November Awesomeness!

I'm listening to Christmas music as I write this post.

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and everything that leads to it!

Derek and Rachel, along with Rosie and Charlie, came to town for a couple of weeks. Hogle Zoo was free last Wednesday, so Jen met Derek, Rosie and me there. We had a fun couple of hours walking around the zoo. I didn't have work all last week. Well, I didn't have BYU work. I did go to Weight Watchers to start my training. I go back tomorrow and Wednesday.  Anyway, the zoo was fun and the weather was beautiful. It was in the 50's. Lovely! We followed the zoo with a lunch trip to Moochie's, a sandwich place in SLC. Jen and I shared a meatball sub sandwich. Rosie got spaghetti and Derek got a cold Italian sub. Delicious!

Jen treated us all to the train ride at the zoo!

"Grandma Dana" and "Grandma Jenny": Party Animals!

...because there's nothing cuter than a kid eating spaghetti!

Rose added to our "Thankful Board" that's been hanging in the house all month. She wrote Jesus and Kids. Thought those up all herself. I finished a few food items after the zoo on Wednesday. We went to mom and dad's to help them eat a lasagna. It was great. Thursday morning, we got up and walked a benefit 5K. Keenan, Derek, Rachel and I walked. Mel watched the kiddos. Once again, the weather was fabulous!

We cleaned up and headed up to Jen's. It was a pretty quiet Thanksgiving. Mel thought it was the worst one EVER. It was just Jen, Scott, Emily, Andrew, Christian, mom, dad, Derek, Rachel, Rose, Charlie, Sam (the dog), Keenan, Mel and me. Oh, and a friend of Andrew's joined us when it was obvious his family left for Thanksgiving dinner without him. I think he enjoyed Derek's antics, as we all do. Well, I don't think mom enjoys them much.

Some of us took a break from food to strike it big at Sports Authority. They give out scratch cards with values from $10-$500. Well, we all gots 10's. Keenan and I went back at 5:00 am and got 10's again. Oh well...one of these years we'll get the 500. What would I do with $500 worth of sports gear? I don't know. I guess I'd buy a lot of workout gear and shoes.

The Sports Authority gang: Emily, Mel, Keenan, Rod's friend, Rod and me!

Me and Rachel in Thanksgiving aprons. Rachel looks serious about that pizza cutter!

Mel being goofy Mel

Sammy just waiting for uncle Scott to give him some turkey...just a bite

The Adcocks (and friends) are thankful for...

My plate with the lovely bread made by Rachel and salad made by me

On Friday, I fought with caramel syrups all day. Well, not all day, but...you know...candy...

I wanted to make homemade caramels to sent to Richard and Mo Russell and to Keen's family. It took 5 batches to get 2 that were worthy of gift giving. The others were too hard and would require a serious dental disclaimer. I finally got it right. I got packages ready to send off, including a package of JUST CANDY for Kamiko. He just wants candy right now.

We got a package in the mail from the Russells that included a fabulous cookbook and an apron they won in their ward cookbook. They signed it for me. I wore it as I made their caramels.

One is in the oven right now. 49 to go...