Gingerbread Houses

We made gingerbread houses with our good friends again, and we had a great time.

My boys are really starting to look forward to this tradition every year.

Family Get-away

Kenny's Parents took the whole family on a trip.

My boys had a great time seeing their cousins.  Kenny had finals.  So, unfortunately, he spent the most of the weekend locked up in his room with this trusty laptop and hefty books.  It will be a wonderful day when graduate school is over! 

These are the hats I made for the Braman girlies.

 Jackson got ahold of my razor in the bath...oops!

 Kenny did find a couple minutes to relax.

 My boys LOVE their Grandpa.

 During the trip, we had our annual Temple Square Lights fun.

Here is our picture at the spot I call Lover's Lane (we saw someone get engaged moments before we took the pic.  I guess they will be calling this spot Lover's Lane as well!).

 This is my favorite memory from the whole trip.

Sleeping makes them look so angelic!

It was nice to visit with family, but I am so glad to be home.

November Preschool Memories...

We have had a blast...

November's theme was The Forrest Comes to Us, plus learning about Thanksgiving.

 Tanner is 5...

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a tiny bit partial to this preschooler! :)

 

 This is our class, minus 3.

We went on a nature hike (and make wreaths with our treasures),

 Learned about animals,

 learned about the Pilgrams coming to America,

 and painted with Indian feathers.

 My favorite activity (though I didn't get a picture of it) was our indoor campout!

 Pilgram kids!

 Indian kids!

 We are thankful for our friends, and we had a great Thanksgiving feast!

Much Thanks Giving

I have a tendency to get really frustrated with myself. 

 I wish I could say that I gave much thanks, but, unfortunately, I have felt somewhat terrible (the 3rd pregnancy can be a beast!) and I have let it depress me a little.  I planned a lot of fun things, but it was hard to motivate myself to do any of them.  The ONLY thing I ever want to do these days is stay home!  Thankfully, Kenny was home and helped me a ton! 

The kids have had a blast.

 I am glad I persevered, and we have had some great memories with the kids!

Every morning, Tanner and Jackson would wake up and ask what we were going to do for the day (because they knew I had something wonderful planned)!  I loved that! 

 We got to play with cousins,

 make crafts,

 spent time in the mountains (looking for our perfect tree),

 feast on great food,

 trim a tree,

 watch Christmas movies (I keep them packed up until Thanksgiving...so it is a real treat when I unpack them).

 enjoy our first family Christmas party of the season,

  see Aunts and Uncles,

  and spent time with Dad!

 In retrospect, I know I have so much to be thankful for!

 I am not going to lie though, I still love to stay home these days.

 At home, I don't have worry that someone thinks I am a bad mom, or that my kids are heathens. And my house is the perfect temp for a lady inclined to serious heat flashes :)...I never let it get above 65!

 As a Christmas gift to me, I am going to stay home as much as possible, but as a gift to my kids I will still venture out, as needed, for holiday adventures.

 Compromise?! 

Sounds good to me!

 I will try not to worry about what anyone else thinks,and I will try not to think of the uncomfort, but of the precious bundle headed our way...soon!  That is bound to bring a smile... right?!

 I am so grateful for Kenny and the boys!  They are all I have ever wanted!

Jackson is thankful for his paper turkey, and Tanner is thankful for church!

Sounds wonderful to me!

Believe me, I know that I really am a very lucky girl!