Our Thanksgiving Festivities...

A Fire house Thanksgiving-

Brian was on a 72 hr. shift over Thanksgiving so the kids and I spent Thanksgiving at the firehouse with about 2o other fellow firefighter family members; some we met for the first time while others we have known for years. This was the first time in Brian's career to host a Thanksgiving dinner at the firehouse.

Before dinner, Brian took Keagan (8) and Austin (8) out behind the firehouse to shoot bows. Austin's dad is the firefighter who works on Brian's shift. Earlier this year, the two boys traded their quad and motorcycle for one week. The two boys have gotten to be pretty good friends. Brian and Chris will be working together in 2010 so the boys will get to see each other a lot.

There is always plenty of food at the firehouse! Thanks Captain Dave for cooking!

Hailey (10) and Shawna (12) have palled around together now for eight years! Brian and Dave have worked together for so long they qualify for a Common Law Marriage.

Dining in the apparatus bay.

Penterman Thanksgiving-

Traditionally, we all get together the day after Thanksgiving.

There's still 21 of us. Next year we will be adding at least one more family member. Pretty soon we will not fit into the camera's frame.

You two started ALL this!

Soon to be married- Destiny and Brandon Holloway

The empty nesters with their two grown children, Destiny and Josh.

The Penterman 6- Brian, Michele, Justice & Triplets- Trinity, Journey & Felicity

The Brown's- Cameron, Lacey, Randy, Amber, Corey & Foster baby girl

Brian shooting the 22 with the boys before dinner.

Brian, you're shrinking!

There is too many of us so Thanksgiving was moved out to the garage.

Great-Grandma Freida Brugman(94) and Great Aunt Karen joined us for Thanksgiving!

Cute Justice!

The young adults.

Keagan and Corey decorating gingerbread boys.

Hailey & Lacey won't let Grandma Marilyn's tradition of decorating gingerbread houses die.

The Wii buddies!

Felicity is always full of grins.

Journey enjoying a story with Aunt Angie and Cousin Bethany.

Felicity and Bethany are two peas in a pod!

What a blessing it was to all be together for the Holiday!

Thankful to be...

...Pregnant! I am 31 weeks today on this Thanksgiving Day. I am so thankful for the life that is growing inside of me. I am anxious to meet this little guy, to hold him, and to see who he looks like. It won't be long now!

"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows." James 1:17

"In the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you." Deuteronomy 12:7

"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful to have all of you in our lives.

A Girls Weekend!

Over the weekend, I had the honor of being in the company of three wonderful ladies in Fort Bragg for some much needed "mommy time". I enjoyed every minute of it knowing that this would probably be my last time away for at least another year.

One of the many meals that I didn't have to get up four or five times.

The house we stayed in was absolutely beautiful!

This is the view from the back porch. Absolutely stunning! I could definitely live here.

One of the many plantations in Mendocino.

It's just in my nature. I have to take a picture of the city fire departments wherever I go.

Thank you Casey, Jamie & Lisa for a wonderful weekend of snacking, staying up late, sleeping in, laughing & story telling!

"Many hands make light the work!"

DAY 1- Tim and Brian poured the cement forms.

DAY 2- Keagan and Brian bolt down the shed's frame.

DAY 3- Brian fastens the poles together to form the shed's skeleton.

DAY 4- Brian uses the neighbors forklift and the helpful hands of Hailey and Keagan to rise the shed's skeleton.

DAY 5- Brian finishes the shed's skeleton with the help of Keagan and his friend, Tye.

DAY 6- Brian fastens down the roof's panels while Grandpa Jim raises and lowers him on the forklift. They worked until past dark.

DAY 7- Brian and Jim work as a team until dark to secure a few more roof panels. Earlier in the day, Engine 4 drives by on Township Rd. and catches Keagan operating the forklift. Needless to say, Brian got a good razin' the next day when he returns to work. They all think Brian is out of his mind!

DAY 8- Brian works on securing more roof panels. Brian and I sort through and organize the shed's panels.

DAY 9- Tim and Brian complete the roof and the side panels while Landon rides the quad.

Hailey says, "Dad, I want to come up, but I'm NOT TOO SURE about this!"

Hailey says, " Wow, it is beautiful up here! I am glad that I climbed 14 ft. up to be with you!"

Tim removes the old caulking and scrubs off the panels while Brian fastens them down.

