I'm so glad Bryan cooks. We spent Thanksgiving here at home. Bryan ended up having to take call during part of the break (SO unusual, I know!) But we did have plenty of time together, which was wonderful. Especially since I've never cooked a turkey in my life! We've had loads of fun playing games, watching videos, (Lord of the Rings marathon, yahoo!) and of course, eating.

With so much that has happened over the last few months, I have so much to be thankful for this time of year. Our family has been watched over and blessed time and time again. We may joke about our "pioneer" living, with our wood stove, no dishwasher, one bathroom, and living amongst the cows, but we have been so taken care of. We have plenty to eat. We have a warm home. We have dear friends. And we have each other. We have learned so many great lessons because of what our family has been through. How could we not be thankful for our trials? Without them, we would not grow. I have learned to appreciate the strength of my own testimony in Christ. I have been amazed at the strength of my children as they stand up for what they believe in. I'm grateful that no matter where I live, there are those that have a knowledge, as I do, that our Savior provides for us. I'm thankful for those friends. I'm grateful for friends that we had to leave behind, that offered so much support and love. How could we have survived without the strength of those closest to us? I'm grateful for a husband that keeps on trying; that really does love his family enough to do whatever it takes, to keep us together. I am amazed that my Father in Heaven loves me so much, that he has carried us through the last four months with hardly a bump. As crazy as it has been, our lives have moved on with as much abundance as we have ever been blessed with before.

How lucky are we, that we have had a time of reflection to ponder the many things we have been freely given! I hope that all of you have had just as wonderful of a week as I have........

Love you all!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's some pictures of our sweet Porter, or as Bryan likes to refer to him- "Stormin". ;)
We enjoyed our weekend visit to meet him and Cassandra.

He's Here!!

This is Porter Norman Nielson - Bryan's grandson! Cassandra delivered (by C-section) at eight o' clock tonight. He's 8 lbs 2 oz. and 20 inches long. Big stinker already, huh? This was the photo they sent us by phone..... no worries though. We're heading down this weekend, and I'm sure we'll get some really great pictures to post. ( I know a GREAT photographer! ha ha!) Yeah! All went well. Both are healthy. Be sure to tell GRANDPA congratulations!!

I just wanted to share my latest favorite photo. I took this a couple of days before we left to go to Utah.

My awesome Sanpete Valley.........

First of all~ can I just say that we had the BEST EVER Halloween! Who else is crazy enough to travel 400 miles just to go trick-of-treating!? Well, of course, US! We took off on Thursday, made the long drive to Ephraim to see all of our friends.......

(This is Maranda after she RAN down the street to see her Sami.. who was TOTALLY caught of guard! Way awesome to see that surprise!)

.....and participate in the Ephraim Elementary Costume Parade.

Halloween fun continued as we went to the 5th Ward's Trunk-r-Treat Friday night. We tossed kids aside at the Hermansen's, (thanks Becki & Todd for shackin' us up!)

(hangin out, so much fun! Stock and Tyra really are the same age. We just grow 'em short)

and Bryan and I went to a much needed trip to the Manti Temple. What a relief and blessing that was. With our closest temple being in Billings Montana, we haven't been able to go since we moved. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to be sitting in our favorite temple again. Ahh the peace.(taken with my sweet little cell phone, gotta love technology, right?)

Bryan was able to head up north and pick up his girls to visit and stay at his mom's house in West Point. Maranda, Taylor and I stayed in Ephraim and hung out some more. We saw friends, and I got to go to the temple one more time. We were able to hit church and see a few more people there as well. BIG thank you to Wayne and Ardith for letting stay Saturday night. (and for sending us home with TWO loaves of the BEST homemade bread ever!)

(take note... rare photo with ME in it, and I actually posted it!)

Sunday afternoon, we all met up together at Cassandra's, (Bryan's oldest daughter) so that we could take the opportunity to compare all of our belly's!

Cassandra is due to have her first
baby, our FIRST
GRANDSON!!! in just
a few short weeks.
So, we wanted to wish her
well, before life totally
changes for her.
Crazy, huh? Bryan is going to be a Grandpa? Ew?! He's actually very
excited and looking forward to little "Porter". (We'll post as soon as he comes!)

We finished up our weekend trip in Logan. By the time we got to Grandma's and Grandpa's, we were SO tired. But do you think that we went to bed early? Of course not. Taylor and Stockton had Uncle Brig and the big screen downstairs, and Randa followed Aunt Millie everywhere. Brin and her cousin Ally had a blast. Two peas in a pod. Both darling, both look so sweet and innocent.... both get dangerous when quiet.

(Brin & Ally, you should see that girl shake her "thing"! And Millie and Grandpa playing games on Millie's cell phone)

Somehow through the whole trip, my kids kept getting a hold of my camera! Dang kids! But I guess it proves that I was actually there.

Overall, it was a great trip. Very much needed. Such a good break, and so much fun to see people we love. Even the road trip wasn't too bad - oh, except the part where Bryan didn't watch the map and we ended up in La Barge instead of Thermopolis coming home. (oh the agony of living in the middle of nowhere!) All said and done, it was GREAT!