Sorry about the double picture..and especially sorry that I don't hav any other pictures of the girlies....

THANKSGIVING

GrandDad and Olive arrived safely and tired. We are SO THRILLED that they came. We are especially thankful to Olive for coming, I feel sure GrandDad wouldn't have come without her. GrandDad forgot all of his ID (except his passport) and Olive forgot her insulin (thank heavens Jeremy is a doctor). Preston and Jeremi and girlies came the next day. Everyone here came here for Thanksgiving...we missed ALL OF YOU who weren't here. I feel sad that I was so busy getting the dinner on that I forgot to get pictures of the table and the feast...I didn't even THINK about pictures until it was cleaned up and everyone was crashed all over the house.

I started getting sick Thanksgiving afternoon and now am in the full rage of a head cold or some nasty flu. My head feels like it weighs a thousand pounds and every inch of my body aches. I can't even remember the last time I was sick, so I guess it's time to cleanse the old system, I just wish it could have waited until Grandad and Olive were gone.

We took them to Temple Square last night to see the lights. I'd slept most of the day and thought I was up to it...wrong. I'm staying in today. The boys have had a lovely holiday with BYU winning against the U of U for the second year in a row, and then the Cougs basketball team almost beating NC right after. Our house has been full of MALES...lots of friends, chips and dip,treats, ball games, video games and movies. I think everyone has had enough holiday to last us the 4 weeks until Christmas:)

Michael...we thought of you the WHOLE time and are STILL thinking of you...!!!! Aunt Kori announced that she is pregnant and due in July (18th) so it could be born on your birthday possibly---I am SO excited!!!! More babies for ME!!!! Julie Schwartz will be married on Dec. 27th. Darrin Huntzinger is marrying Melissa Hansen from our ward (unicycle Melissa) in December as well. No snow yet so only the snow making resorts opened this weekend and the boys are bummed. I hope you got some turkey and mashed potatoes somehwere.

All you NC family...we MISSED you and thought about you too. All our other family and friends...we are DANG GLAD to have you in our lives.

I won't be getting any awards for these pictures...forgive me for missing the pictures of some of the best stuff...I'll have to assign a photographer for next year who is NOT the cook.

Deer in the back yard

BOISE and family

Hey Lovey!!! Dad and I went to Boise this past weekend...none of the boys wanted to go so we went solo. Dad took me to the Cheesecake Factory TWICE--they just opened one in South Jordan and it will be a must visit as soon as you get home. The food was heaven, and the cheesecake was truly out of this world. I only had a couple of bites each time...but they were worth it and probably a gazillion calories anyway. We visited the Johnson's. Molly will be 2 the end of December and one of her favorite words is NO...it reminded me of you...except you would always say "No, Thanks" but pretty forcefully:) Memories....

Uncle Kelly had flown in from Baltimore so all of Dad's siblings were there. We got together after the BSU game and again Sunday morning at Marie Calendar's for brunch. I felt spoiled with so much eating out and no one to tend to. Amber is beautiful and played me in Yahoo marbles and beat me both times.

Ron gave me a CD of the pictures they took while they were here in October. I thought you'd like to see my running trail up the canyon and the deer that have adopted our back yard and Sundance and the Valley from the Provo Mall and how tall Sam is now...I have my 3 inch clogs on in the picture...and and and and and...

GrandDad and Olive fly in tomorrow night, so the crazy fun begins then. I still have a gazillion things to do and 3 meetings tomorrow 9, 11, and 12...I've got to get to the grocery store so I can start cooking. We'll set a place for you Thursday. And Wednesday...Wednesday we'll have Pie Night---everyone will be here by then. I won't be able to help thinking about you throughout the days...but with a smile...this will be the LAST Thanksgiving without you home. I hope you find Pumpkin Pie somewhere---or apple, since that 's your favorite.

Grandmom Ground had the same nose cancer surgery I had a few years ago so that's what's up with her nose in the picture. She's healing great but she feels self conscious.

Kristina Otterstrom is having TWINS!!! I gave her my book on twins, I guess at 44 I can concede and feel fairly sure I'm not going to get 2 babies for one cut. I'm excited because I'll get to help! Oh, I can smell them already! One of the sweet parts about the wait is that they will be delivered about a month before you get home, so it will help the count down:)

Shayne Clarke called today wanting your e-mail for Danaan. I guess Danaan has asked a few times for it and they are just now getting to it...thinking of you both --inseparable at two, wearing your superman capes and goggles, and getting your stomach's pumped together, the toy shot guns at the Alpine house, eating ice cream out of the container "cause that's what a man can do if he wants"...try hard to write him, he'll love it. His e-mail is mdcskate22@myldsmail.net

I'm so grateful for you Michael, and not just because it's Thanksgiving. You have made my life so joy filled. Thinking about you saying "No, thanks" led me to so many other memories. You have always been such a good son and a good person. We feel lucky to have you in our family. My arms are wrapped tight around you even if it's only in my mind. I wish I could meet you in my dreams like we would plan when you were little. Tonight I'll meet you at your favorite castle in Germany and you can give me a tour, and then take me to eat a DONER, and then to the Christmas stands, and then to meet all your investigators. I love you bud. You'll be in our hearts.

MOM

MONDAY NIGHT E-MAILS

Hey LOVEY!!!!

I'm sending you a picture of me writing to you in my office...not much has changed, Real Estate Files and Plat maps everywhere...thought you'd like a look at home...notice your picture playing the guitar and the German Flag. They celebrated Veteran's Day late today and Dad helped me put up a condo street worth of flags this morning for the Young Women. For Family Night we did a SUb 4 Santa for a Mexican family. Now all the boys are lounging and watching Monday Night Football. WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL.

