Thanksgiving

It is about time I posted about our Thanksgiving! We got together with my ENTIRE family for Thanksgiving! We haven't all been together in almost five years!!! We had SOOO much fun! We went to Riverton Wyoming and stayed at my brothers house. We played games (the newlywed game...so fun but it was kind of sad that the newest married couple won!) we ate A LOT, talked, went on a hike, toured the town, went swimming, had a talent show, watched the BYU/UTAH game, played with beads, exchanged Christmas gifts and just enjoyed being together. The only thing I didn't do was take enough pictures, but here are a few:

All the grandkids! (17)

We hiked to this crazy river that goes through those caves and ends up on the other side of the road!

The whole family. :)

Family love.

Grandma and Grandpa with all the grand kids

The three two year olds.

Three things I am SO thankful for!!

Aw, tender moment with Uncle Bart!

Watching the BYU/Utah Game!!!

Grandma and Grandpa handing out Christmas gifts to the grand kids.

For the last three years my Mom (and Dad) have been working on a history book of my Mom side of the family and they finished it right in time for Christmas!!! It is over 500 pages! I am so proud of them for doing this! What an amazing gift! I am so grateful for their hard work, what an amazing thing to have my families life stories all right at my fingertips!
Thanks Mom and Dad!

On the way home we stopped at Martin's Cove. It was so neat to be there. It had an amazing spirit there. We weren't able to walk to the actual cove but we stopped in at the visitors center. The missionary that was there spoke of the sacredness of the cove. What a special experience.

There are so many things I am thankful for this year I could go on and on but I am so thankful for the gospel in my life, my wonderful husband, my sweet kids, all of my family, a good job, and great friends. :)

We are truly blessed.

Halloween

I enjoy Halloween more now that I have kids than I EVER have. It is so fun to watch Morgan pretend and watch her get so excited. She was Cinderella this year and for months before I swear any one she talked to she would tell them that she was going to be Cinderella and they she would ask them what they were going to be and if they didn't know she would give them suggestions. Such a funny girl.

Morgan got this kit from her Grandma for her birthday, she had a great time decorating her spooky crispy house.

Morgan pretending to be Princess Cinderella. I made her dress and it is a little big but I guess that gives her room to grow right?

She walked around all night at our ward trunk or treat in these shoes...she is definitely a girl!

Whitney on the other hand wasn't very excited to dress up this year!

Jeff and I went to a Halloween party this year and well, I got so excited putting everyone else's costume together that I forgot about mine. So I ran to Old Navy and grabbed this sweater. (all Halloween stuff was $2!)

Jeff's costume was great, although when we were walking around people we didn't know probably thought he wasn't dressed up! In fact when we went to pick up our girls from my brothers house my little nephew asked my Sister in law who "he" was! :)

A few days before Halloween we got dumped on! I think we got almost two feet of snow! This was just the first day of the snow! (a week later though most of it was melted! I LOVE Colorado snow storms!)

Whitney didn't love playing in the snow but whenever we did go outside she would stick her tongue out to try and catch some snowflakes.

Morgan LOVED playing in the snow (despite the look on her face) and making snow angels. It was a fun week!

Happy Birthday Morgan!

I can't believe Morgan has turned three! I am sure every parent goes through this but it is CRAZY, it happened so fast! She has been SO funny lately...a little pill...but funny!

~ She was going upstairs to our room the other day and Whitney was sleeping on our bed so Jeff was trying to get her attention to stop and she turned around and says, "Easy tiger!"

~ We were driving the other day and Jeff and I were talking and Morgan was just jabbering in the back then she stops and says, "Do you understand Daddy?"

~ She was eating a snack the other day and I asked her if she liked it and she looks at me and says, "This is scrumptious Mommy!"

~ Sometimes she just starts talking and I have no idea what she is saying so I usually say something like I don't understand or what you talkin' about Willis. Anyway, now Morgan when she doesn't get it she usually says, "What cho talkin' bout Willis?"

Anyway, she wanted a castle cake for her birthday and well this is the outcome...

I don't know if I would call it a castle, maybe I could call it the leaning tower of sugar! I am afraid my cake decorating skills are lacking!

