Thanksgiving Time

I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas!  This month has been rather BUSY and the time has flown by.  I need to catch up on what we've been up to this past month essentially.

For Thanksgiving we headed up to my parent's place.  I had the day before and the day after off, so we left Wednesday morning.  The roads were great and we made it in good time.  Nyles did great as well and even took a good nap on the way.  Nyles was excited to go play w/ all the toys at Grandma/Grandpa's House.  He found this yellow Bug which had a wheel that was missing.  He then tried to fix the wheel.  He must have Grandpa Hegerhorst's mechanical skills :)

It was such a nice warm day the day we got up there.  Dad was out in the field combining corn, trying to get it cut before it rained again.  Nyles wanted to ride in the combine w/ Grandpa, so I jumped in w/ him for a couple rounds.  Nyles LOVED it!  We even got to see a herd of deer jump out of the corn, along w/ some pheasants.  Nyles thought that was pretty sweet.

Cutting the corn in the combine w/ Grandpa

Steve brought up all the goose meat they had shot a couple weeks before, so they could make it into jerky.  Dad and Steve were both really excited to make it.  Nyles wanted a root beer Popsicle. ;)

Thanksgiving morning Dad, Steve, Uncle Mark and Ben Anderson went to hunt geese in Brother Field's field.  Luckily they had success!

Steve w/ the geese they got

My dad getting set up in the field

After they got back we drove up to Boise to have Thanksgiving dinner at Barb and Rich's house.  It was the first time in YEARS we've all been together for Thanksgiving dinner (before we got married for sure, so over 6 years).  Rose made it up that morning as well.  We were just missing her girls.  We had a great dinner and then enjoyed visiting for a while.  Before we all headed home, we got a family picture together.

Nyles just wanted to play outside the whole afternoon, even though it was cold :)

Hegerhorst Family 2014

On next day dad and Steve went hunting some more, this time for coyotes.  They had a lot of fun needless to say.  Mom and I visited Marla, Emily, her boy Bridon, Margie and Katie on Friday.  Saturday Rose came down as well for a little while and we went and visited Grandma Hegerhorst.

Nyles and Bridon eating gold fish together

Saturday the 29th was Steve's 29th birthday.  I made him a chocolate cake w/ chocolate Hershey's bar shavings on the top and around the edges.  We invited Grandma Hegerhorst over as well for dinner, then cake and ice cream.

Steve's birthday cake

 

Nyles helping to blow out the candles

He was so excited!

Steve w/ his birthday gifts and goose jerky he made.

 

We went to church on Sunday, then after lunch we headed home.  We had good roads coming home again, and Nyles fell asleep as we were leaving the driveway, so we made good time getting home.  It was fun to see everyone and remember all the reasons we have to give thanks this time of year!

More November Fun

Another update for the month.

Here are a few more pictures from Dave's Mustache Birthday Party:

Cute little Nyles

Steve and I sporting our mustaches

 The family together for Dave's surprise birthday party 

On Tuesday, November 11th we had a Relief Society meeting.  We made these banners that say "Let it Snow."  It was fun to associate w/ the sisters in the branch, especially since I don't see as many of them anymore since I'm in Primary.  

It fit perfectly on our fireplace. :)

On Thursday, November 13th, Steve left up to Wendell, Idaho w/ his dad Dave and friend Zach Hannay.  It was snowing that day and was supposed to through the weekend, but they had planned this trip the whole year to go, so off then went.  They had planned to go after Steve's evening class was over at about 7pm, but ironically his class was cancelled and they were able to leave at about 2pm.  Joann watched Nyles at her place until I got off work and picked him up.  They got there that night, but had to go rather slow due to the road conditions, mostly on the Idaho side.

The next morning they hunted the Geese w/ Emily's husband Ben Anderson.  Though they thought the weather was perfect for hunting, they only got a few that day.

Dave hiding in the blind

Steve w/ a goose he shot.

While Steve was out playing in Idaho, I decided to go down and visit Eve in Provo.  She is due w/ her second girl any day now.  Nyles and Breanna had a good time playing w/ each other and sharing snacks.  It was fun to catch up w/ Eve and what they're up to.

Nyles and Breanna

Petting the kitty

The next day, Saturday, though the weather wasn't what they thought would be ideal for Geese, they shot a LOT of them!  My dad came down this time and Ben's dad, and they got 19 geese in 4 hrs.  Needless to say they had a lot of fun and felt the trip was definitely worth it.  They headed back that afternoon after getting that many Geese.  In case you're wondering what they're going to do w/ that much meat, they're planning to turn it into jerky.  Dave and Steve cleaned up the meat the next day, so when we go up for Thanksgiving this week we're going to take it and my dad is going to help Steve make it into jerky.

