Hosting Thanksgiving

Celebrating and giving thanks starts way before Thanksgiving. Hopefully we try to show gratitude to God and each other every day. But during the month, we always try to focus on it. We put together a little gratitude tree during the month of November. I printed out little leaves and each day, everyone was invited to think about something they were grateful for and put it on the tree. Here are some of the memorable ones: Jesus Christ & God (several times), KFC & the 5 piece meal, my body, nice words, traditions, good smells, ancestors, dodge ball, brothers and sisters, antibiotics, a warm house, myself, water, cars to drive, fun, church, babies, snow, colors, Jazz, sleep, Wiley (Sydnie's little friend), fuzzy socks, each day, Boji & Kanon, seasons, boxes, life, pie, examples, brain, my jobs, toilet paper, myself, the thankful tree (Dave only did one, that was it...he said ditto to all the things on the tree, haa!), and the song Taste the Biscuit.

This year, Dave had to be on call during Thanksgiving, so we decided to host. We had Grandma Di & Scott, Amy & Kolby and boys, and Mark & Mayela and Amber over. I got some new drink glasses and tablecloth. Dave smoked the turkey and it was deeelicious...probably the best one I've had. So good! We also did some veggie sides, cranberry sauce, and the stuffing. Mom brought rolls (orange and dinner), Mayela made mashed potatoes and broccoli and Amy made yams, raspberry pretzel salad, and we all brought a pie or two or three. We had quite the pie spread - pumpkin, chocolate silk, cheesecake pie, roasted pineapple tart pie, banana cream, pecan and peanut butter caramel. During dinner, we had great conversations, but missed Adam and Meghan's family. After dinner, we talked and played the M&M Gratitude game. You'd go around the circle, pick an M&M to eat and whatever color you got was a specific thing you'd share that you're thankful for. It was fun. 

The next day, we headed out to Utah in the snow to enjoy a day with the Ryerses. We went to the temple, the older kids did a little Black Friday shopping, we made some leaf pictures, played games and watched football of course. Grateful we got to spend time with both families that weekend. When we are grateful, our gratitude only grows!

Surprise visit to Michigan for Adam's 40th!

We got an invitation for Adam's 40th birthday in the mail a few weeks ago, and about a week before, Amy talked to me and Marko and said she thought we should fly out and surprise Adam for it. I sent him an So we worked out some details and made it happen. Dave was taking Cal to Washington DC for the 8th grade trip, but Mayela offered to watch our kids. It was so nice of her and the kids loved being with her and Amber! We worked with Meghan to coordinate it all and when she heard we wanted to do this, she was so excited she cried. She said Adam has been feeling homesick lately and this would be perfect for him. 

Am and I drove down to Utah and met Mark and got some Panda Express on the way. Then we went to the airport, got through security, waited at the airport forever as the plane was delayed by a couple of hours. We flew Frontier airlines, which was a first for me, and let's just say it might be my last, haha! We had a long layover scheduled in Las Vegas, so we contacted Uncle Dave and Aunt Suz and they wanted to meet up with us. So they picked us up (Am and I had a hard time opening the Tesla doors as we've never got to ride in that kind of car before) and took us out to Metro Pizza in Vegas and we enjoyed the yummy pizza and caught up with them.  Then we went over to the Bellagio to check out their Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It was so fragrant and beautiful! And then we watched the fountain show. Our kids were ready to get out of there before and didn't want to check this out, but I'm glad we did. It was great seeing Dave and Suz. I always idolized them growing up. Then we got back to the airport and went back through security and got on the plane for our red eye flight. I got a couple of hours of sleep but Mark and Amy didn't really I guess. 

We made it to the airport and took the hotel shuttle for where Adam and Meghan were staying after we arrived in Detroit. Meghan said she was taking Adam to Detroit for a birthday surprise trip. We waited in the lobby and Adam thought they were going to breakfast. We were waiting with a happy birthday sign right there when they got off the elevator. Adam was so surprised and had no words! He fought back tears but we saw a few drip down his cheeks. It was a fun moment! I'm glad we were able to all keep this a secret...it was a good one! We shared some hugs and then headed to get some breakfast together. We went to Joe Louis Southern Kitchen. Oh man, it was so good! I had the key lime pie pancakes, to die for! And the setting was so fun. Meghan did all of the planning, she is a great travel agent. We drove around Detroit next, driving past notable sights like Mo Town and Henry Ford sites. Then we went over to Belle Isle to drive around (it was a very rainy day), and visited the historic aquarium, the oldest in the country. It was beautiful! Next, we were all so exhausted, we drove back and all the travelers slept in the car. When we got to Adam and Meghan's house in Saginaw, we got to play with Gordon and Ruby (by the end I think I was Gordon's favorite and he kept asking for me...yes!), and toured their house. The last time we visited Michigan was when Adam and Meghan got married, 16 years ago!  Then we unpacked a bit, rested, and went to the Frankenmuth Aerial Park. It was a blast and had ropes course and zip lines all through a wooded area there. At first, I was pretty scared, but then got the hang of it and did as many as I had time for. I didn't get to the hardest one, but did all but that and two others. The Stoddard siblings and Meghan and Ruby came. Then we hit up Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas store. That place is so much fun! Finally, we walked around the shops in Frankenmuth, a  and got crepes for dinner, bought some popcorn, found some souvenirs, checked out the bakery and got things to sample, listened to live music, visited the cheese and fudge shops and the toy stores. This town is called Little Bavaria because many German settlers came and they are known for that culture and architecture. We went back to Adam and Meghan's house and hit the hay pretty early as we were pretty worn out. 

