Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving week.  The Sunday before Thanksgiving my family came over to our house for a pre-Thanksgiving meal.  The food was great and we had a great time crammed around our kitchen table.  The cousins had a blast running all around  the house with each other. The only one not happy was Lucky (our dog)  he got to stay in the basement penned up so no one would be bothered by him.  I am sure he was thankful to get out at the end of the evening to clean up the scraps.  Thursday we went to Shawn's parents where all the family was there.  The food was great and the kids had a blast.  Grandma and Grandpa had them sleep over so we came home to quiet and peace and Lucky.  I got up (for the first time in my life) and joined the rest of the world of Black Friday Shoppers!  We met at 4 AM and headed to Walmart to claim our items. It was insane!  I can't believe the frenzy and the craziness when it was  5 AM.  We next headed to Target which had a line wrapping all around to the back.  We got in and were able to get everything we needed.  We hit several stores and McDonald's for breakfast and then to the mall.  I finally got home around 11:30 AM.  I had so much fun.  We were laughing at ourselves trying to figure out how to fit all of our purchases and our bodies in Stacey's car.   I had so much fun and the deals!  I am planning for next year already and saving my money!  Thanks Stacey for inviting me to join the party!

I had better let you all know what I am thankful for.  I could not let this great holiday get swallowed up in the food and the shopping.   I know it sounds so cliche to say that I am thankful for Shawn and the kids but it is sooo true.  I am so glad to have Shawn in my life to put up with my crazies and be my friend and think I am hot with braces on my face, a little 'junk in my trunk'  -so thanks!

I love Connor who is so sweet and obedient and helpful.  He so often gets pushed to the side because of the needs and attention his brother and sister have.  He is so creative with his legos and hot wheels. There is nothing he can't build with that stuff.  

Jake-is my trial and my joy.  He is the giver of great hugs and kisses.  He loves to be silly and make you laugh.  He is passionate!

Sophie-what a cheeseball!  She knows that she has us wrapped around her fingers.  She is our princess.  Life without each of these kids would be very lonely!

I love you all!

St. George

Shawn, finally enjoying some leisure time.  He has a book in his hand but he may be sleeping!
Connor has become such a fish.  He loves the water and is a great swimmer.
Jake, all personality, what a cheeser!
As always, here is miss attitude!

Here are some more photos of our trip.  I can't move on from our trip because I am so cold and these pictures are what we have left of the not so distant warmer days!  These photos were taken an hour before we had to leave for home and the cold weather.  Brrrr

More Disneyland

   Here are Jake, Connor and Sophie in Mickey's house.
Mickey stopped to pose with us before retiring for the night!
Sophie in Minnie Mouse's chair.
I get Shawn and Sophie to pose in Minnie's kitchen and wouldn't you know it Jake decides to walk right into the picture.  He does have a cute head.

Here are some more photos of my cute kids in Disneyland.

Disneyland

Here is Sophie having fun in Disneyland by her beloved merry-go-round.
The kids enjoying Bug's Land in California Adventure Park.
This is at the end of our Trick or Treating party.  Sophie has crashed!
Aren't they cute?
Here we are getting ready to go home at the end of the Trick or Treat Party!

We decided that we needed a vacation so we packed up the car and the kids and headed to Disneyland over Halloween.  We survived the drive by stopping in St. George to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson.  The first night we got to Disneyland we went to a Trick or Treat Party in California Adventure Park.  The kids had fun riding the rides and getting lots of candy.  One of the nights in Disneyland we headed into Toon Town and it was completely deserted. We got to enjoy Minnie and Mickey's houses without the crowds of people.  Last year we went to Disneyland in July.    We didn't have the best experience.  It was hot and very crowded.  This year was much better, no lines and great weather = happy kids and happy parents.  Connor and I spent 9 hours one day at Disneyland and California Park.  Connor loves amusement park rides.  We did Tower of Terror and this year he was able to ride California Screamin'! He loved both rides.  Jake loved the rides too.  Sophie loved the carousel and tried to ride it as many times as she could.  She isn't a fan of 'scary' rides.  I forced her on them anyway telling her they were 'fun' scary rides.  I don't think I scarred her too much.  She enjoyed Disneyland too.  Shawn was patient with me dragging the kids all day throughout the park.  One day we decided to have ice cream cones for lunch.  Shawn was the only one not keen on the idea but I reminded him we were in Disneyland so that is what we did and the kids were a terrible mess but they were happy.  Each day the kids wanted to leave Disneyland and go swim at the hotel pool.  I think next year we will save some money and spend time in a hotel close to home so the kids can swim in the pool and eat breakfast at the hotel and get cereal out of the really cool cereal dispensing machines!

