Being Grateful....

Today is Thanksgiving.. We didn't go out of town this year and didn't have any family coming to visit. So it was a nice quiet day with just our little family. Our Ward was asking for donations for dinners for those who are in need and so we donated as much of the list as we could and then because it was just us, we decided to go out to eat our Thanksgiving dinner. We at first were going to go to Golden Corral and eat all you can eat, but when we got there at 12:20 pm there was already a 45 minute wait just to get seated. So, we decided to try Marie Calendars across the street and we got right in. They were a little more money but it too was all you can eat and they served you. It turned out to be a really nice dinner and as we left there were so many people waiting to eat. It was crazy! We have never eaten out on Thanksgiving so I didn't know it could be this way.. I really thought everyone stays home and cooks, apparently not.

So, we came home stuffed and sleepy. So as we all relaxed for a bit and watched some football. We then decided to watch the movie we rented Super 8. It was a good movie.

So, now we have just a few more hours and me and Joe are going to go hit a few stores for the black friday sales. That should complete the evening and then starts the weekend of taking down Fall and putting up Christmas.. and then the crazy begins!

All and all it has been a nice day. It has also been a time to reflect on what your grateful for. Here are a few of mine:

* That me, Joe and the boys all have our health

* We have a roof over our heads.. It may not be ours but we are making it home

* To have cars that run

* For the gospel in our lives

* That Joe has a good, steady job

* For his health insurance for all of us

* Both of our families that love and support us

* For good friends

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

The Twins, Scouts and The Derby....

The twins have finally turned 8 and have been waiting for this moment forever it seems like, to be in Scouts. They just came in last week, but just last night (Nov. 18th, 2011) was there Derby. So, there scout leaders came by a few weeks ago and gave them there cars. Joe and the twins had fun coming up with there own ideas and then making them. Blake (well with Joe saying lets do this one) was the hot dog and then Jake just wanted a simple car. We were a little nervous for this since the last car we made for Patrick's derby wouldn't work on the track because of how Joe cut it out and it went down very slow.. but I think we learned our lesson. When we got to the derby we were surprised and delighted at everything that had been put together for this event. I have worked in scouts in the past and have had cub master's that love to go up and beyond to make these events and others special, but I had never seen this. It was a production. But, to give it to the cub master he owns or works for a Ferrari dealership and has connections for a lot of the car stuff he used throughout the gym. But, he did hire a DJ, had a big screen up showing Ferrari commercials during the breaks, strobe lights going and etc. It was so great! The boys loved every minute of it and that is really the whole point...

The racing part also went well for the most part. Jake with his simple race car won every race which is exciting but not when your twin brother Blake keeps coming in 2nd or 3rd. But Blake did finally win a race when he wasn't racing against Jake. All in all he was a good sport about it until they were doing the loop race, which wasn't an actual race because the track guy did warn them not every car will make it around the loop. And so Blake's didn't and Jake's did and kept going down the track as you will see in the photo below.. What an amazing night for the boys and really all the families. Everyone had a great time thanks to our amazing Scouting committee and leader

Blake and Jake with there cars before the race..

The team cup

Some photos of the gym..

Cub master preping the boys before the race..

The first time the twins raced against each other..

Jake so excited that he keeps winning the races..

Enjoying snacks during races..

Blake finally won..

Nervous when the guy running the track announces that the Dodd brothers were up to do the loop race.. gulp, here we go..

Cars going through the loops and then Jake's reaction and Blake's reaction of the cars going through.. a happy and sad moment..

Yummy snacks..

All the boys after they got there rewards..

The boys with there awards. Blake got the most awesome design for his hot dog car and Jake got his 1st place award with trophy..

Pumpkin Cream Pie..

