Hazel and the first Thanksgiving

Hazel's school class had a Thanksgiving feast.  It was complete with chicken nuggets, tater tots, mac 'n cheese and cupcakes.

Hazel's class dressed up at native americans in a little skit about the first Thanksgiving. (The other class were pilgrims.)

Happy Birthday Earl!

Earl celebrated a landmark birthday this year - 60 years!

And look what he has to show for it...

13 of his 16 grandchildren. 

(This picture was as good as we could get.)

More Thanksgiving

Besides our non-traditional lobster, we had all the regular Thanksgiving fixings too.  Everyone was busy with something. 

Bryan and Sariah roasted a beautiful turkey, made stuffing and mashed potatoes and the famous frog-eyed salad (a Brunner family staple).

Everyone enjoyed pitching in to get dinner ready.

Earl was sporting one of my favorite Texas tees (from Rudy's) while making gravy.

Robin made some yummy rolls.

Sariah's daughters made some lovely place cards for the Thanksgiving table.  I liked my best!

Everyone donated some pies.

There was definitely enough food for all.

Thanks to Vickie and Earl for hosting us for a very filling Thanksgiving.

just like the first thanksgiving

One of our Thanksgiving traditions is to do something different for Thanksgiving.  We've gone camping and had a smoked turkey reheated in a cardboard reflector oven.  We've had a roast pig at a samoan luau.  We've had a typical traditional thanksgiving.  We've deep fried a turkey.  We've been with our extended family, with friends, and by ourselves.  This year we joined our family in Las Vegas.  Nate redeemed some card points and we got ourselves some original Thanksgiving fare...

10 live lobsters!

The pilgrims mst likely ate lobster, right?

All the kids wanted to see the lobsters.  Not all wanted to touch the, but eventually did.  Some were fiestier than others.  We only had one premature fatality.

China wasn't sure what to make of them either.

We cooked them up, thanks to Earl's new deep fryer.

Don't they look tasty?

Nate outdid himself this year.

cool running

I went running this morning. 

I had to talk myself into it for about 3 hours.  I had to take a bunch of advil because I am still not feeling great.  But I brought all my running gear to Vegas and I felt like I had to use it since I brought it.  You know what happened?  I ran three miles.  (I had planned to just walk, really).  And I did it 10 minutes faster than the 3 miles I ran at home last week!  Yes I know...CRAZY!  I am guessing that my asthmatic lungs don't like the humidity/mold/allergen laden air in Texas.  Or maybe running at higher elevations is easier for me (it's close to sea level in Texas).  So, even though I was sick, tired and not really motivated, running here was definitely more inspiring than at home. 

I might actually go again tomorrow!

over the river and through the woods

Here's a run down of the news in our life (if you're interested):

Finally got my birthday present last week - my very own lap top.  I jumped up and down giddy with excitement (just like a teenage girl) when the FedEx man rang the doorbell.

Also finally got a new phone (my old one would randomly white out the screen.  Making it impossible to call anyone (unless I had their number memorized or on speed dial) Or know who was calling.)  iPhones are fabulous.  (Nate has iphone envy, even though his work finally got hiim a blackberry).  My kids use it more than I do...it has games and movies.

Aspen had her first lock-in at school last weekend. (her drama class is rehearsing for their upcomping play)  I went with her as a chaperone.  No one slept.  But there was lots of drama!  (of all kinds).

After 4 1/2 years, Nate was released from being the Elder's Quorum president.  Finally.  So he has this week off from church responsiblity.  I'm sure that won't last though.  Nate is too awesome for them to let sit idle for long.

I was called as the first counselor in the Relief Society.  It has been an interesting change for me.  I am humbled beyond measure to be serving the sisters in our ward.  Our fearless leader/president is fabulous.  I am learning so much from her already.

The weather has been nice and fallish.  Fog in the morning, cool evenings and mornings, some rain, we even had a light freeze last week! 

We are in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving.  Yay!!!  It has been 5 years since we were here last, and it is nice to visit with family.  The kids are having fun playing with cousins.  I think I caught the nasty cold Hazel had last week.  Not feeling so hot.  But at least I don't have any big responsibilities this week.  So I guess it's as good a time as any for being down for a bit.  Maybe I'll get some reading in, or blogging...maybe both!

I can't believe it is the holiday season already.  2009 is nearly over!  Time flies...