Sunday, November 25, 2007

Sunday Summary

Hey, this is great...I can write a super long tedious Thanksgiving trip recap and pretend it's a Sunday Summary and not feel like a boring blogger. Get ready, or stop reading now and just go comment on one of the pictures and I will think you read and enjoyed the whole thing!

On Monday, while in California, my dad and I decided to drive the kids to see us some California Redwoods. We were going to see the Sequoias, near Fresno, but Paige (who is the boss of me) told me they were too far away, so we went to Muir Woods. Except 44 miles into our trip, right in the middle of the freeway a bolt apparently came out of something in my engine and then the fan belt came flipping off, and the car stopped running. I just felt lucky it happened with my dad in the car, right by an exit, which had a car repair shop, which had the nicest, fastest, cheapest, honestest, candiest-having owner around. He fixed it in 2 hours and we were on our way. (Stop there if you ever need car fixing the Oakland...two exits south of the temple.)



Here's Muir Woods. They were extremely cool and Paige was totally right that they would be a perfect outing.
On the way home, Jane, of course, had to pee and so we stopped at the Oakland temple and Jane, upon seeing the Christus statue , said, "Mom, Jesus is so Adowhable." My feelings exactly.



Tuesday was beyond fun, because I got to attend my second Blog Bash at Celia's house. We ate lots of yummy food (Denae's Blog Brownies were a highlight), chatted about blogging for hours with people who get it and ignored our kids (except when they got near the blog brownies.) I will be announcing all my trips in the future, so we can plan other blog parties around it.

(Here are Celia, Audrey--Ryan's second cousin we realized, Paige, Brigitta and Denae. Click on their names if you want to see their fun blogs.)

Wednesday I just made lots and lots and lots of pie. But I had people to talk to while I did it, all the time in the world (so the kids could help without making me crazy) and a mother-in-law who cleaned up every mess I made. Here's me with Pecan, Pumpkin, Banana Cream, Chocolate Silk, Lemon Meringue, and Caramel Apple. (Chocolate and Caramel Apple were the crowd favorites--watch for recipes coming soon.)

If you've noticed no mention of Ryan, that's because he worked 43 hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (not even coming home one night) out of his company's head office in San Jose. He kept promising a really long Thanksgiving weekend as a reward to both of us, but realized that he was nowhere near done by Turkey Day and that we would have to leave early as a result. Boo for his job.

Thursday was seriously an ideal Thanksgiving. We started out with the Sherrill family tradition of doing Christmas puzzles.

Then we went outside for some kind-of kite flying, fishing (in my dad's neighborhood pond) and tennis. All of Ryan's family who were visiting came to my Dad and step mom's house and we just had a great time, eating, talking and playing games.

(Here's the fam, with Bart, Meridith and Paige)

Friday was Ryan's favorite day. We rounded up all the visiting family (my brother Nate and wife Kelsie, Ryan's brothers Grant and Greg and Greg's wife Christy, Ryan's sister Meridith and husband Bart) and did a day after Turkey bowl that was just about the most fun I've had in a long time. I'm most proud of the blocking of Ryan's brother Greg that allowed my brother Nate to catch a pass. I still can't feel my arm, but taking on Mr. 290 made me wonder if I've missed my calling...(So wish I had a picture here, all that vacation non-blogging was making me soft!)

The kids had lots of fun with the best Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins in the world and we were bummed out when we found out we had to come home a little bit early.

(Can you ever have a bunch of cousins in the tub and NOT take a picture? Here're my kids and cousin Paige.)


We drove home on Saturday and it was MUCH better with Ryan around. We're happy to be home and ready for the Christmas whirlwind to begin.

21 comments:

Lorena said...

OK, next year will be an Arizona Thanksgiving. You start talking Ryan into that RIGHT now. Ms. Control Freak (me) can do it with your help...c'mon now! I bet we can get the whole family to agree if we start talking them into it now. How fun would that be?

Jessica said...

Lorena, we live on opposite sides of the country...that means a $1200 plane trip or a 25 hour drive. I promise Ryan would rather die than do either. How about we meet in the middle? I could talk Ryan into Utah...(though why you would leave Arizona weather in November is beyond me.)