This last weekend I was needing an idea for a treat to give to the ladies I visit teach. So, I started looking on my favorite site sugardoodle.net for an idea. As I clicked on one of the sites up popped this idea. It was so quick and easy and even cuter that she put it in a jar. So, I made up a few to give away and the rest for us... it was a hit! Even though I finally realized why mine didn't look lighter than the picture, its because I forgot to add the whipped cream to the mix, I only added it to the top, but it was still so yummy, I thought I would share. Its a great dessert with Thanksgiving coming up.

Crust:

1 1/2 cups finely crushed graham crackers (about 1 1/2 packages of crackers, I crushed them in my food processor)

1/3 cup sugar

6 tablespoons melted butter

Mix together well, then press into small cups or jars with your hands and chill in the fridge. Do not cook crust.

Cream:

1 cup pumpkin (pureed)

2 cups cold milk

2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz size)

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed (cool whip or make your own)

Extra whipped topping for the top of pies

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together on low speed for 1 minute. Spoon filling into cups or jars on top of graham cracker crust. Top with a layer of whipped topping and chill in fridge until set. About a half hour.

Twins Birthday Continued...

On Saturday Nov. 12th, the twins had a friend birthday party. Because they had chosen to go to Boondocks they were only allowed 1 friend each. So with 4 boys we were off. We got a pass that would let all 4 do 2 main things and then $5.00 worth of games. They chose to do Rollerball and Laser tag. They had a blast! The only thing is 2 hours goes by really fast (even for me) and the boys wanted to stay longer but there as got to be a limit...

I love how Nicholas tried it. The backwards, between the legs move..

Blake and his friend Zach..

The roller coaster ride... the boys LOVE this one.. The chair rocks and moves with the video so it feels real.

Getting ready for Laser tag..

After Boondocks... Still so Happy..

The lovely weather when we left Boondocks.. was a perfect day to be inside..

The twins gifts from there friends..

Happy 8th Birthday Jacob and Blake!!!

Yesterday November 9, 2011 our twins turned 8 years old.. Time flies when your having fun! It is crazy that they are already 8. And that in less than a month they will be Baptized. So, to celebrate there special day, Joe took the day off, my parents were in town and we pulled the boys out of school for the day.

The day started off by getting up and eating some delicious cinnamon rolls (that we bought), then me and Joe ran a secret errand (cake and there gift)... Then we got everyone ready and headed off for the day. After a few pit stops it was time for lunch. The boys chose Burger King. While there, they even asked for there own burger king crown they wanted so badly, because it is there birthday they said...

After Burger King we headed to Target to get there gift from grandma and grandpa. They got to pick what they wanted in a price range limit.. We got them an Atari game system flashback that has 60 games built in. They LOVE it! After a little shopping we then headed to the Air Force Museum which they both love and I love that its free.. We spent a good couple of hours looking at the planes, watching some videos and playing with the simulations in the kid area. My parents even enjoyed it and thought it was pretty amazing.

After all that we then headed home for a little bit before dinner. We had asked them were they wanted to go for there birthday dinner and they said some where, were they will sing to us. The only place I could think of that they liked and that sang was Texas Road House. They were so excited and it was a great dinner. After our waitress came over and did there sort of song, its more like they yell "everyone we have Jacob and Blake that turned 8 here celebrating there birthday with us, so on the count of 3 lets give them a big yee haa". It was so funny to see there faces and after it was done Jake leans in and says that was embarrassing.. Laughed my but off.

So, after a great dinner we headed home, the boys put there lego's together, we relaxed. We then were able to Skype with Joe's parents and have them sing Happy Birthday with us before we ate the cake.

In the words of the twins... it was a great day!

Blake stood in front of these guys and did a salute pose..

Presidents old plane.. it was really small

Its amazing the blades on this helicopter and just the size of these jets. Its amazing they get off the ground..

Sitting in a pilot chair..

The kid area were they sat in simulations and there was a guy that was there showing the kids how different things worked in certain planes.. they may have even learned a little..

Dinner..

Blowing out the candles.. and having cake..

The BK crown

A couple of the gifts from grandma and grandpa..