THANKSGIVING WEEK!

Bowls for Hunger. Notice the tiny bowls but trays full.Devree with Kayleigh hidden, Jackson, Mary standing, Maci, Matthew striped shirt and Noah.

Tyson getting ready to sing looking spiffy. He had on a cumberband on too!

Jacob looking serious and looking spiffy getting ready to sing.

Here is Kayleigh.

Becky, Liz, Kayleigh and Devs. Jeff Young and Jeff Hamblin with a cup in front of his face.

Here is Jeff with his tray of sampler soup.

Todd, Jeff and Jeff sampling the soup.

Kelsey, Shay and Dane at Bowls for Hunger.

Noah sitting, Matthew and Mary at the Bowls for Hunger.

Todd, John and Lafi at Applebee's getting ready to sing.

Dad, Mary and Karyn at Applebees.

Amanda at the Mexican Restaurant for her birthday with the sombrero to sing Happy Birthday!

Kelsey and Liz at the birthday lunch.

Devree trying to get out of the picture for Kayleigh and Jessica at the lunch.

Chris and Mom with her back at Thanksgiving.

Becky cooking for Thanksgiving.

Mary and Shelley with Austin and Brenna.

Trevor on the right around the table goes Matthew standing on a chair, Kelsey, Jackson, David (the only picture I have of his whole family because they weren't around when I had my camera) standing and Dane at Thanksgiving.

Todd and Dad at Thanksgiving.

Maci and Brenna eating Thanksgiving.

Karyn

Karyn and Laffi

Playing Hand and Foot with the guys playing Puerto Rico.

Well we had a wonderful week in Missouri (MO) for those of you who don't know the abbreviation I always use. Thanks so much for John and Mary for picking us up at the airport and dropping us off again. They are such gracious hosts and let us stay at their comfortable home. I was happy to see all of the changes they have made and applaud them for all of their hard work in finishing the basement. Also for the fun that Mary had in accesorizing her upstairs. AWESOME! Todd and I never got around to finishing our basement in Fernley.

We got to see Linda, Anna, Janae and Daila on Sunday and that was a treat. Ben was working so we never got to see him because their family went to Ben's family for turkey day.

Lafi is a great addition to the family and we are happy for Karyn. He grew up on Oahu and has many relatives in Laie so we reminisced. It was fun to hear him sing Karaoke. Amidst the many drunk people at Applebees, he was a shining star with a very good voice.

Many celebrations were had when we were there including 3 birthdays we celebrated. Liz, Amanda and a friend of the family. We also went to bowls for hunger which is a cute program done at the Elementary School. Tyson and Jacob sang. The clay bowls made by the children were bought and then the local restaurants brought in soup to fill the bowls. Each of the classes donated a basket of items for the homeless and those were presented. Trevor got to present the basket from his class.

Three movies were watched. The guys took the kids to "Planet 51" while the ladies went to Applebee's. Noble got to see a screening of "Old Dogs" with cousin Liz. But we all went to see "The Blindside" and that is an excellent movie for all to see. Thanks again to Jaynie Richards for watching all of the kids that were too little or just didn't want to go to the movie. I feel so bad because I didn't get a picture of this saint of a woman for the blog. She is the one that has been so supportive of Devree through all of this journey through cancer this last year. Thanks again SAINT!

There was much fun to be had, playing with the cousins and catching up on those we haven't seen for a year and a half. Little Ethan was still in Amanda's tummy when we saw them last. He is a cutie and Julia (age 4) said the cutest thing. Devree was getting ready for bed and she took off her wig but she needed Todd to put the medicine in her eye and tape it closed for the night. (I was off with the girls at Applebees) Anyway Devree asked Julia "Will you please get my Dad and tell him I need him?" Julia found Todd and said "The cousin needs you." Todd asked "Which cousin? The cousin with brown hair?" Julia replied "No. The cousin with no hair." Isn't that precious?

We had another lemon situation that turned into lemonade. Flying out, when we had a lay over in Chicago, they forgot to put Devree's walker on the plane. So Devree of course cried about it but ended up walking around for whole time before they found it and returned it several days later. She is doing pretty well and really only needs a four footed cane to help steady her. There were a few times I was like "Oh please don't fall Devree."

