Gobble, Gobble

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

This year I didn't host so we made a mess in the kitchen.  We made rolls, pretzel jello salad, veggie tray and a dessert.  I had 2 helpers with the rolls that morning! 

 They were covered in flour by the end.  Too bad I didn't take a picture of that.  It was quite funny.

My mom offered to host this year and it was delicious.  The food was amazing and she even put out her fine china to eat on. I don't think I have eaten on China in such a long, LONG time. it was awesome.  I was a bit nervous for my kids to eat on the fancy plates, but thankfully there was only 1 spill and no broken dishes. Phew!  Everything was perfect.

 Sorry all of my pictures are so bright.  The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.  No complaints from anyone.  I love non-snowy Thanksgivings.

 Julie flew in that morning to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with us.  We were SO happy to see her again.

 Jayson decided to take some pictures so we bent down to his level. 

 Grandma and Jayson were wrestling in the kitchen and Grandma came out victorious.

 Look at my skinny Minny mom!  Isn't she adorable.

 Cute Aunt(IE) Julie and Tay

We stayed out at my mom's until late playing games and then drove home and passed out :)  Friday was a lazy morning. Tayler had a soccer game that afternoon which everyone came too.  Brent and Ashley met us at half time during the game.  We were so happy to see them.  Everyone came over to our house after the game to hang out.  We had wheel barrel races with the kids, and then they got WAY hyper so everyone left and they went to bed!

Saturday we went and saw "Arthur Christmas." It was a cute movie and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  The kids did really well.  I guess if you have enough popcorn that will happen.

After the movie, we went back out to my mom's house for dinner and to visit with her, Julie, Brent and Ashley.  It is so fun to be with family and just hang out.  I always wish it could last longer.

I am grateful to have spent a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with such wonderful people.

I am shocked that I didn't go to one store during the weekend.  Nope, not one.  It was actually quite nice.  I hope that you all enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving as well. 

My kids

During this past week and Thanksgiving holiday, I have been thinking how very blessed I am.  These four make me so proud and are doing so well in everything they put their minds too. 

Today Tayler tried out for the STORYBOOK FESTIVAL they had going on at her school.  There were 54 students that performed memorized stories of their choosing (out of the 4th, 5th and 6th graders) and 13 were chosen.  Well, this little gal was one of the 13 chosen to perform at the assembly on Friday. I am VERY proud of her.  She was so excited when she came home from school.  Sean was able to go this morning to watch her and video tape it.  This morning while I was doing her hair she told me how nervous she was.  I told her to just do her very best and the rest was up to the judges.

 

Rylee has been doing so well in school lately.  She has really surprised me with her love of learning.  She has been rocking her spelling tests every week.  I love seeing her 100% and her progress.  Way to go Ry.

Jayson has a love/hate relationship with preschool.  Sometimes he loves to go and other times he just wants to stay home.  I don't mind.  I love to have him home with me.  He came home last week with his "report card"  He is doing awesome.  I love to peer in the window and see him in action.  He is such a sweet kid.

I am a very proud mom and very thankful that they each came with their own personalities, interests, talents, etc.  They definitely teach me so much more than I believe I will ever teach them. 

Random

Are you all sick of seeing my Halloween post yet?  HAHA.. man, I have neglected my blog big time!

I love the month of November.  I love that extra awareness of the things we are thankful for, from the little to the big.. 

My family has been sick.. Yep, AGAIN!  Jackson started it all.  I swear that kid has 5 days good, and 5 days bad consistently.  It is hard.  This time it is the pucks.  He literally threw up every 20-30 minutes starting Monday morning at 2 a.m. until 10 the next morning.  No fun!  It was heart wrenching to watch him. He doesn't seem to be dehydrated, just miserable so I haven't taken him in yet.  Jayson started complaining of severe headaches this morning and promptly ran to the bathroom to throw up, so I am thinking it is strep. I gave him Motrin and then he acted fine, so I am waiting to see what happens when he wakes up from his nap and the Motrin has worn off.  Tayler called me from the school around 11, crying and telling me she didn't feel good.  On our way home she said "mom, i am going to throw up" so I pulled around the corner and she literally opened the door and threw up a ton!  I just hope I don't get sick.  I need to be the one to cuddle all these kids and make them comfortable.  Hopefully, it will be gone by next week.  FINGERS CROSSED.

