Being Crafty

Mom, the kids and I headed to Hobby Lobby to get some tree decorations. As we were strolling through the store I saw this beautiful wreath that had green and red ornaments in it. Looking at the price tag it was $60.00 but the store was doing 50% off christmas stuff so it would have been $30.00. I played around with the price tag and decided I better not get it. Well Mom said to me"lets make you one." So we headed down the isle and found wreaths on sale 50% off so I got a wreath. Then we got some more tree decorating things, ornaments and ribbon.

In the end with all christmas stuff being 50% off we made our wreath for about $20.00.

 Here is the final masterpiece.

I really have to give credit to my mom. Thanks mom for helping me make my wreath I love it.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year we had Thanksgiving at moms house. I headed over to my moms Wednesday night to help with the little stuff so we wouldn't stress about it the next day and because the stuffing needed to be made the night before. We finished putting the finishing touches on the table, then started making the dressing. Mom had found the sausage dressing that is really yummy. Once the stuffing was made it was time to inject the turkey.

Once it was all done I headed home to get rested for the next day.

The dinner table - Mom does a great job and always goes all out.

We were asked to bring Sweet Potatoes and Cranberries. 

On our way to grandma's house

Brooke & Logan

Cristy, Kaymbria, Riley & Landon

Brooke taking a picture of me while I take a picture of her - yes we are trying to be funny.

My handsome sweet little boy

Daddy & Jack

Abigail  the wild child

Abigail and Mommy

The Sisters

Mom and the Sisters

Thankgiving dinner is always a lot of work and in the end it was so good. I did go back for turkey, stuffing and of coarse mash potatoes but in the end its sad how fast it is over with and done. After dinner the boys took the kids outside to play football and of coarse being the older girl, Abigail is found in leaves playing.

After cleaning up, the boys and kids playing football the girls decided to look through the ads and see if there is anything good for the early bird special. Abigail wanted to check out the shopping ads too and I guess let us know what her christmas list will be consisting of.

In the middle of looking through ads, letting our food digest a little it was then time for pie and home made ice cream.

Abigail enjoyed her ice cream however it was hard for her to eat due to her having sensitive teeth.

Jack couldn't get enough. I think he had two bowls full of ice cream - our little sugar eater.

Over all I love Thanksgiving. This holiday allows us to realize what we are thankful for.

Since Thanksgiving landed on the 24th here is a list of 24 things I am thankful for, however my list does continue on -

1. Love - to be able to feel and know how to love

2. Family - For if it was not for my mom and dad I would not be here nor I wouldn't have had two great brothers to fight with

3. Jeremy - I would be lost with out him by my side

4. Sealing of Families - to know that my family will be sealed together for time and eternity

5. Birth Parents - for the ups and downs, the love and the sacrifice and the out come of Jack becoming a part of our family

6. Jack - for this inocent boy life would be a bore and his personality and love lights up the room

6. Birth - to be able to experience giving birth to a beautiful baby girl

7. Abigail - for her wild charismatic personality and how she continues to learn each and every day and with what little things she has to say it puts a smile on your face

8. Our Home - a place to call ours

9. Jobs - to be employed and be able to provide for our family

10. Priesthood - for blessing and prayers to help heal and protect the family/home from harm

11. Food - to be able to keep our bodies healthy

12. Clothes - although expensive - to keep us warm in winter and cool in the summer

13. Friends - to be able to laugh, share and watch their kids grow up with ours

14. In Laws - to have an extra set of parents to look over you

15. Tawnie - Always willing to watch our kids

16. Books - to let the mind create 

17. My life - to experience, to learn and grow

18. My Dad - although he lives a little way away - I miss him and wish he was closer

19. My Mom - always there to help me when I need her

20. Medicine - to knock me out when I am not feeling well

21. Pioneers - what they had to go through to get us where we needed to be

22. Computers - although they can be a pain its amazing what they lead to

23. My bed for when I fight and fight and fight to try and get out of when the kids wake up in the early morning hours

24. Gopsel, Jesus and Heavenly Father

36 and getting older

Before we had kids, Jeremy and I would always go and try the different restaurants, you know the ones that cost more than $20.00 for the both of us. Since having kids we don't get that priviledge, so usually on our birthdays we try to take the other to nice restaurants that are different from the norm such as Chili's, AppleBees, etc. This year for Jeremy's birthday I decided to take him to Brio at Fashion Place Mall.

http://www.brioitalian.com/index.html

This is their White Peach Palmer, it was yummy.

