Anything You Can Shoot She Can Shoot Better

Black Friday, three generations of Manwarings killed a few hours in the desert plinking balloons and bottles of colored water. This was the girls’ first time firing anything more than a pellet gun and they both surprised us with their accuracy and enthusiasm. Alex was a sharp shooter on the .22 caliber Savage 64F, hitting her targets with dazzling consistency at 25 yards and 75 yards. After trying the .22 caliber firearms, Rachel soon realized that she has an affinity for the more powerful weapons like the Hi-Point .45 ACP and the .223 caliber Savage 10FP. Jeremy enjoyed all the firearms, including a 7.65 mm Mauser model 1891, and couldn’t pick a favorite. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect outing with Grandpa and Uncle Peter.

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Thanksgiving

In October 1789, President George Washington began his Thanksgiving proclamation thusly:

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

This year we have received more blessings than I could enumerate here. So it was quite special to have so many relatives and friends in our home for Thanksgiving. We should hold dear these precious traditions and heritage.

 

Dave brought his guitar and we jammed a little before giving up the stage to the cousins. (Manwaring is the new Osmond!)

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Proud Mom Moment!

Alex loves to play the piano and that makes me happy. She has been playing for about three years and is getting better and better. I thought I would showoff her talent:

Alex playing "Love Story" by Taylor Swift

SCC Iron Pour

I took Evon and Alex to see the SCC Iron Pour. It was interesting to watch as the molten iron was poured into various molds. It had rained briefly in the morning and some of the molds had water in them. As the workers poured the ore into one mold, the water vaporized and sprayed hot droplets of iron all over. Everyone ducked for cover and no one was hurt.

 
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Beat Drums! Beat Drums!

I really can’t remember finding anything this cool at a garage sale before. We had actually been browsing through craigslist recently, so we knew this was a good deal when we saw it. Sweet Evon insisted we get it once we haggled the price down a bit.

Rachel at the School Talent Night

Rachel and her friend Madi performed in the school talent show and did really well. There were some really amazing acts that night and some terribly awful ones, but they were all fun to watch!

Tweedledee & Tweedledum

This is the funniest story ever! I'm sure every family has their very own Tweedledee and Tweedledum; ours happen to be our daughters, Alex and Rachel.

We were on our way to a family party in north Phoenix and were taking two different cars. I was planning on driving alone in Seth's truck and Seth would be driving with Jeremy, Sierra and the girls in Jeremy's new car. As we drove our caravan to the freeway I realized that I had left my purse at home but decided not to go back home because we were running late. As we got closer to the freeway I realized that I forgot to pack the keyboard that I was asked to bring. I tried to talk myself out of going back home for it but I felt I needed to. I flagged down the boys we turned the cars around and went back home.

As I pulled up to the house I saw two cute blond-haired girls in togas standing on our porch. They were Alex and Rachel! I was so surprised to see them because I thought they were in Jeremy's car. I'm a horrible mom! I just started laughing, I laughed so hard I couldn't even breathe and I started crying form the laughter. They ran to truck, "You came back for us!" I was laughing so hard I couldn't even respond to that remark. I hadn't come back for them, I came back for the keyboard!

In the meantime Jeremy pulls up behind me and they have no idea what's going on because they thought the girls were with me the entire time. I tried to explain to them what had happened but I was too hysterical with laughter. Seth thought I was hysterically crying because I had left them behind and it made me broken hearted… not!

Once I calmed down the girls explained to me that Seth had told them to ride with me. Remember I was taking the truck! They got into my car, sat there and watched me drive away! They thought I was joking with them until they realized I wasn't coming back. They decided to try and break into the house with a bobby pin. I think they watch too many spy movies. They didn't call me because they left their cell phones in the house and didn't realize that the back door was left unlocked!

Can you imagine If I hadn't gone back to the house? Alex and Rachel would have been sitting on the front porch for an awfully long time. And once we got to Phoenix would we have turned around immediately to get them? I will never know the alternate ending!

Maybe you had to be there to get the full effect but it was the BEST laugh I have had in a LONG TIME!!! Thank you girls for making my life sooo much fun and thanks for the memory that will haunt you for the rest of your life!

TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!

When you’re turning 40, why not?!
Happy Birthday Curtis!