The Month of Giving Thanks

Well here I am starting the month of November off looking good and pregnant! I have felt so much better since I hit about 18 weeks, and I am loving it! I still get nauseous here and there, but nothing will be as bad as the first couple of months!! I have no idea what the gender of this baby is, and am so excited that we aren't finding out what it is. the day we meet that baby is going to be so exciting and special.

I love baking at any time of the year, but I especially love baking in the fall and during the holidays. The kids love to help, and lick the beaters after:)

Our kids are quirky little individuals!  One day they wanted to set up a bed in our closet and watch a movie and then another day they were playing dinner with their special guest the elephant.

My father in law is the sweetest man ever!! He wrote something on facebook every day and each day it was something or someone he is grateful for. He wrote about me one day and it brought me to tears. He has always treated me like his own and I love him for that. Every time I see him without fail he tells me that he loves me and that he is so glad I am part of their family. It makes me feel so grateful and blessed to be in his family and have him for a father in law.

I adore this man! He makes me so happy and he also makes me laugh. He is handsome and goofy.  The picture on the left is of Josh sleeping with big noise cancelling headphones because I had some friends over and apparently we were being too loud. The picture of him on the right is of him in Moab. Syd, Josh, Logan and Ted went to Moab for a weekend for some guy time and they had a blast. They rode in jeeps, shot guns, let Logan drive, and ate yummy food.

We have so much to be grateful for this month of Thanksgiving but we are most grateful for the Gospel, Our Heavenly Father and Savior and Family.

Thanksgiving 2015

This year for Thanksgiving we went to Idaho to spend the holiday with the Wood's.  We had such a great time. We left on Wednesday and drove up to Twin Falls in a snow storm. We made it safely though and our kids were awesome due to the iPad, phones and a few books and toys.

We went to see Great Grandpa Baird and spent some time at his house and had dinner.  The kids were so excited to be there with all of their cousins and play together.

Brad, Ted, Logan and I were all matching.

We stayed at a hotel in Twin Falls and my kids were in heaven because of the swimming pool. Josh was good to take them swimming while I got in the bath. I am not one to get in a swimsuit while I am pregnant, and my body hurt from sitting in the car. Also, I just love sleeping kids and how sweet and peaceful they look.

The next day we drove to Rusty and Carolyn's house for Thanksgiving Dinner. Robin and I brought some fun games and crafts for the kids and they all had a great time.

They live in Hailey, Idaho and it is absolutely beautiful where they live. The house is a great house and the scenery is so pretty. It was the perfect place to have Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a great day and I was happy to be spending it with my family. I have so many things that I am grateful for and my family is at the top of the list. I am so blessed!

Drake is starting to spell out words and put them together. This was him writing a note to the maids at the hotel that the "Beds are comfy" :)

Thanksgiving night Robin and I went and did some late night shopping at Target. We went after the crowds had left and we walked and shopped every inch of that store, it was great and we had so much fun. The next morning we woke up and got ready and Josh, the kids and I went to Old Navy to do some shopping and then went to lunch at a local burger place that was really good. Then we drove to Pocatello where we all hung out at Barb and Syd's and played games and ate dinner. The kids put on a show for us and just had so much fun all playing together. We stayed at a hotel that night too and the kids crashed and fell asleep so fast.

We ended the trip the same way we started it, in the car with headphones on and driving. The kids were great on this trip and it was nice to get out of Logan and spend some time together as a family. The kids had so much fun and so did Josh and I. It was so fun to see Josh's siblings and parents and spend time all together. I married into one awesome family who treats me so well. I am grateful for them and love each of them so very much!

Grandparents Day

Drake had Grandparents Day at school. The only person that could go was Grandma Lisa. I don't know who was more excited? Drake or Grandma. The kids put on a little program and then together with their grandparents or special friends decorated paper grocery bags to donate to Lee's for the Holidays. Drake loved having his grandma there and she loved being there. I am so glad we live in Cache Valley where we are so close to our family.

Drake is 6 Years Old

DRAKE IS 6

Drake you are such a happy boy.  You love to play make believe and have a wonderful imagination.  You have a very tender heart and cry when you see posters of lost dogs.  You also cry in any movie that has a tender moment and this is one of my most favorite things about you! You are so kind to others and everyone wants to be your friend. You sing opera style all day long, every minute of every day.  You have a good little voice and I love hearing you sing. You favorite food is broccoli and apples and your favorite color is Orange. When you grow up you want to be a vet or a mailman because those are jobs that help people. You have the very best smile!! 

Love you,  Mom

We started Drake's birthday weekend off with a bang and he and I went to Lee's on Friday morning for donuts. He loves the donuts there and his favorite kind is the white donut with white frosting and sprinkles.

That day at school they celebrated Drake and made him a birthday book. In the book was a picture that every kid in his class had drawn for him. He also got a birthday hat and wore it at school and all weekend at our house. He loved celebrating his birthday at school.

He woke up on his birthday as happy as could be and ready to celebrate. It was a Sunday so we ate some breakfast at home and then went to church where he was able to celebrate a little bit more.

He is the most handsome 6 year old I have ever seen.

That night we just did a small dinner with our little family and let Drake choose what he wanted to eat. He picked the Annie's white shell mac n' cheese, broccoli, oranges, and go-gurts. It was an easy meal and he ate every bite.

Later that evening we had all of our family out here for cake and ice cream. Drake wanted the funfetti cupcakes and frosting and vanilla ice cream.  We had a lot of people out here at our house and they all brought him some fun gifts and told Drake how much they loved him.  This little boy is loved so much and we are so blessed to have that happy smile of his in our home. He brings happiness to everyone around him.  We are proud of you Drake and love you so very much. Keep smiling that bright smile!

Annual Christmas Shopping Weekend

A couple of years ago we started going to Salt Lake in November for a girl's weekend and to go Christmas shopping. We have since done it every year, and we have a lot of fun and all of us look forward to it. This year we went a couple of days after Tessa's birthday. Tessa just moved from Las Vegas to Idaho Falls so we met her in Brigham City and then all drove to Salt Lake together. For her birthday, Kelsi designed shirts and made them for all of us and for her to wear and we were all wearing them that day when we picked her up. The shirts have a bunch of sayings on them that Tessa always says and is known for saying. She loved it and we had a fun time coming up with the sayings to put on the shirt.

We shopped at Ikea, Target, and City Creek. We stayed up late, ate yummy food and just had a fun time together! Friends are good for the soul, and I am blessed to have some awesome friends.