Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Black November...

I'm pinching this from my friend Taryn's blog...It was too cute not to share! It's a bit early, but it's worth it! (Thanks Kartch!)

Black November

When I was a young turkey, new to the coop,
My big brother Mike took me out on the stoop.

Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow,
And he told me there was something that I had to know.

His look and his tone I will always remember,
When he told me of the horrors of . . . Black November.

"Come about August, now listen to me,
Each day you'll get six meals instead of just three.

And soon you'll be thick, where once you were thin,
And you'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin.

And then one morning when you're warm in your bed,
In'll burst the farmer's wife, and hack off your head.

Then she'll pluck out all your feathers so you're bald'n pink,
And scoop out all your insides and leave ya lyin' in the sink.

"And then comes the worst part" he said not bluffing,
"She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear with stuffing".

Well, the rest of his words were too grim to repeat,
I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat,

And decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked,
I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked.

I began a new diet of nuts and granola,
High-roughage salads, juice and diet cola.

And as they ate pastries, chocolates and crepes,
I stayed in my room doing Richard Simmonds tapes.

I maintained my weight of two pounds and a half,
And tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed,

But 'twas I who was laughing, when under my breath,
As they chomped and they chewed, ever closer to death.

And sure enough when Black November rolled around,
I was the last turkey left in the entire compound.

So now I'm a pet in the farmer's wife's lap,
I haven't a worry, so I eat and I nap.

She held me today, while sewing and humming,
And smiled at me and said, "Christmas is coming . . ."



Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Merry Christmas...

Matt and I had a wonderful Christmas. We started the holidays by attending a Christmas Madrigal Concert on the 18th that Matt's sister Rachel performed in. Even though it was a large group that performed, Rachel did a fantastic job, and we were glad that we were able to go!

On December 19 & 20 we were up in Cole Camp visiting Grandpa and Grandma Towns. While we were there, Matt was able to help Grandpa refinish a front-porch post that was taken from the home that his Great-Great Grandfather built. Grandpa Bill "rescued" four different posts from this home and gave them out. Grandpa had a great time working on the post with Matt and we are blessed to have that part of our family history available to us!

Christmas Eve we headed out to the Anderson farm to spend Christmas with my side of the family. It was an extra-special time this year, because my oldest sister, Sarah, her husband and their seven kids made the trip from Utah to Missouri to spend Christmas with us. The Crawford kids wanted to surprise their cousins, so that added to the fun of when they finally showed up.

Between sick kids, weather issues, and car troubles, poor Sarah and Rob had a horrific trip there and back, and we really appreciate their sacrifice to have the family around for Christmas!!

While it was fantastic to see everyone, it was just a *little* crazy at Mom & Dad's. At the peak there were 10 adults and 16 kids in a 3 bedroom 1 bath house. Thank goodness Charlie had a travel trailer for some to sleep in!! To add to the "fun" the flu was making cycles throughout the families.

My dad wanted to get pictures of the grandkids with him and Grandma, which made me a bit weepy because ALL of the grandkids wouldn't be able to be in the picture. I had a mother's necklace that my wonderful friend Stacy sent me, and we had our little niece Audrey wear the necklace in the picture so Ande would be represented. We took a variety of different combinations of pictures, but the only one I have a copy of is one of Mom and Dad with all of their children. It is one of the favorites!


I had a lot of fun deciding what to get Matt this year. I got him a book that he's wanted for a while. He got me a mandolin (a fancy kitchen slicer) that I've been wanting FOREVER. I also made us "Yale" t-shirts and got us some nice matching, comfy pajama pants.


We had a fantastic Christmas being with family and focusing on the blessings of our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of His birth, we are able to reap the blessings of the atonement and the resurrection. We are able to be with each other, our little Ande, and other, future children for an eternity.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Thanksgiving...

Good grief, I can't believe that it's been so long since I posted!!!

Matt is home and recovering well. He has been able to go back to work, and as long as he stays on top of pain killers, he does pretty well.

I know I'm behind, but better late than never!

The weekend before Thanksgiving, we went to Cole Camp and had a Thanksgiving dinner at a local church with the Towns family. Grandpa insisted everyone go, so we went. The dinner was...interesting. We did enjoy visiting with family and had a good time hearing old stories. Grandma Nadine's brother came with his wife and daughter, and it was fun to listen to them all talk.

On Thanksgiving day, we headed out to "the Farm" for dinner with the Anderson family. Our friends Marc & Leilani & their children were able to join us, and a great time was had by all. Their daughter Charly loves to go out to the farm and see all of the animals. She kept trying to convince us to go out to "Grandma Sally's" early and was so excited Thanksgiving day.

The thing she was most excited about was being able to feed the calves. My parents bought two little bull calves to raise for meat. They don't need two, so Matt and I bought one of them. I'm feeding Meatball, and Leilani and Charly are feeding Meatloaf. The novelty quickly wore off and Charly went to check the eggs and feed the chickens.

After dinner, we spent some time singing at the piano. It was a very nice way to round out the day. Kavika had a full belly, and with the singing, he did what most of us wanted to!


We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and as we ended the day, we were counting our blessings. It is amazing that when we start to count them, even more come to mind. Our Heavenly Father has blessed us in many ways, and even during the difficulties and struggles we have experienced this year there have been numerous blessings...and I'm sure there are many more we haven't even realized yet.