Please Forgive Me Lyn

I guess I have to apologize to Aunt Lyn about the comment I made in my last blog about if we divide the family in half and half goes to her house and half goes to my house it would be too hard on Grandma running back and forth and half would be missing out on all the fun at Aunt Lorrie's. I think she thought I was serious. I'm not serious very often but I guess me being the oldest and she being so much younger (and prettier I might add) I should be more grown up. I really think if the family took a vote everyone would rather go to her house than mine for Thanksgiving. I know I would. But because we have become an increasingly huge family both of our homes are too small, even if we have basements. Heather asked why we don't have it at the church. If you asked the men its because they wouldn't be able to watch their football game, if you asked the women its because the kids run around like wild indians and I can't even imagine the messes we would have to clean up all thru the church. We have had a few family dinners there and the noise level is above my tolerant level. For those of you who didn't know the SR. center is now the Community Center and has been remodeled with beautiful laminate wood floors and it doesn't even look the way it used to. You will really be suprised. The rental of it will be paid by us older generation and so we just want you all to help with the food. We have talked about having an auction to earn money for future family events and thats something to think about. For those of you who have asked if you can bring guests - of course you can. The more the merrier. Lets just make sure we have enough food!

New Thanksgiving Plan

Everytime I have to change the blog background I think "didn't I just do this"? As I said last year our family has more birthdays in November than any other month and I think 2 more will be added this month. By this time next year we will have added at least 6 new babies to this family. As we continue to grow I have scarey thoughts of inside family events. Mom's birthday party was an eye opener for me as to the enormity of it all. Sometimes I find myself envying the Thanksgiving dinners you see on TV where everyone has a seat at the table with cute little place cards and decorations and even a centerpiece. They all hold hands and say what they are thankful for. Can you imagine us doing that. We would never get to dinner until the next day. I'm not sure what the weight compacity is for our house floor but I'm sure the firecode for maximum capacity is below 70 people. Taking this all into consideration Grandma and I have discussed different solutions to this growing dilema. #1 We could all go out to a resturant to eat.(Too expensive, too many of us)
#2 We could split up - half at Aunt Lyn's & Half at Aunt Lorrie's - Grandma running in between. (Too hard on Grandma and half missing all the fun at Aunt Lorrie's.)
#3. We would not have Thanksgiving all together at all. (Can't even imagine it, yet)
So we have come up with an idea and would like everyone's imput. I have checked into renting the Senior center, which has been remodeled and is very nice. We would all be able to sit at a table, we could all eat at the same time, the "Big Game" would be on the big screen TV they have there so no one would miss it. The only draw backs I see would be keeping the little kids entertained and the money for renting it. The fee is $100 dollars for 4 hours or $200 if your going to be longer than 4 hours. We would have to set up and clean up in those amount of times. What I am asking is how many of you are planning on coming to Our families Thanksgiving dinner and would you be willing to be here at 12:30 or 1:00 so the majority of us would be here for dinner at the same time? Do you think this will work? I need to know what you all think?

Rainy Day Thursday!

Today I just want to curl up in bed and take the longest nap! I have still been getting up and walking every morning at 6 am with my neighbor and although its cold, it is invigorating. Plus I have lost 7 lbs. and thats what I am most excited about. But anyway last night we had our Ward Halloween party and once again Lyn, Chad and Jaycie, (who Ed and I couldn't do this calling without) came thru. I'm going to say there was close to 150 people there. Alot of kids but adults also. Lots of cute costumes. This really is a big holiday for everyone, I have said before that I hate Halloween. Its a lot of money and alot of work. And right before the 2 biggest Holidays of the year. (Well three if you want to count my birthday.) But I love seeing the clever costumes everyone comes up with especially since I don't have to worry about doing that anymore. People are so creative. Did you see my grandkids last night? Ok Ok everyone elses grandkids looked cute too. I complain alot about Halloween but the only thing worse would be having your birthday on Halloween. Huh, Deby? It's almost a gurantee what you will be doing on that night while your raising your kids and its probably not dinner at a nice resturant. Well, Happy Birthday Deby - You're the kindest sweetest person I know and you've been thru so much in this life. I feel honored to be your sister. Have a great day even though its Halloween. We'll try to make it special for ya!

It Must Be A Guy Thing

The mighty hunters have returned. Although they look like hunters I'm not really sure they were actually hunting. They have nothing to show for it. They had orange vests, hats, guns & amm. . . but no deer. Ed has been preparing for months for what has become an annual event. This year he decided to buy a huge army tent for them all to sleep in. A week before the trip they set it up on Brian's front lawn much to the terror of his neighbors. I'm sure they were thrilled to see it come back down. Now I don't get it. I would find no joy spending the week end in a stinky tent, no bathroom, no running water, cooking over a fire. It took Ed hours to pack and hours to unpack for 2 days in the wilderness. But you can tell by the smiles on their faces they loved it! It must be a guy thing.

Birthday fun & New Announcement

Sorry no pictures. But my heck, what a party! I could't believe it when I counted up how many family members were at Grandma's Birthday party. All day we watched outside as the wind roared and nothing but dirt for miles. I told Ed, I don't think very many people are going to come tonight. And then I thought well, maybe thats a good thing cause the kids won't be able to play outside and everyone will be inside. But as it turned out almost EVERYONE did come. I went downstairs one time to look for Cooper, Jodi had been down there and couldn't find him, but he was there. With about 40 other kids!! It is a wonder we didn't lose someone. It was potluck and I was afraid we would have all jello salads and no main dishes, but what a wonderful buffet of delicious foods. Just the right variety of everything. It was standing room only and I'm sorry that everyone didn't have a place to sit at the same time but hopefully we "musical chaired" enough that everyone got to sit at one time or another. I was really suprised when everyone took their plates and kids and left that we didn't have much of a mess to clean up. Mom was the last to leave and I think she was totally thrilled with the whole night. At the end of the evening she took some time to thank everyone and give some advice to all of her grandchildren. These are treasured moments that we will remember forever. The one new announcement for the evening was that Michael and Rachael are pregnant! Poor Rachael is going thru the 24 hours a day morning sickness. But after last night I did some caluculating and here are some family statistics: Mom & dad have 6 children, 30 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren with 5 on the way. Out these - 69 were in my house last night!

Grandma Cox's Birthday Party

As you all know Grandma's birthday was last Monday and since we were all recovering from our fast weekend trip we didn't have time to have her party. I think that when you turn "80" you deserve a party, don't you? It's going to be at Lorrie and Ed's SUNDAY at 4:00 pm It will be potluck so I hope everyone will bring something yummy and big enough to share. Hope to see you all there!