Steve, Zach and Dave as happy as can be w/ their geese hunt!

Back at our place we got a little bit of snow on Saturday.  Nyles and I had a good time hanging out together and did a little grocery shopping as well.  

Nyles just chilling w/ his legs under the coach

That Sunday I did sharing time in Primary.  I taught about the Anti-Lehi-Nephites and how they repented and decided not to fight anymore.  Instead of just telling them the story, we watched the story on Steve's iPad from the Gospel Library of the Book of Mormon Stories (they animate it a little but not literally, but it's still more exciting than just listening to me).  Nyles loves watching the scriptures this way too, so I figured they would as well, which they did.  The kids really liked it and wanted to sit down on the floor next to me to watch it.

After church we took a little nap, then came back for tithing settlement.  This year we've only been paying our fast offerings and other offerings to the branch since we're using the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund to pay tithing.  It's a pretty cool thing.  When I put a certain amount in the gift fund, Fidelity will match a portion, which I can then use for other charitable donations (not tithing of course).  I started it last December and w/ the match ie free money, I've been able to use it for the Utah Food Bank and Primary Children's Hospital.  Pretty awesome huh?  I want to also contribute to schools/Universities that Steve and I went to.  I believe in giving back, even if it's just a little compared to others.

Nyles writing on the white board as we wait to go into tithing settlement.

Today we got some more snow again.  I guess we are done with Fall and are into Winter now.  Not much we can do about that though.  Steve is excited to have it be Winter, it also might be because his birthday is coming up this week!

This week I had my final class for CPA.  We had three days of review and instruction on how to complete our final project.  They give us a couple w/ all their financial info and goals and we have to come up w/ a plan for them to achieve their goals, like educational and retirement saving goals.  It should be good, but they said most people need 25-40 hours to put it together.  Everything is due by December 23rd, but I'd like to get it done sooner if possible.  I'd like to get started this week and get it done asap.  We have to get at least an 80% to pass the class. 

Steve is getting close to finishing his classes as well.  He finished Physiology lab this week and next week he'll finish his Anatomy Lab.  Then he will have his finals for each class in the first couple weeks of December.  He's getting excited to finish it.  On Tuesday and Thursday he also watched Sophia after class until about 2:30-3pm while Rose took a training class here in SLC.  

Last night we went to the Hunger Games movie called MockingJay w/ most of Steve's family, Dave, Joann, Kim, Jeff, Melanie, Brandon, Chandler his friend, and Rob.  They are splitting it up into 2 movies of course, so it left us hanging.  Luckily we've all read the books so we know what should happen.  We asked Zach and Erin to come watch Nyles so we could go.  The movie was at 5:20pm so we left around 5pm.  Erin's sister has kids so she's used to watching.  They even put Nyles to bed!  Ironically that is the first time we've had someone put Nyles to bed.  Usually we put him to bed then leave.  It's good to know he will go down for others as well.

Today I got to play the piano for Primary since our other 2 sisters were gone.  I haven't played/practiced since I was put in as the Relief Society President 4 years ago.  It was nice to play again ;)  We are practicing 2 Christmas songs, "Away in a Manager" and "Silent Night."  The kids are learning them really well, all 6 of them ;)

It was nice having time off work the week before.  I only work Monday and Tuesday this week, and will have the rest off for Thanksgiving.  We're going to be going up to Idaho.  Barbara has offered to host it at her place in Boise.  All 7 of us kids should be there.  It should be fun!  I then work 3 weeks in December and have the last 2 weeks off of the year, oh yeah!  I'm definitely looking forward to that as well.

Happy Thanksgiving this week!!!!

November News

It's been a busy November already and it's not going to slow down.  Thanksgiving is only 2 1/2 weeks away. Here are a few updates though.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this yet, but Steve got a new calling as the Branch Clerk.  He was the assistant finance clerk before.  Now he's over the finance clerks, and gets to go to early morning meetings every Sunday w/ the Branch Presidency.  He has his first meeting this morning at 6:30 and 7:30am.  Luckily we won't have too many more since we'll switch to the 11am church next year, so his meeting won't be as early.  Steve had to stay after and help get things ready for tithing settlement also, but unfortunately the computer was having major issues.  The second counselor from the Stake Presidency came over to help, since he's a computer person.  They hope it'll fix the issues.

