Thank you, President Corbitt

L-R  Pres. Vanderwerken, Pres. Corbitt, and Pres. Sikahema

We learned last month that our stake presidency would be released at our Stake Conference in December.  Our stake president, President Corbitt, along with his wife has been called to serve as a mission president.  These men have served together for eight years and we love each of them so much.

At our conference on December 8th, President Vai Sikahema was called as our new stake president with President Joseph VanDerwerken as first counselor and President Kim McNaughton as second counselor.  They will be a fabulous presidency, too.  

As we came out of conference, there were 2-3 inches of snow on the ground.  It was a surprise as a light dusting later in the day had been forecast.  Unfortunately, it made for a really long trip home for everyone.  Some of our friends who live in Cape May (usually about 1 1/2 hours away) took 6 hours to get home because the roads were so slick and everyone was driving at a crawl.

We were supposed to attend our annual Messiah sing-in that night, but because of the slippery roads, we did not attend.  We WERE able to watch the First Presidency devotional that we usually watch delayed because of the Messiah.  It was a quiet night at home by the fire which we enjoyed very much.  

Thanksgiving in Tabernacle New Jersey

We had a relatively small group for Thanksgiving this year.  It was the first time in a long time that we were all able to sit at the same table with just the little extension table added.  I overcooked the turkey a little, but hey, we had lots of gravy so it was fine.  :)  

The Monday before Thanksgiving, Geoffrey had to go into the 

hospital for what turned out to be appendicitis. 

 

He had his appendix out Tuesday morning and was sitting at the Thanksgiving table with us on Thursday.  What a guy.  The timing was actually pretty good...if you have to have an appendix out.  He had come home the previous week after completing his training with Exxon/Mobile and was scheduled to start at his new job down in Jackson, Mississippi the following week.  We were glad that we could be there with him as he went in and also during the first part of his recovery. 

Here are a few pictures from Thanksgiving Day - 2013. 

A shot of the table

The feasters......Eloise, Joe, Chuck, Tracey, Steve, Evan, Nathan, Geoffrey, Grandma Foulk

Evan took this photo of our little pilgrim place card people that Aunt Beck made years ago.  We have to get the glue gun out and make some repairs each year, but we are still using and loving them.

Assuming the post dinner position - loving the fire

Eloise and Grandma visiting in the living room

Our yummy desserts - courtesy of Grandma 

Banana cream pie, pumpkin pie, and TURTLES!!!

Still using the sweet pilgrims that my mom made for us years ago to decorate the table

Chuck and Tracey

Eloise and Joe (he had just had some dental work done a few days before which caused the big bruise you can see.  We had fun teasing Eloise about needing to be a little nicer to Joe.  :)  

He will turn 90 this next year.  So glad they could come.

Steve and his Mom

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Angry Birds at our Pack Meeting

We had some celebrity visitors at our November pack meeting.  The Angry Birds were in the building!!

The boys worked hard for a couple of weeks to decorate the balls.  The first week they boys got to create their own pigs.  The only rules were that they had to have two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.  They were GREAT!!  The next week we had some penciled in birds that they traced and filled in.  The finished product was very impressive.

Here are some of our pigs and birds

We asked the boy's families to donate all their extra cardboard boxes to the cause.  We divided the boys and their families into two groups.  Each group had to use the boxes to make structures that featured the pigs.  Then they took turns shooting the birds at the other's structure and trying to knock the pigs down.  We had a great time!!!

Here is Dylan telling about his pig.

Then Carter pointed out the finer points of his creation.

Evan's pig was pretty traditional...

....except for those pointy ears.

Since Aidan put a lot of teeth on his pig, he included a toothbrush and toothpaste.  :)

Way to go Pack 110!!

A Busy November Saturday

Some days it just isn't possible to be all the places that you want to be.  Saturday, November 23rd, was one of those days.  Thankfully Geoffrey came into town a few days before that so that he could help us out with spreading ourselves thin.  :)

Evan's soccer team had their big end of the year award ceremony.  It wasn't something that lasted a long time, but since each boy was being honored with either a game ball or a special award, it was a really big deal, especially to Evan.  We had committed to attend the temple in Washington DC with some friends of ours, so Geoffrey was able to go with Evan and take some great pictures for us.