Landon rode the quad while Bethany ran errands with mom and napped. She joined him for some quad riding late in the afternoon. They both thought it was pretty cool to play outside past dark. The quad riding in the dark was making Auntie Angie a bit nervous; so Keagan rounded up the two kids and brought them inside. The two dad's were still oblivious of it all! I sure am glad that Landon's mommy wasn't here to see it all. (lol)

"Thank You" is not enough to show our gratitude to the many hands who have helped us by the disassembling, moving, ground leveling, hole digging, concrete pouring, cleaning & assembling of the shed. None of this would've gone smooth without the generosity of our neighbors in letting Brian use their forklift and the fantastic weather conditions.

Thank you- Brian, Jim, Tim, Gregg, Hailey, Keagan & Tye. A very special thanks to all the wives who have graciously given us their husbands for the day.

TO BE CONTINUED...

GO BEARS!

On Saturday the 14th, Brian, Hailey, Keagan, and Grandpa Jim headed down to the bay area. This was Hailey & Keagan's first trip to the San Fransisco area and they were excited to see the Golden Gate bridge. This is not the Golden Gate Bridge but another bridge that they found interesting.

Uncle Josh is attending Berkeley University. He was excited to invite as many of the guys in the family to join him for a Cal Bear's football game. Hailey desperately wanted to go, too. Uncle Josh greeted the kids with Cal Bear t-shirts which he had purchased for the kids to wear during the game.

After the game, Uncle Josh took the kids down to the field to meet some of the football players. Afterwards, he gave them a tour of the Berkley campus and showed them around his dorm.

Thank you SO much Uncle Josh for the super fun evening at the ball game AND for being the very BEST Uncle ever! We love and miss you very much!

Grandparents Day!

On the 13th of this month, Hailey and Keagan celebrated the F.C.S. Annual Grandparent's Day at their school. This year was especially special because all 4 Grandparents were able to attend. What a blessing! Next year Landon & Bethany will join in on the event.

Are the kids taking the Grandparents out to lunch or are the grandparents taking the kids out to lunch? However you look at it, they ALL have a great time of food and fellowship at the grand kids' restaurant of choice. This year it was Red Robin.

Hailey dressed up like a colonial judge in the class play!

Keagan showing off his Animal report to Grandpa Jim.

We are so blessed to have the Greatest Grandparent's in the whole wide world!!! Thank you for a very special day!

Halloween Night

Keagan, Bethany and I spent the evening trick or treating in Tim & Casey's neighborhood while Hailey spent the evening with a few girls in her class. We sure did miss her! Mom's having a hard time getting used to the fact that Hailey is growing up. As a parent, when one of your kids is away there is a recognizable void.

As much as Keagan loves to 'dress-up' he always seems to amaze me when it comes to Halloween costumes. Every year he changes his mind at least three times before choosing a very simple, yet comfortable costume out of his existing wardrobe. You gotta love his simplicity!
Bethany has loved Snow White since she was 2 years old. We went on a hunt at the second stores for a snow white back in late September. To my amazement it didn't take long. Whenever we are in search or in desperate need for a particular item we always check the second hand stores first before buying new. Without fail we find the item immediately on the rack or on the shelf in the right size as if it was laid their seconds before just for us. We have saved A LOT of money this way. It is in these times that I am reminded how blessed we are. God takes care of our every need just when we need it! Bethany's costume is not just a generic Snow White dress. It is a very detailed, well made Snow White dress from the Disney store and it only cost us $3.00!

Where has the time gone? Almost Kindergartens!

The Hudson family joined us, too. We had two Snow Whites! Ashley and Bethany play together very well in Sunday School but put them in the same costumes and you would think that they were enemies. They did not say a single word to each other the whole evening! Girls.

These two girls have become the best of friends. Unfortunately, when Keagan is not around Landon gets left out, but when Keagan is around him and Landon are inseparable.

Claire insisted on holding hands with Bethany the whole night. Beth did not seem to mind.

Tim & Casey's immediate neighbors are the nicest, sweetest people. It was very evident to me that Tim & Casey spend a lot of time sharing their lives and hearts with the people around them.

One neighbor in particular invite Landon & Claire to come back later in the evening for an extra "special treat". She invited us into her kitchen to pick out our very own hand-made, frosted, pumpkin, sugar cookie. What a special treat!

Thanks Uncle Tim & Aunt Casey for inviting us to share a very special Halloween with your family and friends! We love all of you very much!