Fall Friends and Crafts

I love Thanksgiving. All the friends, family and good food, without the stresses that sometimes come with Christmas. Thanksgiving afternoon Hayley and I headed to Aunt Marilyn's. (Or "Aunt Millions" as she calls her, which is fitting considering her amazing home.) Jackson stayed home to take the nap he was not interested in on Thanksgiving morning. Jeremy spent the morning making potatoes for the party at his parent's that night.

We missed our boys, but it was fun to have a more low key Thanksgiving meal, where afterward I could plan my route for Black Friday and Hayley could play with cousin Ella. These two are hitting it off more and more. I wish Ella's family didn't live to far away in Las Vegas. Glad that Hayley took it upon herself to get out my camera and ask someone (not sure who, but thanks!) to take their picture.

Then we went home and picked up the boys before heading up to the Bachman's. It was such a yummy, fun time for all, including Jackson. I'm glad he stayed home earlier to get that nap in. No pictures of the event, but I did get some of the Thanksgiving craft that I did with Hayley a few days earlier.

So easy and so fun!
Predictably, I omitted the sewing portion.
And opted for craft glue instead of the glue gun, to make it more kid friendly.

Hayley was pretty proud of her Turkey Guy that she made all by herself. It was her idea to give him a wattle, wings, and little turkey feet. He made a really cute Thanksgiving hair bow!

We also did this shirt for Halloween.

Super easy and inexpensive crafts. Just wish my Black Friday would have been a little easier. Or a little less expensive. Yikes!

An Analogy

BACK is to FRONT:



As LAST:
(As in last Halloween costume pictures.
Seeing as how it's almost Thanksgiving.)

Is to FIRST:



As in Hayley's first trip to Leatherby's.
Because few are as good ice cream as big as your head.
I think she approved.
Yes, she did end up using a spoon.
No, I did not let her eat all that by herself.

The Royal Treatment

Last weekend Jeremy and I headed to Wendover to celebrate our anniversary of 7 1/2 years. Why the 1/2 you ask? Because our actual anniversary is May 9th, which is also the week of Jeremy's birthday, my mom's birthday, one of my sister's birthdays, and usually Mother's Day. (Yeah, that was not such a great job on planning our wedding date.) So we've been celebrating on the half years, and it's been working out a lot better.

Anyway, we got to Wendover and checked into our Mini-Suite, complete with jetted tub. Except we were disappointed to discover that the jets were not working. They sent someone up to look at it, but couldn't get it working and informed us that we would have to switch rooms. We were a little bummed, but no big deal, and we headed down to the front desk to get our new keys. We arrived at the new room, and opened the door to find this:


I didn't even know they had rooms this nice in Wendover! Turns out we'd been upgraded to the Presidential Suite. The sign on the back of the door said the regular rate on the room was $600.00 a night.


We paid $89.00. And the jets worked.


It was so nice to chill and relax, let life slow down a little, and remember just how much I love being married.

Later in the week, Hayley had a little royal treatment too. After seeing Hillcrest High's excellent production of Cinderella, we attended their Princess Tea Party. After picking up her autograph book and princess pen, and eating some excellent sugar cookies, Hayley posed for some pictures with the Fairy Godmother:

The Stepmother and Stepsisters:

And Cinderella and the Prince:

She also got to ride in the Princess Carriage from the play, while it was all lit up, and they had a professional photographer there to take pictures of all the little princesses, and then they are going to mail the pics out to us next week.

Such a fun time, and it was good practice with the characters.

Since we're headed to Disneyland again in March!!!

I'm Truly Thankful

There have been some things that have happened to people lately. People I know. People I like. People I love.

Not good things. Things like losing a needed job. Or not knowing how much longer a long-time-had job will last.

This actually makes me think three things:

#1
I am amazed at the resiliency that I see in these people around me. I have to say, if I was in many of their positions, I would be Freaking. Out. Really, I don't think I would have that kind of faith to be able to say "Well, we'll just see how it goes" or "This may just be another opportunity" or "God just has a different plan for us." I'll tell you what, that's some faith. And it makes me love these people even more.

#2
I am so thankful for the fact that Jeremy and I both have jobs. Not just jobs, but secure jobs. Jobs that we actually like. And that both still have the opportunity to work overtime if we so choose. I am realizing what a luxury we really have in that. Extra money for Christmas? No problem, I'll sub. Jeremy will go in early for a few days. Plus, neither of our jobs are going away anytime soon. I think the entire world will have to really start falling apart for parents to stop sending their young children to school. And it seems that no matter how much flying could cost, there would always be higher-ups with enough money to want to board a plane.

#3
These situations also makes me kind of mad. No, maybe not mad, hurt. Sad. Because the people they happen to don't seem to deserve it. (Not that anyone ever deserves a hardship to be thrown upon them, but...) And helpless, because I feel like they are struggling, hurting, worried. And there's not much I can do about it.

Lots of love and thoughts and prayers tonight.

For all those people in these kinds of uncertain situations.

And if it's not you that is in the situation,
Maybe take the opportunity
To really count your blessings.

There are so many things to be thankful for.

October Faves

Favorite Food(s): Eggs and Cinnamon Toast
Favorite Treat: Fruit snacks
Favorite Friend(s): Kaiya and Aisley
Favorite Book: There's a Wocket in my Pocket
Favorite Movie/Show: The Parent Trap
Favorite Song: Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Favorite Thing to Do Inside: Ask to go outside and play with friends.
Favorite Thing to Do Outside: Jump on Kaiya and Aisley's tramp.
Favorite Thing About Jackson: When he holds her hand.
(Without trying to bite her fingers.)
Least Favorite Thing to Do: Be called inside from playing with her friends.
Funny Things She Says: "Mom, I'm so glad you growed us a baby!"
"Wanna know a gross secret? I like to kiss boys on the lips!"
Oh, boy.


Favorite Food(s): Corn and Mini Corndogs
Favorite Treat(s): Goldfish and Graham Crackers
Favorite Friend: Um, pretty much anyone who gave him Halloween candy.
Favorite Book: Mickey Mouse Haunted Clubhouse
Favorite Movie/Show: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Favorite Things to do Inside: Find the cabinets that don't have child locks.
Favorite Things to Do Outside: Go to the zoo to see the monkeys.

Favorite Thing about Hayley: When she plays peek-a-boo with him.
Least Favorite Thing to Do: He gets so frustrated when he wants to do something by himself, but can't. Like eating with a spoon. And he hates having his diaper changed.
New Things He Says: Still lots of "mama" and "grandma." Also "see it" and "hi."

Monster Bash

One of the highlights of our Halloween Holiday is always Aunt Kimi's Halloween Party. This year's party was as fun as ever. It started out with Mummy Pizzas and Frankenstein Marshmallows, which everyone enjoyed.

Then on to some group photos. Why do we even try to get a good shot of seven kids, five and under? So you can see their costumes of course! Hayley is a Zebra Princess, Peyton is Phineas, Zeke is Buzz Lightyear, Isaac is Thomas the Train, Caleb is a Ghost, Ryker is Ferb, and Jackson is a Zebra.

By the time we got to trick or treating, it was pouring outside. So we left Jackson to play with Grandma and Grandpa Bachman, and headed out to brave the storm. Hayley's such a die hard. Really, like she needed more candy?

By the time we were done, my little zebras were at their limits. Hayley's cheeks were cold, and Jackson was just done.


Thanks Kimi for such a fun par-tay!