FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT

While we were in Rapid City for Thanksgiving, I had my girlfriend Collette take a family picture of us. Never mind that it was the coldest, windiest day of the weekend and my family was not too excited about the event. (Are they ever?!) We took tons of photos and in every one, something was a miss. My hair, Chris' eyes, Nick's pained face, you name it. We took a break, changed our location to a less windy spot and then we were able to get some cute pictures. Thanks Cole, you were awesome!

Windblown, squinty-eyed parents. Can you see Nick's face? Wait, I'll zoom in....

...that is the look of pain...!

THANKSGIVING

This year we drove to Rapid City to spend Thanksgiving with some of our greatest friends ever, Troy and Collette Nesbit and their four boys. We have so much fun with them, just laughing and talking... their house is one of the most comfortable places on earth! Cole and I spent the weekend catching up and cooking together, the kids played beautifully and the big boys hunted and did some early-morning Black Friday shopping. Yep, that's right, Chris will very eagerly get up at the crack of dawn to go shopping IF the right person asks him.....

Ben and Dalton hulkin' it up

Smoked turkey master

Two little shoppers...

Nick chilled with the big boys, Bridger and Chase

Cole trying to make a horse woman out of me

Thanks for a fabulous weekend! We all had such a great time. See you next year?! XOXOXO

WE ARE THANKFUL 2009

Every Thanksgiving we talk about all of our many blessings-we feel fortunate that our list could go on forever! This year our list was created on the drive to Rapid City where we would spend Thanksgiving with some of our very best friends. Here it is, in no particular order due to the fact that I was writing on an old receipt in the dark of the night.....

We Are Thankful For....

our little family
blue blankie
people that don't put up Christmas lights before thanksgiving
when my kids always agree with me
holidays "they make me feel good"
the scriptures and the Ensign
Good righteous people like Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost
my friends
Logan Stephens
Kindergarten class
Joseph Smith
pheasants
No one is sick (today)
buffalo
Grandma Joan and Grandpa Cookie and their house
Being able to go to SD and see our friends
Dad's job
Charleston Chews
Charlie dog
the suburban...and the porsche (Chris is day dreaming...)
moving to Missouri
being able to see new places
Troy Nesbit's homemaking skills (The guy gardens, cans AND quilts...definitely worth mentioning)

It's kind of a funny list, now that I look at it, but it's often the small things that I forget to be grateful for. My kids are goodto remind me of this. I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven for all they have given me. This family and our moments together is the most wonderful gift and I am so deeply thankful for my life with them!

TRADITION

We love watching all of the holiday shows and movies that are on TV this time of year. Tonight we kicked it off with the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving shows. The kids curled up in my bed together with all their stuffed animals, leaving me a tiny spot at the end of the bed!

MAKIN' BODIES

Nick must have done some tracings at school because he came home all ready to show Ben what they could make....bodies! Here they are working diligently on the kitchen table:

Tracing the "funny part!"

Nick got upset with Ben when he wouldn't spread his fingers...

FIRE

Our playgoup went to the fire department this week for a special tour. Ben thought it was great! The fireman talked to all the kids in the ambulance, showed them all the neat equipment on the fire truck. One of our moms got dressed up in all the fire gear, too. We listened to the sirens and then all the kids got a chance to drive the old antique fire truck they have on display!

Listening carefully to the fireman

Checkin out the truck

momma fire fighter!

Those sirens are LOUD! Especially when you are sitting next to the truck....

Fireman Ben

MERRY CHRISTMAS, NOAH

I saw somewhere on Facebook that there was a young boy named Noah that was terminally ill. He was expected to die very soon and his last wish was to get lots and lots of cards for Christmas. People from all over the country were encouraged to write to the boy so his wish could be granted. His story just touched my heart so deeply that for Family Home Evening tonight, we made christmas cards for Noah. As we talked about him tonight, the tears were flowing. This boy is the same age as our kids and his parents knew they would not have him for this Chrismas and many Christmases to come. My heart ached thinking about it. But at the same time, the spirit was strong and peaceful, because we know that  we have a loving Heavenly Father who has promised us that families really are together forever. The kids were touched by Noah's story and wrote the sweetest cards to him. I couldn't help but photograph them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Today Chris is an old man....35 years old!! His parents were here to celebrate and we went to his favorite bbq restaurant for dinner. Then we headed home for presents and some yummy lemon cake. It was a fun evening. You are aging well, honey...don't look a day over 23! I love ya!

HALLOWEEN

Olivia's stash

Halloween was really fun this year! The kids had great costumes- Olivia was a zombie, Nick was a ninja and Ben was a Lion, again! Chris' parents were here visiting so that made it fun, too. We had our traditional chili dinner with hot dog mummies before heading out to meet up with our neighbors. In this neighborhood, everyone with kids trick-or-treats together. So at those homes, bowls of treats are set out on the steps and the kids choose a candy. It was fun to go as a big group, all the kids were crazy and running ahead while the parents hung back and took pictures!

This was Ben's first year of really "getting" the whole idea of Trick-or-Treating and he loved it!

Checking out his loot...every five seconds.....

Ben didn't last quite as long as the big kids....they stayed out for a couple of hours, all in the name of candy! Of course they ate most of the good stuff that night, but the next day they were outside in the leaf pile making trades.....

This ninja will be strung out on sugar for the next week...