Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

We were the lucky ones this year to get Grandma and Grandpa Whiting for Thanksgiving! It was so much fun to have the time(without other responsibilities,) to just spend time together! I love Thanksgiving as it reminds us to take the time to recognize our many,many blessings.

Grandma and Grandpa are very easy to please! Grandma is known for saying,"Don't go to any trouble for us! Just give us a "bar" and we will be fine!"(a "bar" being a protein bar of some kind!) Well, we did give them a little more then a "bar"! We enjoyed preparing, and eating a more typical Thanksgiving feast. And yes, that is Gracie at the Thanksgiving table in her Tinkerbell swimsuit. She asked if we could buy Grandma one! Of course I told her, and she can wear it for Thanksgiving dinner next year!!:)

We played games, worked on a 1,500 piece puzzle,(a work in progress) , played Wii......grandma and grandpa took the fitness test, they are as fit as an 80 yr. old:)......(the wii MUST be broken!!)We went to a movie,read many books,cleaned up the kitchen 2 dozen times,(because we never quit eating,) , went to Mandi's indoor soccer game, and visited Lou's new office being built. You will notice Gracie changed into a new swimsuit before we headed to the office. Hmmmmm .......can any of our Arizona or California family members say they spent Thanksgiving in a swimsuit?!!!! Come see us in Boise, you will hardly even notice it's just a LiTtLe colder!! Besides, you can always just put a coat on over your swimsuit!:)

Thank you for coming Grandma and Grandpa!!!
We LOVE you!

Mac & Dad take Seattle.....

Lou and Mac spent last weekend in Seattle for a wrestling tournament. However, considering how Mac loves to travel and especially to big cities, I think the wrestling was just a good excuse! They packed a lot into one weekend.....a National tournament, the Space Needle, Jimmy Hendrix museum,Uncle Jer!!, a lot of food (AFTER weigh-ins,) and walking the streets of Seattle.

I've been told, by Mac, not to mention much about the tournament! (in fact, I had to sneak in the trophy picture.) For some reason,(maybe because I am my mother's daughter?).... he is worried I may have inherited some of Grandma's "bragging" genes! So I will just say.... it was a big tournament, and a great way to start the season,(high school practice started this week.) We all know that you can learn a lot from the times you loose....but......can I also say that winning can be a lot more FUN?!!;)

With Mac's love for playing the guitar,the Jimmy Hendrix museum was a HUGE highlight. As was getting to spend some time with Jer. They had a great time catching up with Jer,Joel,and Molly of course! It was a GREAT trip to Seattle, next time ....I'm tagging along!

Jolyn vs Deer!

(yes, that is fur.)

I often see deer while ON my early morning runs in the foothills, but I have never seen a deer while DRIVING home!! That is..... until this last Thursday. On Eagle road of all places, with early morning traffic all going 55mpr. Luckily, I slowed down a bit because I saw a couple of deer crossing the road 100 yards in front of me. At that exact moment another deer hit me. It all happened so quickly. I won't give you all the yummy details.....let's just say I saw actual body parts flying in front of me.

I refused to get out of the car in fear of what may still be attached. When Lou and the kids came into the garage as I pulled in I saw jaws drop and Mitch ask,"Why is there fur on your car?" I stayed IN the car.
After carpooling kids around, and I COULDN'T find an open car wash,(other then the self serve kind...NO thanks!) I was brave....I got out of my car.

Gracie just could not believe what I had done. "Mom, WHY did you do that?! I really,really like deer!" She wanted to know if it was a baby deer, I assured her it was not! However, that did not make her feel any better. "Was it a mommy? Oh, the mommy will miss her babies. The babies will be looking for the mommy!!" "I am sure it was a daddy deer," I told her. "Oh, no...Oh, no! The mommy will really,really miss him!" I couldn't win. Justin did his best to try and ease her pain by telling her, "Don't worry Gracie, deer are really just for eating." (what? where did he hear that? We don't even hunt!) That did NOT help her. Justin gave me a look that said, "Sorry mom, I tried! What are we going to do with her?"

