Thanksgiving 2010

Well, here we all are. I look at this picture and can't help but want to cry. I have everything I ever truly wanted. I have an amazing husband and four precious children who all make my life crazy and lovely and amazing all at the same time. We may not have the riches of the world but we have the very best kind of true love. I am so thankful for my family this year and my extended family also. I have the best mom in the whole world. She isn't perfect and we don't always get along but she is part of our family and I am so thankful for all she does for my family. I am thankful for amazing in laws who I think about daily in the way they raised their children and how to use their strengths to our advantage. I am thankful to have brothers and sisters of all kinds to share the good times and the bad with. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father who has given me all I have and ever will have and who is patient with me through my daily imperfections. I am soo blessed and what is better then that?

Now, for the details. Thanksgiving Day was going to be jam packed with multiple Thanksgivings, Ryan gave the okay last minute and I just decided to take it easy. We go go go all the time and it was nice to take it slow. We woke up and had pumpkin waffles, hot chocolate and watched the two Thanksgiving Parades on TV. It was great just to hang out in our pajamas until 11am. I had fun making things for the dinner and then we headed over to My Uncle Jim and Aunt Hopes house for a yummy meal! The best part was the kids playing outside and playing tag! When we got home Ryan's grandparents came over and played games with us and we had a blast!

Friday was Black Friday and this is one of the few years I did't go overboard. I bought very little in fact. One small present for each child and a few work clothes for Ryan(who thankfully still has a job after his employer just laid off 700 people) That afternoon we went over to Tim and Sonia's house and had an amazing meal! It was one of my favorite Thanksgiving meals ever with Spicy Turkey and Avocado stuffing. It is so wonderful to be by Ryan's Brother and his wife Sonia. We absolutely adore them and love having them around as often as possible. We are lucky to live close again!

As for the rest of the weekend I have more pictures to come!

Soccer!

Well, Kenzie just finished his first year of soccer. Alissa played for three years but decided she didn't want to play this year. Kenzie is such a cute kid! He is always hugging someone or loving someone. He is so kind and considerate of others also. He liked soccer but sometimes preferred to be socializing instead of kicking goals. One game though, he scored seven goals so it just depended on his mood. Kenzie wanted to name his team the White Scooby Doos but they settled on White Polar Bears. He was so excited to get a trophy because this is his first trophy. The best part of the season was at his last game, when a member of the other team fell and got hurt, Kenzie walked over to help him up and give him a great big hug and make sure he was okay. I am so proud to have a son who is so caring of others and their feelings. Thanks Kenzie for always being a great example of how we should treat others!

Sisters

I am so blessed to have two beautiful girls! I absolutely love both of these little ladies. I am surprised already what a great relationship they are gaining. When Alissa comes home everyday from school Emily gets excited to see her! She evens say Hi to her and they play this sweet little game saying Hi back and forth. I know for a fact Heavenly Father has a purpose in the way he times our children because the space between these two is perfect! Alissa truly is like a little mommy to Emily and loves to hold her and play with her. I can not wait to see as they grow how they grow together.

Alissa's Seventh Birthday

After the party Alissa and Ryan playing Santa with her gifts!

They didn't have a farm cake so we added our own animals to their scenery. One little girl left early so we cut a piece for her.

A few of the kids who came we ended up with over 20 kids!

Ryan was in charge of games and they had a blast, especially with the potato sack races!

I can not believe my baby girl is 7 years old. She has grown so fast and is maturing quickly. As she continues to grow I mostly think about the things that she is becoming....does she know she is loved? Does she know how much God loves her and how much of an impact he can have on her life is she listens to him? What will she choose for her life? How can I be the best mom she needs? Anyways, the list goes on and on, but I find the questions arise more as she grow up.

