Another Moose Bites the Dust

 

This is a bad picture because it was dark and the head lights were flashing but basically, Matt hit another moose and it went through his engine bay.

It was a baby and it definitely died.

Matt is okay. 

He has some body aches and pains.

We still don't know if the truck will be totalled.

It's okay though because we had full coverage on it. 

This is the second time he hit a moose in this exact truck.

Living in Point Mackenzie definitely has it's drawbacks and driving safely to town is one of them. 

Thanksgiving

 

Trying to get a good picture of all of us at once always proves to be a challenge.
But this one will have to do. 

I'm grateful that in a time of uncertainty in the world, our family was able to come together and celebrate the things we are thankful for.

Family is everything.

For real. It is!

We had a great meal, played games and visited with each other.

I love our times being together.

We have some pretty great kids and they are making some even greater kids. 

And I got to nap with Andi, so what could be better than that?

 

Update

This may be the longest I have ever gone without updating my blog. Nine days.

It feels like longer, because of all that has been going on.

Dad had to have open heart surgery. 

That makes me so sad. 

I have been through that and I would NEVER have wanted anyone that I love to have go through it.

I've been able to talk to him twice and he sounds defeated and tired. 

Understandably.

He had to have SEVEN bypasses!

All the siblings came together and bought him a recliner that Matt and I went and picked up.

It will help so much with his recovery. 

I'm hoping he can come home before Thanksgiving. 

 

It got worse!

 

After getting my tooth pulled- surgically by the way- I drove into the driveway and spied this.

Greenhouse #2 down.

I know why it happened and I should really be phased by it but honestly, the week was so crazy that I didn't even care.

Then Sunday my mom called and my dad had a heart attack.

He had another one at the hospital. 

I don't know how many he had.

He is currently in the hospital in Anchorage awaiting surgery. 

I feel at peace but my eyes keep leaking.

I love him so much. 

The only thing that made yesterday manageable was having all the kids here. 

We did CFM and laughed about the brother of Jared's boats being tight and having no light, steering or way to get air.

It was this beautiful moment together. 

Afton and I made cookies and we all enjoyed them and a meal. 

I feel so blessed even though things are hard and seem to be falling a part a bit. 

 

Quite the Week

 

It has been one of those weeks.

Interestingly, I sit here this morning feeling okay about how it all has turned out. 

Monday morning we woke to so much snow, it was ridiculous.

My car was completely covered. 

I decided that my 'move your exercise' was going to shoveling snow.

There needed to be a path to the propane tanks and I needed to release the Lexus.

Monday was good. I got a good workout in.

Tuesday, after shoveling, I went into the house not feeling very well.

Then I got a flash type headache and my jaw started aching so badly.

Plus my left arm felt weak.

I was a bit worried but decided not to google symptoms and went to bed.
The next morning while journaling, I felt like I should probably google it.

That's when I had Makenna take me to the ER. Those symptoms were signs of a stroke.

They did a million tests, blood work, CAT scan, EKG, chest Xray, and found nothing.

I was completely healthy.

That should have been comforting but it was not because the headache and the jaw ache still lingered.

So Thursday I was babysitting Andi and Matt brought me lunch. 

As we sat and ate, I painfully came to realize that it was my tooth that was the problem.

How embarrassing is that? 

You're not having a stroke...it's a toothache!

I called the dentist and got in for an exam and this morning I am getting the tooth pulled.

Oh the reason for the weak left arm? Shoveling snow!

At least I can laugh about it, right!

 And here is a beautiful picture of winter-

 

Hayes Thanksgiving

 

Every year we still get together as a Hayes family and I am so grateful. 

I hope it never ends.

This year, like last year, we gathered at Marissa's and she had it decked out to the t with autumn decorations. 

It was so fun to be together again. 

Not everyone came. The roads were awful trying to get there, but those who made it enjoyed good food and company.

I needed the connection so badly. 

It was fun to watch how our kids all congregated at the end of the table and played games together. 

I just sat and watched them a lot of the time with a smile on my face.

They are the best people I know. 

I am glad they are mine!

 

Papa Toast

 

Afton is a pretty picky eater. 

He often does not eat anything but sugar at our house, no matter how hard we try. 

There is one thing he will eat though- papa toast. 

Only Matt can make it and Afton eats it all every time and even asks for more. 

I love that he will have this memory of his Papa making him papa toast. 

For those wondering, it is just cinnamon, sugar and butter on toasted bread.

I guess the ingredient of love is also sprinkled on there!

I voted!

 

Alaska has the coolest stickers this year for voting. 

I went and did my civic duty and it actually wasn't too bad. The voter turnout this year is incredible but I didn't have to wait in line too long to vote. 

This vote feels pivotal. 

I kind of feel like if Trump is elected then there will be some major civil unrest- like riots and people burning our country to the ground.

On the other hand, I feel like if Biden is elected that we are going to see taxation like no other and a loss of our religious freedoms. 

Well, we are in the latter part of the latter days.

So I guess come what may!

Halloween

 

Such a fun one this year!

Corban and his friend, Sambo spent the night together as per tradition. 

Sam was Bob Ross so Corban just HAD to be a Bob Ross painting. 

It was pretty epic.

Matt and I dressed up as a man being blown away and a t-rex. 

We helped out at the Clock tower celebration. 

 

It was fun to see all our kids with their people dressed up.

Sam was a fairy, Emry a doctor, Afton a pirate, Dallin, Jessie and Andi were characters from The Princess Bride (Andi made the cutest ROUS I have ever seen), Bri and Dustin were Mary Poppins and Bert, and Makenna was Rapunzel. 

I don't normally love Halloween, like at all!, but this one was pretty good.