Bruschetta Quattro - Roasted Red Pepper, Roasted Red Pepper & Mozzarella, Roasted Tomato & Ricotta and Sliced Steak

What a handsome birthday boy!

Bistecca Insalata - A wedge of lettuce, Gorgonzola, bacon, Roma tomatoes and creamy Parmesan dressing

Italian Wedding Soup

Sweet Potato & Chicken Risotto - With pancetta, roasted chicken and sweet potatoes, grilled asparagus, Parmigiano-Reggiano and pine nuts

Pasta Pomodoro with Chicken - Angel hair with grilled chicken, tomatoes, pine nuts and a cilantro pesto drizzle

Dessert - Creme Brulee

It was a really fun and yummy restaurant. I suggest all go.

Happy birthday Jeremy! I love you!



Jack 30 Months

Jack,

You are becoming such a handsome young boy. You light up the house with your serious but funny personality. You love your trains and cars and Iron Man (cartoon), Super Why and pretty much what is ever on Netflix. You get upset when your sister comes to play and get mad at Hally for leaving you when you want to hug her and lay on her. You are such a smart and polite little man. You have started to eat a lot better, but I think your favorite food is Hamburgers and Fries. Whenever you ask for something and it is brought to you, you always say "Thank You." You love to read and you love trying to say new words and making them into sentences. You are such an example to your sister and I know that she looks up to you already. I love you so much and you make me so proud of the obstacles you are achieving and conquering in your life.

Is Christmas Now?

After reading my sisters blog about her tree being put up even before Thanksgiving I mentioned this to Jeremy and when I came home from work this is what I found...

First all of the family room furniture re arranged and then...

Our Christmas tree.

Although it is not decorated it is fun to have it up and sit and enjoy the glistening of the lights.

Abigail 22 Months

Abigail,

You are talking more and more each day. You currently LOVE watching Super Why and want to watch Super Why all day long if you could, which reminds me of when I was little and I loved to watch Sesame Street all day long. You love to have things your way and continue to love getting Jack upset by bothering him when he is content and happy, but that wouldn't be a little sister now would it. You love to sing and have such a pretty singing voice. You are able to count to 10 missing a few numbers but overall making it to 10. You also love to sing the alphabet and lets not forget about reading. The funniet thing about you is when people laugh you reply with "Funny." I can not express how much I love you and how much you make me laugh. You grow more and more each day. I love the fact that although you love playing with Jack's toys you have started getting into Barbies.

Happy Birthday, Riley

We celebrated Riley's birthday today.

Photo courtesy of Cristy (Riley's mom)

He turned 5 and so we headed to his house to have Pizza, and presents then headed to Allstar Lanes for bowling which is his favorite activity.

When we got there it was going to be an hour wait so we had cake, ran around the arcacde. Here are some pics of us hanging out.

Brooke

Jack driving

Abi driving

Jack driving while not watching the road.

Abi copying her brother

After getting our fun with the arcade our lanes were available and off to bowling we went. I apologize for no pictures, maybe Cristy got some on her camera. Jack and Abigail did a great job their first time bowling. They loved it.

Riley, hope you had a very...

Pumpkins, Costumes & Candy Galore

Halloween 2011 was a success. We started our Halloween festivites on Sunday the 30th with carving pumpkins and watching Disney's the Haunted Mansion.



Our pumpkins we picked from the pumpkin patch.

A pumpkin masters kit to carve our awesome design.

After church and before naps we had the kids some what help us carve the pumpkins.

Even though this picture shows the kids putting their hands in he pumpkins we actually put candy in the pumpkin for them to get.

Yes they put their hands in the pumpkin and got their treat..

On Halloween, Monday the 31st I headed to work and had Jeremy and the kids drop me off. At around 3 they came and picked me up to start the Halloween Trick or Treating. We headed to Grandma Heinrichs' work and went trick or treating their first.

Then we headed to Grandma & Grandpa South's

Yes, Abigial was a cat and Jack was a dog - because most of the time they are fighting like cats and dogs.

Abigail found a sucker.

Trying to get them to hold still for a picture, since daddy forgot.

Jack and his cute dogself.

The kids done with Trick or Treating, but mom and dad making them take pictures.

No flash, but great pictures of the pumpkins.

The kids are finally done. The got a lot of candy, which they are sharing with mom and dad.

Hope everyone had a