I know....I know.......

So sorry. Life, you know.

We are all well. Just finished cleaning the family room carpet, since Mom is coming for Thanksgiving, and I know how her allergies are. So I thought I would do my best to reduce the dis-comfort. Helps all the rest of us, too, and my carpet will look as good as it can (it's old) for the guests over the holiday's.

Our Primary Sacrament Meeting Program was 2 weeks ago, and it went nearly perfect. Between preparing for that and the elections (yes my boss won! :)) I was pretty stressed out! I have to tell you, though, I didn't realize I was stressed until Sacrament was over and I felt like literally laying down on a bench and sleeping!

The campaign for Congress went really well. My boss ended up winning by a 31% margin, which is pretty dang good considering how poorly other GOP candidates did this election. He beat his opponent by 20,000 votes more than when they ran against each other last time. Washoe County still doesn't get it. They went with the Congressman's opponent, and apparently aren't satisfied with all the work he has done for them the past two years. Oh well, that's what you get with and uneducated, ill informed electorate that gets most of it's information from sound bites. Sorry, I am a little jaded I guess.......

Anyway, Joel is wrapping up the Academy he has been in charge of for the P.D. in a few weeks. He will be very relieved. It is a lot of work. But Russell Smith, who is the Humboldt County D.A. and formerly of Fallon, came and spent two days teaching two weeks ago for Joel. It was nice to get to see him and hear about his family. (They have their own beehives and the girls were home getting the honey while he was here in Elko. Wonder who had the most fun?)

Shelby finished up basketball and is singing her heart out in choir for Ms. Lemmon. Kristine, Faith and Ethan are all finishing up basketball season, and enjoying band practice's. The older girls are also performing in a piano recital the week after next.

All the kids are getting good grades, but I have to brag on Ethan for a minute. For the first time since first or second grade, he has brought home all A's and B's on his report card. And his behavior is good, too! He's still the class clown, but he has finally decided he wants to do well in school, and knows when to buckle down and get the work done. All that said......I probably just jinxed the whole thing! Shhhhhh, just don't tell him I said anything!

As a family, we are looking forward to a trip to Salt Lake to see "The Forgotten Carol's", do a little Christmas shopping, and spend time with some of our friends. And in February, Joel and I are celebrating our 16th Wedding Anniversary by taking the train (a room of our own, not the seats) to San Francisco for a couple of days and then back. We are hoping to fit in a trip to some war ship (Joel's idea) and the Opera (not Joel's idea). We are sooooo excited. Traci has been kind enough to plan to come stay with the kids for us that weekend. It will be great.

Well, that's all I have for now. (If I write more I run the risk of losing Steven's attention!) But I will leave you with a few pictures from our time in Fallon recently with Jake and Traci's kids.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!