Hi my beautiful beautiful boy.  HOW IS EVERYTHING?

Was it Dark that made the pumpkin pie for you last year? 

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for YOU!   

We had a sacred experience today. Joseph blessed the Sacrament for the first time.  He and Spencer were both able to be the voice for the prayers today. Tanner sat between them and it was so special to see those three boys together taking such careful and reverent care of their priesthood responsibilities.  

Spen has been working on his college applications.  Joseph is really really stepping up as big Christlike brother. He has made incredible efforts lately to be a peacemaker. I'm so thankful for that.  

Seth is running around in Spencer's blue and white Santa Claus suit

He wants snowboarding boots, a new Calvin and Hobbes book and an edible sombrero for Christmas.  He's just kidding about the sombrero.

Monday we had a fun family night on gratitude.  Hugs without elbows, surprise without eyebrows, and Spencer and Joseph had to play swords without legs or elbows.  It was a Slichta night and it was fun. 

I ran to the temple by myself Tuesday night. In the past I have struggled with exhaustion, but I was enthralled with the epic story of us.  I felt the Spirit SO STRONGLY.  It was a just a gift of love, that feeling. Heavenly Father is so patient with his crazy, short-sighted and having to be taught over and over children. 

Wednesday night we copied Kirsten's family and had our first annual Anderson family Pie and Game Night. It was SO FUN!  Taco, chili, chicken pot, and pork pies for dinner and all kinds of sweet pies.  The games were so fun. Four on a couch, sit on the lap with and ask the victim to make an animal sound and guess, murder in the dark was turned into Jailbreak, a wink sets you free.  So fun just to be together.   

After Thanksgiving at the Raspberry's (which was just the Jeff Christensen family, Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Neddie) we went down in the basement and watched you guys grow up.  AAAHHH!!  We hooked up Grandpa's laptop to the projector and just looked at all these old pictures.  Easter egg hunts, Christmas parties.  Oh, the heart.  We also looked at Grandpa and Grandma's dating pictures, some mission and scouting pictures. It was so so fun. 

Friday Coy had an epic belated birthday party Friday night. Brian, Jared, Big Jake, Zac (do you remember him?), and Jared's wife Rowan. It was fun to have all those boys back in the house again. 

Saturday we had a Mexico reunion, lunch and games with the Slichta's and the Roberts and the Marchants (Jeni and Scott).