Last night we had Kayla, Dylan and Bradyn over Saturday for a movie night and happily Wall-E was at RedBox. We loved it. I was so impressed by how involved I got in a movie that had hardly any dialogue. It was a little over the kids' heads, but they were happy with all the popcorn and treats.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving day in Sandy with Aunt Lanna, Uncle Scott and their kids Makayla, Dylan and Bradyn. The day's activities were pretty classic: the kids disapeared and played all day, lots of good food, visiting and football. The kids and I made little turkeys, although I ended up having to use the hot glue gun and doing most of it myself. The big dinner was delicious, although it was undoubtedly the fastest Thanksgiving feast we've ever had:) The kids planned a huge 'party' and Lanna and I were invited. Brent introduced Ryan to football and Lanna and I scouted out the deals in the Black Friday ads.

But when I think back to this Thanksgiving I'm going to remember how Laura cried the whole way home because she wanted to say and live forever at Makayla's house. Makayla is 7 years old and Laura's idol. She's such a sweetheart and loves to play with Laura. They both love princesses and anything magical. It really hurt my feelings when Laura told me that she loved me a little but she loved Kayla a lot and she wanted to live with her instead. I thought I had a few more years before my little girl didn't want me anymore!

p.s. this is a picture our family thankful turkey. The first week in November we made him for FHE and counted down the days until Turkeyday by writing down things we were thankful for. Some of my favorites: Eden is grateful for her bed, Laura is grateful for Teacher Brittney and the kids in her preschool class, Brent for his mountain bike, and I'm grateful that Ryan is sleeping about 8 hrs pretty consistently at night!

Retreat...

This year for our annual Sisters Retreat we headed to West Yellowstone. For the last three years we've stayed in my parent's condos and scrapbooked for an entire weekend without kids. Can you say a well-needed break? This year however we ditched our trunkful of scrapbook supplies and brought our laptops instead. We've all gone digital and spent more time hanging out. It was wonderful. On the way home Sarah and I always drive together and put together a few notes from the weekend. Here's this year's:

The same:
*Wonderful company, my sisters and mom
*Lots of good low prep food.
*Plenty of junkfood and chocolate
*pepsi, pepsi, pepsi for them, and raspberry soda for me
*A few technical difficulties. But Sarah and her computer overcame their differences.
*Good movies: Becoming Jane and Princess Bride
*One really dumb movie: 'Lars and the Real Girl'. Mom officially cannot pick out anymore movies
*Josh Groban and Michael Buble

Different:
*Location: West was fun, and the internet was better
*Paperless Digital Scrapping
*More time playing together and laughing
*Mom brought the home videos of us growing up
*Hot Tubbing every night
*Actually using the exercise room a few times
*Baby Ryan: our first male guest. Perhaps the last
*More music
*All of us were married women! Opens up a few more topics of conversation...
*We were all mostly healthy
*We spent an afternoon browsing through the few little shops open
*A great dinner at the train museum, complete with restored early 1900s train car

Highlights:
*Definitely the train museum dinner, it was so neat
*Having Ryan to cuddle and pass around, he's such a good baby it was nice to have him there
*Our Home Videos: Who doesn't love to watch all of their old ballet, piano and violin recitals. Plus I've realized that even though I'm not incredibly beauty, based on my awkward years it's a miracle I look this good!
*Checking out of the hotel but staying in the lounge with the fireplace. We had lunch and plalyed Phase 10 Twist for two extra hours. They can make us give back the keys, but they can't make us leave!
*Coming home to happy families after a great break.

p.s. I left my camera for Brent and I haven't gotten my sisters pics yet, so they'll probably appear on here in a day or two.

While Mommy's away, the ladies will play...

While Ryan and I were in West Yellowstone with my mom and sisters Brent and the girls had an awesome weekend. Thursday afternoon they played at the childrens museum, Friday they spent the day at the zoo, Saturday they played with their cousins at Wheeler Farms and Sunday Brent even took the girls to Stake Conference! Needless to say I did not feel too bad for my children:) What a great husband and Daddy, although he was, of course, ready for me to come home. I loved hearing him say, "I have no idea how you get the kids out the door in time for preschool! You're amazing!" and "Can I go to work on Monday?"

I didn't take many pictures this week, but these gems are from my growing up years. I've been working on a photo book using some scanned pictures from my mom's photo albums. Going through these old pictures sure brings a lot of memories and feelings to the surface. I mean, check out that hair! That is the dreaded mushroom haircut that I was teased about for years. Ah, the akward years. *sigh*

Anyway, a few highlights from our week:

I volunteered at Laura's preschool again on Monday. It was a great day to be there because a real fireman and policeman came and taught the kids about fire and gun safety. Laura was enthralled she came home and couldn't stop talking about it all day. She now knows about 911, crawling to the door when there's a fire, what a fireman looks like, and to never touch a gun or matches. She taught our FHE lesson that night on it, because it is Important:) We've also been working on learning her phone number to the tune of Do as I'm Doing. She's just about got it down although she likes to add in random numbers occassionally. It goes like this in case you want to add your own number in: "This is my number, 999-0999. This is my number, 999-0999" Very original, thank you very much. Putting my music degree to good use.

Also we've been battling colds all week, Eden especially. As soon as Daddy gets home from work she only wants him. She has him rock her to sleep before bed and just curls up in his arms. love it. Ryan is cooing and babbling and generally just being adorable. He's getting into a smoother schedule and actually slept 8 hrs again last night. Woohoo!

When we were running errands this week at Kmart (I got a new rug for my front room, hurray) the girls begged me to ride on the little carousel in front. It looked exactly like the one in Rexburg that's been there ever since I was a little kid. In fact it was still only a quarter so it's probably 20 years old. They were great in the store, per our agreement, so they picked out their special pony and took a turn around it. The looks of happiness on their face were well worth the risk of germies, I definitely think we'll be going back soon. How many times did I want to ride on that carousel? I almost wish I could have fit on there with them.

I've been crafting and sewing in all my spare minutes, but I'll refrain from going into details because they are presents for several readers of this blog:) HOHOHO But suffice it to say I want a serger. and a piano. If anyone knows of someone selling a Clavinova that is less than five years old, let me know!

The illustrious primary program was today: yes it's that time of the year. Laura did great for the first half, she introduced herself and said that she liked to play 'race' with her sister, and she is 'trying to be like Jesus by being kind to everyone'. We've been practicing that line for the last two weeks. She'd been telling us all the add-ons she was going to include, but luckily stuck to the script for the actual program. About half way through she started looking glum and came back to our bench to make sure that the dollies Eden was playing with would be around when she got done. That pertinent question answered she raced back on stage. Although she pouted and disapeared under her chair a few times because she found out they weren't going to play in the gym and have snacks afterward like they did at the saturday practice. What a bummer. Nothing is more amazing than a sunbeam.

Yes it's that time again, I can't believe it's already been six months, time flies! Anyway, as most of you know I'm a secret MK agent, except with a twist. I don't really consult, I just put in an order every six months for my friends and family. The twist, you get 40% off when you order over $30. So if you'd like a great deal go to Mary Kay.com and check out their great stuff. Then leave me a comment or email me at abbyb8e@yahoo.com. I'm hoping to place the order by the end of the month. Also if I need to ship it to you throw in a couple extra bucks. Thanks, have an awesome day. And remember, frowning makes wrinkles!

Tagged...

The 4th picture in my 4th folder... so glad those days are over for a little while. Notice the pillow I'm carrying, this is at Ellen's reception, Ryan was born exactly one week later. Good thing he's so cute!