Giving Thanks

Life is just up and down.

It feels pretty up right now. 

Well not "now" as in this very moment, cuz Mike and I just had a little tiff, if you can believe it, so he is sulking in bed and i'm sulking on the couch….. blogging. 

But over all, we are happy and life is good. Well, actually it seems like we've all been sick non-stop since Halloween, but gosh, who's keeping track? And what am I doing focusing on that now, I was just about to blog about how I feel like there is so much to give thanks for, so I better keep it at that. :)

Especially grateful for my one little…..

two little

three little Indians.

We had a great thanksgiving this year. We had our own turkey bowl, in the back yard. I think everyone won the game so that was good.

My Aunt and Uncle are too nice and host everyone each year. This year we ate up in their barn. It's been a long while since we've been out in the barn. It felt good.

It's was just so nice to be with all my family

and Karaoke. Something we've not done before on Thanksgiving.

Maybell wouldn't go to anyone that night. Until the end, when uncle Nielsen reached for her and she went right to him. She can sense what a great guy he is.

The famous "cups" song that all young girls have to learn and perform

Then we finished off the night with Mikes family, pie and games.

Now we are getting ready to say goodbye to 2013

Arizona

Mike and I talk all the time about going to Arizona for a visit. We just can't seem to make it happen. Either we'd have to spend our life savings on airfare or we die from the chaos of driving 10 hours with small children. So instead,  I was kind enough to volunteer myself for the trip. 

My cousin and his wife happened to be in a "Lamb of God" musical fireside and since they both sing amazing it gave me the extra reason to go. That and I love my cousin Candace too.

First I thought I'd go and take Maybell, but quickly came to my senses. What kind of vacation is that? But I felt like I wanted a little piece of home with me so I took Ivan. My cousin Shelley has boys his age and they love playing together. They actually made the trip to Utah the week before I left for AZ. So here they all are at my moms house

and then a week later we headed out to see them. It was a great trip. We tried to save a few dollars by flying out of provo's tiny airport. I didn't realize just how tiny it was and so I made sure we were there a good 2 hours early. Since you basically walk into a one room building, we were PLENTY early.

so we played cards for 2 hours

Then walked back out of the building and onto the plane

 Candace picked us up and we got to meet my friend Jaime for dinner

then stopped for my favorite treat- Bahama Mama Rama

 Ivan didn't last long

 It was fun to have my little Ivan with me. We don't get a ton of one on one time and it was good for both of us. 

There is this gully thing next to my aunts that you have to walk through to get to a park we were going to play at. He was in heaven in the gully. He kept saying he couldn't believe we were in the desert. Like that specific gully was "thee desert." He just wanted to walk through and watch for lizards and rabbits.

 finally we made our way to the park

 we enjoyed the sunshine.

we enjoyed dinner out with Candace.

we enjoyed the musical. 

We enjoyed family time.

and Ivan enjoyed being with his cousins again

 

it was a quicky but goody

and here's my other two love bugs watching the plane come in. It's so fun to greet kids after being away. I sure did miss them.

and....

she got out the electric beaters and took one over to Mike for a sword fight. She kept telling him, "smack, smack." 

 and she's a pain in my rear to take anywhere. She found a more comfortable position last trip to the grocery store and it helped out a ton. We'll see if she does it again next time.

It's another day

I guess I'll go on a tad more. Tonight we were at Mike's moms and she was eating this ice cream bar. Whenever she spills something she tells me, "spilled." Her ice cream got kinda drippy and so naturally she let us know she spilled. Sharon gave her a napkin, she cleaned up the drippings, ate more ice cream and continued to wipe up as she dripped. 

And lately, while we are driving she'll call out, "mom, hand" and wants me to reach back and hold her hand as we go. Mike was driving tonight and got to do the honors. Then of course when I turned to take a picture of it she gave her smile and said, "cheeeeese."

I'm sure there will be more

In other news.......the other day Jack was at his friends house and said, "when my baby came out of Heaven she was naked. Was yours?" The friends mom told him yes their baby was naked too and then she told him that all babies are, even he was. He looked at her with raised, dubious eyebrows and said, "not me! I had a cape."

This girl

I just barely took this picture of our girl who we cannot get enough of.  I can't even explain what it is, but she is so fun. Bedtime is a pure joy with this girl. I get her tooth brush out and she just opens her mouth right up and makes the "ahhhhh" sound. Tonight I was too lazy to put the toothpaste on, but when I started to brush without it she says, "paste, paste" as she's looking around for the toothpaste. She loves to "urse" so we sit down on the floor in front of her crib and nurse. When she feels ready she says, "in, in." I lay her in the crib and she puckers up her little lips. I lean in and kiss that darling face and then she says, "bye, bye" about 3 or 4 times as I leave the room. Tonight I left and grabbed my phone and went back in and took this picture. She looked at the phone and said, "cheese" with that little thumb in her mouth. She just gets more fun each day. She's starting to get the football, bend over with it on the ground and say, "hut, hut" following right in Ivans little footsteps. 

I could go on an on. Another day.

Halloween 2014

This blogging is great, however then you don't have any new news to tell people when you see them. I got to visit my Arizona cousins this weekend, but feel a tad repetitive sharing stories about the kids.... I think they already know them all! :) Oh well, we'll continue to blog. So here is Halloween this year.....

Moms house for soup and then walk down the street to this display her neighbor puts up on their roof

Ivan and Jensen

Jensen, Jack and Jared

Mandy always seems to get in the spirit

I'm enjoying the school thing. It makes me miss teaching a bit, so to fill that I'll just try and poke my head in on Ivan every now and again. Got to help out with their Halloween party.

Our neighbor who works at the school

quick visits to trick or treat grandma's

and her neighbor. This is a great picture if you look close. It's kinda depicts each kid...... Maybell's always jumping aroun, Jack is always a step behind and Ivan's usually right on track

 grandma youngs

Annual neighbor pictures. 

It was kinda crazy trying to finish dinner and get out there, I saw pix already started to be taken so I ran out..... we didn't get linkin dang it. Sorry Julie!

 The two girls stayed home and passed out candy. We sat on the porch for a bit and everyone I would hand out a piece of candy to she would yell either, "no" or "mine"

Happy Halloween