't you agree?

Yuck!

It all started early Monday morning...I woke up and licked my lip...oh crap a cold sore. I hate them so much! I ran to the bathroom to get my medicine. It goes away so much quicker if you treat it quickly. It is huge, ugly and a bit painful, but then things got much worse.
I started feeling a little sick to my stomach. I showered and got ready for the day, but just felt terrible. I had planned to run some errands, but by 9:30, I realized that I was not going anywhere. I sucked it up enough to go and get Case from school at 11:30, but shortly after I got home...the stomach flu struck. My poor kids had to fend for themselves and watched a bit too much TV that afternoon as I was good for nothing. Luckily Wes got home a bit early and just took over...I went to bed. Tuesday morning I still felt awful, so Wes was wonderful once again and did not go into work until 12:30. He totally picked up the house, did most of the laundry and even picked up Case from school...he won major hubby points that day. By the time he left for work, I felt much better and was able to function normally again.
Tuesday afternoon I noticed that my nose started to run...and then my whole head was congested with a bit of a sore throat...could it be a head cold? I felt yucky that night but slept well. This morning I was feeling better, but just a bit stuffy. I was able to get some needed errands run and I feel good now, with just a slight cough and that annoying nose drip.
I have never had so many different things in just a few days. Has anyone else? I do whine a bit when I don't feel well, but I am no hypochondriac. I'm trying to remember if I did something terribly wrong over the weekend and am being punished. I'm a little afraid to go to bed tonight to see what is in store for tomorrow. My friend just called to let me know her son has the chicken pox...I did have them when I was four, but at this rate I wouldn't be surprised.

Summing Up November

The last week of November was a great time.

On Thanksgiving Eve, my sister and her whole family flew in from Chicago and SLC. They were here because my brother in law Mike's parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Lucky for us, they stayed at our home. They did spend a lot of fun times with his family, but I still got to see them mucho. They are among my very favorite people so happy was I.

Thanksgiving started off very early. Wes, Mike and my nephew Parker running the 5K at the Turkey Trot in Peoria. It was quite a ways away and very early so I elected to stay home with the kids. Thank you Shari for going with them and taking pictures. Wes did great, especially since he had not done any training whatsoever. He still finished near the top.

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Wes's parents home. It was great to only cook half of the food and spend time with more of my favorite people. Good food and good friends/family...it can't get better than that.

The most excitement was on that Friday night. My brother from Tucson stopped by with his family. Then my sister and her family came home after a fun night with my brother in laws family. A few minutes later my Mom and Paul came in after flying back from Hawaii. All of us were in the house at one time. I don't think we have ever had that many people in our house before. It was a bit loud and crazy but so great to have us all together.

It was so great to see so much of our family over the holiday. I guess that is what it is all about. I am looking forward to all of the fun activities in December.