Thanksgiving Photos

For Thanksgiving this year, we started the day at home with Ben's family. I had told the kids down here in Vegas, who missed Grandma's photo booth party, that I would let them do a photo booth. So I fixed my props and these goofy kids had some fun.

Then while that crew was getting ready to sit down and eat, we packed up and headed to my parents house where Ben and I cooked a small Thanksgiving dinner. It was nice and quiet and oh so yummy. Later that night my sisters arrived for dessert and to decorate my parents Christmas tree. I'm so very grateful that Ben and I are lucky enough to have both sets of parents close by and get to spend holidays together. It's been a rough year but I'm so grateful for the never changing love of family.

And I wanted to add that the Friday after Thanksgiving, Ben and I celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary. I really love that husband of mine and I sure am grateful for all he does for me and our family. He's my favorite!

My Birthday Girl

While Ben and I were traveling to Utah in November, Shelby was busy turning 9. My mom and sister, Katie, spoiled her rotten and she had a birthday she probably won't forget. I know my mom won't forget it either, since she had to go to the ER for stitches that night. Oh bless my parents for taking my kids! So since we were gone on her actual birthday, we allowed her to have a big friend party. TEN 8-10 year old girls singing karaoke! It was crazy fun!

I sure do love this amazing girl of mine. She's so smart and talented. I'm pretty much the luckiest mom ever because I get to call her my daughter! Happy Birthday Miss Shelby Rae!

Family Time and Temple Time

In the middle of November, Ben and I were lucky enough to take a quick trip up to Utah.  We celebrated his mom's 60th birthday with a surprise party. I was in charge of the photo booth and it was fun! These are just a small sampling of pictures I took that night.

 Oh these boys...not sure what to do about my husband...

 This was the favorite prop of the night. But come on...Batman!

The next morning was a very special day as we headed to central Utah for Ben's sister Rachel and her husband, CD's sealing in the Manti Temple. It was our first time visiting that temple and wow is that a beautiful building! While we were waiting for our time to head in, Ben humored me and let me lead him down the hill to the cemetery. My grandpa Water's had told me that my great (times a few) grandpa was buried there and that his headstone was the largest one there. Unfortunately, I didn't know his name. But that didn't stop me, and guess what...we found him!

And yes it was the biggest FLAT headstone and made of solid marble. I was pretty excited when I found out later that it was in fact the right one.

The Manti temple only does live sessions and so that was a really awesome experience in and of itself but add on top of that the fact that so much of Ben's family was all there together, it was a truly amazing experience. I'm so incredibly grateful for sealing powers and for the knowledge that my family is forever.

 And it was really nice to have another link in our family chain connected.

October Randoms

So be prepared for loads of posts over the next few days, I'm way behind and I have lots to share. Here's some randomness from October.

1. The kids slept out in a tent for the whole weekend and loved it.
2. Dooley has an after school choir class that Stryder and Shelby joined.  They love it and that was their first performance in front of the school.
3. Yes, I let him wear that outfit to school, he's a hipster.
4. Field Trip to the Smith's Center with Soren's class this time.
5. Ben helped sew quite a bit of Stryd's costume and I had to snap a pic to prove it later.
6. Helped in Soren's class for the Halloween party. It was the last costume parade too, I'm pretty sad and relieved by that.
7. Ben and I made Diamondback Snake bread sticks for the boys' classes on Halloween.
8. The park was the best place to see trees change color.
9. Soren lost his other front tooth. The best part is that it still hasn't grown in. I love that toothless smile.