Smith Family Thanksgiving

 Random picture of Bear Dog Mike sent us

This morning was crazy. I signed up for a super hard exercise class with Michael Banks. I use to love going to his classes, but he has stopped having them. This one is at a different place. I got up early and drove there with plenty of time. Except I couldn't find it. I ended up driving around for forty minutes. Lame. Right when I got home Rachel texted me that she had ordered me a pie and forgot to tell me when to pick it up. I got back in the car and drove to Daybreak. Rachel ordered me a pie from Charles' wife. (Charles is one of Brett's best friends.) I had always wanted to try one of her pies because Rachel has raved about her cooking. Rachel ordered me a chocolate pie and it was tasty.

I stopped by the store on the way home from picking up the pie. I had extra cranberries and decided to make a cranberry dipping thing. Being Thanksgiving morning the store was pretty crazy. I got home and went to pull out the macaroni I had in the freezer, only to find out that our freezer died! We had the giant thing of ice-cream in there that we were supposed to bring also. UGH! I hurried to the store again and picked up the macaroni and ice-cream. I had just gotten to the car when Mike asked me to get something else. So, yesterday when I thought I had everything ready for Thanksgiving..... I ended up going to the store THREE times. Lame. 

But.... Thanksgiving was awesome and so much fun! Steve and Shannon hosted. The Hodson's came too. Lisa and Nathan were even in town and Melissa brought her new baby!!! His name is James Orion. They like having their kids named after something with astrology. Nova and Leo are their other kids. Astrology middle name with this one. He is adorable. The Hardy's were celebrating Thanksgiving in New York, we missed them but they had a great time.

Anyways, Thanksgiving was delicious. We ate and played so many games. Ghost detective, Conception, Scum, Jackbox... probably more but I can't remember one month later. (So behind on the blog!) Jorja did say this was the best Thanksgiving she has ever had. It was really quite a wonderful day. The only bummer was Maysen had to work the entire day. She had articles assigned to her that were due today. A few weeks later she found out she doesn't have hard deadlines, but she didn't know that today. Other than that the day was perfect. I love being with my family.

Taylor carrying Jorja back from visiting the ducks

Stephanie & Taylor

Jacob, Michael, Erica

Jorja, Mike, Steve playing Ghost Detective

The game is really called Paranormal Detective, but I like Ghost Detective better

Brandon, Preston, Stockton

That's all the pictures I have from today. Stockton did a lot of homework while he was here too. He sure has been working hard on school. It is amazing watching your kids work hard and have success. What a wonderful day. (Minus the giant freezer dying......)

Grandma Honey's Cranberry Sauce

I think we are all ready for Thanksgiving. I made Grandma Honey's cranberry sauce today. It's my favorite. I thought I would stick the recipe here in case I ever lose the handwritten one. I love how pretty it is.

Jorja sent me this picture after I was in bed. She told me she was going to go adventuring with Sean. I told her to make good choices, which is when I got this picture back. I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and checked find my friends. Jorja still wasn't home. Ugh. I texted her and asked if she was still alive. She said she was coming home right then. I know she is a night owl, but I hate it when she stays out this late. I don't think it is safe, and I think the probability of making bad choices increases a lot. Glad she is safe at home now though.

Jorja

Taco Crepe

Jorja wanted to try this tiny restaurant by our house. It serves tacos and crepes. Hahaha. That is random. So, what did I end up getting? Oatmeal. It was delicious too. Mike, Stockton, Jorja and I all went. Stockton had to hurry out to the car towards the end so he could join his calculus class on zoom. Awesome he can be with us and still get to his classes. 

Jorja

We played Dominion with Alyssa tonight for the first time. I think it was her first time ever playing. Mike, Stockton and I played with her. She was at her house. What a different world it is from when Mike and I were growing up. Pretty awesome.

Kids are Home!!!!!

Stockton came home from Thanksgiving break. He brought his girlfriend Alyssa. We had them over for dinner. Chicken croissants. We played Jackbox after dinner. While we were playing Jorja came home! I didn't expect that! I thought she was coming tomorrow. What a fun surprise. Alyssa seems really nice. I'm annoyed at myself for not getting a picture of her and Stockton. Looks like the only picture I got was of Jorja eating cotton candy. Hahaha

Jorja & Stockton

Gingerbread for Church

I had asked Stockton to send me a picture of this shirt so I could send it to Cori. She bought it for him. He says this is the shirt he gets the most compliments on.

Stockton

Kanani had our Sunday school class over to her house for a gingerbread party. We invited my class last year since they didn't get a party because of covid. I made the houses and Kanani had a perfect place for them to decorate. Usually we just do this in the kitchen at the church, but we had too many people to fit. I met the kids in the lobby and we caravanned over to Kanani's. It was absolutely perfect.

The kids naturally split into a boy table and a girl table

The girls....and Monson

The boys....

Eliza

Ava

Emma or Hannah

Maisy

Emma or Hannah

Olivia

Crew

Braxton

Luke

Burke

Let's give Burke's house a closer look. Hahaha

Preston

Aidan

Georgia

Sariah

Mike and I dropped off Crew and then I came back about an hour later with some more houses for Kanani. She was doing a gingerbread party for her family. Her setup was so cute. Definitely more high class then anything I ever do. Haha

Side note. Mike loves his dog.

Side note, side note. Mike is building a giant slide in our garage.

Daddy Daughter Day

I have spent the last few days getting gingerbread houses ready. I'm planning on doing gingerbread for my Sunday school class and last years Sunday school class who didn't get to do this because of covid. I have done this for what ever class I am teaching for years. The only class that was skipped was the class I taught Preston. Lame. Anyway, we are planning on doing the houses at Kanani's house. I contacted the other teachers and the parents. All should be good to go!

Trying to find places Bear dog couldn't reach the houses was a bit challenging

Bear turned off my computer while I was trying to update the blog

Alta student government came over for Odd Jobs. Of course I had to let them in and find something for them to do. This is the event Jorja was in charge of last year. (Make-a-wish) I had them make signs for our Whoville party next week. The Okerlund boys came, Burke and I senior girl that I can't remember her name right now. Three out of four are in our ward! How cool! David Okerlund is the student body public relations. Matt Okerlund is the freshman public relations. Burke Staker is the freshman Vice President. Last year, Jorja's class gifted the school a giant rock. The girl showed me a picture of the rock. She is in charge of painting it for different events. This is what it looks like now.

David, Girl, Burke, Matt

I sent Jorja this picture. She was excited they were there. She said, "Aw sweatshirts are cute! Makes me wish I didn't have the covid fundraiser." That is so true! I wish she didn't have the covid year! Absolute worst year to be a high school senior!

Random picture of Jorja

Mike spent the day in Logan with Jorja. Her sorority was doing a daddy-daughter thing. Mike got there a bit early so he could take Stockton and Jorja to breakfast.

Jorja

I had Mike ask Jorja about her grades. Specifically Chinese. Looks like she is doing great!

Mike, Jorja, Stockton

I laughed so hard when I saw Jorja post this

Glad Mike could make it up there today

Mike & Jorja

They found Jorja's sidewalk thing she made with the other ambassadors a few weeks ago.

Porge

Love that girl!

The BYU football game was on ESPN+, which I don't have. My dad has it, so Bear and I went and watched the game with him. Bear likes Max. And Miles.

Bear & Max

Miles & Bear