Fun All Month!

My homemade advent calendar.

Chandler and Watson rosy cheeked from our Live Nativity walk at Liberty Park. So sweet.

I decided Watson is old enough to get in the spirit of Christmas traditions. I thought it would be fun to focus on him for our daily advent to Christmas. Each day he gets to open a little envelope that has a special activity. Some of them we do as a family, others are just for him and me. He has been so excited to find out what will happen each day. I'm wondering if I need to do this every day of every month...Chandler has had fun with all of our excursions and some of the activities.

Our yearly gingerbread house project.

No, you can't eat the candy just yet!

One proud owner.

Our finished gingerbread neighborhood.

Watson's letter to Santa this year.

Watson loved our visit to Grand America to see the giant gingerbread house, visit the toy store and get a yummy cookie from the French bakery.

 I also decided to start a daily present opening of Christmas books. Luckily the library had plenty to help us count the 24 days before Christmas. Opening a book is one of the first things Watson does when he wakes each morning.

My Man

Scott's birthday was today. He is one of the most concerned, involved, hands on dads I know. He works so hard for our family and really wants good things for all of us. He makes me laugh every day and brings an enriched perspective to my small world. He has such a desire to do good and actively pursues that each day. I am so happy to celebrate him and our boys are lucky enough to call him Dad. Love you Babe!

Birthday boy at Texas Roadhouse.

Watson picked out a special present, now they can be twins!

German chocolate, just for him.

Knock 'em Down!

Each Christmas Grandma treats the family to a fun activity and dinner. This year she decided to take us all bowling. It was quite an adventure! Most of the kids were on one lane, the ladies on another, and the men together. For some reason the women took twice as long as the guys to get through the whole 10 frames. My wii bowling skills didn't translate very well and I seemed unable to beat any of my teammates, including one very pregnant and one bursting pregnant sister. I guess I need to bowl more....
Watson had a ball and got a couple of strikes. The cousins were great together and the competition between the guys was kind of heated. It was a great time. Thanks Grandma!

Dinner at The Pie!

Our New Addition

 Our family started a new tradition this year...we welcomed Mr. Jim. He is Santa's helper elf and we are so glad he is now a part of our little family. He showed up with Oreos and green milk on December first and has surprised us each day with different things. Who knew it could be so fun with this little guy?

 Everybody got to share Mr. Jim's little treat. I think the sweets are supposed to help all of us be a little sweeter....

Thanks, Thanks, and Thanks

Thanksgiving this year was spent in a traditional fashion. Scott, Watson and I started the morning early with my running in the Food Bank Human Race 5K. It has been a fun thing to do Thanksgiving morning the last three years. Scott is such a trooper to support me and be patient with the crowds. We then met up with my family at my mom's house. Of course the food was plentiful and delicious and it was fun to play Bingo together. As we ate our feast my mom asked for the best thing that has happened to each of us this year. I really struggled with this question. In fact, I couldn't even answer it at the time. So much has happened, so much to be thankful about but also much to be sad about. So I guess I will begin...The beginning of the year was exciting with a trip for Scott and me to Maui. It was fantastic to experience this beautiful place together for the first time. Scott also started working for a new company in February and that brought many blessings to our family. Another thing to be thankful about was we got pregnant in March...but then miscarried in June. The experience was bittersweet in knowing it was possible to get pregnant again (even if it seems to take 2 years each time) but difficult in accepting that it was not meant to be right now. We have taken some really great vacations together as a family, our favorite being our Yellowstone visit. The middle of the year has had interruptions to our family peace by custody issues. This has been a great year for our family with many opportunities to learn that Heavenly Father is over all. He knows us each. He loves us more than anyone else can. He will care for our needs and many of our wants, as long as we trust Him. I continue to be taught how to trust Him. Thanksgiving was a great time of reflection and I look forward to more learning and blessings for myself and my family.

Watson's attempt at taking my "portrait."

A little treat

Thanksgiving at Grandma Nettie's

We practiced written gratitude almost every day with our Thankful Tree.

Some of our daily thanks.

A Little Vegas

Scott had a week long training in Vegas so we decided I would meet up with him for a couple of nights. It was nice to get away from some of the tough life stuff happening right now and just enjoy a little uninterrupted one on one. We visited the indoor gardens of The Bellagio. Love that place. They do such great things with flowers. That giant pumpkin behind us is covered in mums. Of course we ate good food and had plans to see one Cirque du Soleil show.

Here we are dressed up and ready for a "fancy" night out to KA. Scott looks so handsome!

The show was amazing! It was difficult to pinpoint the best part....the giant sand-slide with actors falling through the stage, the performers flying through the air above, the fire effects. I don't know, but I do know I would definitely see another Cirque show. It was amazing. Best of all the trip, though, was just being together.

