Ditch the Turkey... Crab Legs Instead!

That's right, this Thanksgiving Shawn and I dodged your your typical Thanksgiving turkey and indulged in crab legs and sea food!
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We've made it Thanksgiving tradition to stay up at the Homestead and eat at the amazing Homestead buffet.
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Our cozy rooms
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Landon peeping out the door. The rest of the fam stayed
the rooms next to us.
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We all went swimming in the heated pool and mineral tubs.
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We enjoyed a turkey dinner with the whole family the Sunday before, so we went straight for the good stuff... sea food!
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Landon feeding Shawn an oversized moose cookie!
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The ladies
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My cousin, Sam, teaching Landon how to shoot his new toy gun (compliments of Grandma, of course).
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He picked up how to shoot really quickly... such a boy, I tell ya!
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My Mom and me outside the Homestead
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"Over the river and through the woods to Homestead we go"
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Inside the famous Homestead crater

Need This in Your Life

Frilight

I saw this clip on SNL and about died... it's so funny! This is for those of you that think that Twilight is foolish. For those Twilight fans, you'll get a kick out of this because you'll totally relate!

So, I don't love Taylor Swift. I actually saw her in concert at the Sandy Amphitheater (of all places) and I was blown away by her missing talent, yet following of teeny booper fans! However, she plays Bella Swan in this spoof perfectly and actually looks really pretty as a brunette.

So, this is for all you Twilight fans... or not Twilight fans to enjoy:

We Love You Grandma Jean


Published in Salt Lake Tribune on November 18, 2009

Mabel Jean Hanks Wilkinson 2/11/1923 ~ 11/16/2009 Our sweet mom, Mabel Jean Hanks Wilkinson, passed peacefully away November 16, 2009 into the waiting arms of her Heavenly Father, surrounded by her family. Mabel Jean was born February 11, 1923 in Salt Lake City, Utah to John Samuel Hanks and Mabel Whitney Hanks. She attended East High School and graduated from the University of Utah in 1944. Mabel Jean married Clayton F. Wilkinson in the Salt Lake Temple. Later divorced. Mabel Jean volunteered at Primary Childrens' Hospital, guided historical church tours at the Lion House, and served as a hostess at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for many years. She taught school at Roslyn Heights, Emerson, and Bonneville Elementary Schools, finally retiring in 1986 after teaching 20 years in the Salt Lake School District. She was a significant, positive influence in the lives of the many children she taught. Her love of children endured all the days of her life. A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many callings including Primary,Relief Society and Young Women Presidencies. Her favorite calling was girls' camp director. She loved the young women, the outdoors, cooking around a campfire and sleeping under the stars. She had great faith, commitment, and deep affection for her Heavenly Father and Savior. One of the highlights of Jean's life was being called on a mission at the age of 63 toLondon, England, serving as mission secretary to President Ed J. Pinegar and President Blaine P. Jensen. Mabel Jean had the most tender heart and the sweetest soul. She loved music, art, and reading. She loved small animals, daisies, and the color blue. She loved the mountains of Utah and the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. Above all, she loved her family and theGospel of Jesus Christ. Mabel Jean is survived by her four children: Clayton Wilkinson (Sheralyn), Ann Coulam (Mike), Richard Wilkinson (Deana) and Thomas Wilkinson (Maureen) plus 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was a loving and adoring mother and grandmother. Her life was an example of kindness and compassion. Everyone who knew her was touched by her sweet spirit. God is with you, gentle heart, until we meet again. Greet her with loving arms, parents Sam and Mabel, and siblings, Ilene, Maurine, Beth and Whitney. Let Lindsay, your granddaughter, show you the majestic mountains of Heaven. Funeral services for Mabel will be held on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Monument Park 1st Ward Meeting House, 1005 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, UT. Family and friends may visit Thursday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, UT and at the Church on Friday morning from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. prior to the services. Interment: Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery. Please send condolences to the family at www.larkinmortuary.com

Halloween

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Halloween was a blast this year with Shawn's brother ("the Halloween guru") retuning home from his mission and with Landon discovering people will hand him treats in a costume! Here's the some of the Halloween fun pics this year:
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Shawn, and newly returned, Zach, at the family party and pumpkin carving!
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Who is that creepster? Oh... that's just my husband!
He just traced his skull structure with paint!
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Landon trick-or-treating at Shawn's office.
Shawn scared all the young children with his face paint!
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Landon and cute Bumble Bee, Taylor Tate, making a "connection".
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Witchy woman and her lil' electrical guitar!
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The whole spooooky family!
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On Halloween we went to Frightmares! It was a beautiful day for it! This Shawn and the bro.'s in front of one of the many spook alleys at Lagoon!
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Landon pushing his stroller around Frightmares.
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Scary carriage at Frightmares!
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Lagoon had smoke pumping everywhere! We had to take some scary smokey pictures!
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Halloween Night!
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Landon receiving a Halloween package from my parents filled with goodies, Halloween toys, and a DVD!

