Pictures of the Week

Why won't this sweatshirt come off? Why are you taking my picture instead of helping me?

New baby doll from Nana; Roo's first baby

Samuel's new dump truck from Nana

XOXO

Nana's sweeties

Black Friday
I'd like to tell you that Mom and I revved up the old tradition of being the first at the stores as they opened at 5:00am on the day after Thanksgiving but I can't. It just didn't happen. We haven't done the Black Friday shop since I lived in Montana (11 years ago) so we were a little rusty. We were out of the house by 10:00 though and feeling pretty good about the freedom we were being granted! Our first stop: Toys R Us! I got all my Christmas shopping done for the kids and saved $60! WooHoo! We had a wonderful time; it was so fun being together!

The Toys R Us haul...

At Baja Fresh after working up an appetite

How Could I Ask For More?
Per Henderson tradition we made our way up to Tualatin to Jodi & Geoff's house for Geoff's Famous Smoked Bird and Jodi's wonderfully cooked and perfectly timed spread. They never disappoint--mainly because they don't ever change the menu; we love the smoked turkey and Jodi's ridiculously good baked mashed potatoes (I don't even want to know how many WW points a serving of those are).

I am so grateful for the Henderson & Cochran families and how they have loved me from the very beginning. I am incredibly blessed to have such wonderful and fun "in-laws". We all had a great day watching football, playing games, visiting and watching the cousins play.

It was especially nice having my Mom here to join in the fun. At one point I looked around the table and saw my amazing husband, my children, Mama Della, Jim & Cheryl, my beautiful neices & Geoff & Jod and I thought my heart would nearly burst at the fullness I felt. My cup runneth over.

Brooklyn & Madison playing cards with "Auntie Della"

Madison & Brooklyn after a long day of chasing Samuel

Nana & Emily

My Mom Della and Hot Jeff's Mom Cheryl
How totally hot are our Moms? No wonder Hot Jeff & I are so good looking...

Hot Jeff, Nana & Roo
not pictured: Samuel...he was way too busy playing with
Brooklyn & Madison to pose for a picture!

One of my favorite songs is by Cindy Morgan and called "How Could I Ask for More"...here's an excert that sums up the way I feel tonight.

So many things I thought would bring me happiness

Some dreams that are realities today

Such an irony the things that mean the most to me

Are the memories that I've made along the way

So if there's anything I've learned from this journey I'm on

Simple truths will keep you going, simple love will keep you strong

Cause there are questions without answers

Flames that never die

Heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise

So thank you Lord, oh thank you Lord

How could I ask for more

Emily's First Thanksgiving!
With the way M likes to eat we all suspected Thanksgiving may be her favorite holiday. She did not disappoint. Before dinner was served she polished off some of Gerber's finest: Turkey & Vegetables (pureed) and about 20 minutes later helped herself to my plate. Why with all that yummy goodness, why not? I'd never thought about it before but Thanksgiving food is like made with babies in mind: cooked carrots, mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing...even the turkey can be cut up into little-bitty bite size goodness!

Samuel, on the other hand, left the food for his sister and focused his attention on dessert! He made a meal out of Grammy's pumpkin pie and my Holy Smoke Pie. He's just like his Daddy and loves the sweets!

Number One Reason Why I Love it When My Mom Comes...

Having my Mom here is pretty much the best thing ever: I'm completely surrounded by all of my favorite poeple. We have so much fun staying up late talking and laughing, I love watching her play with my kids, she always gets up with the kids and lets me sleep in, she gives great advice and spiritual guidance...I could go on and on but the number one reason why I love it when my Mom comes is because she does all the laundry!!! Hooie!

Beaver Mania
Our Beavers are only one win away from the Rose Bowl! We had our friend Eric and his son, Levi, over for the game Saturday night! What a game! Hot Jeff recorded the game and, no lie, has watched it about 20 times! Hot Jeff is so funny; he's so excited for Saturday's game he's having trouble sleeping. Another tidbit about Hot Jeff: he and his Mom drove to Eugene at midnight Sunday morning to greet the team! They followed their buses to Corvallis and Victor Strong-Butler (pictured below) hugged Cheryl! I love the picture below because Hot Ryan Gunderson (not as hot as Hot Jeff) is also in the picture (orange shirt & headset). I was so proud of Jeff and Cheryl's Sunday morning stalk because it reminded me of 2000 after another Arizona win when we drove to Corvallis and met the team (a long standing Henderson tradition after big Beaver wins). Of course this was the fateful night I first met my one true love and quarterback at the time, Jonathan Smith (#9). Long live the Beavers!

Pasadena here we come!

Samuel and Levi in Levi's really flippin' cool Beaver hat!