A Boys Day

Scott decided he wanted to teach the boys some "Man" stuff. Fishing is on this list. He and Chandler used to go quite a bit when Chandler was much younger. So the boys set out for an adventure. After stocking up on supplies and a fishing license they headed to the little Sandy City Urban Fishery. Watson was thrilled to use his Lightening McQueen fishing pole and be outside with Dad, Chandler and Sparky. He did sit still for a little bit as they got situated. Sparky chased the ducks into the pond and ended up swimming after them a couple of times.

Chandler was an old pro and caught about four fish. I think there is something to be said about sitting quietly and patiently for a stretch of time.  While there Chandler and Scott had a chance to exercise a bit of faith. As Scott cleaned the fish in a shallow part of the pond his wedding band slipped off and disappeared in the dark silt. Chandler and Scott looked for over an hour for the ring but couldn't find it anywhere. When they told me about it Scott was upset to have lost it. Chandler suggested they pray to find it, which they did. However, they still couldn't find it. It was time to go home and they left reluctantly with a resolve to come back later that night with flashlights.

 Watson also caught a fish, his first one. He was so excited to be a part of it all. 

Chandler and Scott's faith and prayers were enough to help them find Scott's wedding band. They did go back to the pond after dinner and Watson's bedtime and found the ring in less than 10 minutes. It was a great experience for them together. I'm grateful for our Heavenly Father's mercy in answering prayers for simple things. He loves us. I know it.

We kicked off the Halloween season festivities with a little trunk or treat activity with my office. I got Watson's knight costume a month ago and he wore it around for several weeks and then decided he wanted to be Batman for Halloween. However, he let me dress him in this for this activity if I promised he could be Batman for everything else. Mission accomplished. 

Sweet Knight in Shining Armor and Minnie Mouse enjoyed all the Halloween activities my office had to offer. Watson was so cute running around from game to game and quickly picked up on the purpose of trunk or treating. He had a ball!

 The Hoopes' annual pumpkin carving was a success (thanks Chad & Amy for hosting.) We gathered the cousins for pictures and I just have to point out that the older the kids get, the less excited they seem to be about dressing up. Tori did throw on a mask, Brooklyn a wig and witch hat, and Chandler his handsome smile. 

 It is also a tradition on Halloween that I don't make dinner...ok it has only happened twice but I would like to make it a yearly event. Chipotle offered burritos to costumed customers, so I borrowed a cute witch hat and Watson was Batman and Scott was Scott and we enjoyed our little dinner....with about 100 other people.

 Thanks to the three patriotic witches for their visit. Batman was really excited to see them and we couldn't wait to eat our little chocolate donuts. It is always fun to see what these ladies come up with for costumes. (Vickie Anderson, Debbie Schmidt, and Mom)

 As promised Watson got to be Batman for every other Halloween activity and couldn't wait to trick or treat with brother. Chandler was so sweet to take Watson out in the neighborhood and was patient as Watson went from door to door, although he did charge a "candy tax" after the loot was collected. After the little trick or treat outing Chandler went to a friends house for festivities. Apparently 12 is the age boys really figure out ways to torment the public on Halloween. I found out later Chandler and his friends hid in big leaf piles and jumped out randomly to scare unsuspecting trick or treaters. Chandler had a great time and I'm so glad we live in a neighborhood he can safely roam and make his own.

Of course we also visited with the witches at Gardner Village. Watson thought the witch on the bike in the air was amazing. He wanted me to take his picture next to this little witch and I'm surprised he had no fear. 

Cornbelly's Tradition

We decided we couldn't let the Halloween season pass by without a visit to Thansgiving Point's Cornbellys. Watson's favorite part was the tower with slides. Chandler really liked shooting the pumpkin cannon and the paintball guns. Everyone got a big kick out of the zip line. I was shocked Watson was big enough to try it out. My stomach was briefly in knots as I watched my cute three year old make his way down the 25 foot line. He loved it!

Watson loved to play on all of the car and plane and train structures. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other boys. This kid may be small but he can hold his own, especially with his "mean" face. I guess it's a good thing he won't let bigger kids push him around?

I love being here this time of year! It seems to be a fun culmination of fall activities. It's always a good time for all.

Chandler was more than a good sport as we did activities for Watson. However, he also loved, loved, loved the tower of slides. Yes, we were there long after the sun went down. Two years in a row almost makes this a new tradition for our little family.

Run, Run, Run

I participated in a women's only race again this year. Last year I ran the 10k, it was a big milestone for me as I hadn't run that distance since before I was married. I decided I would like to make it a tradition for myself and see if I can better my time each year. Scott and Watson were there to support me and cheer me on at the end. I'm grateful for a strong body that carries me forward through life's challenges and "excitement."

Watson stayed busy watching Cars 2 while Scott stayed busy keeping Watson warm and happy. It helped that they got a little breakfast close to Thanksgiving Point. I'm so thankful Scott is willing to sacrifice so I can achieve my personal goals. He really is such a blessing in my life.