November fun!

We took the only day off school and went to visit the Casa Grande Ruins. It was cool to see but only took a few minutes. The boys got their junior ranger badges, so maybe they learned something.

This is the main meeting house of the community. It would have been fun to have been able to walk through it.

We had the great fun of having our good friends from grad school come to visit. Rachel and Dewain lived a few doors down and became great friends. Boy how I wish their visit could have been a week and not a day and I wish they lived a few doors down again. We celebrated our anniversaries together and had a nice time despite the tight quarters. Jim's mom Carol and her husband Jim also came to visit for Thanksgiving (I really need to take more pictures!). I am so glad to finally live in a place where people want to visit. Only my parents were brave enough to visit in North Dakota!! Jim got me flowers for our anniversary. I am impressed even though I think it was suggested by his sweet daughter.

Dewain made interlocking ring rolls for our dinner. Yum, I thought it was fun to have someone else cook!

We went to see the temple visitor center and see Sis. Allen again. She showed us a preview of their nativities from around the world display. I love nativities and will miss not getting all of mine out this year. Something to aim for for next year! This is Tyson telling 1 year Gideon about all the pictures of Jesus. Too cute! Thank you for the pictures Rachel!

We are so excited to be getting a temple in our city and just a couple of miles away. We took our family to the groundbreaking and enjoyed the spirit there. This is what the Gilbert Temple will look like!

Here are the kids shoveling the dirt! I hope they remember this.

Thanksgiving is not thanksgiving without a good turkey bowl. The boys were glad to find a great game (or more like 10) in our ward here. It was a little chilly so they took their gloves and hats but they didn't need them for long. We remember many years of snow-bowls!

Jacob decided this year to skip basketball and tryout for soccer. He (surprise!!) made the team. We all are frantically trying to learn the rules of soccer, even Jacob since he has never played. It has been fun to watch him and learn a new sport. He is the green number 13 in the play.

We entered the season of many music concerts. Our camera only did good for one of them though. Zach changed from cello to percussion this year (what was I thinking!!). He played the bells?? and did a great job. We have continued to 4 more concerts in the next 2 weeks. I love the Christmas season!