Saturday, November 1st Steve went out duck hunting w/ Zach Hannay, Dave Thomas and Carl Bertoch at Farmington Bay.  Ironically they only got one duck, but they did get 3 pheasants.  There was a DWR ranger out there who had just planted some pheasants that morning.  They didn't know they were going to have pheasants out there, so it was a nice surprise.  It's a lot cheaper than going to a pheasant club or something too.  Here are some pics from their adventure.

The pheasants

 The one duck they got

That night our neighbors the Thomas' had a Halloween Party.  Nyles dressed up as his tractor again and we were just ourselves.  Nyles took a minute to warm up then he was the "life of the party."  Our neighbors Mauri and Nate Steven's dressed up as babies w/ bottles and binkys.  Nyles saw it and just had to get his binky too.  We had just dressed him in his PJs since it was getting late.  He snuggled w/ Mauri for a few minutes, then we had to go get him to bed.

He loves the binky ;)

From my work Halloween Party

That night was Daylight Savings, so it worked out we put Nyles to bed 1 hour later.  He woke up at 7am like normal even w/ the extra hour.  It's definitely gotten better over time.  I remember the first year was a shock to us.  Kids just don't understand they're supposed to sleep in another hour.  ;)

On Monday, November 3rd I took the day off so Steve could go deer hunting.  They were originally going to go in the morning, but my dad said the hunting was better towards dusk, so they headed out after 10am.  Steve and his dad drove up to Snowville then went West to this guy's farm was and met my dad.  Steve said they got there stuff together and went out to a field and w/in a few minutes they came across a group of deer and Steve got one.  Steve said he wasn't complaining, but it was a little too easy.  They then took care of the deer and drove home.  My dad took some of the meat up to Anna and her family, then took the rest to have and make some jerky.  Steve just wanted some jerky from it :)

Steve w/ his deer.  

Steve said it looks smaller in the picture than it is.  

That morning we also registered for Steve's Spring classes.  He's getting really close to being able to apply for PA school.  He has just a few more classes.

Tuesday night I had a Primary Meeting at our house.  We are in charge of the Christmas Program for our Branch Christmas Party.  We are working on assigning a few parts.  We are going to have the Primary kids dress up and have an adult say the part for them.  We'll have the congregation sing a few hymns too.  It's coming together.

Steve also took Nyles to go duck hunting w/ him this week.  They went up w/ Zach and his dog.  They got a duck and a pheasant.  Surprisingly Nyles wasn't scared or anything.  Steve said he kept saying "Rooster, rooster."  He also wanted to pet them after they shot them.  Overall he thought it was really fun.  He especially liked being w/ the dog.  I think Steve was a little tickled he enjoyed it so much ;)

Nyles ready to go and loving being by the dog.

 Nyles holding up the pheasant.

Now petting the duck and pheasant.

I just finished my Estate Planning class for my CFP this week.  We were supposed to have our last few classes in December, but now they moved it up to the week before Thanksgiving.  They also moved up our final deadline, which is just before Christmas.  I'm not too happy about that, but I guess the good news is that I'll have it all done before Christmas, so then I can enjoy the rest of the holidays.

This Saturday, November 8th we went up to the SLC Temple and did some family sealings.  Steve and I had some names ready that Rose had found and also some from Uncle Stephen Naylor.  We got some done, but unfortunately our sealer had to leave to go do a live sealing.  We waited in the Celestial Room for 25 minutes, but they still didn't have another sealer, so by this time we needed to leave to relieve our baby sisters.  We'll have to get together one more time to finish the rest.  

Then last night we got together w/ Steve's family for pictures.  Here are some of my pics.

Nyles ready for the fun to begin!

Family pic

The kids watching "Lego Movie" waiting to start the pics.

Conor and Nyles

Alexa, Olivia, Lynsie and Nyles playing after their turn is over

Steve is getting excited for his Goose Hunt this Friday/Saturday up in Idaho.  He's going w/ his dad and Zach and will meet my dad, Uncle Mark, and Emily's husband Ben Anderson at his place to hunt geese.  They're hoping the weather works in their favor.  It looks like it's going to rain/snow.

We've been reading the Book of Mormon reader w/ Nyles at night.  He really likes it.  Just before bed we read the "scriptures" together, then say our prayers.  He's doing really well in Nursery as well.  Next year he'll be the oldest kid ironically.  We've also been reading/listening to the past General Conference messages.  They are all really good.  If you haven't had a chance to read/watch them I'd highly encourage it :)

Well we hope everyone has a great week!