Lorena said...

A girl can dream...and you're right, highly unlikely we would ever do a Utah Thanksgiving.

$1200? Just start saving your pennies now...your kids would love it!

Jill said...

Fun week. I would like to hear more on this conversation pretty please..."chatted about blogging for hours with people who get it."

Nortorious said...

Okay, I read MOST of it.
Paige looks little in that bathtub picture. How'd you get her to pose?

Rochelleht said...

I totally read the whole thing. AND I found it very interesting!!! What a blessing to break down near the station! AND with your dad! I'm sure that gave you lots of Thanksgiving 'thankfuls'. I'm sure your blogging luncheon was a blast. Sometimes when I get together with my friends and we start to mention 'blog friends', our real life friends think we're freaks. Oh well, I'm confident enough in myself not to care. :-)

Linsey said...

Those pies looked so good - you are a cooking goddess - can't wait for the recipes. Sounds like a terrific week, even with Ryan working so much. Maybe Ryan should come work for the State Department (Kenny would be happy to provide further details), they work 9 to 5 only and get every US holiday off AND all local holidays (which for us means an extra 8 to 10 a year and 5 more 3 day weekends than normal!).

Hollyween said...

How did you manage to look so beautiful, clean, and not sweaty after making all those pies??C'mon, Jessica. ?That's not realistic for the rest of us.

A blogging party in Utah!!! Yes, please!!!

Paige said...

Read and loved every word. I like that I'm the boss of you and you are obedient, and they named their kid after me. So fun to see you.

I'm amazed by all the pies. I made one apple and it took me two days to clean the kitchen.

Adrianne said...

I read and loved every word. And if you make it to AZ for Thanksgiving, I will come too. Lorena won't know what hit her with Smarts at Thanksgiving!!

Ilene said...

Fun vacation. Will you be around for awhile? Still need you over for lunch...

Glad you were able to figure out the car thing so well! One of my biggest fears is being stranded on the side of the road by myself (or worse, with children).

Missed you at our thanksgiving dinner... could have used a couple of more pies.

Yum. Pie.

shauna said...

Your pies look divine. I tried my first two and they both flopped. Looking forward to the recipes!

Lisa-Marie said...

You don't even look frazzled in your pie picture. You look darling. I don't care how much company you had you should still look frazzled. And I am not a pie fan BUT caramel apple? That sounds divine. How about Thxgiving in Eastern Idaho next year. You could do that! And I would eat your pie!

Jessica said...

Lisa-Marie--you aren't in Idaho, are you?

Shauna--didn't you just make your blog private? Invite me and I will be back.

Tammy said...

You were busy! Sounds like a nice reunion with both families, how lucky you are that they are in one location!? I still admire you for the drive with 4 kids in the car?! I take it you will not be coming for X-mas? come on.....

Jake said...

You are amazing. Did you see the movie "Waitress" about beautiful Keri Russell who makes delicious pies? I kept thinking "Nobody that cute bakes pies like that..." But that was before I met you, of course!

AZ Karen said...

Husbands' works are party poopers. Mine poops on our parties often these days.

Your pics were fun. I wish we had gone to visit my in-laws in the bay area for Thanksgiving. Then maybe I could've crashed the party. Maybe next year.

John, Sal, Maddy, and Stockton said...

Jessica I think AZ for Thanksgiving next year sounds great...who knows, maybe John and the kiddos and I will be there too :) So fun to see the pics, those pies looked amazing!

Annie said...

I am very pie proud of you! Sounds like you had a great whirlwind trip. We came home on Friday too and it's been laundryfest ever since. Where's the laundry fairy when you need her?

Carie said...

What a fun trip! Your pies are amazing, I have yet to try your chocolate pie recipe which is a little unbelievable since I LOVE chocolate pie.

I wish I could participate in the turkeybowl, it was in the 30's here thanksgiving a.m. Way too cold for me. Plus I was cooking a turkey.

Amz said...

What a fun trip!! We used to live in Walnut Creek, Oakland was our temple and we visited Muir Woods alot! I just noticed Brigitta on your blog! Her and I were in the same ward back in 2000! I just happened to find her on your blog, and I have NO idea how I found yours! Crazy blogging world!