So far, this is our itinerary. Everyone is invited to do all of it (please, join us for FHE and at The Fly Trap!) or just the major things. I just want to spend as much time as we can together--because we're all so stinkin' fun to be around!

Tentative Thanksgiving Itinerary:

Sunday night- Kari and Jana, and their respective families, arrive in town, dinner at Hillary's (time to be determined)
Monday: chill out all day, FHE (put on by the Hairs), Kari and Eric go on a hot date
Tuesday: lunch or dinner at The Fly Trap in Ferndale (featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!)
Wednesday: spend day at Bronners/Frankenmuth, family pictures in evening
Thursday: Turkey Bowl, Thanksgiving, Book Club/Block making and painting
Friday: Black Friday shopping

I spoke with Mom and she didn't say that this wouldn't work for her, so I assume it's pretty ok. I still have to speak with Wendy and see when we can come see her.

Kurt, would you be able to cut those blocks for me? Should I ask Charlie? Do I have to buy the wood?

As for Black Friday... Jason wants to buy a laptop and BestBuy apparently has the best buy. Ha! Anyhow, each store only is going to carry 10 of them. We are newbies at this, how early do you think we'd have to be there to snatch one up? Get in line at midnight? Ugh, it will be soooo cold. Just wondering what you seasoned Black Fridayers thought.

I really can't wait to come. I am excited for Addie to play with Harvey and Noah and Hillary's girls. I am excited to play Carcassonne. I am excited to sing with the piano. I am excited to have everyone hold Macie and tell me that she's cute (yes, you MUST do that). I am excited for the holidays with all of you!!!

When will we do it all?

I thought I would list all of the things that have been talked about doing while everyone is here for Thanksgiving, because I'm wondering what kind of a time table we'll need to do it all. Kari wants to go to Bronners and Friday morning shopping. Jana wants to go to a diner in Ferndale. We are going to have pictures taken on Wednesday evening here at the house. We need to find a time to have our book club discussion. The Hicks are doing the turkey bowl Thursday morning. We need to plan a time to make the blocks. And of course, there is the Thanksgiving day meal, which I would like to have everyone make a dish for. Hillary called last night and volunteered to make the rolls. Dad will do the turkey and gravy, I'll do the pies, and that leaves potatoes (mashed and sweet potato), some kind of vegetable dish, and the traditional (for Mom) cheese whiz filled celery. Stuffing comes out of a box, and anyone can do that. I think we can go to Bronners and the diner sometime between Monday and Wednesday since not everyone needs to do those things. But we still need a day for doing the blocks and book club. We could do the two things at the same time (talk about the book while we do the blocks), that would save time. I thought it would be easier to figure these things out here, in one place, rather than trading emails back and forth.

How is Harvey?

Because of various stupid situations, Noah has not and will probably not recieve the H1N1 vaccine before we come.  But the nurse at the doctor's office told me that if Harvey is better when we get there then he is not contagious anymore.  So my question is, is Harvey better or almost better?

H1N1 in the House

Looks like Harvey might have come down with the H1N1 flu. He was pretty sick yesterday and last night. He spent most of the evening vomiting and wouldn't take any fluids till this morning. He seems to be feeling somewhat better today but he's still not taking in a lot of fluids and he isn't eating much at all. His fever is down at least and he hasn't thrown up since bedtime last night. Our doctor called in a Tami-flu prescription for him. He couldn't keep the first dose down but we gave him another dose this morning. We're hoping that the meds will help us get through this a little easier. Harvey has never really been this miserably sick. We're going to be hanging out at the house for the next couple days. The doctor said to plan on 5 to 7 days out of daycare (and work for me) before he's healthy enough to go back. Usually when I stay home with him I can get a couple hours of work done each day but right now he requires full time attention and cuddles.

Hope everyone else is staying healthy.

What will YOU be doing in 2014?

I know like that sound like far away, but what will you be doing in 5 years from now?  I can tell you what we will be doing...attending Eric's graduation from medical school!!!!  That's right, my man got into medical school starting next fall.  I am incredibly proud of him and am excited to finally know what we will be doing for the next...well, until we die I guess.  Congrats babe!  You've worked hard for this.

What the Hairs have been doing

Our family walked in the annual "Walk for Sight" that was partially put on by Jason's school. Here we are, all five in our family. Jason, me, Addie, Macie and Stroller. Aren't we a nice looking bunch? (Oh yeah, and I'm wearing a pair of jeans I haven't been able to wear in a while!)
We have been spending a lot of time outdoors. This is what each of us did at the park the other day.
We had our first "sleepover" in nearly 2 years. We take our mattress out into the living room and watch movies until we fall asleep. It was fun to do it with the girls, but very squishy!
And, finally, here we are for Halloween. I made Addie's cat costume (tail, headband, cat bracelets) and Macie's duck costume is always a hit. We had fun at the ward Halloween party, nand trick or treating the next day. We've done Halloween at our friend's house each year we've been here, and their tradition is to have Weeny Stew (basically broth, hot dogs, onions, and potatoes). It's not the greatest in the world, but a funny tradition. We may pick it up.

F.Y.I.

Just thought I'd update you with the newest happening in our family. I was just called to serve as the young women's first counselor. I've served in young women before, but never really felt comfortable there. I still am not totally comfortable with it yet, but know that it will be good for me. I'm looking forward to it and hope to do a good job. I'm just glad that Lexi and I get along pretty well so that by me being in young women won't cause too much conflict for her.

Charlie finished his class last week. He got an A. Wrestling starts tomorrow. I'm going to be a single mom again for the next few months. I'm glad he gets to do something he loves, but not glad for me and all the alone time I'll have:(.

Everyone else is doing well. We all enjoyed Halloween and trick-or-treating. Although we didn't last very long because it was cold. My kids started to complain and wanted to go home, so we did after only about an hour. I wasn't too upset, but couldn't believe that my kids gave up so easily, especially Jaxson and his stomach.

I hope Heather and Harvey are feeling better. We missed seeing you guys. But we'll be seeing you at Thanksgiving, at the very least. Yeah for holidays!