Look at that lean! I am surprised it stayed up! haha

Birthday Princess!

She got a new tricycle....we bought this at the beginning of the year on a toy clearance and now I am wondering if I should have just gotten her a small bike instead.

For playgroup we went to a place called Hudson Gardens and it was really pretty especially with all of the fall colors (oh how I LOVE fall!) This is a shot of Whitney and her future husband Aiden :) He is three months younger than Whitney but you would never guess it, just look at those CHEEKS! I love it!

Morgan loved the hay maze!

They had a pretty pathetic pumpkin patch, most of the pumpkins were rotting, but they did have some big ones!

Morgan hanging out with the girls, it doesn't matter how old the kids are she thinks she is just their size. She always goes up to new kids and says, "Hi! I am Morgan, what's your name?" She is our little social butterfly. Lately she is very concerned that everyone has a Halloween costume. Morgan has known what she was going to be for months. So every time we stop and chat with someone including random people at the grocery store or anything she asks them what they are going to be and if they don't know she comes up with a bunch of ideas of what they should be.

She was so funny, she was trying to cross her legs and she just couldn't get them to stay.

Whitney just hanging out, she loves to be in the stroller.

Mommy and the birthday girl. :) She is really a sweet girl and we are so blessed to have her in our lives. We LOVE LOVE LOVE you Morgan!

The Rest of September :)

At the end of September we drove over to Utah. Jeff went to see the BYU football game and came back home the next day and while I went to Idaho for the rest of the week. Here are a few pictures:

Morgan was so excited to wear her "BYU dress"

Whitney would not take her eye off my brothers dog.

We were gone during Jeff's birthday (I know I am an awful wife, I still feel bad) Anyway, I got him beatles rockband for his x-box a few days before his birthday. I did try to celebrate before we left with his favorite meal and I took cupcakes to his softball game. I don't think I want to miss his birthday again.

Morgan rocking out!

Jeff telling his girls thanks for the gift.

While I was in Idaho I got to see a lot of old friends, too bad I forgot to take pictures with all of them!!! This is my good friend Noelle who is an AMAZING mom and expecting baby number FOUR! :)

This is mine and Jeff's good friend Nicole. We were all friends in college and without her there may have been no Jeff and Kim :) Thanks Nicole! ;)

My sweet Mom and Dad.

Morgan was in heaven, Grandma let her have all the popsicles she could eat!

My mom makes the best wheat bread! So we watched her make it in hopes that I could recreate the goodness!!!

Whit just watching us make bread.

I went and took a tour of the student center at BYU-I that they are re-doing...it is AMAZING!

Morgan, Whitney, and I went to school with Grandma, and Morgan was IN HEAVEN! It was so cute to watch her! When we first went in Grandma's room she ran up to the front of the classroom where Grandma was and wasn't shy at all. After a big fit she finally came to the back of the class with me. :) I love this picture because all the kids were lining up for lunch and Morgan just went with them and did it without being told. The sweet girl, almost every night she prays that she can go to school...it is going to be a long three years!

Grandma and Morgan at lunch. School lunches where I grew up were awesome, I was SO excited to go to get school lunch with my mom! Is that pathetic?

Go Cardinals! They made the playoff's, unfortunately they didn't make it far, there is always next year right? ( I forgot I put that flower in my hair, does anyone else do that? When I clean up I tend to put thing in my hair and pockets. It happens a lot, so if any of you see me walking around with a random flower or bow on my head, please let me know : ) )

There were four girls from our ward that had birthdays right in a row, so we decided to go celebrate by going to a karaoke bar! haha, it was SO fun! We all want to go back for date night! Thanks for the fun time ladies!!!
(Jule, Alecia, Mel)

(Tiffany, Julie)

(Steph, Wylie, Tiffany)

Lindsey showing a sign of her old age, rubbing some bengay on her poor legs! :) haha, ok, she is pregnant, but I had to make sure we got a picture of that! We love you Lindsey!

Steph and Wylie breaking it down to Womanizer. :)

We sang, Girls Just Want to Have Fun....this song went on...and on...and on...

