A Happy Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving celebration started with Mr. B's preschool pumpkin pie party. Parents were invited to the party, so I got to enjoy some fun preschool time with Bradock. I also got to have a good chat with Mr. B's preschool teacher, Mrs. St. John and his speech therapist, Mrs. Amy. Both had great things to say about Bradock and how much he is improving. We are still working on his fine motor skills and his muscular strength in his upper body, but overall he is doing such a great job and is on track for kindergarten next year. I also found out that he has two friends in his class, Manny and Diesel. Apparently, they call themselves the 3 amigos because they all have dark skin. Mrs. St. Johns decided this was a good time to talk to the class about liking everyone with different skin color...who knew we would need to discuss discriminating against light skin:) Just the other day Brett and I were talking to the kids about being adopted (which we talk about all the time) and Bradock kind of had this ah-ha moment...he looks at me and says "That's why you have blonde hair, Mom! Hopefully, I'm still cool even though I have blonde hair.

We spent the rest of the week down in Mesa hanging with family and friends. I didn't get any pics, but we had a fun night out with the Forts, Crocketts, Brinton Colburn and Chelsee (Meegan's sister). The Forts lost a bet to the Crocketts and owed them dinner, so we joined in on the celebratory pay-back dinner at Claim Jumpers. We had a ton of fun. It makes me so homesick when I hang out with my friends...I miss them so much!

Thanksgiving was spent with the Flaherty's at Jack and Jen's place. I actually lucked out because my parents and brother came with us, so no back-and-forth for us this year...it was so nice. Thanksgiving was scrumptous and the kids had a blast jumping on the tramp, swinging on the swings, chasing the neighbors' turkey, and going for a motorcycle ride. That night we ended up going to the movies and saw "Arthur Christmas"...such a funny and cute movie.

Of course, what's Thanksgiving without a little Black Friday shopping. Kiley, Brett and I met up with my fam at crazy ol' Walmart where we scored some blue ray players, kid pjs, movies and a few other little things. Our biggest score of the night was at Best Buy where Brett, luckily, ended up getting the last 60" tv for $800...Merry Christmas to us!!! We have been watching tv on our little 27incher for almost our entire marriage and were super stoked to finally upgrade...and boy is it an upgrade. It looks gigantic in our basement, but Brett and the kids are loving it:)

We got our Christmas tree and decorations up, so we are ready for Christmas to come. I seriously love this time of year and can't wait for more family and friends time and just enjoying this Christmas season.

Tanner and Heidi's Wedding

This last week was pure craziness...but in a oh-so-good way. Thursday was Tanner and Heidi's wedding in the Mesa Temple. They were so cute and look so happy. Bradock and Raylee were so excited for them to get married. They included them in their prayers all week and well Miss Ray was dying to see Heidi's pretty princess dress. After the temple everyone headed over to Bob and Terri's church for the groom's dinner...done Mexican fiesta style:)


Later that night I joined my fam (mom, sis, bro) and several friends including Terri James from Utah for the midnight premiere of Breaking Dawn. I know this sounds absurd, but I just love waiting in line, hanging out into the wee hours of the night and having a blast with friends and fam. We had such a good time, but boy the lack of sleep caught up to me the next day.

All Friday morning we spent helping get the wedding reception ready. My mother-in-law is absolutely amazing and so talented when it comes to planning, decorating, putting together the flowers and putting on a party like no other. You name it...she can do it. I don't know how she keeps every little detail in her head, but that's why she is one of a kind. The reception was in the Hogle's backyard and was absolutely beautiful. The kids especially loved busting some awesome moves on the dance floor. The food was also amazing...brick oven pizza, pasta, salad, apple crisp, mini cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. Mr. B and Ray were utterly exhausted when we finally made the drive home late that night. We actually had to wake them up at 9 o'clock the next morning...sleepy heads. We even caught a pic of the two sleeping...somehow Mr. B snuck into Ray's bed...so cute. I hope to get more pics from the bride and groom, but this is what I got with my own camera from the reception that night.

Mr. B the Memorizing Machine

A couple weeks ago, on fast Sunday, Mr. B excitedly asked Brett and I if he could bare his testimony. The day of total proudness and yet complete nervousness had arrived for me. I don't know why it makes me anxious for my kids to bare their testimonies...actually yes I do...I have no idea what they are actually going to say in that microphone. With that said, we told Mr. B he had to go all by himself...no help...and asked if he was ready for that. He said yes and proceeded to tell us what he might say. We gave him the okay and he walked his little self up on to the stage of the chapel and stood right next to the podium where someone was already baring their testimony...hilarious. Our kind bishop had him come and sit on his lap until the other person was finished. Mr. B looked so small yet so grown up behind the podium. He had a little stage fright at first, but ended up doing a great job. He even ended up reciting his favorite scripture, which he had memorized a few weeks before. I just can't believe how much Bradock seems to have grown up since we moved to Payson.

Today was our ward's primary program and Bradock had the opportunity to do some more memorizing. He has such an amazing talent for it and was so excited to say his part for the program. Both sets of grandparents and Uncle Justin came all the way to Payson just to hear him say "Through Joseph Smith, Heavenly Father restored the Priesthood. Christ's church cannot work without the power of the priesthood." He did yet another amazing job. I am just so proud of my smart, little boy.

I can't forget Miss Raylee girl. Even though she wasn't part of the primary program she memorized Bradock's part too. She even has his scripture memorized. I just can't believe how big my kids are...I love it. They constantly amaze me with the things they can do.

Here are some recent pics of Mr. B. He had so much fun hanging out with cousin Cooper and going for a "Ranger ride" with dad and cousin David. Mr. B is also loving the new tramp that Grandma and Grandpa gave us. They are building a pool in their backyard, so we got their old tramp...yipee for us.

Preschool projects galore

Chilly Celebration

Payson decided to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary with cold temps and a whole lot of snow. After living in Idaho and Utah I swore I would never live in cold country again...I'm now eating my words. Sunday afternoon, we decided to take a drive up towards Pine/Strawberry area and I couldn't believe how much snow there was...and how lucky I felt to live in Payson where there was currently no such thing. Well, that didn't last long because we had the craziest storm all night and woke up to a nice little snow blizzard. It was the kids' first official "snow day" here in Payson...apparently not enough of a big deal for school to be canceled even though it was certainly a HUGE deal to us. All day I kept thinking to myself "Where in the world do I live?!!" Apparently the rumors we have been hearing about Payson's weather are true though because the snow didn't last long...we still have cold weather but it was nice and sunny today. I have decided I can deal with the cold as long as I have sunshine in my life.



Yes I am wearing pajama bottoms in the snow...how was I to know that our nice little Sunday drive would turn into a full blown play-in-the-snow day.

Pirate/Princess Lovin

My little poser was excited to dress up as a cowboy for his "Preschool Buckaroos" Halloween party. What's better than a cowboy by day and a pirate by night?!

This little chica wouldn't have had Halloween any other way...Princess all the way. She actually had her mind set on being Snow White and, of course, out of all the princess dresses she owns Snow White is not one of them. With a little persuasion we convinced her that Princess Tiana was way better:)

Mr. B was so excited when I whipped out some pirate costumes for me and dad. Brett isn't too keen on the whole Halloween thing and just wanted to go as a cowboy...shocker...but Bradock said he really wanted us to be pirates like him. So Brett gave in, but somehow managed to make it a cowboy pirate with his black cowboy hat...seriously can't get the hick out of him.

That night we met up with our friends, the Haughts, for some fun trick-or-treating. I love that our kids are still young enough that a little is a lot...one hour and a few blocks later and we were all done...Halloween was a success.