Thanksgiving on the Farm

Something we don't normally do, hang out on a farm. It was great fun to go for a walk and check on all the attention starved animals - they were eager for friends.


Note Heather's farm attire ... such a city girl!



Russ and Bobby cranked up this antique apple press for fresh juice right off the tree!

While the boys were outside shooting, we knocked out the wedding favors. Emma got the biggest kick out of Nuts on Line - she thinks we're nuts enough!

(However, chocolate covered sunflower seeds are worth the search!)

Heather made great gravy!
A great meal, crisp air, crackling fire, family gathers ... much to be grateful for!

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Bobby was happy to greet this day so he would resume the older role between he and Ash. (She is delighted they are the same age for exactly one month!)

This is Bobby's new gun (he got early for his Bday) and doing what he loves. We put away a case and a half of skeet and boxes and boxes of ammo. Such a boy morning!



Heard they went skeet shooting again today! Love ya and happy birthday! xo

Bowling Highlights

Nothing like a pre-wedding bowl to show the in-laws the wacky Hick-Lee side!

Traveling with Toddlers

Lots of luggage, car seats, snacks, many hands, activities and a double dose of patience.

Andy got snagged at the ID checker when they questioned the validity of a Texas DL with the top cut off (seriously, why DOES Texas do that?) ... which sent him to the puffer machine when he got snippy. You get some sympathy in Texas with a baby on your hip, but not in Utah!


However, Utah does have the kid thing going on with play corrals in the terminal! You really need to run the wiggles out when you get off the plane and then back again before you get on. Who cares about germs at this point ... just peace!

Does this violate Child Labor Laws?
A tough travel day warrants luggage cart rides down those long hotel halls!

Wedding Bliss

It was a special day to rally as a family and celebrate Candy's wedding to Russ! She is now officially Mrs. Smart!










Andy was in charge of his table introductions and announced Tom as Heather's fiance'. Candy was giddy ... let the rumors continue!




After the reception we walked through Temple Square with throngs of people to enjoy the festive lights! It is incredible and am in awe every year of the magnitude of this lighting task! Justin, our personal lighting expert, also walked around in great appreciation as this is the ultimate goal! Temple Square tops Disney in excellence!




A great way to kick off the holiday spirit! xo

Motoman Tanner

We were taking pictures in our neighbors old museum (next door trash pit) and ran into a great bike for Tanner! He didn't mind it was missing an engine ... he's making his own sound!

Skunk Hunt or is it Earl?

A few nights ago, we came home from taking Haley Mae to see Madagasgar and let Roxy outside to do her thing. Within minutes she was howling and yelping like she had come face to face with a grizzly bear! Yep, she got skunked! And that stinker took his little ole time getting out of the back yard struttin' around with his tail in the air!
Poor Roxy got scrubbed up along with the porch and brick! Argh, not what you've planned for at 10pm!

So this triggered the makings of an 'Earl' episode. The guns came out and baited cages staged around the yard with targets! For several evenings he set up waiting for the skunks and added rampant squirrels to the hit list.

Cracked me up one afternoon to drive up to find Earl waiting for the squirrels!

It's a boy & girl & girl & girl & boy ... 60 of 'em!

This is a trooper mama! Our little Micky Mouse fish (note the ears on her tail) had 60 babies ... and she's a tiny little thing! My oh my ... this sheds new light on motherhood (and explains why they try to eat them)!

In a few weeks they will be big enough to let loose in the tank and hopefully not be bait for the others. The black Molly fish to the right of the net, is prego as well! Oh boy!