Thanksgiving Weekend

It has been a busy weekend, but we have had a lot of fun! Thanksgiving was so fun to be with so much family and of course good food!!We got together with my cousins the night before Thanksgiving to have a dessert night. Tessa thought the food was excellent!
Adam had fun coloring with his cousins

My parents cooked another amazing Thanksgiving dinner! Pa did a great job carving Tom the Turkey.

Good food and good company!

Adam had a blast playing with uncle Kevin this weekend. They built a pirate ship out of legos.

Friday morning we got up early and went to the mall to watch Santa's grand arrival! The kids loved it and I think we found a new tradition.

Santa and his helicopter

After watching Santa land in his helicopter we headed to my parents for turkey sandwiches. We then went home to spend the afternoon and evening decorating for Christmas. We had the tree up with lights on it when the kids woke up from their naps. Tessa saw it and said, "WOW!"

Adam loved decorating the tree! He put every decoration on one corner of the tree. I fixed it when he went to bed. The kids are loving Christmas already! I am glad we have a month to enjoy it!

Gratitude

I have been thinking a lot this week about gratitude-not just because it is Thanksgiving, but because we have so much to be thankful for! This week last year was when our faith was really tested. This week last year I moved back to Utah with the kids. My mom came up with her van to load us up with as much as we could fit and bring us back to Utah. Eric finished his last week of work and then drove down the night before Thanksgiving. Eric losing his job was one of the most difficult things we have ever dealt with and we never would have made it without our amazing families! Eric's parents opened their home to us without hesitation. The words "thank you" have never quite seemed enough. I don't think I will ever be able to tell them how grateful we are to them for letting us stay there. Having the constant support of our parents is what got us through most days. I think back to how many time's my sweet Mother-in-law told us how she had a really good feeling about Eric getting a job soon-that is what got me through-faith and prayers!
I am grateful for tithing! How there was enough money to pay our bills every month when we had no paycheck, I will never know, but there always was.
I am grateful for our families and friends who offered so many prayers and encouraging words in our behalf. It was much easier to be positive with them at our sides.
I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who takes care of us, even when we are not aware that He is. Everything that happened to us in the last two years was for a reason. I am so grateful to know that He loves us and wants the best for us. As we do our part, He is anxiously waiting to bless us with the things we need.
I have always loved this time of year, but I think because of what happened this time last year, this will forever be my favorite time of year. Looking back we can easily see the Lord's hand leading our family to where we are now. This time of year will always remind me of how blessed we really are and help me to teach my children the importance of gratitude, not just at Thanksgiving time, but all year long.

Oh Happy Day!!!

It's Open!!!!

She thinks she's a big girl...

She started using her silverware about a week ago and she is catching on quickly! What happened to my baby?!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

I love fall in Utah! This is my favorite time of year. The colors, the weather, the anticipation of holidays-I love it all. Yesterday we had so much fun! We headed over to my work to rake leaves in the backyard! Adam LOVED it and Tessa HATED it! Adam is such a hard worker-he loved raking the leaves.

We had to force Tessa into the pile of leaves. She was not a happy girl.

Tessa just sat on the grass holding a rake while everyone else played. Her face says it all!

Uncle Ben was in a bit of pain after this landing-but we got a great picture so it was worth it!

Uncle Andrew got some air too.

Adam jumped in the leaves for about an hour. This is what childhood is all about!

Finally a good picture. Yep-even mommy jumped in the leaves a couple of times!

When it was finally time to bag the leaves, Tessa for some reason thought they were pillows. She kept laying on the bags and saying, "Nigh Nigh".

Eric went to check on Adam at about 2:00am and this is how he found Adam-dead asleep! I have no idea how anyone could sleep like this, but somehow my kids do.

Halloween 2009

Halloween was so fun this year! Peter Pan and Tinkerbell were a hit. Adam was amazed that every house we went to gave him candy! I think he would have gone trick or treating all night if we had let him. We are already looking forward to next year! Happy Halloween!