Thanksgiving and a Wedding

Cacti in Sedona

Linnea in her Blessing Dress about 4. months

Linnea so cute

Linnea sweet doll

Rachelle in Sedona, so warm there!

Annette and Grant with her mom and siblings

Amy, Erin, Michelle, Rande Todd, Annette Todd, Grant Todd, Richard Todd, and Nathan

Our Family in Sedona at Cathedral Rock

We've had a fun holiday and a busy Sunday. Thanksgiving was at our house but we didn't have to do it all. We did have the great priviledge of cooking a huge turkey. It weighed 22.3 pounds but only cost 50 cents. I bummed off a bunch of turkey vouchers from people to lower the price. I think it would've cost 17 dollars without the coupons. But I was still very worried it would not turn out. The instructions said it would take 4 hours per pound to thaw. That's 88 hours. I didn't have that kind of time! So I called all the moms (my kid's grandmas too) and they gave me great advice. Then I looked on the package again and found the speed thaw directions, only 11 hours! Just have to rinse the bird in cold water. I was very pleased. The only other hard part was lifting the thing, but Eric was a great help.

So we had Jason Udy, Lamar and Susan and Ryan over plus my parents Rich and Rande Todd. I feel so blessed to live by both of our parents while my parents are on a genealogy mission in Salt Lake. I love being able to spend time with them and seeing my kids get to know their grandparents better. Susan brought some music for Rachelle and enjoyed playing Holiday music on the piano with Rachelle. There was great food and a few falls and bumps. Josh was standing on his chair and fell to the floor onto his ear. Also, Rachelle accidentally kicked Cecily in the nose.

They have both recovered and are still their same crazy selves.

Our bishop has a big fold up table we asked to borrow, big mistake! Eric got asked that night to give a talk in Sacrament, but I got out of it since I was playing the organ already and piano for the musical number. Eric spoke on tithing and did a great job. I prayed my way through "O Come Thou Fount" but my hands still shook. The kids were crazy and Linnea hungry but we survived. I really need to perform more so I can get over the nervousness. I am so happy we have a piano now and can play wonderful music!

My brother Grant got married last week and we took our huge family out to see him and Annette in Mesa, Arizona. The drive down took us about 13.5 hours with all the stops for bathroom, eating and feeding the baby. We had a great place to sleep because of the wonderful Priceline company. We bid on a hotel and got the price we wanted. We stayed at the Residence Inn and had a nice breakfast there and a pool (heated to 85). The 3 older kids slept in the hide a bed and Linnea in our bed (she had a playpen too). They would've got us groceries for free too if we made a list. Very nice hotel.

The next day was the wedding and I almost missed it. I thought it started at 11:30am but it was actually 11:15am. We got to the temple at 10:30 and I realized I needed some different tights. We shopped at Payless shoe source and they only had the kind without feet. Then we found a Walgreens and found a great pair. We got back to the temple and the baby needed a change and to be fed and then she had another bad diaper, so by the time I walked over to the temple from the visitor's center it was 11:10 ish. I got in and went to the sealing room where my sister Michelle sighed and gave me a hug. She was so worried I would miss this. It was a beautiful ceremony. The officiater gave some great council to them to start off their marriage. I feel so blessed to have been there. I really love the good spirit I feel in the temple. And I especially loved being there with all of my brothers and sisters and parents.