Happy Homemaker!

I have been home cooking today because I joined a freezer meal group in my ward and I put on my cute apron that I got recently.  I bought it from a local company called 'Flirty Aprons'.  I know most people could sew these cute aprons, but not me.  Anyway, I decided that every time I put on this apron I feel like Martha Stewart and I tend to cook better and my house gets cleaner!  So I thought I would share a photo of how cute this apron is.  I converted my friend Jamie to these aprons.  Our husbands don't get it but we don't care.  These aprons are just plain cute!  If you would like to buy or sew me another cute apron then I would not turn down the gift!  Ha ha!  Doesn't every happy homemaker need something cute to help her get through the endless piles of laundry, dirty dishes, muddy floors, dust, bedmaking, ironing, etc.?

Disclaimer:  This apron has been known to make you whistle while you work or even break out singing a happy working song!  

Pumpkin Land

Connor, Sophie and cousin Andy.  Jake is standing to the left of the pumpkins.  Doesn't Connor look pleased to be there?
Andy Stevenson, Hailee Larsen, Sage, Sophie,  Connor in the back (again thrilled to be in a photo) and Jake reading the sign.

Jake looks so sweet.  Don't let that look fool you!
  Connor really did have a good day.  I am afraid for the teenage  years!

We didn't do much over UEA because we are heading out on vacation next week.  We did take time to head to a not so local pumpkin patch so the kids and cousins could spend the day together and play and enjoy some fall festivities.  

Life cut short and the blessings of struggles

This morning after I sent the kids off to school I got dressed for the gym and went in for a cycling class.  About half way through the class a rush of overwhelming sadness took over me as I thought about my Uncle Kent who's life was cut short last week as he was riding his bike in Arizona. My uncle was a triathlete, marathoner and an avid bike rider.  He was doing what he loved when a drunk driver hit him, took off and left him on the side of the road to die.  Meanwhile his wife was left wondering where he was.  When he was found he had no I.D. on him so he was listed as 'John Doe' until his family put the pieces together and were able to identify him.  We are still waiting for the release of his body so the family can start the healing process.  I have not been in close touch with my uncle or his children since my childhood.  Our cousins were our greatest playmates.  We grew up with countless sleep overs at each other's homes, at Grandparents, and vacations together.  I have so many fond memories of Jenni, Julie, Laura, Uncle Kent, and Aunt Madilee.  I feel the loss as I try to find understanding in this and can only try to understand and grasp a bit of what they might be going through.  So my prayers and thoughts go out to Julie, her kids and Jason, to Jenni and her girls, to Laura and to Cheri, my uncle's wife.

As I was talking to my neighbor about this horrible accident she commented about the year that we have been through.  It has been the hardest year of my life.  With the loss of Shawn's job, a horrible bombshell about my family and family secrets, the loss of a beloved pet, and my uncle's death -to say the least it has not been an easy year.  But I realize that in this year I have found that I am stronger than I have ever known and that there is so much support and love in good neighbors, friends and family.  I have learned the strength, compassion and love of siblings can teach and help heal broken hearts and start the mending.  So to all those that have helped through  support either in a listening ear, prayers, taking kids off our hands, or any other way, Thank you so much.

And thanks to My Heavenly Father that gives us these struggles so that we can grow and learn about our own potential and remind us that there are wonderful people all around us to lift us when we can't do it ourselves.