Thanksgiving 2008

This year, the week of Thanksgiving Celebrations began with a cute pilgrim play put on by Ashlynn's kindergarten class, where she played the very important role of an Indian woman, and her lines consisted of, "shhh".
Wednesday morning the kids were huge helpers and helped me clean and get ready for company. I'm thankful for my big helpers. Then, since it was about 60 degrees outside, we ran to the park and enjoyed the beautiful fall weather. I'm grateful for children who still enjoy going to the park, and for my older three who find joy in playing with Peyton and Kennedi. We then began baking the goodies: cheesecake and pumpkin pie - I'm thankful for sweets. Afterwards, Dallin and I ran to Sam's Club to get the few last things on our list - he sat in the cart and ate pizza and a berry shake as I raced around (with an extra 75lbs. in the cart) filling the cart, trying to beat our guests home - I'm grateful for one-on-one time with my kids. Then people began arriving at 6:30. Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Scott, Bart and Holly, and Shannon, Hailey, Andrew and Aaron and Indie came from Idaho and Utah. I'm grateful for family that will drive a long ways to spend Thanksgiving with us. The week was filled with card games, movies, kids playing, hot tub sits, great baby news! water plant tours, the Aquarium, pizza, Imaggiano's, laughter, snowball fights, and lots of good food! As we sat down to Thanksgiving dinner, Aaron (5) spontaneously started praying - I guess the food looked so good he couldn't wait any longer=). Then we all said what we were thankful for and the spirit of gratitude filled our home. I am thankful for Thanksgiving and how it helps my family and I remember our loving Heavenly Father and all the blessings that he so graciously gives to us.

The 1st Snowfall

We had our 1st snowfall this morning, and there is just nothing that compares to waking up to a white wonderland! Fresh, clean snow that is just begging to be tromped through. We all jumped out of bed to search for our clothes from storage and throw them on! Unfortunately, by the time I got everyone dressed, the first ones were already cold and coming back in to get warm, so I didn't have time to get bundled up and take the prize-winning photos I had hoped for. (Instead I get one of Peyton, coming back in cold and grumpy)
Last year the first two times it snowed, we weren't aware that school was delayed an hour, so this time I made sure to check the website. Thinking we had an extra hour, we made cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate and had a nice relaxing morning, only to realize that we were actually an hour late for school. Oops! oh, well, the memories are more important than perfect attendance, right?

The Double Date

Last Friday night, Benson and I went on a double date with Talie and Dallin to the Nuggets/Mavericks game (that's basketball, for those that don't know). First of all, Jeff volunteered to babysit so that we could go - thanks uncle Jeff!
We started the evening off by riding in the Denver light rail, where Talie entertained the other passengers by doing flips on the handrails and Dallin entertained them by, well trying to do flips on the handrails=). We got off and went to find our tickets (company tickets that were upgraded to 4 seats together on the 7th row!) The seats were great, but the kids were only interested in Rocky the mascot and even got to pet a real live, baby tiger. The game ended with the Nuggets winning by 1, and we look forward to many more double dates!

The seats were great, but the kids were only interested in Rocky the mascot and even got to pet a real live, baby tiger. The game ended with the Nuggets winning by 1, and we look forward to many more double dates!

The baby tiger Talie and Dallin got to pet


Ashlynn has a CD of nursery rhymes and fairy tales that she likes to listen to, so she curls up on the oh-so-comfy granite counter top and listens to them in the kitchen CD player.
Peyton can't miss out on the fun! If any one is laying down, it's TACKLE TIME!



I can tell Kennedi is going to be a problem solver already. She's still lacking in the hair department, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and take care of the problem.

She's obviously happy with the results, and they sure are a lot cheaper than extensions!

Good Kisser!

So Kennedi has become quite the kisser! And of course, everybody wants one from her, but you never quite know what you're gonna' get. So when you say, "Kennedi, give me a kiss." You may get a pucker, an open mouther, or even a little tongue. It reminds me of the good ole' college days when I came home from my first kiss date (not 1st date=) with Benson, and my roommates interrogated, "Was it a peach, a plum, or an alfalfa?" - Kennedi is definitely an alfalfa!

Ok., so I guess we still like to kiss, just nobody's interested in interrogating us anymore=).

October

Ok., it's been about 5 weeks since I have blogged, and for most bloggers, that could only mean 1 thing, that they are dead. Thankfully that is not the case, we are still well and alive! October has been a whirlwind! It started with the kids being tracked out for two weeks. We kept busy hanging with friends, bowling, concocting Halloween treats, carving pumpkins, decorating for Halloween, celebrating Benson's birthday, tying quilts for project Linus, planning our costumes, trips to McDonalds, swimming, and being monkeys at jungle quest (thanks Erika). The kids then went back to school for a week which ended in the big Halloween celebration, complete with a parade, classroom parties, and a night of trick-or-treating and candy trading and gorging (what isn't there for a mother to love about Halloween!)

Happy Halloween!

Wow, this crew is big enough to scare anybody! Atleast make them afraid they didn't buy enough candy.

Kennedi was Rudolph (all the others were at this age, but she didn't fit into the full costume because she's so tiny, so we settled with the antlers and a pink sweater), and the entire night was spent with me putting the antlers on and Kennedi tugging them off.

Peyton and his cousin Morgan are obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so we thought it would be cute if they were Mickey & Minney and trick-or-treated together. Aren't they adorable! We sure have enjoyed having them close.

Ashy was a (toothless) cheerleader. She couldn't get over the fact that she could actually wear makeup!

Dallin decided to be a BYU football player (with two cheerleaders by his side). He's my little spooky decorating buddy - we had so much fun stringing cobwebs and setting up headstones - I can't wait 'till next year to do it again!

Talie(with her BFF Megan) was also a cheerleader - The SRE stands for Saddle Ranch Elementary - great school spirit; Gooo Talie!

The morning started out with everyone getting dressed up and ready for the parade, which was really exciting because we didn't celebrate Halloween in school in NC.

The weather was beautiful, and it was so fun to watch for Talie, Dallin, Ashlynn, and other friends in the big parade! Then off we went to 3 Halloween parties.

After that we drove up with Kim and Morgan to meet Benson & Jeff in Golden for lunch to celebrate their ONE-YEAR-ANNIVERSARY of owning Treatment Technology! Way to go Benson! After 11 years you still amaze me! I can't believe it has been a year! I guess it's like they say, time sure flies when you're having fun! Afterwards, we met the kids at school and came home to the begin the big night of Trick-or-Treating!


Poor Mickey was so tired after such a full day that not even the sugar he overdosed on could keep him awake.