Here is Evan receiving his game ball from the coach.  He got this for a game they played against Medford Lakes in which he scored the only two goals that his team got.  Great Job, Evan.

Holding up his game ball

Here is a parting shot of the Mighty Warriors

OK...one more posed one....

...and of course the famous silly one.  They had a lot of fun!!!

Also that day, we were scheduled to go to dinner group at our friends' the Sikahemas.  But then we learned that our dear ward friends, Kevin and Dawn Mass, were going to be sealed in the temple that day.  We hated to miss dinner group, but we couldn't miss the opportunity to be with these great people on their special day!!  We were glad we were there.

(Geoffrey was also good enough to go hang out on our behalf at the Sikahema's house - 

Thanks, Geoffrey)

These are just a few of the people who went to the temple that day.  Dawn and Kevin were joined outside by their three children, lots of ward members, and two of the missionaries involved in their baptisms.  It was a great day!!!

A Perfect Score

Evan was honored at the November board of education meeting for getting a perfect score on the math section of the NJASK test last year.  The whole family went to the meeting so that we could see him and his friends be recognized.  

Dr. Patterson showing Evan his certificate

There were four other students in his grade honored as well.

A close-up of Evan and his certificate...... 

.....and with his proud Mom and Dad.  Great job, Evan!!!!

A Trip To Boston for Lucy's Blessing

The morning after I got home from being with the Oxborrow family in California, we all loaded into the car and headed up to Boston to see the Robertsons.  Evan and Nathan were out of school on Thursday and Friday which gave us a four day weekend.  Grandma Foulk was also able to come with us.  It was her first time seeing Lucy.

Great-Grandma Foulk with Baby Lucy

Alan and Lucy

Lucy and Grandpa

Great-Grandma, Grandpa, and Lucy

Such a little sweetie

Alan and Evan helping with the Swedish pancake making....one of their favorite things 

Jamesy is ready for some of those delicious pancakes  :)

Grandpa giving Lucy some loves

What a yummy breakfast!!!!

Friday afternoon we traveled up to Vermont to spend the night.  We got some dinner in a little cafe and then headed to the hotel.  The boys thought the hotel was pretty fun and Lucy was such a good girl, too.

Miss Lucy checking out the fun bed

Alan watching some TV in the room

Hi Grandma!!!!

James thought those cool ottomans in the hotel lobby looked like drums

The main reason we had traveled to Vermont was to visit the Joseph Smith Birthplace and Monument.  We had been there years ago with the older kids, but Nate and Evan had never been there. 

James had a hard time holding still and listening in the visitor's center.  

Mommy went outside with him....and looking at that smile, I'd say it was a good decision.

We also traveled to a little farm that made maple syrup and cheese.  We got to enjoy some free samples, see where syrup was made, and...best of all...visit with some cows.

James in the Sugar Bush Farm cut out

Climbing up the hill from the sugar barn

It was such a fun little trip and even though most of the leaves were already down, 

the scenes as we drove around were wonderful.  We also stopped for a minute in the town of Quechee and had some lunch at a quaint little shop.  Here we were able to check out the Quechee Gorge.  The boys enjoyed dropping rocks and buckeyes down to the river, about 165 feet below.

Our main reason from going up to Boston was to be there for Lucy's blessing.  She was lucky enough to have both her grandpas, her Uncle Michael, and, of course, her daddy there to participate.

Lucy in her beautiful dress getting ready to head to the church

Lucy and Janelle at the church

The family photo - Jill, James, Steve, Alan, Scott, Lucy, Nathan, Janelle, Evan, Rob, Caroline, Evelyn, Micah, Michael, and Sarah

The Scott Robertson Family

Lucy and her mom

Grandpa Steve, Scott, Lucy, Grandpa Rob, and Uncle Michael

Lucy's Special Day

We were so happy to share it with her!!!