Thanks Given.

To start I must admit, I didn't take my camera with me anywhere this weekend...I am a loser mom. I hate blog posts without pictures, so I'm a hypocrite. Our Thanksgiving "weekend" began on Wednesday evening with dinner at Matta's (man oh man, I love their chips and salsa) with Grandma Chloe, the Skinner clan, and the Guerrero clan. The next morning Bret played a little Turkey football with ward members then we headed out to Gram and Gramp Yellow's for a Thanksgiving feast. Bret's entire family was able to be there. Then it was time for family pictures. With 16 kids. You can imagine how that went. Then Bret played with some kids and did who knows what while I tried to take a nap. That didn't happen. So I played a little Rook with the ladies (Sarah, Diana, and Crystal), then one gentleman (Ryan) stepped in to replace Sarah who desperately needed some sleep (which she didn't get). I had a very good night with my partner, Diana...we won both games! Then it was time for some sleep. Which Bret and I didn't get. It's difficult when you have Mabel and Gray sleeping in one room. They both woke up about every hour and they weren't on the same schedule (please tell me someone else's kids do this when they don't sleep at home as well). But a thank you to Chad and Sarah for opening your home to our sleepy heads and all the chaos that comes with it. Sorry Cade and Diana that you had to be down the hall from us.


The next morning a few crazies (Diana, Crystal, and Ryan) braved the Black Friday nightmare. But I thank those crazies for my Elf movie for only $4!!! We had a huge breakfast (there's always yummy food a-plenty in Coolidge). Then we headed for the Ostrich Farm. The kids loved this. They got to feed deer (imagine adorable picture of one of my kids feeding a cute little deer here). They got to feed ostrich (another missed photo op here). And they fed some goats, donkeys, and pretty birds as well (3 more pictures here). We rode on a huge monster truck/bus with the whole fam. That was a lot of fun...pictures, pictures, pictures. And, oh yes, here is one picture I can show:

A little souvenir for the kiddies. And proof that this all actually happened and it wasn't a dream.


Then back to the Rowleys for some leftover snackage and a little down time while Bret shot skeet and the kids ran amuck (I love this about the location, the kids run free for hours. It reminds me of my holidays as a kid when we did the same at Uncle Donald's while the adults enjoyed their time together). More card playing...Sarah, it was a pleasure loosing to you in Five Crowns; you were a worthy opponent. Chad, better luck next time. Followed by a delicious lasagna dinner.

We headed back to Mesa so I could attend "New Moon" on Saturday with my sister, Kristin, my awesome friend, Derek (who won't be back for Christmas, BOO!), and my nieces, Karli and Maddy, and nephew, Logan. What can I say, I have to see the movie because I read the books...it's an obsession. I had low expectations and the movie didn't surprise me. But I saw it. And now I can sleep at night. We hit Chipotle!!! Bret went to the ASU game and that's all we'll say about that. I went to Bahama Buck's for my favorite treat ever! We played 20 questions a few times. I must now admit, John came up with a good stumper...I actually knew who it was but never in a million years would I ever have guessed it. (Hey, Jay...20 Questions...there's another safe game for all! And you can't lock it up!) Then we played Settlers...that's all I'm going to say about that. Then Jay, Kendra, Derek, and I played Hearts...Kendra won thanks to an "I don't know what I'm doing" shot moon. Kendra and I lost in Spades to the men folk. Bad results all around for me. But I love cards, so a good game night!

B'dee, b'dee, b'dee. That's all folks!