Thanks for Thanksgiving…

This year provided a first for me on Thanksgiving. I cooked the dinner- yea, the whole thing. Okay, maybe I am taking way too much credit. But, I definitely did a whole lot more than I usually do of the Thanksgiving Day food preparation.

 

We were lucky enough to have my sister and her family come visit for the holiday. And for such a special occasion, we decided we would keep our Thanksgiving meal intimate and do it ourselves. So we ordered a turkey and a ham (I know, I know that’s the hardest part and I copped out, but I wasn’t ready to take the whole thing on “cold turkey,” if you know what I mean). My sister and I spent a good portion of the day fixing all the sides, which I realize is customary Thanksgiving day activities, while the boys were on kid patrol. All the work aside, we managed to create a pretty delicious spread.

 

Obviously, we spent so much time on food preparation that we didn’t leave a whole lot of time for picture taking, but we managed one of the table and all its goodness.

 

 

So after a couple days preparation and several hours of food fixing, the meal took all of a half hour to gorge ourselves. But we all decided it was well worth the effort. It was so fun having my sister and family there for the occasion. It really helped to focus the holiday on the thing that matter most in our life- family!

Halloween…

We find some crazy parental pleasure in making Rya and Tieg’s costumes go together for Halloween. I’m sure this won’t last long but we’ll enjoy it while we still have a say in the decision. Last year, if you recall, they were a witch and an elephant (ha- not quite the original plan, but they were super cute so just go with it).

 

This year, we started planning a little earlier. On Rya’s request, she went as Rapunzel (or the more modern “Tangled”). So that narrowed  our options for Tieg’s outfit down to Pascal, a chameleon; Max, a horse; or Flynn Ryder, the handsome thief. We finally decided on Flynn Ryder. There was some debate on whether it was weird for Rya’s little brother to don the costume of the character who eventually became her love interest in that movie. Our rationalization was that Flynn Ryder was actually a fictional character from a book, whereas Eugene was the actual love interest. So for any of you that had the same concerns, be appeased.

 

 

Anyways, look at that dapper little man. He really pulls it off, doesn’t he?!!? And, for anyone that is curious. No, that is not Rya’s real hair (well some of it is her real hair). Although I am proud to say we had several people ask if it was actually all her hair. No, rather it was several painstaking hours spent turning a wig into hair extensions and then a lot of patience, on both our parts, while it was weaved into her hair. It turned out perfect though. And, finally what would their outfits be without their outfits. Enough thanks can’t be said to my mom for her talents and ingenuity in making Rya’s and a good portion of Tieg’s costumes. Thanks Grandma Deer!

 

 

We hit the candy beat several times over the Halloween weekend, between the work, neighborhood and church parties, the kids pulled in a pretty big haul. Unlike his sister, Tieg wasn’t scared of anything. Big gnarly, blood covered fanged werewolf…yeah, he gave him a high five with a smile while Rya hid behind Cody’s leg (And, I don’t blame her, I almost wanted to hide too). Rya, on the other hand, was an old pro this year, leading the way from house to house, trunk to trunk and cubicle to cubicle teaching little Tieg how to smile candy right out of people. They had a blast and I don’t think they minded getting all that candy either. 

 

It was a very happy Halloween indeed.

Living on the Edge…

We have to post this as proof to ward off our kids’ possible complaints in the future. If my kids are anything like I was, they will complain at one point that the car they are afforded to drive is a “piece of junk.” I just want them to know that we have had our fair share of those types of vehicles, and that “WE REALLY DO UNDERSTAND.”

I like to think of Cody’s little red car as the Little Red Engine that could. It keeps giving even though really we should be behind it pushing it down the road.

There are a myriad of issues, but rather than go into all of them I will just post one. Below is the picture Cody’s brake pad (on the right) and what a normal break pad (on the left) should look like. Against our better judgment, we drove the car like this for a couple months. As you can guess, his brake pads didn’t really do anything, so to stop the car we had to down shift until we were under 5 mph, before we engaged the brake.

Fortunately, there were no incidents during this time. You just gotta love those cars that just keep on giving. And, to our future kids, if ever it need be said, “We understand, and you really don’t have it that bad…so get over it!

Summer Vacation: Grandma Bunny's House

Cody’s Man Bag…

That’s right—this one could make millions… The Baby Bag!   All the baby portability of a Bjorn, plus extra space to carry books, diapers, snacks, whatever. And, so chic, it can go with any outfit. No stealing our idea now…I know it’s tempting! But, in all seriousness now, don’t we have the cutest product models ever?

What Happens…

This is what happens when you try to wear every piece of dress up that you own all at once. Haha! Not, really. Rya is our little fashionista, this could be the new budding trend. Take notes, people, Rya has a knack for this stuff. (Can you just imagine me in this outfit?!—Yikes!)

Ummm…?

 We were visiting a friend’s house and Rya had found a treasure trove of toys. She went to play instantly. It wasn’t until we were leaving and went to pick up the toys that we noticed a bit of a crowd gathered around the trolls. Intrigued, Cody asked Rya what the animals were doing. He said, “Are the animals having a party with the trolls?” Rya put her hands on her hips, tilted her head slightly and replied, “No Daddy, they are EATING them!”


I don’t even know what to say to that! 

Proud Mom Moment

Rya enjoys drawing. She makes little pictures for people and folds them up to give it to them. While I was on the computer, she brought me one of her completed projects. I was a little distracted and told her she should write her name on it. She went in the other room, and without any other direction, a few minutes later came back in and handed me this. Wow! She had my full attention at this point and my admiration. Maybe I just have mommy goggles on, but I can see each distinct letter in perfection (although some may be upside down). Look at my little girl, all grown up and writing her name for the first time.

 

 

This “Proud Mom Moment” is brought to you by Rya.

Faith of a Child….

Matthew 14: 24-31

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary…And ^ain the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. …And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water…And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”

A few weeks ago, we read this passage to Rya. That night in her prayers, and in nearly every prayer since then, she has asked to be able to walk on water. Nervous that she might give this one a try on her own, my initial reaction following her prayer was to help her to understand that she couldn’t or shouldn’t try to walk on water.

I stopped short of telling her this realizing that I was reacting similar to Peter: “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was ^aafraid; and beginning to sink… And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little ^afaith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Not long after, in this past General Conference, Jean A. Stevens spoke, saying:  “These precious children of God come to us with believing hearts. They are full of faith and receptive to feelings of the Spirit. Have some of life’s experiences taken from you the believing heart and childlike faith you once had? “

Oh me of little faith, wherefore do I doubt? And, oh that I might have faith like my sweet little girl. What an example she is to me. Thank you Rya!

Obviously!

So this evening, I turned around from washing the dishes to find Rya laying spread eagle on the floor eyes closed with a half eaten apple in her outstretched hand and a mischievous little smile. Obviously, I ask what she is doing to which she very obviously replied, " I am pretending to be Snow White." Obviously!!