Happy Thanksgiving Turkeys!

Thanksgiving was such a fun time for our family. Mike went and played in the annual Turkey Bowl after squeezing in to his old high school football jersey. He looked so cute, but came home muddy and pretty sore. I kept telling him he was getting old, but he didn't believe me! We also had a wonderful surprise when we found out that Jordan would be able to come home and celebrate with us! He hasn't been home for Thanksgiving since 2004 and so it was wonderful having him here! Kendal, Taylor and Tay's girlfriend Mercedes were all able to make it too and so did my brother Christian!!!!It's probably been 20 years since I've celebrated a holiday with him, so that was the icing on the cake!!! Jim and Betsey were able to be there also, which is always fun for everyone to see them.We ate a ton thanks to Lisa, Marilyn and of course Randy's skill at slicing Turkey (Thanks guys),
We also played games, Some of us took naps,and then we made a Thanksgiving Tree, which was a first for the Mantzke clan and will hopefully become a new tradition! It turned out great and helped us focus on what being thankful is all about! It was a wonderful Thanksgiving day, though Derrek was sorely missed, we look even more forward to Christmas!

Happy Birthday Taylor!!!

(These pictures were taken previous years)

Happy Birthday Tay Tay Zo Buddy. Awwwww, our baby boy is all grown up! Love you!!!!

Awesome Tribute

My sister Allison posted the best Veteran's Day tribute to our father! Please click on her blog link. I want everyone to know him better. Also, if you have the time, listen to Amy Grant's song "Father's Eyes" The lyrics are perfect for what I'm feeling right now. Thanks Allison! Love you Dad!

Wordless Wednesday

Fun in Vancouver, WA

Mike and I had two days of fun as we spent some time with family down in Vancouver. It was so wonderful seeing the kids and it made me just that much more excited for the time when Derrek gets home in December! We also got to meet Jordan's sweet girlfriend, Destiny. Another one of the highlights for me was being able to see Jamie!!!
I've missed her living by us so much and our time together Sunday was long overdue. It was awesome!!!! We also had fun attending the Young Single Adult Ward with the kids and the Break Fast Dinner they have at the church after every fast sunday. They had a cook off which was very tasty and then we went to the boys apartment and hung out until Mike and I had to leave. Overall it was an amazing weekend and I'm glad we made the trip!!!!

Happy Halloween!

Can an empty nester have a happy Halloween? DEFINITELY! Unfortunately, in the past 23 Halloweens at our house, we have gotten a total of no more than 5 trick or treaters which has always meant more candy for us, but not very much fun. This year, I invited my Primary class over the Wednesday before and had a party. I had 7 six year olds dressed in costumes and we decorated cupcakes for their families and watched Pooh's Heffalump Halloween (very cute). It was great! Then that Friday I worked, so I dressed the girls in their costumes for the day, took them to school and had a simple, sugar free party for them.

They still were bouncing off the walls and wouldn't even nap for me. It was crazy and not very fun. I felt bad for the girls, but the other Nanny came in the afternoon, so I was free to have fun later that day. That evening, Marty and Kathleen Francom had a party for some of the couples they knew in our ward. It was a blast!!!! Jim and Jan Wells were there, along with, Cathy Stensen, Leonard and Kathy Anderson, Chuck and Susan Shores and another couple, Linda and ? whom I don't know as well. Mike had to help his mother with a construction emergency, so he couldn't go, but I decided to go anyway and though I missed Mike, I'm glad I did!!! The Francoms are such a neat couple and they really know how to throw parties. Thanks Marty and Kathleen!!!