Sean has had bronchitis/pneumonia all week.  He sounds AWFUL, but he has still been so helpful with the kids. 

Nonetheless, I am still focusing on those things I am grateful for:

This week it is:

• A washer/dryer and Tide w/downy.  I have done so much laundry.  Pretty sure I have almost used the whole 48 wash bottle just this week. I am so grateful I am not doing it all by hand.  That would bring me to tears.
• A bathtub that fills up with warm water and a heater that just makes it feel so cozy in the bathroom.  It is lovely.  It has been well used this week.
• A warm house, warm blankets.
• Not having too much on our agenda this week. 
• Applesauce and toast.  It really is a great remedy.
• Carpool, it is so nice not to have to put my sick babies in the car.. even if it is just for a mile or 2.

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week.  I promise to update for often and with pictures.  Hope your preparations are going well.

Halloween 2011

Is October really over?  I am pretty sure I just blinked and it was gone.  Welcome November.

Sunday night we finally carved our pumpkins.  I did Jackson's, Sean did Jayson's, Tayler did her own--the whole thing-- I am so proud of her, and Rylee and I both did hers.  It was fun this year.

 So happy that this little boy is finally feeling better!  He had another rough week and we ended up back at the doctor's doing x-rays and blood work for a second time. It was awful.

 Rylee's

 Jackson's

 Jayson's

Tayler's

 

I am so grateful for the wonderful weather we had yesterday because today has turned cold and rainy, and I see snow in the mountains.

We had a great day yesterday. Since the kids didn't have school we went into Sean's work to visit with all of his employees who are so darling. They kids were able to trick or treat to many desks that were MORE than generous with the candy. I came home thinking we didn't need to go back out last night.  We were also able to steal Sean for a little while and go out to lunch.  The kids loved it!

When we came home from Sean's work, the awesome Bangerter family came over to bring trick or treats for my kids. They are so dang cute and it was fun to see all of their costumes.

Last night our cute neighbors invited us over for pizza, hot dogs and chili before the trick or treating began. They are such a great family.

Here are my kiddos ready to head out..

 Jackson wasn't a huge fan of leaving the hat on.

 Having people put candy in his bag was a wonderful new thing.  He kept trying to hold it all instead of leaving it in his bag.



The night was actually calm and nice.  Usually it feels so hectic, but this year it didn't which was a nice change. We now have 3 heaping bowls of candy.  It really is overwhelming.  I need to hide it from myself because I do have a sweet tooth and will eat WAY too much.

Run, baby, Run

So this past weekend was the HALLOWEEN HALF MARATHON that I was suppose to run, but didn't due to my ankle.  It was heart breaking because I really wanted to run with Julie, Marcela, and Mike, but it was not meant to be :(  I tried everything I could think of to help my ankle.  I cried when we arrived in Provo. I wanted to be the one running to the finish line.  I was ready.  Dang body.  Anyway, all three still ran and did Amazing!!  Marcela came in at 1:46 and Julie finished at 1:55 with a hurt hip and hurt knee. Yep, they are rock stars. Mike also got a personal record for himself.  Way to go you guys!

My posse (mom, Rylee and Jayson) and I headed down to greet them at the finish line.  It was a beautiful day! We arrived early enough to see the first few runners cross the finish line. I don't know what it is, but I always get a little bit choked up.  I always think, what is the story behind each runner.  Some it is the goal of a lifetime, others just do it for fun, some are overcoming sorrow and other obstacles.  It is neat to see.

Here we are waiting and staking our place along the path

Unfortunately I missed Marcela because she was in a pack with large people surrounding her and I didn't see her until she was directly across from me, but here is Julie finishing up.  So proud of them!

Hooray for the medals.

 The cheering squad.  They were so proud.

It was so fun to have Marcela come and visit and hang out with us.  It was also great to have Julie come back for a second weekend in a row!