BYU Utah Final Play 2006

I can't watch this video enough. Nothing in BYU sports has brought me more satisfaction over the last 10 years than seeing us beat Utah!!

Thanksgiving in TEXAS! (click on pictures to enlarge)

We made Grandma Stahle's Rhubarb jam before we left for TX so that we could give it to Dallas' family as part of their early Christmas presents. Aunt Sharon did the hard part by providing us with the rhubarb juice, then we just mixed everything together and made the jam! It is really some phenomenal stuff. Grandma Stahle was a genius!!

This is the largest statue of an American Hero in the world! Sam Houston was the first president of the Republic of Texas. He retired to Huntsville Texas where Jay attends Sam Houston State University. We could see the statue from miles away when we drove into Huntsville. It's HUGE!!! Jay took us to visit the Sam Houston Museum, and took our picture at the statue. (See if you can find us).




We liked this sign and thought it would be fun to get a free ride until we read further.

This was Ashley's first experience with a real live Texas Longhorn. This was also a very mean longhorn, and kept trying to gouge us with his horns! That's why Ashley is Dallas' human shield in this picture :) Actually, he's trying to pull her away from the beast, but she wouldn't listen.

Greta was absolutely hilarious. We had a ball with all the nieces and nephews, but she was definitely the one with the most energy. Prior to this picture, her hair was up in cute little "puppy dog ears." Apparently she decided this was cuter!

Here are our studly 6 year old nephews Dallin and Jonas. During our trip Dallas' brother-in-law Jimmy, (Dallin's dad) taught some of us some pretty cool Jiu-Jitsu moves. The boys had fun practicing them on each other and trying to get the other to tap out.

The day after our Thanksgiving Feast we went to Alligator Park. It's a huge park with ponds and swamps where alligators just hang out without fences!! You just walk along a trail and if you're lucky, an alligator will be chillin on the bank. None of us were brave enough to touch one, but we got within about two feet of the ones on the banks. We saw little baby ones and ones that were over 6 feet long!

Honestly, has anyone ever been to a greyhound track? This was one of the most exciting things to do with 6 year olds. Every 15 mins or so, there was a new race. The kids would all pick their favorite dog (usually by which one pooped first or the most), and then yell their little hearts out. Jay even placed a bet, and won 40 bucks that he graciously contributed to the babysitting fund so the adults could all go play later that night.

Clara and Uncle Dallas snuggling because it was pretty dang chilly at the races

So after we left the kids to terrorize the babysitters, we went to downtown Houston for a night on the town. We enjoyed eating at Benihanas. Ashley practiced a psycho face, and I taught every one how to use chopsticks... I failed miserably.