Thanksgiving Week

We have the entire week off for Thanksgiving and I just love it!  Our house was full of family and we had so much fun!  Elise and Austin got there on Tuesday.  We weren't expecting Jacob to get there until Wednesday night but he found an earlier ride and got there on Tuesday as well!  

The day before Thanksgiving Elise helped the kids to have a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving feast.  

That night we kept it easy by having a pizza dinner.

Elise and I made the pies and a few sides on Wednesday night.  Thursday was a busy, crazy day trying to get dinner ready.

I wish I had been able to take a nap like Jacob!

As is tradition, we decorated the kid's table with things we're grateful for.

The most memorable/scariest time of the whole day happened in the afternoon while I finished dinner.  Everyone in the house (except for me, William and James) walked over to the park in our neighborhood.  They played for a while and came home.  I kept thinking I should join them but decided to finish up a few things first.  By then they had returned.  Everyone went in different directions... the kids were upstairs and outside while the adults were chatting in the kitchen. We heard a knock on the door and there was a police officer there with Lydia.  Apparently she was left at the park but showed the police officers the way home.  It was so scary!  She seemed pretty unphased by the whole thing though.  Poor little girl!  We didn't even realize she was gone and just assumed she was playing with cousins and brothers somewhere around the house.  We are so glad that she made it home safely.  After that excitement we ate some dinner.

Elise and I made some pretty delicious pies if I do say so myself... and we even got Jacob to try pecan pie!

The rest of the week was spent hanging out together.

Elise and I were matching... so Jacob decided to match us as well!

Friday evening we walked around the Ethel M cactus garden and enjoyed our free chocolate.

On our way back home we stopped at Sam's Town for the mystic wonderland show.  We got there just in time.  It was a fun little show and worth the small detour.

It even "snowed"!

Elise and Austin left on Saturday afternoon.  That evening we went to play a little tennis with Jacob.

Jacob also helped us decorate our house for Christmas.

Lydia really wanted to put the star up so we let her try...

It was actually Henry's year to do the star though so Jacob helped him out!

After church on Sunday Jacob left to head back to Provo.  We loved having him here!

November

Here are a few November memories that I don't want to forget.

Lydia has really been wanting an Elsa dress.  Luckily, she had some birthday cash and a birthday near Halloween!  We were able to find her an Elsa dress on clearance just in her price range.  She was so excited!

We participated in our Stake Day of Service by coloring paper sacks and writing notes for the Ronald McDonald House.  Rich and William served at the DI.

Our neighborhood held an amazing Harvest Festival!  It was so much fun... and FREE!

 I also won this gorgeous (and tasty) cake made by my neighbor at the dessert auction.

 Rich's cousin, Matt Crane, and his wife Sarah were in town and we had a fun time meeting up with them for lunch!

 Lydia finally got her wish and we took all the boys to the mirror maze!

There was a day where the big boys had school and the little boys didn't.  Lydia had a great time with Alex and Henry digging for gems and rocks.

 I found James practicing the saxophone upside down!

I had a great time one Saturday morning working at the food bank with the Priests and Laurels from our stake.

For Veteran's Day weekend we had planned to visit Zion National Park.  Unfortunately our check engine light came on not far out of town and we decided it was better if we just turned around.  We instead chose to visit Floyd Lamb State Park just down the street.  We had fun fishing and walking around.

I just really love this picture of William helping Lydia.

They needed a silly picture too.

In the evening we grabbed some pizza and went to the drive in to see "The Grinch".

 The kids in our ward had a pie eating contest for mutual.  It was pretty epic.

My favorite discovery of the year was how to juice our pomegranates.  Isn't the juice so pretty!?

 James started restaining the play structure... that was an adventure but he did a great job!

Lydia just loves our walks home when preschool is at Kora's house (in the neighborhood).  I love it too!

Lydia and I went to IKEA one morning to grab a few things (well, about 50 picture frames for YW).  Unfortunately the play area wasn't open yet!!  Since she was such a super shopper we decided to treat ourselves to lunch.

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the tree all lit up in the dark.  It's just so cozy.  Alex thinks so too and I found him reading under the tree one morning.

I'll save another post for Thanksgiving!