Thanksgiving Week(end)

 We had an awesome Thanksgiving week!

We traveled to Denver this year. We left Tuesday morning around 6:30 a.m. and hit some pretty slick roads on the way so it took us longer than expected. We stayed at Julie's apartment and my kids slept like angels. It was warm and comfy and we loved every minute. Wednesday we went out exploring Denver. We went over to Jared and Katie's for dinner that evening and then went to a place called "Monkey Business" to let the kids run around and play. It was darling and the kids had a fabulous time! Sean and I even raced through the obstacle course before it closed (just in case we got kicked out!) He beat me and I have a nasty rug burn to show for it.  The place had HUGE blow up toys for the kids to play on.  I took Jackson on it and actually got a little apprehensive at the top because it was so big!

The kid between Jayson and Rylee is a little friend Jayson made that night.  They played together the whole time.

 Peek-a-boo

 This picture cracks me up.  I tried to get a picture of cute little Cayden the whole night, but he wouldn't let me.  LOL!

It was a fun place.  That night we came home and Julie whipped out an apple and cherry pie.  They were SO good.  The next morning we woke up and started baking again.  Jared and Sean went and played a little football,  My mom flew in around 10:45 that morning.  We were excited to have her join us. I made some rolls and salad and Julie made a pumpkin chocolate cheesecake.  We also put together a relish tray and Sean made some gravy.  It was so much fun to bake.  We loaded up and made it to Jared and Katie's house around 3:00.   We had an amazing feast, it was SO yummy!  Katie had everything decorated and it truly was perfect.  Everything tasted so good.   Thank you Katie and Jared for being such fabulous hosts for Thanksgiving.

The kids table

 Feasting (Sean got a little shiner from football)

 Katie and Jacob

 Mom and Jared cleaning up

 Julie and Jared

 Julie showing off her mad baking skills.. it tasted amazing too!

That night we took the kids to see Tangled.  My kids loved it and I have to admit I thought it was adorable too. Friday we went shopping for Black Friday, but didn't do the early bird specials.  We left around 10 and came home around 1.  Julie bought a big TV for her house and I bought some running gear for the cold weather.  I am very excited about that.  Afterwards we went out to see my Aunt and Uncle in Parker.  We loved visiting with them.  I'm not sure why I didn't get one picture while we were there.  The evening was going perfect until Jayson broke my Aunt's snow globe (you know the one that has a LOT of memories attached to it and that has been passed down..) yep, good times!  We are crossing our fingers that a place Sean found can fix it.  It made me seriously sick.  He picked it up to look at it when it fell and hit the table glass and broke everywhere.   Sean flew out at 9:00 that night so that he would be home for the BYU vs. UTAH game the next morning.   We dropped him off and then he called 15 minutes later because he forgot his keys in the car (which he needed to for his car and to get into the house) so we flipped around and he met us outside again.  Luckily, it was fairly dead at the airport so he made his flight without any problems.

Mom and I weren't going to leave and drive home until Sunday but because of the big storm that was suppose to hit late Saturday night we decided to leave Saturday morning and I'm so glad we did because it was a pretty big storm. I hated leaving especially a day early.  The drive home was great though ( just a few minor things),  I'm so glad my mom was with me.  She was a great co-pilot.  We made it in exactly 8 hours from Julie's door to my door and we didn't hit one flurry of snow!

chilin' at Julie's apartment

Lots of wonderful memories and laughs.  I love the holidays.  I truly can't believe tomorrow is the first day of December.  We have our list ready of the 25 things we will do from tomorrow until Christmas. I should do a lot better at posting in December.

p.s. Jackson took several steps last night.  It was adorable.

Where does this trail lead?

Jackson has found a new love with toilet paper and bathrooms. This is the trail I found when I came down from being upstairs and then I spotted the culprit.  Don't worry, he was playing in the toilet water too with the toilet scrubber.  Awesome!  He is such a busy boy.  His other favorite thing to do these days is unload ALL of Jayson's clothes from his drawers.  He also loves to pull on everything or climb on anything he can find.  The other day while I was cleaning out the fridge he made it up to the 1st shelf and only spilled barbecue sauce in the process.  He definitely is an active little boy who makes us laugh.  I have to enjoy these times no matter what mess there is to clean up afterwards. 

he has taken a few steps lately.  We'll see if he is walking by Thanksgiving?

Is it really November..

On Saturday I went on a fabulous run with only my running shorts and short sleeved shirt at 9 in the morning. I thought I would need a jacket, but didn't.  It was still almost hot.  I loved every minute.  I even looked up into the mountains and there was only a light dusting of snow on the very tippy top.  It was perfect. It was a little unusual for there to not be any snow, even in the mountains.  It was a beautiful day.  AND then this morning we woke up to SNOW.  My kids were ecstatic.  We played Christmas music while eating breakfast (actually it was just playing on the radio).  I am so not ready for the snow and cold, but alas here we are.

Yesterday we had Parent-Teacher conferences for Tayler and Rylee.  I love both of their teachers and am so proud of both my girls.  Tayler has always succeeded at whatever she puts her mind too.  Her teachers say she is a dream and got all 3's on her report card (they grade using the 1-2-3 system).  3 is the best you can get.  She is kickin' some major 3rd grade bootie.  Rylee has blown me out of the water with all she is learning and absorbing.  She is really finding her nitch and is loving every minute.  I have to admit, I was a little bit worried about her, but she really is doing awesome.  The teacher showed me her test she did the week before school started and compared it with what she is doing now.  HOLY COW, huge difference! She has made leaps and bounds and is reading and spelling and doing so awesome.  I was very proud of both of them.

Have you been wondering what Jayson has been up to while the kids are at school.  Well, here is a sample (don't worry that isn't a black eye or anything). 

It's only make-up.  A lack of parental supervision during the morning hours I guess.  One day he intently watched me putting on my make-up.  It was a little weird, but I didn't think anything of it.  Well, after I finished he came out (about 20 minutes later) with make-up on and was so proud of himself.  He declared "now I'm pretty like you mommy" (after adding the headband).  Oh boy, your daddy will be so proud.  I love hanging out with my boys in the mornings.  We usually don't do anything.  We hardly get dressed half the time.  We read books and play with Jayson's train.  I love it.  Now that it's getting cold we will throw hot chocolate into our morning rountine.

I am grateful for the month of November.  I love to remember what things I am thankful for, big and small.  I am a very blessed person!