August and the tree

August loves the tree and presents - provides hours of entertainment and joy!

 He just looks guilty doesn't he!

August and Caroline have both found things to do with the presents - stools, trains and beds!

Thanksgiving Break

We had a great Thanksgiving break. I didn't document with pictures too much - bummer. But we started the thanksgiving and celebrating with pie! 

I made pumpkin, pecan, coconut cream, banana cream, chocolate peanut butter and razzleberry. Friends brought key lime and strawberry-rhubarb pie. So we had plenty of pie to enjoy. I spent the first twenty minutes bathing August who had a blow out. So I don't know which pies the kids ate but by the time I joined the party most the kids were in the basement playing. 

 Near the end of pie night Peter and Jill showed up. 

The next day was Thanksgiving and on the menu was:

Turkey (I made my first turkey)

Gravy 

Stuffing

Mac&Cheese (Jill made this one)

Deviled Eggs (Peter and the kids tackled this)

Rolls (Kids helped Jill shape the rolls after Peter was kicked off for ugly rolls)

Sweet Potatoes (Tyler made)

Brussel Sprouts (a total let down - MN does not have the best fresh brussel sprout selection)

Jello (did not set up -sad)

It was a great meal! 

Friday we went out shopping for a bit. Played games. Relaxed. And decorated a tree! Afterwards we enjoyed candy canes, egg nog and hot chocolate!

The ornaments on the tree now no longer are found on the bottom two and half feet. August loves to pull off the balls and throw them down the stairs. 

Saturday Peter and Jill made us all french toast with hazelnut egg nog!!!!!

 Jill and I went shoe "shopping" and ate lunch with August. Peter and Tyler installed the garbage desposal (YAY!!).

When Jill and I returned home the boys went gun "shopping" and ate lunch. That evening we got a babysitter and went and saw Hunger Games. It was a good movie.

Sunday we went to church and Peter and Jill returned home!

It was a wonderful first Thanksgiving in our new home. 

We have been so blessed, Tyler and I. We have a good job that provides for us and that Tyler enjoys (most days!) We have a home! We have four wonderfully bright, healthy and beautiful children. We have family who lets us crash with them while we were a little down, and family that travels to help us move in and work with us to make this house a comfortable home for us, and we have family who takes time to visit and spend holidays with us. And we are so blessed to have the gospel. I am so grateful that I get to teach my children, especially this time of year about their Savior and what a gift he is and help them develop gratitude for Him. 

Helping Moving and Family Fun

So now I know I have mom brain - I added all these pictures to Picasa and thought I blogged about them, but I didn't! This post was suppose to be back in October but better late than never! 

When the kids and I flew here to Minnesota we were met by Tyler and Larry. A day later Anne and Pat showed up to help us move in! 

With all the unpacking and work that needed to be done it was so nice to have the extra help with kids and home. 

In addition to the help with work, it was so nice to spend time with family. Of all the things we will miss about Utah family is the thing we will miss the very most. I truly hope that the distance won't keep us apart too much. That everyone there will make time to come here and that we will make time to visit them there. 

While worked a lot, we did find time to get out and enjoy each other's company. Annie was able to see the Mississippi River, albeit where it is the least impressive, and kids were able to play with grandparents.

We miss y'all! All of y'all out West and down South are welcome always and anytime! 

Big tree by the river and just wanted document I was there!

Messes, Stitches and Growing

Tired little boy with a messy face. 

Wish he would sleep though the night - then we would have just a messy face.

Now I have to explain the band-aid on my little boy. 

On Friday, October 13 (yup...) we went over to Kristen's house to say hi to cousins. Right before we were getting ready to leave around 9pm (2 hours past bedtime) August tripped and fell and hit his head on metal stairs. One look and we knew we were going to the ER. At 11 August got 3 stitches. Poor baby was so tired that he fell asleep while getting stitched up. Tough little boy barely cried.

Tyler and I are real parents now - finally a trip to the ER for stitches! 

Sorry - it was hard to get a picture without his finger up his nose!

And one last one because they are so cute and I can't believe how big they are getting. They are growing up so very fast. I just hope they don't grow up too fast.