Our Thanksgiving feast was amazing. I have never seen so many desserts in my life! There were probably 20 choices. Jaynie made a cake, it was Liz's 16th birthday and Shelley brought 3 different kinds. Thanks to Chris and Shelley for coming. Their kids are adorable too. I know Todd and I ended up making 14 pies the day before and there were still lots of pie the morning we flew out. Todd bemoaned the fact that he hadn't gotten enough pumpkin pie and there were still 2 untouched pies on the counter in the laundry room. The thing I loved the most was the "Thankful tree" we made and everyone put what they were thankful for on leaves. We had a ton of leaves and lots of things that you can't even imagine were on the tree. Mary, Becky and I laughed at quite a few. St. Jude's was the number one thing we were thankful for though.

Tomorrow Devree and I fly out to St. Jude's for her first checkup. I will be blogging to let you know how things go.

Dane's tooth/New Moon Party

Dane finally looses one of his 2 front teeth. He grinds them down and he was very proud of himself for working on it and let Noble pull it out.

Cassie DePew, Devree and Lana Staggs at the New Moon party.

Ali Stewart, Katrina and Gail Briethaupt

Kaia Galloway standing in Back in Middle is Elysse Ingersol, Leslie and Mallorie Olson, Sherry Bergstrom (Shay's 4th grade teacher way back when) and Connie O'Barr. Front row is Al Kline, Sierra Bergstrom and Shondra Mason.

Connie, Emma and Sue Staggs with Shondra

We also had Makela and Sariah Olson, Nica Scott and Adrian were people we didn't get. It was a fun time with snacks and games. We went to the midnight movie with Shay, Al, Ali, Cassie and Adrian. It was insanity with people, no parking and every theater filled. We didn't even get to sit together and some had to go to a different theater. It was an adventure though by getting home on a EARLY Friday morning by 3:30 AM!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! We are flying to MO today!

Noble's Eagle Court of Honor

Cake at Noble's Eaqle Court of Honor
(Decorated by Katy Gardner)

Shana Provided Katy with this Picture as an Example

Shay sleeping in his suit.

Sleeping till morning in his suit.
Lynn Olson, the Scout district representative handing the Eagle award to Noble. The flag was flown over White House.


He got a fancy eagle slide with is eagle neckerchief.

Well we had a very busy week again. First off Shay went to the temple for the first time. It was a very wonderful evening with 2 of our new converts that went too! It was a wonderful evening and we finished off with taking Noble, Devree and Shay to the Claim Jumper for a late dinner. We got home so late that Shay just fell into his bed in his suit and slept the night away.

Devree did get sick on one day and is doing a little bit better about eating. I really appreciate people coming up and talking to her to tell her to EAT and to get on her exercise bike.

Noble had another busy week and he was able to go on a mini mission with some Elders in the area. As a Mom I appreciated that Noble got to see what mission life was like, but we had a big discussion about (as Uncle Ky would call them) "Lunchy Missionaries". Noble was relieved a little bit because he was worried about some things that were put to rest by serving with the missionaries in a 12 hour period. He also noted the cute girl he had dinner with.

It was also a busy week for Todd and I trying to get Noble's Eagle Court of Honor ready for Sunday afternoon. In amongst, visiting teaching, the relief society dinner and Todd getting really sick, we did it. I felt like it was almost like putting a wedding together. I did buy a Costco cake and Katy Gardner decorated it and put a wonderful Eagle award on it. Then making sure the awards were picked up and everyone had their part ready to go, found a slide projector set up the room and it was filled to the brim with people. It was wonderful and I am so proud of Noble.

Birthday and Loosing weight

Shay getting some merit badges at Scouts from Travis Hughes.

Mr. Sample at the high school loaned this walker to Devree for her use. It is even fancier than Grandma's walker and has several compartments in the front and side and also storage in the seat. Devree calls it her "hot rod" because she can move alot faster.

Brother Jones went to Alaska for a hunting trip and brought back some "Alaska" socks for Devree. You can't see but they have moose, bear and deer on them and say "Alaska".