Alissa is an amazing young woman and I am so thankful to all she teaches me everyday. She is a joy to our family and a great leader. She loves to read lots of books and especially like to be outside. She loves to dance, sing and act and is the star of her class! She is very smart and doing great in school! She has already passed off six Articles of Faith and loves to answer questions about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She loves being a big sister and helping take car of her siblings. I love watching her leave for school holding Kenzie's hand as they get out of the car and walk to class. And although we definitely have our moments with her, where her stubbornness shows, I wouldn't change it for anything because she helps us grow!

For Alissa's Party we waited until the week after Halloween because the 29th is always full of Halloween Festivities. Alissa handmade about 30 8.5x11 Birthday Invitations with a barn drawing on them. We celebrated at the Val Vista Lakes Clubhouse next to the tennis courts. We had hot dogs, chips, pudding with dirt, cake and punch just as she wanted. We played lots of fun games like pin the tail on donkey, follow the leader, potato sack races and tag. Afterwards about ten of the children came to swim in the heated pool. We had a great time and she felt very loved. She got a lot of presents too. I think we counted 27 total and $50 worth of cash and cards. I was shocked at how generous everyone was. I love how much fun Alissa's Party always is!

Where to Start?

Well, I'm not quite sure where to start, so I started with the first picture I pulled up. This is Taft as of a few weeks ago. He fell of the bed in the middle of the night. Luckily it was a weekend and Ryan could get up because I was already helping Emily, so he helped Taft. He was such a trooper! I seriously think it will scar but he says its all gone because it doesn't hurt anymore.

On a side not pertaining to this time of life. My mom went out of town for most of October and I think I seriously got a taste of humbling. Everything that could have went wrong did and it was seriously to the point where I would just start laughing the next time something happened. We seriously had everything from two washcloths flushed down the toilet, to marker all over our slide, to flooded patio, to every ouchy you can imagine. It was totally awesome because I got to see things from a different perspective. I don't know how many know but I would assume most people know that when I have a baby I end up holding the baby about 10 hours of the day at least, probably more. Now there are many people that would say that is my fault or I do it to my babies, but I happen to know this is not so. My only default, is that I do not like to let them cry. I personally feel there is no need and so life is hard for awhile. Well, my mom is there so much to help me out. Even if I prefer to do things on my own. I am so blessed to have her help and am thankful for all of it. I am glad I had these few weeks to better appreciate what I have and to learn great lessons!

Halloween 2010

Taft the pirate!

Alissa and her best friend Sela!

Alissa with her half Uncle Johnathan.

Emily with her Grandpa

Ryan in a sword fight!

Me with my dads daughters, we all have different parents(lol).

Ryan and the boys!

Half sisters and Emily!

At the Halloween Howl!

Halloween this year was crazy busy. We did WAY too much! Alissa also had her birthday on the 29th and celebrated at school with lots of friends. I will post about her real party later. So, Wednesday we went to the Val Vista Lakes Halloween Howl. They had lots of little carnival games and trick or treating for the kids.

Friday was the school parties and the Costume Parade. Alissa took donuts that were shaped and decorated like candy corns for her class and was excited to hear her name over the intercom at school.

Saturday, Kenzie had a soccer game and afterwards we went to Trader Joe's where each child was given a pumpkin to carve. Daddy helped with that! They also did face painting and had a petting zoo for free! It was also our Ward Party! Ryan cooked his super hot chili this year and it sort of became a black market treat! The men would slip into the kitchen to scold their mouths.

Men are crazy, gotta love them. By this night Alissa was already feeling sick, so I pushed her around in the stroller. She helped Mema pass out candy at the trunk or treat and didn't want any for herself, although each boy came home with about 80 pieces. The boys loved all the games and had a blast! By Sunday she was completely sick.

Sunday night we went and spent the evening with my Dad and his wife and her family. It was fun because all my dads kids were there. Alissa was going to stay home but last minute decided she really wanted to go. She didn't want to dress up though so I turned her into a baby(see above) and her Uncle pushed her in a stroller. After awhile she got tired even doing that so my dad took her candy bag around for her. What a nice Grandpa! All in all it was a great holiday but hopefully we will simplify next year! I hope I got it all in there!