12.21.2011

Back it up!

I really cannot believe just how bad I have been at blogging this year...and the worst part is that I REALLY have wanted to do better but haven't! Here is a quick recap of a few things that I realized I haven't blogged about!
Thanksgiving- We got together with the Stowell's, our neighbors and dearest friends! They invited the missionaries over which is always fun! I would say that the best part about Thanksgiving for me is the baking and cooking. Oh..and the planning of the menu and shopping for the food and preparing the table. I don't know why, but I love the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Thanksgiving. The weather was beautiful and it was a great day. We ate dinner at the Stowell's and had dessert at our house. The kids played and Jandi and I went through the paper ads to map out our Black Friday shopping trip. We started shopping this year earlier than ever...I think we got in line at Toys R Us at about 8:30...and it was wrapped all the way around a few buildings by the time we got there. We ended up going to Target also...and we got all of the important things on our list (plus a few extra!)

The weekend of Thanksgiving was so nice that John decided to start putting up the lights before Erie turned into a Popsicle. He did a great job!!!! Our kids think that the house looks great and so do I!!

We brought the kids out once it got dark to see our house all lit up!
Brrrr.......
Hailey's 2nd grade performed a special program at her school! They sang and danced and made us all laugh! We had a great time!! Isabella cannot wait to go to Kindergarten here! We love this school!


Isabella also performed a special program at her preschool! She was laughing the entire time. She also sang beautifully...I could basically only hear her and her teachers!
They decorated cookies with the parents after the singing! I've really loved her preschool in Erie also and I am very excited for Talon to go there next year!
Okay...back it up even a few more months and I realized that Halloween was totally forgotten so here is just a little snippet of the holiday! We had a great time...attended lots of parties...and had a grand ole' time. The kids got so much candy that we still have a huge bag of it (which just might be thrown away any day now!) Two of my friends organized a fabulous "Girls Night Out Halloween Party!" It was a blast and the costumes were out of this world! Here are Jandi and I...I am Smurfette incase you can't tell....and she is a witch (pregnant with a baby witch of course!)
Here is my little witch and dragon and kitty cat!
We recently enjoyed a building workshop at Lowe's! The kids loved it! And it was free!!
Now...go all the way back to July. We had the pleasure of driving to Navuoo for a wedding!! John's little brother Peter married a beautiful girl, Brittany! We are so happy to have her in our family!
John and his whole family!
The girls and I!
My sweet men!
This picture was taken at our hotel where the reception was held (in St. Louis). It was pretty fancy! Lucy doesn't look that much different to me and this was 5 months ago...she is still so petite.
The kids had so much fun with their cousins. They always do! I think that is one of the hardest parts about living so far away...my kids JUST LOVE their cousins so much!
The arch!!
What up T- Dawg!
We of course did all of the historical Nauvoo! It was a little stressful for me with Lucy being so little. I didn't anticipate feeling so overwhelmed from this vacation but nonetheless... I was O.V.E.R.W.H.E.L.M.E.D.  I have never felt quite like that before and I haven't felt like that since. We were still just getting used to having 4 kids and Lucy cried all of the time. I wasn't getting near enough sleep and the 13 hour drive made all of our kids a little grumpy. It was still a great trip...with lots of memories. I wouldn't recommend trying to take a trip 2 months after having a baby...just too much going on!
John and his brothers. They look so alike!!

4 comments:

Chablis said...

Oh -knowing you were right here so close to me (metaphorically) and we weren't even here yet makes me so sad.
Your kids are all so gorgeous! Hailey looks like a little heart breaker all ready!
LOVE you!!!

Stephanie said...

Nice update. I'm really slacking, too. Babies do sort of put a damper on things, don't they. Your family looks great.

Anna said...

I love all the pictures! I love that Hailey is posing just like you in your Halloween pictures. :) Love you!

LaurenOpie said...

LOL how about taking a trip 3 days after baby is born... and then another a week after that?? I am so overwhelemed. Can't wait to get home... although it's 80* here and like 20 there... but I miss my home!