MOM

I know all Broadhurst's will be laughing and crying at the same time when they see the book Sam is holding...how come WE didn't make the money on that one? Mom "tried" to help us I guess...Megan has it in her book basket at her condo. Megan just painted her kitchen and one wall in her living room red...it's gorgeous...then I got to thinking that none of you have been here to see her condo and she's owned it over a year---so here are some pictures...the one of the closet is to let you see how she has 2 walk in's in her bedroom...but you can't really tell that it's a walk in from the photo.

I snapped Spencer eating his favorite for breakfast--Strawberry and creme waffles--truly one of the hardest things for me to make and not pig out on. I found this huge Canadian maple leaf on my walk early this morning...seems all my doings bring me right back there. GREAT NEWS--GrandDad and Olive will be joining us for Thanksgiving. They arrive on the 20th and leave on the 27th. (I have no idea his plans after that...I suspect it will have to do with what Olive decides). I'll post a picture of Olive so you can see what she looks like...she is SO nice and SO happy. I WISH THE REST OF YOU WERE COMING...the food will be amazing...feel free to surprise me...I"ll have extra surprises for BINGO/BUNKO --whichever we do, and I'd be THRILLED to set extra places at the table...and we'll have PIE night on Wednesday...Pumpkin, Pecan, Banana Cream, Choclate Cream, Lemon, Raisin, Cherry and ...whatever else I get up the energy for...YOU'D LIKE IT!!!! You could lay on the floor in the basement on blow up mattresses and watch the Big Screen to you fall asleep.......

Poor Sam... he had to have pins put in his hands yesterday (Friday)...he says he REALLY likes that first medicene that makes you feel so happy...YEP...that's why people get addicted! His Doctor was amazing...they don't even cut open the hand, as I understand it, it is more like a very fine high tech drill and they place the hand using machines that show them the bones while they work and then ZIP those babies right into place and then cut them off and tuck the ends under the skin. They will remove the pins in 6 weeks. YUCK! Sam is mostly depressed about snowboarding...all that work to get the pass and now he can't go until after christmas :( With this crazy beautiful weather, no one will be skiing!!!

Okay North Carolina cousins...I am showing you my FAVORITE purchase in a LONG time...this summer I bought OINK...he is currently living in the front flower bed (Uncle Don really hates him) BUT I LOVE HIM...I love to watch people as they drive by and then back up to get a better look....OINK makes me smile and sometimes laugh everyday when I pull into the drive. I had to put something happy in here after Sam's surgery.

Family Night

For Family Night we went to see the movie Martian Child....it was GREAT!!!! And appropriate for the whole family...good for conversation about "fitting in" in our families and the world, and what we can do help others feel apart. Don is in Ottawa, so it was just me and the boys. It's not very often we find a movie we ALL like... so put it on the list family :) Still no news as to whether Sam will have surgery on his hand. Amazing weather today...high 60's and enough sunshine to make a girl cancel a house showing and have to buy purple pansies to add to the red tulip bulbs for spring. Geez I could spend a fortune on flowers...

PIZOOKIES

The boys LOVE it when I make these...I feel like a rotten mother, what kind of a mother would let her children put this in their bodies?!! Yeah, it's horrible for the body, but GREAT for teenage relationships:) I use Patsi's chocolate chip cookie recipe---the best I've ever made. You make the cookies gigantic, top with vanilla ice cream, then caramel and chocolate sauce...immediate love for the cook...and I LOVE being loved. So yep, I make them and serve them up with a smile. I've put the recipe here for you Michelle...this will keep Laddie in class.

PATSI'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 6-8 dozen

1 lb. butter softened in microwav

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

cream and then add:

2 tsp vanilla

4 eggs

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

4 1/2-5 1/2 cups flour (more sticky dough=flat cookie, longer dough refrigerated= better

consistentcy, soft and chewy after cooling)

2 bags chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups sliced almonds (I also like to add toffee bits when I have them)

Mix well, refrigerate at least 3 hours, drop on ungreased cookie sheet by the spoonful, Bake at 375 degrees. Form large Pizookie cookies by hand making about baseball size.

for 7-8 minutes

Undefeated League CHAMPS

Sam's Viking Team took the Championship last night!!! It was VERY exciting! About 2 seconds into the game I realize that he has his fingers and hand wrapped/tapped...I was worried because of the earlier break in his hand at the beginning of the season...of course Don and everyone else were like, "I'm sure it's no big deal, just a sprain", if it were broke it'd be killing him...his coached old him they needed him to "suck it up and toughen up" because they NEEDED him...geez. This is WHY I hate my boys to play football. As you can see from the pictures...YEP broken. Sam is amazing when it comes to pain, always has been. Now we'll go to a hand specialist on Monday to see if it needs surgery. It broke near the growth plate. Stephanie is the girl with Josh. I hope to post the video clip Megan made for you Michael. As you will see, the Harris Family was there in full form:) --except Spencer who had another "girl" involved party to attend.

The weather was almost too beautiful ALL day...in the high 50's!!! I ran 14 miles up the canyon in take your breathe away leave falling, then spent the whole day putting the yard to bed for the winter...I planted ALOT of bulbs, mostly red tulips. I love to wait for them to pop thru in the Spring, if we can keep the deer from rooting them out.

How bout them COUGS? I listened to the game on the radio while I worked, Max Hall's not so bad:)...Okay, so I LOVE football, I just don't want MY BOYS being knocked around.