Elder Cobridge Home

Shawn's youngest brother, Elder Zach Corbridge, returned home! Zach is the last brother of five Corbridge missionaries! It's so great to have him home! He has such an incredible spirit about him!
"Mission Accomplished"
Shawn hugging Zach off the escalator.
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Landon running with excitement to welcome Zach home!
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Landon looking up at his new Uncle Zach!
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Landon being introduced to Uncle Zach for the first time! Landon wasn't born when Zach left.
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The whole crew

I'm Going to Miss It...

There is nothing better than the transitions of seasons, particularly in Utah! I am looking forward to fall and can smell the crisp fall scent in the air. I'm getting excited as Halloween decor and costumes fill the stores. I really do love this transitional time from summer to fall as leaves start changing color. However, there is one thing that is pulling on my summer heart strings that I'm really going to miss... the swimming pool!
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Disney World and Florida

I had the best 26th Birthday ever!
Shawn and I celebrated our birthdays in Florida and Disney World!!! Shawn worked at the Surf Expo in Florida, so we decided to make the most of it and make a trip out of it for our birthdays! (Our birthdays our just two days apart). Shawn's good friend
and missionary companion (that he served with three different times), Kevin Jensen, lives in a
beautiful home in Florida with his wife, Britney, right on the lake front!
So, we had the great privilege to stay with them! They took us to the coolest spots in Florida, we'd sit on their scenic porch to watch listen to the thunder and watch the lightning, eat great food with them, and stay up late
playing games together!

Then they knew all the Disney World secrets, what rides to ride, where to go, what shows to see, and what to eat! As a result, we flew on packed rides, saw the best shows and parts of Disney World, and ate the best places! It was like having our own personal tour guides; it was so much fun!
Of course we took a ton of pictures and it may have bombarded the blog! Consequently, I created my first movie! Just click on the link below to see the pics from our adventures! Turn up the volume to hear the music too and you may to wait a sec. for it to load!

**Disclaimer: It was 100% humidity and and 95 degree weather, so most the time I look like a drowned rat and Shawn had to wear a sweat bandanna. Pictures just can't tell you that;).**

Click here to watch video of our trip!

Some people said they couldn't pull it up, so I also posted it here on You Tube if you click.

Jakson Hole

The Coulam crew went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming on our family trip this year. We stayed at Signal Mountain Resort on Jackson Lake. I'm very grateful to my parents for their planning and generosity with this great trip! Here's some pics from our adventures:
Shawn and I on Jackson Lake.
That's right... I do know how to drive a "Party Boat";).
My Mom on "Grandma Duty"
The boat's Captains
I really think Landon believed he was actually steering the boat too!
Eating lunch with the whole fam on the boat.
It got surprisingly cold in Jackson for the middle of August! We had to wear jackets and bundle up the rest of our time there. Fortunately it was nice weather in the morning for boating though!
Inside our the cozy cabins we stayed in at Signal Mountain Lodge.
Atop Signal Mountain
I love this picture! Landon obviously thinks he's a bike rider!
Jackson Hole Square
Buffalo Face!
They had a sweet farmers market surrounding the square with fresh fruit stands, beef jerks, and veggies! I think we had the best peaches I've ever had there!
So we discovered the coolest park for Landon and went a little camera happy!
Landon loves the swings... maybe you can tell by his face!
The only "motorcycle" he'll be ridding for a long time!
I sometimes forget how beautiful Jackson Hole is until we get back there. I love Jackson and all the beauty that surrounds us and fun it provides!

