Thanksgiving

We headed off to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. With Covid and all of the stress around getting sick, I almost cancelled this whole trip. I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am that I didn't. I walked into Mom and Dad's hose and it felt like coming home. I actually started crying. It has been over a year since we had been back to Vegas and my soul missed it. Mom and I rocked out Thanksgiving dinner. It was a labor of LOVE!

Lots of labor ;)

Best part about Thanksgiving was that Chad and Janet came along too! It was so nice to spend time with them and to have some cousin bonding going on too!!!!!

Cheers!! 

Violet is the second oldest cousin, and Roo is the youngest.

This years cake was a pumpkin cake with a browned butter buttercream and it was delicious! 

 Gosh darn it I love this crew!

 

Mom and Dad's home doesnt have enough room for all of us so mom got creative and put up two tents in her bedroom for the boy and girls. Roo got put in the closet and mom and dad slept in their bed. It was crazy but so dang cozy and SO dang fun!! 

Okay, foods done, LET'S PLAY!

Thanksgiving

 

 We don't have many Thanksgiving traditions other than eating yummy food and I suppose I should fix that. One of my favorite traditions though, is our gratitude tree. I love seeing what the kids write down. Some of my favorites this year Hotdog (Sprout), toilet paper (Duke), arts and crafts (E), and  Daddy's job (Mama).

 But my favorite leaf this year was Daddy's. He put it on the tree and promptly took Redd from me and I cried as I read it. Jakob couldn't hold Redd for 17 days. I know it was hard for me being a semi-solo parent to a newborn. I had Mom for quiet awhile, but there are some times when you just need a second set of hands and it was hard. But then I put myself in Jakob's shoes and I was heart broken. Here is this man, who really doesn't bond with the baby while you're pregnant, it's obviously not the same as it is for the mother, who has a baby. while in the hospital, things are busy. Mama is always holding him or feeding him or nurses take him and it's hard to bond there too. Redd was home all of three days before Jakob got sick and then he only got to look at him. It broke my heart and I couldn't help but cry when I read what a simple thing Jakob was thankful for. things that I take for granted. 

It was this sweet babes first Thanksgiving.

 Family selfie. :)

 We went over to the Raber's house fro dinner and it was AMAZING! So delicious and we had a wonderful time visiting with friends. My heart was so full! the Raber's had just found out that their embryo for IVF didn't make it and it was devastating. Lloyd asked to hold Redd and discreetly wiped tears from his eyes and I just didn't have any words. they have an 11 year old daughter, but they have wanted another baby for 9 years now. I was so sad to hear about their sweet little boy.

So this year I am thankful. I am thankful for all of the simple things I take for granted. I am thankful for this sweet family of mine and I will cherish them forever.

Novemeber Phone Favorites

November was a pretty chill month, but we still managed to keep busy! Here is a round up of this months phone favorites. 

We went to Home Depot to make the craft. The kids were thrilled!!

Sprout has started to get a bit of an attitude and I'm not a fan. 

Just sitting in my laundry basket, playing my guitar and listening to Imagine Dragons. 

There was 15 minutes until nap time and for the first time EVER I decided to take a walk with the kids. We bundled up and we were off. I turned back around and decided to grab a hoodie because it was a bit chillier than I remembered. I opened the garage, closed it and we were on our way. We walked for maybe 15 minutes and then we headed home. I went to open the garage using the keypad, and it would not open. I didn't bring a key and I didn't have a button to open it. All the doors were locked and I just went through the house that morning and made sure to lock all the windows. We were locked out, with two very tired, one very hungry and one poopy baby. Nice. Also, the bottle and all the milk was inside of the house. Thankfully I had a cellphone. So I called Jakob, who was in a meeting and graciously came home to open the door. While we waited we went over to the neighbors and they let us stay inside where it was warm. Jakob's keys didn't work on the house. I had locked the front screen door and Jakob didn't have a key to that and his key to the garage went to the door that was inside of the garage not the outside door.... SO we broke in through the screen door. Luckily the gap was just big enough to get a key in to wiggle it open. Needless to say it was an adventure. Jakob left showing me how to manually open the garage door because it was still stuck shut. He left just in the worst mood and I felt HORRIBLE!!! I went out to investigate, now that nap time was over and we had to go pick up the kids from school. come to find out that when I left again from getting my hoodie I used a button to shut the garage door and it was stuck pushed in which meant that I couldn't used the key pad to open the door. Once I got it unstuck, the door worked just fine. So frustrating. In summation I will always take my keys walking, and I may never go on another walk at nap time again. 

I like to have an audience while I use the potty. 

 

 they wante dto snuggle before bed and I said they had to close their eyes while we watched football. they were so tired and feel asleep quite quick. 

This kid loves small spaces.

Duke has been really nice and has been sharing his Halloween candy with Sprout giving him a small sucker each time. Makes my heart happy!

No caption needed!

E lost another tooth. Not one single tear shed!!!! Go Peanut!

Oh ya know, just eating lunch in my laundry basket. 

Ready for Thanksgiving break.

Boy was almost asleep at the table (a mighty miracle since he NEVER stops moving) when Daddy walked in.

Creating an elf dress for Etta.

 A typical sight.

This wreath on this door makes my heart SOOOO HAPPY!

And just like that it's DECEMBER!?! Holy Moses! Bring on the lights, tinsel, cookies and carols!!! It's Christmas time folks!

Friendsgiving

this year we decided to stay home for Thanksgiving and I don't think I could have loved it more! It was calm, relaxing and we just did our own thing which was amazing! the day before Thanksgiving, we headed over to Meg and Brandon's house. Brandon had to work Thanksgiving day so we decide to celebrate a day early. the food was incredible and the friendship was even more so! 

 

Over the past few months I have become quite close with Meg. She helps to ground me even though she is probably more spontaneous than I am. She's creative, hilarious and always up for an adventure and she can decorate like no one I have ever seen!! I am so thankful to have her in my life!

 

Brandon was on turkey duty and OH. MY. LANTA!!!! It was soooooooo freaking delicious! I mean mouth watering I can taste it as I type delicious. We split up the rest of the duties, which made for a really relaxed meal! We ate while the kids played and it was amazing!

Now I told Meg it was my birthday and I asked her if she was going to make me a cake. She wasn't feeling the most confident in her skills and so I said I would make it. I like to tease her and say that's she forced me into it.... she didn't. Any chance I have to make a cake, I jump on. I was pretty excited about rocking out another buttercream cake and improving my skills. i kind of love it just simply dirty iced though!!

The drip was supposed to orange.... it was looking a lot like blood.... but I think it turned out orange- ish? I really like how it turned out.

So good!! We had a great day with the Valantines! Thanks for having us over friends!!!!

Since Thanksgiving day was my birthday I decided that we were going to decorate for Christmas and that no one could complain about it because it was my birthday. So that's exactly what we did. then we went outside and raked leaves.

 That night we met up with the Atkinson family (I wish I would have taken a group picture) for dessert. She made me a very special dutch apple pie and it was amazing!! We laughed and visited while the children played and it was such a wonderful evening. 

when someone is so tired that they fall asleep in the boot cupboard. I am so thankful for family and friends near and far. I am thankful for friends here who have become our family. I am thankful for my sweet children and for my incredible husband. I am thankful for the country we live in and for the home that we have. I am thankful for the gospel and I am thankful for our Savior. My heart is so full!!! Best birthday ever!