surviving but not thriving black friday

Thanksgiving came and so did the ads. We were wanting a tree this year, not a popular item right?? We saw a great deal at Home Depot and I talked Aaron into getting up early to go and get it. The store opened at 6 and he was there at 5:45. When he finally made it in the door to the display they were all out (all before 6). He vowed NEVER to shop again on black Friday. He said there were so many people it just took the fun out of shopping. Later that day we went to various other stores, but didn't want to pay $200 for a tree. After a long day of shopping we went with a beautiful real tree.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful season of year this is! As I was driving home from Young Women's a girl in my car rolls down the window and yells "Holiday Skipper!" They had their Christmas lights up. She proceeded to do that until we made it to her house. I thought, you know Thanksgiving really does get ripped off! I have been listening to Christmas music since November 1st (except when Sarah is around we made a deal...no Christmas music until December 1st).

I have so many things to be thankful for I can hardly just name them off. I have chosen 10 of my wonderful blessings (not in any particular order, this is just how it came)

- My family: I can't even imagine what my life would be like without them! (including my husband, kids, grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins)
- Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the restored gospel (and ALL the WONDERFUL blessings that come to me because of them)
- A wonderful house
- My husband having a good job. The opportunity to stay home with the kids.
- GREAT neighbors. Really, I feel like I have been friends with these people forever!
- Friends. I have too many to name, but if you are reading this you have probably touched my way in many ways!
- My health. I think a lot of times we take our bodies for granted. How a body can create another little person is mind boggling.
- Living in the United States.
- Having wonderful food to eat.
- And every other natural wonder and beauty I behold EVERY DAY!

I hope you all have a GREAT Thanksgiving!

What happens when the kids (and dad) get the camera

Poor David

Annie this is what would happen if your next baby somehow surprises you and you end up with a boy...

David Loves the girls dress up things. He loves twirling and watching the skirt flow. He will love this in a few years I am sure! Quite frequently he fights over the pink wings with Becca. I don't think that grandma anticipated this little one :)

So big

David was outgrowing his Sunday shirt so yesterday we went out and bought him a size 5 shirt. The shirt came with a tie. He has had other ties, but refused to wear them. He loved the tie and looks great with it! I also buzzed his hair a few days ago...next time I think I will use a number 4 or 5, his hair is a little short.

Daisy Derby

Yesterday was Sarah's first "Daisy Derby." She and Aaron decided on Calvin and Hobbes ridding in a wagon - they both love that comic and we have about 5 books. Sarah made the caricatures from modeling clay and Aaron carved out the wagon with a pocket knife. Sarah painted it.

baby belly

Here I am 24 weeks prego

Ignore the grimace, the camera was taking a REALLY long time to take. Once again I have to give credit to Becca for taking this one :)

Oh rise and shout...

Yesterday Aaron and I went to a BYU football game and it was exciting - you know the crowd, the noise and the fight song. Someone that Aaron works with gave him AWESOME tickets and a great parking pass - he even said that if we were there at 11:30 we could go on the field...we didn't quite make it, but that would have been awesome. I loved that we played a horrible team and BYU blew them away. I don't like the gut wrenching games (that I am sure the next two will be)

No sweets

So my sister made a challenge on her blog and I took it...no sweets until Thanksgiving (my exception is FHE treat). This is my temptation...

I needed something like this though because I have been eating WAY to many sweets.

It snowed again. The day the window guys were supposed to come. They came anyway and my house was COLD.

Falling into the snow

What is this little devil up to?

an hour and a half

I stood in line today for an hour and a half to vote for

CHUCK BALDWIN

I couldn't bring myself to vote for either of the candidates, so I voted with the constitutional party. I also voted for the local leaders. We will see who wins.

Baptism Day

Sarah had a beautiful baptism day. We had a lot of family and friends come and celebrate with us. As she and Aaron were walking down the chapel in their white clothes I was overcome with emotion. Sarah beamed with happiness and Aaron looked just as happy. It was a glimpse of heaven.

Fun on Halloween!

The kids LOVED Halloween this year. We carved pumpkins, had a fun parade at school and then of course trick or treating with LOTS of candy :) Grandma and Grandpa were here and mom stayed here with me and passed out the candy where the kids went with Grandpa and Dad.

Delving into his candy. At one point he had 3 candies opened and in progress.



Grandpa as the cookie, Becca as te cookie monster, David as Buzz Lightyear, Dad as Woody and Sarah as a black cat (she drew the wiskers and nose by herself :)

Sarah's, Mom's, David's, Dad's and Becca's

The three cuties in their shirts we made at Sarah's party.

A blue cowgirl (with a soon to be tummy ache...she threw up that night...too much candy)