The Ranch

Over the Pioneer Holiday we had the great pleasure of attending The Annual Corbridge Family Reunion in Idaho. For one reason or another I've missed going each year. The family described the beauty at the ranch, but nothing could have prepared me for the vivid and breathtaking landscape in person! Here are a few pictures that may have captured its essence:
Shawn and Ty went for long bike rides in the mornings on this scenic property! We'd meet up with them later at the ranch to hear about how awesome their rides were with this panorama behind them!
One of the most fun aspects of the ranch was the hay ride that our family was charge of putting on. The rest of the entire family got on three huge hay rides to experience what I would compare to Desert Star Theatre acting! The hay rides were stopped every so often along the way to a new "character" (and I do mean "characters"). The charater was then interrogated by investigators (played by Shawn's cousins who acted as the the role of Starsky and Hutch) to explain why they thought the family cabin was burnt down this year! It was a ton of laughs and who knew the extraordinary talent that these family members possess?!?
Yes, of course I got put as the role of the "Valley Girl"! Our skit was about how one of the "Ashley's"( "Ashley B." to be precise) left her curling iron on and must have burnt down the cabin!
Don't worry my former Beetdigger Alumni, I didn't disgrace the uniform;)!
One of the funniest parts was Shawn and his brother's skit... "Larry, Darryl and Darryl!
Here's the investigators asking the podunk redneck brothers who burnt down the family cabin. As you may tell... hilarious!
Chase and Tanner talking in redneck slang explaining how it was the squirrel!
I post this picture to exhibit Chase's choice in costume! Again, just too funny!
Ty played the drunken Capt. Jack Sparrow in the hay ride skit. This is him trying to walk a straight line!
Caroline played the best pirate wench girlfriend and had the best accent for the part too!
Ty cupping the mouth of his "yapping" and nagging pirate wench girlfriend! A classic and too funny!

After the hayride skits.
Apparently Shawn and Chase are still in character... or maybe that's just the way they are!
The whole family cast... and a bunch of characters, each of them!
The bugs were ridiculous, so I wasn't about to sacrifice my legs to the biting in the name of acting like my short shorts brother-in-law, Chase! Hence, the "cute look" of capris under my skirt!
Besides the hay ride fun we did a whole shlew of other activities at the ranch.
Frisbee Fun
"Batters Up!"
My MVP ;)

Noelle playing in the grass.

Caroline hangin'
Shawn's cousin, Mackenzie, and her newly engaged fiance, Ty! What a great looking couple they make too!
Some relaxing swing time

Landon preparing for a teeter-totter ride with Caroline.

The Girls

I think this picture may sum up the trip best;)! What would the ranch be without it's "lil' cowboy"? This is my favorite scene of Landon with Grandpa Corbridge's cowboy hat on!

Pine Valley

Oh how I wish I would have captured more photos of the charming Pine Valley and our fun from our last trip! We four wheeled, climbed, swam, ran, biked, played guitars, attended church at the Pine Valley old historic chapel, had a great family discussion on "Successful Marriages", caught up with Grandma Shamo and family, had steak dinners at the Branding Iron, got chased by a "wild boar", and laughed lots! Here's just a few pictures though, but nothing to do it or the fun justice!
This is the charming historic chapel we attended for church. It's even cooler inside too! 
Shawn and Ty ready to hit the pavement (and dirt road) on their bikes!
The Branding Iron Steak House (picture on the iPhone - not great quality).
Uncle Ty and Caroline generously keeping the kiddos entertained!
Shawn's brother, Chase.
They played their guitars outside on the cabin porch.
 I caught this cute picture of Noelle dancing to her Dad's guitar playing! 
 Candid of sweet Noelle!
So precious
 The perfect model for pictures;)!
Caroline gave the whole gang haircuts outside on the cabin porch! 
Landon's turn for a haircut of which he was resistant at first!
 He calmed down with a little help and secret, called the iPhone!
Yes, I realize I look "so glamourous" in these pictures... I just came back from a run. Just excuse the "hot" workout clothes and my slicked sweaty hair, please.
Landon proud of his new do!
Landon needed hugs from Mom for sitting still and being good!

Family Gatherings

So while Shawn's parents are home from Chile for the month, we've had a lot of family gatherings.  I can't even begin to describe how much Landon loves being with family! Here are some pictures at the Spruces campground (none of them posed either) of Landon happy to be with the fam!
Landon adores his cousin, Regan! 
Landon loves to hug! 
The newest member of the family, Tyler, and Landon (of course) holding on to his new buddy! 
Some of the family sitting by the fire up at the Spruces.
My beautiful sister-in-law, Erin, that I absolutely love and adore! 
This is a shot I captured of my darling niece, Noelle, in all her cuteness on the tramp at a family gathering. Please just notice the leg warmers that make her look like a little aerobics instructor! 
All she needs now is a sweat band around her head!
Landon stealing family members drinks!
Landon mingling with Grandpa out back at the Corbridge household.