My family...well some of them anyway.

4 generations and 3 of my parents 5 children's families.

Grandpop and Grandmom with the Ness boys!

I LOVE this picture :)

Thanksgiving is...

Family, Food and Fun!
We celebrated Thanksgiving at my parents house yesterday. There were 18 of us, 10 adults and 8 children. I am so thankful my parents have a big enough house for entertaining. We all had such a wonderful time. My brother and his family are visiting from Utah and the kids are loving all the cousin time and I'm loving all the brother time I'm getting. We've all eaten dinner together every night and breakfast twice. We had a girls day with Summer my sister in law, mom and Heather, went shopping this morning at 4am, laughed and laughed some more and have just enjoyed every minute of this holiday. It has been wonderful being all together.
It's too bad all the kids weren't home...but maybe in the summer?
What do y'all think??? Huh???
I am ever so thankful for my family! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Words to live by...

Use it up

Wear it out

Make it do

Or do without

(and when you're done, throw it out)

My sister told me this about a week ago and

I have thought it about it everyday since.

I love it! Thanks Heather.

For a little secret about me...

click here :)

Say what?!?!

Some recent things that Abram has said has me thinking 'what did he just say?!?!' On Tuesday I told Abram we needed to go to Ben Franklin, a craft type store and he says without skipping a beat, "Why mom, so you can buy cigarettes and smoke them?" I turned and looked at him like what the heck and he was busting up laughing. Then today, he walked into the bathroom when I was putting on my make-up and said, "Hey mom, shake you're booty!" Once again I was like where is he hearing these things, then I remembered Oh yeah, my MOTHER watches him 3 times a week!!! So yeah, thanks MOM!!!

What are you thankful for?

Each night at bed time before prayers we, as a family say what we are thankful for. We have been doing this since Abram was born and if we happen to forget as parents the boys quickly remind us. I just wanted to share some of Ethan and Abram's thankfulness's .<---is that even a word?
Abram always goes first. He's thankful for...mommy(and then he waits for me to say Awwww!), daddy(and he waits for an Awwww!), Ethan(waits...), Goldy(and now he wants Goldy to acknowledge him with a bark which usually is one of us so we can carry on or we could be there till dawn waiting for a Goldy bark!)...then he inserts a ton of silly things to us, but very meaningful to him such as: buttoning and zipping, his puppy, his tractor and he always ends with Jesus on the cross!!!
Then is Steven's turn, then mine and I am usually thankful the day is over and it's bed time and then Ethan closes us up. He is short and sweet, thankful for each one of his family members in the house(he doesn't need the Awwws) and one other thing...usually warm blankets, or his cozy bed, or full tummies and recently eggnog LOL.
This is something we love to do and a wonderful way to end our days. The boys love doing bedtime as a family and I'm thankful Steven does/helps with bedtime...ok so he does bedtime, not just helps without complaining.
Thanksgiving is only 9 days away...so what are YOU thankful for???

Oh and did you also know...

~that the day after all that work will leave the back of your legs and bum muscles REALLY sore... :(

Did you know....

Did you know...
~that it's easier to rake a yard full of WET leaves than dry. They stick together easier when you're bagging them, they don't blow around once you've piled them and you can fit more in a bag because they lay flatter, smush easier and are heavier.
~37 degrees really isn't THAT cold when you're raking...you actually can work up a good sweat!
~that dog poop looks exactly like the leaves that are in your back yard...makes it harder to find it and pick up.
~that 9 bags of wet leaves will fit in the back of my mini van...
~that the guy at the dump thought he was being funny when he told me that the leaf area was full and I'd have to take my bags back home...
~that WET leaves are a pain in the butt to unload at the dump, they make you really dirty!
~that wet gloves will turn your finger tips blue.
~how wonderful a hot steamy shower feels after the yard work is complete...
~and do you know...how grateful my husband is for me?!?!? He told me so!

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Last Sunday I took the boys to Fargo to see Madagascar. The theatres there are so much better than they are here. It was a cute movie and both boys enjoyed it.

Happy Veterans Day

Thank you to the many men and women who have served our country with honor, pride and commitment. Thank you to my two brothers, my father-in-law and grandfathers. As we remember you today and always!

GNO's rock!

Last night we had a much needed GNO. Lori, Heather, Renae and I went to Fargo to see "The Secret Life of Bees" and then out to eat at Granite City. We had a fabulous time, but then again we have a fabulous time sitting around doing nothing too. Just being with these ladies is enough for me.

Thanks girls, you're the BEST!

VOTE!!!

Just a friendly reminder to VOTE today!!!

On Sunday we were talking with Ethan about the election happening today and the 2 candidates. He pipes up that on Tuesday he's going to vote for McCain and he can't wait! I told him he needed to be 18 and you should have seen the look on his face, he was SO sad...only 12 more years I told him. I figured it out and he will be 18 the year of an election too. He asked me if he could go with me today when I vote and I told him yes that I would wait and do it after school today with him. I hope he is still enthusiastic about it then(when he's 18) as he is now.

V-O-T-E

Happy Birthday Leah!

Today is my sister-in-law Leah's birthday. I hope she has a wonderful day and we look forward to seeing them at Christmas when they come to visit!

Happy Birthday Leah!

Happy Halloween from the NessNest

Hubert girls and Ness boys

At the Veterens home

Anikan Skywalker with a Stormtrooper

Happy froggy

Froggy spotted a scary witch

Not so happy froggy
Anikan with Mrs. Mitchell

Halloween party 10/30

This year Charlene hosted the kids Halloween party. It was filled with fun, games, treats and LOTS of kids! Thanks Char for hosting!

bobbing for apples

watching musical brooms passing a broomoh no, 2 brooms at once... hula hoop toss donut eatting with no hands
Mama and her boys Mama and froggy froggy and Anakin Skywalker
the entire group of kids Hippy chic and froggy