Thanksgiving

 Idaho time. We love it and had a great week. The kids started off with a walk to the canyon and raking leaves for grandma. The cards came out and they played all week. Emma even took down Jordan for a minute wrestling haha. 

We took the kids to the museum again and they loved putting coins down the big funnel. Ryan had us all soaking up his cuteness with how much he loves the “nake” the snake was so active and he was so enthralled. Kylee had Abigail and Navy all cute this week trying new hairstyles on them. 

We went to the planetarium to watch a movie in their observatory big circle screen. The kids loved learning about planets, but the screen need made me motion sick. We got to enjoy cute Hudson and Emilee before they left for Utah. 

We loved seeing our besties. Navy and Grace always put a smile on Brittany and I’s face with their friendship. Navy slept over and they played non stop. Also huge shoutout to Jeff and Melissa and kids for watching ghost for us. He has a great weekend.

We did our traditional Skateland trip with the kids. They did barrel racing and we all cracked up watching them fall and push each other. We all took selfies with Ryan. 

Love my family and all our fun. Ben, Taliah, Benjamin, Kylee and Grace all won. I would say our family swept the comp!

Thursday morning we all woke up to do a 5k turkey trot. My cousin Casdon and his wife Savvy surprised us and made it just in time. We love them and we’re so happy to have them for the day. Benjamin kept up for the most part with Taliah and Ben. They were the only ones who ran it. The rest of us bundled up and chatted while we walked the canyon. 

Delicious food and amazing day with my family. Incredibly grateful for my grandparents, parents, aunt and uncle, cousins, sisters, husband, kids, and nieces and nephews. 

The girls all surprised grandma and when it was game time we all snuck and put on her night shirts that we wore when we were little and would sleep over! We had everyone laughing and loved it. I mean those are pretty comfy shirts after all this time. 

Black Friday had Taliah, Charlotte, Emma and I up at 5 to go shopping. We went to  little boutique that does free swag bags. We got Dutch bros and our chairs and blankets. We have done it for a few years now and it’s always so fun freezing our buns off and then finding cute clothes and good deals together. Grandma sewed with me and handed down some of her Christmas villages. I’m so excited to now always have a part of her in our home for Christmas. We had a great week with an early Christmas present that we picked up on the way home and that little girl will get her own post soon. 

Picture time

While in Idaho we had my bestie Brittany do our pictures. We did the kids head shots to update my gallery wall and then she took some family shots for us. Always the best and so amazing! I will always love and cherish all the photos. 

She had her holiday set up so we snagged a couple shots for Christmas. 

All the faces and poses the kids make are so fun to look at. I love all the little smiles and quirks. 

Ginger

We are in love over here. Emma got her Christmas present early of a new puppy. We were finally ready to add a little girl back into the family. Emma really wanted an Australian shepherd, without having a yard we were struggling with that active breed. She loves the color of them and while we were in Idaho we found this little Merle cocker spaniel. She is an absolute doll and so much fun. You can’t help but love on her sweet face. She has two different color eyes, one green eye and one blue eye. She is unique and we love her. Her dad was a black, grey, brown, white Merle at 20 lbs and her mom was all brown at 14 lbs. Ginger was born on September 21. 

Ginger is so smart. It’s been a week and she is doing sit, down, stay and ringing the bell to outside. She aims to please and is getting lots of love from everyone. She loves going on car rides and getting all the snuggles. Boots (our cat) and her are already best friends. They chase each other and wrestle and it makes us all laugh.

Ghost and Ginger haven’t quite made it there yet. She loves him and weaves between all of his legs when he walks. She follows him everywhere. He however will get up and move if she lays by him. Haha I know he will cave to her sweet face soon enough. Emma is happy as can be and is the best puppy mommy! 

Volleyball and shopping

 We were back to California and this time Benjamin and I went with my bestie Lauren. We spent a whole day shopping and doing the fun things for her boutique. Then day two was filled with volleyball. We had a great weekend and came home with a filled car of goodies.

Noah has been begging for some ocean water so he could make his own salt. Lauren and I struggled a bit without getting wet because we snuck to the beach between games. Sure enough it worked though. Noah loved it and had so much fun. 

November

November is here and we started off by going to see the new movie The Best Christmas Pageant ever” we all loved it and loved starting off the Holidays with seeing it. The girls and I snuck in some Christmas shopping and the pets are cuddling up close with the colder weather. Benjamin spoke in church and my parents came. 

We had a Christmas movie night to watch Home Alone. We had cheese pizza, hot cocoa, caramel popcorn, treats and more. Madi and Kylee came over with all the kids. The kids all said best movie night ever. I put all my trees up and decorations and as Vernon said, “it’s like walking into the North Pole!” I said perfect! 

 November is birthday month so we celebrated mom and dad and Kylee and Jordan! I even brought my dad’s favorite cake back from California for him. Noah is getting excited to be in Young Men’s in January! 

Noah, Navy, Jake, my mom and I all went to see wicked and absolutely loved it! We can’t wait to see it again. 

Noah finished phase one of his braces. Yay for a little break before they go back on. He is looking so handsome with that beautiful smile. 

Emma soccer

 Emma tried out for Shadow Ridge soccer and made the JV team! Yay Emma! We have spent a lot of time in the sun watching her do what she loves. Navy comes and sets up a whole little spot for herself. Thanks to all who come and support her with us. 

Our goalie got hurt towards the end of the season so Emma got some game time in as goalie with zero prep! She had some amazing saves and I’m so proud because that’s a hard position to be put in last minute. They finished the season with about even between wins, ties and losses. They all grew so much. Emma loved it and had so much fun with all the girls.