She did perk up as we were going to get the rental car......in hopes that we just might get a PINK car! Justin said he just wanted a car that didn't STINK. Apparently, he has been in a lot of stinky cars?? Justin got his wish, Gracie did

not.

Justin is very excited for his "Snack and Share" day at school tomorrow! " I'm not going to bring in a share mom, I'm just going to talk." "Oh, what are you going to talk about?" I asked. "You hitting a deer!" He got even more excited when I told him he could bring in a picture of the car. "Can I bring in a picture of the deer?" "I don't have a picture of the deer," I told him! " Can we go take one right now, pleeeeease?" " I don't think so bud!" The picture of the car will just have to due!! Oh, how having toddlers in the home can make you smile in ANY situation!:)

The cost of my first deer=$5,000!

Daddy/Daughter Pinewood Derby!

Isn't a Daddy/Daughter Pindwood Derby a great idea?!?!! Although, they had only 10 days notice, Mandi and Lou created the FuNnESt car!!! They had a lot of fun working together. It was quite the different experience watching this car come together then with the boys!:) The boys were all about having the FASTEST car.....Mandi, well the car speaks for itself! Pink, girly, and now a decoration for her room! (it actually turned out to be pretty fast too!) I am REALLY glad it was a daddy/daughter and not a Mommy/daughter derby! :) These two creative minds made a great team!

The Legend of Grandpa and the Bull

If you are a Buhrley, one story may come to your mind when you see these pictures! A story of how our cherished Grandpa "Lou" Buhrley wrestled with a bull ........and won! I am pretty sure I heard this story from Lou when we were dating even before he told me the names of his siblings! He loves his grandpa so much, as do we all.

So, last Sunday Lou and his primary class of llyr. old boys were in charge of Sharing Time. My husband Lou is now a legend in our ward along with his grandpa Lou! We, as a Primary Presidency sometimes worry when a man is in charge of the Sharing Time, (sorry men!) but there was no need to worry here.

Lou drew, yes DREW, this bull! He then had the kids on the edge of their seats listening to this incredible, and true story! It was so much fun to watch! His boys read from the scriptures ways we can have a "link" of protection from the "bulls" in our lives. He made a nose ring for the bull and each scripture example was a link that was then attached to the bull's nose ring. Lou is such a good teacher, I just sat back in awe. I don't think any of the kids,(or adults) will ever forget that lesson.

It's my turn for ST next week! I will be asking my husband for help!!:)

It was very special to see such a treasured family story teach such a valuable lesson.

Halloween!

This year we had two Princesses, one Prince, and one "Scary" guy! Mandi hasn't wanted to be a princess since she was four! She finally left the witch and zombie football days behind and came back to her senses! Mitch has wanted to be something with BLOOD since he was four, and I finally gave in!?!?! We had a great time and the weather couldn't have been better. Of course, the highlight of the night for Lou, Mac, and I........going through the bags and making sure there isn't anything "poisonous"!:)

Backyard Fun!

Our family pretty much lives outside! Which is just another reason I love living in Boise. Although we get four seasons, with our (usually:)) mild winters you can find my kids playing outside all year long. Of course, my kids will also wear shorts all year long......so we may not be the norm! Our "backyard fun" always gets a little more exciting when there is some competition. I know, hard to believe, the buhrley kids competitive??!?:)

Fall Fun

So. it's been a while.......a LONG while! I have a lot of catching up to do! My neice Emily has put me to shame by starting her own blog! (I am sure I will be calling her for help. )Here is my first attemp on my own.:) I'll start with our "first day of school" pic's and go from there, I'm crossing my fingers........Justin and Gracie start pre-school together!

My little "actors" showing their "SCARED to go to school" face!

Mitch 3rd grade!

Mandi 6th grade and middle school!

Mac 9th grade/High School freshman!