Whitney is teething, she isn't a great teether, so one day I had it and I found a piece of black licorice for her to chew on it and she was loving it! (Does that make me a bad mom?)

Whitney's first meal of spaghetti

The best day EVER!

We have been busy lately but the most exciting thing that we have been doing is playing in DISNEY LAND! :) Jeff and I were going to go on a cruise or do something a little more adult but nothing ever seemed to work out. So we found ourselves booking a trip to Disneyland. It. Was. So. Worth. It!!! Not that is wasn't a lot of work, but we had a great time!

We left on the second at 5:00 a.m., I was a little worried how the girls would react to that so I had put them to bed at 6:00 p.m. and they were champs!


We got to the Orange County airport and got our rental car and headed straight for Disney to meet our good friends (and cousins)...(thank you guys SOOOO much for 1. letting us bum in on your trip, and 2. for the GREAT discounts!) We spent three days in Disney...it was in the 90's those three days and humid! BLAH, we were all a sweaty mess. We were able to see all the princesses and a lot of the other characters. We went to the Aladdin show which was AWESOME and we saw the Playhouse Disney show. I think that was where we knew we had made the right decision by going on this trip. Morgan was dancing and singing and loving every minute of the show. I think everything was so magical for her! We couldn't decide what we would get her from Disneyland, if anything at all. But we found seven little princess figurines and she held on to the box of them the entire last day. (we wouldn't let her open it until we were in the car, we are mean, I know. :) ) The last day after we got in the car she said "this was the BEST DAY EVER!" SO cute! (these pictures are not in order and I was to lazy to fix them! :) )

Us on the rocket ride in California Adventure.

All of us at the front of Disney!

Daddy and Morgan on Dumbo!

I love the look on Morgan's face, this is during the first parade we saw. All the characters were in it, she loved it!

Getting ready to watch A Bug's Life in 4D...Morgan DID NOT LIKE IT!

Morgan meeting Ariel. She went right up to her and held her hands and just started talking.

Whitney was so happy the whole time. Sweet girl.

Our little family at Disneyland. :)

Meeting Snow White.

The first parade we saw had all the characters and Morgan was loving it.

Morgan before the Bugs Life ride...little did she know. :)

Morgan driving her little race car. Jeff said she loved it, like father like daughter.

On our way to the park on the tram our first day.

Morgan on our way home :) Yes, this picture will be used as blackmail! :)

"Where all your dreams come true!" :) Morgan was so excited...I think maybe I was a little more excited for her to meet Cinderella!

It was so nice, the first day we walked in and there was Mickey and Goofy and a tiny line! Perfect timing!!!

While we were there we stayed with Jeff's Aunt Lisa and Uncle Vaughn - they were in Texas watching the BYU game, I think Jeff was a little jealous! :) (Thanks guys for letting us stay at your house!) We took one of their girls with us one day and I think we wore her out because she was to tired to come the next day!







On Saturday we went to Sea World with our same friends of some of our other great friends, Danny and Erin, who used to live in Utah. It was fun but we were SO TIRED that we left after only half a day. Morgan just kept asking to go home! haha So we went to Danny and Erin's house and Jeff and Danny dropped us off as fast as they could and went to start watching the BYU game (via Tivo :) ). Erin and I hung out with the kids (I got to meet their new son for the first time! He is 1 1/2 and ADORABLE and I COMPLETELY forgot to take pictures of all of us!) It was so much fun to catch up.

We went to church with them the next day and ate a delicious dinner and played CANASTA! We used to get together with these guys every Sunday and play for hours. We had such a fun time!!! Then we headed back to L.A. We got to visit with Jeff's Aunt and Uncle and talked all about the game. They are so much fun to talk to. The next morning we headed back to the airport and Morgan just kept saying she didn't want to go home she wanted to go to Disneyland. :)

It was such a fun trip and we weren't ready to come home but we are SO glad we were able to go. The girls did great there were only two meltdowns. Whitney did awesome. It was so nice to spend so much time with Jeff and with all of our friends. We hope we get to see everyone again soon!

