(Don't laugh)
Since we lived in Iowa and had no other family around, my Mom was always the one who cooked the big Thanksgiving dinner. We had some fun traditions that I have tried to pass down to my children. We always woke up and watched the 'Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade' on TV. My mom would make a cheese ball served with Sociables crackers. We would always have a new puzzle to put together that would take all day long and into the night, but we would finish on that day. Another tradition . . . candles on the table with Thanksgiving decorations.
That year, the decor involved a dried flower arrangement. Well, my older sisters started to show off saying that they could stick their finger in the fire of the candle without it burning them. They all took their turns sweeping their finger through the flame. My mom kept telling them to stop, but they didn't. Then it was my turn. I wanted to be just like my older sisters. So, I reached to do it too. However, I misjudged a hair and instead of sweeping my finger through the flame, I knocked the candle over . . . right into the dried flower arrangement that blew up in flames in about 1/2 second. My mom started freaking out and my dad grabbed it, threw in onto the kitchen floor, and stomped it out. Well, my dad had just gotten a cast off his foot the day before (he broke the same exact bone in his foot that I did . . only running, not just being clumsy) and had to stomp the flames out with that foot. He was SERIOUSLY mad. I got sent to my room for the rest of the day. I remember sitting on my bed and just sobbing and sobbing. I can't even remember if I got to eat Thanksgiving dinner or not, but I KNOW that I didn't get to help put the puzzle together and that was something I would look forward to all year.
I will never live this story down. It is brought up year after year . . . as it was again yesterday. I guess one of the things I am grateful for this year is humor, because without it, life wouldn't be very fun. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
So, I'm down again. Bedrest until Tuesday and then more of the same. I really can't thank everyone who has helped me and my family enough! I am pretty independent and it's hard to rely on others to do normal, simple, mundane tasks such as getting lunch for your kids or changing the clothes from the washer to the dryer. My mom and mother-in-law have saved us!
My sweet little newborn Rachel
1st Birthday
2nd Birthday
That's right, this is my new hardware. After I went to the Dr. on Monday, I found out that I broke my 5th metatarsal at a very interesting place. The tendon that attaches to this bone was attached to a small fragment that had completely broken off. So, they had to go in on Thursday to re-attach this fragment to the rest of the bone and therefore re-attach the tendon. I am on complete bedrest until Monday and then have a follow-up with my doc. After the surgery was over, the Dr. talked to Jason and told him that I will most likely be in a walking boot in 2 weeks! I'm so excited I can't even tell you!
This is the hardest working man you will ever meet and he is a quick learner . . . the kind of guy you want working for you! 
Alex and Rachel on the neighborhood Halloween train
Alex carved his own pumpkin this year (far left), Rachel designed hers, and Cole doesn't even know what a pumpkin is!
