Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Always at the top of our list is our wonderful family. Above is our annual family photo. This year I got a remote for the camera so I didn't have to keep running back and forth setting the timer. Because there was less work involved, I could take more attempts to get a photo in which most (never all) of us were looking at the camera. I have often suspected that Heather's eyelids were somehow connected to the camera's shutter because they seem to always close just when the picture is being taken...

It was great to see the Hardys and the Paynes and it was so nice of the Paynes to host the supper at their house. Aside from preparing a wonderful meal, Heather pointed out that Jeremy and Crystal also sacrificed their only (and hard-fought) bottle of million-dollar relish. It seemed painfully obvious that dad was missing from the dinner... everything else seemed just like it was the previous year; except Jessica was new, and the cousins were all a lot more sassy to their uncle Chad. Even though no one really said it (except Crystal might have cried a bit when she said the prayer), dad is the reason why we were there, and the reason why we are all still so close.






Kendall and Jewel came back to our house for the night and John and Tanis stayed at Jeremy and Crystal's place. John said it was because Jeremy has a Nintendo Wii and Tanis said it's because she loves everything about "everything and everyone" in the Sundance area. She even made a trip to Walmart the way that we would make a trip to the Temple if we were down visiting them. Despite the fact that Jewel kicked us out of our bed for the night, it was really nice to spend some more time with them. Tyson particularly enjoyed his time with uncle Kendall:



We are also headed down South to visit the rest of our family (my inlaws). Apparently, there is a situation there that has the whole town without any water. Added to that, there will be no million-dollar-relish, and no video games either. Sounds like it's shaping up to be a really fun trip. Just kidding, Heather is going to kill me when she reads that. I am thankful for my inlaws too... they really are the best people and it is easy to see where Heather gets her great qualities from. Aside from my own parents, I probably owe more to Garth and Barbara than any one else. I am looking forward to seeing them and there will still be pumpkin pie, a cool uncle, and lippy little cousins... not so different after all.




- C