I asked Morgan what her favorite part was she said, her princess dolls. :)

I asked her what her favorite ride was, Dumbo

I asked her who her favorite princess was, Cinderella....surprise! :) haha

Jeff on the phone with someone talking BYU football.

Whitney loved riding in the stroller and puling Morgan's hair! :)

At Sea World they had this great kids area that Morgan loved.

I have to give a big shout out to Jeff. It was my birthday a few weeks ago and he did a GREAT job! He bought me a chocolate fountain and set it up and bought a bunch of stuff to put in the chocolate and invited a bunch of people over for cake and chocolate fountain! :) He worked so hard to put it all together and it was a big surprise for me :) Thanks Love! I LOVE YOU SOOOO much!





We just found this picture and I had to post it, I don't remember which birthday this was for Jeff but he always said he wanted a cake made of big mac's. :)

Pictures

This has been a very busy past few weeks, here are some fun pictures:


I had to take this picture she was just chilling, she loves her baths.


Morgan being a good sister and TRYING to help


The girls all dressed up ready to celebrate the fourth! Sad that I forgot my camera the rest of the day! IT POURED, but regardless we still had a great bbq at our friends house and watched the 'men' (I think they are more like little boys when they get around fire! :) ) shoot off fireworks. So much fun!


We have gone swimming quite a bit this summer, here are the girls sporting their swimwear. Morgan has since gotten a new suite. It was supposed to be for next year but she just had to try it on and it fits! Hopefully it streches for next year! haha, she loves it though, she may not enjoy swimming very much but she loves that suit. In fact she loves it so much I can bribe her to do almost anything if she gets to wear it!


We were able to watch my brothers five kids for a week while they went to New York. While I am not sure I want to have five kids right now it was fun to see what it will be like to have my kids play together, work together, and well lets face it fight 'together'. :)


These guys were best buddies all week.


Here is Kramer, a.k.a Whitney. Her hair is crazy and I can't get enough of it!




We also had a visit for a week from this cute family! This is Jeff's sister Steph and her husband Jon and their cute cute cute baby Lucy!




We had a lot of fun playing, crafting, shopping, laughing and talking. She is great (pretty much I have the greatest sister in laws on the planet on both sides. I get blessed with one GREAT sister and seven wonderful sister in laws, how did I get so lucky?)

Anyway, we took their cute family pictues and tried to get some of the girls, and well, out of almost a hundred shots there was not ONE where they were all looking so I just posted a few of my favorites.



(I think this is my favorite, that blurry thing is Whitney's binki, I am not quite sure if she threw it or if Morgan did but I thought it was pretty funny!)



Best buddies






Don't you just want to pinch those cute cheeks!


We turned the t.v. on and there was not a peep from any of the girls!


Jeff has been wanting an old school Cardinals jersey for a while now and he found one on e-bay for cheap. He would call me every day to see if the mail had come yet, which got a little annoying. ;) It was a long week and a half for that boy, but he was GIDDY when he tried it on. So it was all worth it in the end.

I have been sewing quite a bit lately and have a few more pictures coming soon but I made this little dress last night and finished it this morning. I think I may add sleeves but I am not sure, maybe I will just get her a new shirt. I made it out of one of Jeff's old church shirts. There are oodles of tutorials out there for the general idea of how to make these.





*I PROMISE Morgan doesn't ALWAYS look like a vagabond! I am trying to grow her bangs out right now and it is a pain! So I am trying to find ways to deal with her flighty little bangs!

Look what I got!

For a while now I have wanted a wheat grinder. I am not really sure why I had this huge urge to get one. But after about a year my wonderful husband got it for me for Mother's day! YAY FOR ME! :) Here she is....I didn't take a picture before I used it because, well, I was just to excited!


It is the one the church recommends. They have a special promo code if you want to order one but I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and they price matched it and also let me use a 20% coupon...so if you are in the market for a wheat grinder do that! It will save you quite a bit of money.

Here is Morgan helping me make my first batch of whole wheat bread.....she had a lot of fun playing in the flour and shaping the dough.

(again, NEVER a normal smile)



And here is my beautiful 'disasterpiece' as the pioneerwoman would say, how sad, but they still tasted great! (Jeff said they weren't a disaster they just had character :) )