Well it was my birthday on Monday and it would have been nice if I lost the weight but Devree had to go to Urgent Care on my birthday. She is having a terrible time eliminating and was prescribed some drugs. Todd and the boys didn't remember my birthday that morning but made up for it the next and made me a delicious breakfast that I had in bed. I also went to lunch with Todd and he bought me a new blouse and earrings for my birthday.

That night was the Scout court of Honor and we celebrated Shay getting now 9 merit badges. I glued them on his sash so he will look spiffy for Noble's Eagle Court of Honor this Sunday.

Wednesday we found a new doctor for Devree because our wonderful doctor retired. We will miss you Dr. Bower. Devree is now down to 104 lbs. which is less than when she left the hospital. We ran out of her favorite drug that helps with nausea etc and the pharmacy said insurance doesn't cover it and it would be $500. for our part. We tried other drugs and all of the same. Insurance won't cover. St. Jude's said they would send more. i don't know if the part of Devree's brain that likes food or wants to survive is broken, but I know as a parent I am so ready for her to recover and truly be well! She just isn't logical when it comes to food and doing those things that will help her to truly become healthy. At physical therapy they are starting her on a cane, but she is still pretty unsteady.

For those of you who would like, we are asking for fasting and prayers for Devree. Please ask that she will want to eat and exercise and grow stronger. Our prayers were answered even today because we were able to get some of the drugs we needed that expired, but will still work for her nausea.

I guess I thought it would be down hill after we had stopped treatment for so many months. But we are still facing uphill battles that look like it won't end. I know that the Lord keeps blessing us, because Todd and Devree really wanted a nice walker and then all of a sudden someone lends us one. I was really worried about the expensive medication and then we are given some. The Lord is mindful of every hair on our heads (or lack of them) and hears and answers our prayers.

Enjoy this beautiful fall. I know I have been loving the colors and the beautiful weather we have been having.

Nevada Day aka Halloween!

Megan and a boy from their ward

Kolten, Grandma, & Granny

Locey & Shay

Megan, Devree, and Teara



Dane & Shay

Todd & Ky

Devree and Mom

I was able to help Dane's class with a little ghost craft on Thursday. Nevada became a state on October 31st so we get the Friday off before Halloween. We left at 3 pm from Todd's work. We decided to take a more scenic route that made 2 kids car sick but was very beautiful.

We had a fun day on Friday with Grandma and Grandpa Rice. The men and boys picked grapes after our swim in the hottest pool. We did water aerobics with Grandma and then Ky came and took Grandpa and Todd for one of Ky's work delivery.

We made grape juice. It was amazing! Out of 1 1/2 buckets of nibel grapes we got over 4 gallons of juice! It is way better than Welch's! Shay could drink it everyday. But we only have a little bit because it is the best laxative around. For those of you that want to know how we make grape juice, we don't stomp it. We wash all of the spider webs off and kill lots of little white spiders that crawl around in the sink. We put the vines and grapes in a steamer that pops the grapes open and juices them and the vines keep the grapes apart so the juice can drain through tiny holes so that no seeds or skins get in the juice.

I wanted to celebrate my birthday so I told Mom "For lunch, I want to go to El Tapitio's". I haven't been there for years and Shay and Dane were complaining that it was Mexican Food. But their barbacoa beef is the best I have ever tasted and after Shay and Dane tasted it, they decided it was the best Mexican food they have ever tasted.

That night we went with Ky and Tammie's family to their ward Halloween carnival, dinner and trunk or treat. They also had a spook alley on their stage. It was a great evening.

On Saturday we went to lunch at my favorite Italian cafe in Visalia and then we went and saw Skyla and Locey play soccer. After that we went and saw The Vampire's assitant with all of the cousins. Todd was able to visit with his cousins Ted and Linda Hatch and Paula came over to visit too.

Sunday we went to church at Lindsay Ward and had dinner with everyone before we left to travel back to Nevada. Noble had to stay at home all weekend because he marched in the Nevada Day Parade. It was the 2nd to the last marching performance for him. They still came in last. It has been very disappointing after all of the hard work to not have won any of the competitions.

Have a great week!