Thanksgiving in Salem

Amy has a better copy coming, but you get the idea.
Maybe this is the "real us"

Don't they look angelic?

Andrew practices sitting up alone.

He's so proud of his new crawling trick.

Danny and Zach enjoy the sunny weather.

Sierra is getting to be such a good reader.

Our Dominic is getting to be such

a handsome young man.

This past weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving early. It was a time when all our family was able to get together with the exception of the two members (Aaron and Dustan) who are out serving the Lord on a mission. That is one of the things the rest of us are thankful for -- the fact that they are willing and worthy to do so. We were all able to attend church together on Sunday. It's not often that we get to do that anymore. I am including a few pictures. Sorry I can't really put them all on here. Actually some of them aren't so good -- especially the ones taken around the table. My photography isn't exactly a Norman Rockwell painting. But my family is GREAT!!! And I love them so much. Maybe this will give you a peek into our day. Hope you all have a great real Thanksgiving.

YW and leaders in attendance
Here's what the front of the room looked like.

Wednesday night was our Young Women in Excellence night. The title of our presentation to go along with the yearly theme of "Be Thou an Example of the Believers" was "The Light of Christ". The girls shared ways that they found to be a light of Christ during the year of 2009. All of our girls weren't able to attend, but the families that did attend seemed to have enjoyed it.

Cutie Andrew was a teddy bear.
Alan's Jack-o-lantern

My face painting -- the happy snake picture

Or perhaps you would prefer the mean snake picture

Halloween has been pretty busy. We had "company"; Jeanette, Jason, Karen and Andrew all came down on Halloween Day. Andrew dressed up as a teddy bear. Jason dressed up as an alien. The rest of us pretty much dressed up as ourselves. -- except Jason, Jeanette and Karen all tried on a Zorro costume.

The Salem Young Women were in charge of the branch social on Friday. It was a trunk or treat; we made decorations and spent quite a bit of time putting it all up. I think the people who attended had a good time. We did a pinata, trunk or treat, face painting, desserts until you couldn't dessert any more, and some fun games. I thought you might enjoy my face painting.