Thanksgiving and Its Tree

I love this idea from Shawni's blog. The Briner-side helped us fill out our tree with stuff we're grateful for at our second annual Souper Pie-a-palooza FHE.

Grandma is going through chemo and radiation, so we had Thanksgiving at our house this year and turned down our bed upstairs for her, just in case.

 Kids' table.

Ashley brought her boyfriend, Josh.

I didn't get a photo of the teens' table, so you get two pics of the kids.

After dinner activities: Bananagrams...

Gossiping about how Auntie Mo never allows dishes to remain on the table for long and will stand over your shoulder if you're not actively eating from your plate and how she somehow never made you feel rushed.

Grandma's got her box in front of her full of treats for the grandkids. [Adults' table sometime after dinner.]

Uncle Mark entertaining the kids with his electronics.

L.P. State Champs!

Getty's football coach decided his 6B champions should ride to their high school State championship in style, so he checked them out early from school to ride to Rice-Eccles stadium in a limo.

A couple of teachers let their students gather outside to watch the limo pull away. Mrs. D is far right. Getty said, "It's weird. She thinks just like me. It's like she's my best friend, just 20 years older."

There's Mr. P, Cy's teacher, being awesome.

Rockin' out...

Just chillin'.

Lone Peak had a perfect season 14-0, winning the championship a convincing 41-21. Elle and I watched the game on tv. MK and her friends were filmed after an interception charging with their silver duct-taped cardboard swords with 9:40 to go in the 4th quarter. That just topped it off for me and Elle. I think we pushed rewind ten times. Too much excitement if you ask me :)

That's my Number One.

My baby is 4!

She got a polar bear and a book, zebra-striped sunglasses, a Cinderella Squinkies set, and two Barbie dolls.

I think we've each taken her up on her requests to play Barbie's, but MK's been the most dedicated.

Oh, and I caught Getty late in bed one night with a Barbie driving around in the Barbie car Grandma gave Elle...

Grandma added a big pink unicorn and even more Barbies.

I could take her picture all day long. Sigh

...

Sonny posted this on his Facebook. Hahahahaha

Mama Mia

Mia wanted to go see "Warrior" on her Momma Monday night. It's all about MMA cage fighting. Hmmmm... really? Whatever happened to shopping and a Sticky Finger Salad at Winger's?

We were two of maybe fifteen in the audience, most of which were teenage boys.
Oh, now I get it :)

Of course, the teenage boys loved the fight scenes and all, but I couldn't believe it when I heard them behind us whisper, "Wow, the power of family. That was the best scene in the movie." And in another scene, "That almost made me cry." Seriously. Boys are just marshmallows underneath all that testosterone and gore. Awesome.

On the way home, Mia asked me, "So, what if you are attracted to the wrong kind of guy? You can't help who you fall in love with..." (So glad you asked!) We talked about how attraction comes easy and is fickle. That "falling in love" is really about finding someone you can really love, respect, and live with. I love when stuff like that comes up.

And Mia, thanks for opening me up to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. I'd shield my eyes and munch popcorn with you any day. You're the best!

Good-bye to Great-grandpa

The last time we visited with Great-grandpa at the VA...

(Mia was in Park City with Lindsay's family.)
Getty cut his lips badly on a swimming pool slide and couldn't close his mouth.

A few weeks later, we heard Great-grandpa was banned from his mobility scooter for getting ticked at another resident and ramming into him. Pfffff

Funeral Services for Rawlin J Evans:
Born February 9, 1921
Died October 21, 2011

Ni and Elle

Cousin Sara reading to Cam

Uncle Mark and Soda

Grandpa played "Clair de Lune" on the piano for the funeral service. It was beautiful.

Graveside, Grandma with the grandkids gathered around her as usual.

Mia's Cheer Competitions

1st cheer competition of the year.

Mia's upside down, center. (Nice shot, Grandpa!)

 Far right, front

Love the personality plus—wink, wink, oh-so-surprised and super excited!!!

This performance went off without a hitch...for the first time, ever. No stunts falling, no major or minor mishaps.

So now there's hope. They watch the other squads, compare, discuss, hear rumors that the front flip at the beginning of their routine was illegal, hear that three other squads did the same thing, calculate deductions, bite their nails...

hug it out...

run around outside...

...then... shake it! Everybody's shufflin during the traditional gym floor dance party, and then they get seated in squads and wait for the awards ceremony...

This is what 1st place feels like.