Great weekend

We had such a great holiday. The girls and I took our annual shopping trip to Boise on Tuesday and had such an awesome time. I forget how much I miss being around them and just visiting and learning what's going on in their lives and the kids lives. I had a great time with them. Sally drove this year because we thought the Suburban had a little more room for things than my Yukon did. I actually got to visit more and enjoy the drive. We stopped at the outlet mall first. I was disappointed that so many stores have closed. We really missed the paper factory. I always bought my big rolls of wrapping paper there. Then we went to the Olive Garden for lunch. Tori met us there and then spent the afternoon with us. After lunch we hit the mall and did quite a bit of shopping there. Then it was Toys-R-Us, then the mall out in Meridian. I totally forgot there's a Kohl's there, or we would have gone. Anyway, it was around 11:00 p.m. when we got back. I hope the girls enjoy the trip as much as I do.
I had planned on taking the whole week off, but we've just been so busy at work, that I didn't get to. I worked Monday & Wednesday. But...we still had a great time with the shopping trip.
On Thursday Steph, Jason, & Sally all ran the "Turkey Trot". I was proud of them for doing it. Steph and the girls helped so much. They helped set the tables and get things ready for dinner. David helped Jeff with the basketball backboard we got. I had started helping him, but he said it was a good thing Dave came because there's no way I could have helped with all the lifting and heavy work. So...thanks Nelson's. It was so much fun to have you. Steph & Dave also ran a Wii tennis tournament for us all and we had so much fun. Lindsay and Danelle ended up winning. Congrats! We had two Wii's setup out in the garage so eight people could play at once. It was great! And, Great-Grandpa Wood even made home-made ice cream for us. We had so much food...but talk about good.
Jeff and I were really worn out by the time everyone left, but it was that good kind of worn-out. Where you just sit and bask and how well things went and how much we enjoyed the kids and grandkids. I think we both fell asleep for awhile even.
On Friday, Jeff took his dad and drove to Driggs and back and his mother came over and we worked on Christmas gifts. We had such a great time. We went to the Sharing & Caring in Rupert, and I thought the tree and things our family put together were the best there. Thanks to the Stapelman family for putting that together. When Jeff & Vern got home, we had turkey noodle soup and then watched the BSU/Nevada game. It was pretty exciting and BSU won. If they can win this Saturday, they have a shot at a bowl game. But...sad news. Austin Petitis broke his ankle during the game Friday night, and he was our best receiver. We have lost so many people...hope we have a team by the time we go to a bowl game.
On Saturday, Darin & Connor came down for the weekend. It was so cold on Saturday we pretty much just hung out at home. We finally setup the Wii fit and did snowboarding. I'm hoping I can get busy and do some excercising with it too. We ate at ShonHing's Saturday night. On Sunday, Jeff took them out 4-wheeling and shooting. Darin said that would be Connor's "red-neck" training for the week. It was much nicer yesterday and they had a great time. I stayed home and tried to finish up a few things for Christmas. I got one more rag quilt finished and another started. I also finished up Robin's gift so I can take it on Friday. I just need to get Taylor's and theirs will be done.
Just so you all know...I feel very blessed in so many ways. Jeff & I have good jobs, and even though we like them...we're getting excited about retiring in a few years. There's soooo many things I want to do. We also have fairly good health. I keep saying we're falling apart, but...we're hanging in here. We have lots of kids and grandkids, and they are such a blessing to us. We love them all and are so proud of all of them. We're grateful that we still have my mother (she'll be 88 in March) and Jeff's parents (85 & 83). They all have fairly good health too. We are grateful to live in the United States, even though we're concerned with where we're heading. We love our extended families also, and continue to enjoy their company whenever we get the chance. Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday also.