Saturday, we went on a sibling adventure. Meghan had it all planned out and gave us an itinerary, packed lunch for us and sent us on our way. We went to Iargo Springs and hiked the loop, visited the Lumberman's Monument Visitor Center (wouldn't be a Stoddard trip without a museum or historical sight), and explored the Huron-Manistee National forest, then went over to Lake Huron. We went to the light house (closed for renovation) at Tawas Point, walked along the nature path, and then went swimming in the lake. It is amazing how massive those lakes are! Such pretty country on our drive! We all talked a lot that day. I am so glad we all get along and are close. Adam is such a great example and we all love him so much! Am and I talk more and the boys are always texting and calling each other, but it was great just to be the fab four! When we got back to Sagniaw, it was almost party time! Steven got back from FSY so it was great to see him too, he's getting so tall! We showered and dressed in our 90's wear, which was the theme of the party. I forgot to wear my fanny pack and put on my Tevas almost until the end of the party, doh! I had a striped and color blocked shirt on, with tattoo necklaces I borrowed from Emma, and Amy did my hair in a 90s style. I got to see Price and his kids. Price and his ex-wife, Marti were our good friends when we were in college. We would get together and do double dates, went to each others receptions, and Emma and their oldest Katelyn were even born within a day and we were in the hospital together. We would hang out and the kids had playdates together. When they told us they were moving to Saginaw, I told them I knew a guy and to call my brother. They have become great friends, living not too far from each other, and are in the same ward. Marti calls Ruby Mini Melanie, which I think she does look a lot like Amy and I. I didn't get to see Marti, which was sad, but it was great seeing all of the kids so grown and visiting with Price again! We had some sloppy joes and wraps along with great 90s party food like Bugles and Fruit by the Foot and a drink bar. There were lots of people there, as Meghan has 8 kids in her family and most live local, and quite a few friends and neighbors. It was fun visiting with everyone and getting to know people. We danced to 90's favorites and socialized, and after Adam thanked us for not making things awkward and talking to everyone. They have a great family, those Deibels, and awesome friends! We partied hard until 11 and then we helped clean up from the party.

Sunday, we had some crepes for breakfast with fresh fruit, and got ready for church. It was an awesome ward! So diverse and so many sweet and fun people. The kids who just got back from FSY got to share about their experiences. It was sweet and the spirit was strong there. Steven got to share and he said he loved being there after some trepidation and ended up growing his testimony. He said he especially loved singing the FSY medley with everyone and that it made everyone bawl. After church, we went up to Diebel Lake. Meghan's parents Sue and Dave have some land with their own lake on it. Each family has a little cabin on it they built. Then they have a pavilion with a cooking center and picnic tables, a wash house, sandy beach area, docks with floating island, fish in there...so much fun! All of the Deibels who were in town came over. We had a BBQ chicken lunch, then walked around exploring, went on a side-by-side ride with Adam and went swimming with the kids and some of the adults. Meghans family is great and it was a heavenly afternoon being with family. I can't wait to take my family back! We were going to go there a few years ago and had our plane tickets bought but then Covid. So soon we hope to return! It started raining and so we headed back to Adam and Meghans, made homemade pizzas, and played the Taco Bell game I got Adam for his birthday which was a hit, especially with Steven. The next morning, we slept in, had breakfast, and then went to Custom Creatures per Ruby's request, which is a pet shop with crazy animals you can purchase for pets and play with in the store. They had sloths, tortoises, foxes, skinks and skunks and more. It was pretty wild in there! Then we hit up a cute local shop that had some made in Michigan souvenirs so we could get some things for the kids. I got Dave some grilling spice and a chocolate peanut butter mix. Emma got some cute XO earrings, Cal got an eagle toy/desk bauble, Lucy got some cute flower hair clips, Cov got some spy glasses, and Sydnie got some flying butterflies. I got them all some fake candy cigarettes because we found some in Frankemuth. Recently we were telling the kids about them and they were so confused so I got them so they could try. Of course we talked about how it is not at all glamorous to smoke and spoke of the Word of Wisdom. We went back and cleaned things up, said goodbye to the kids, then Adam and Meghan drove us to the airport to fly home. It was hard saying good bye but good to get back to our own families. It was such a great time together and I am glad Amy had the idea and Meghan made it happen. We have the best family and I am so thankful we are so tight. Happy birthday, Adam. We are getting old...and I'm next...ahh!