So many things

There are just so many things that I love about this time of year. Last year, due to craziness that I couldn't control, we didn't get to do many of the things that we usually do for the Holidays. So this year we got a running start! Yesterday we went to a nearby national forest and cut down our Christmas tree. It was a beautiful area, a beautiful day, and we got a beautiful tree.

When we got the tree home, Mitch and I put on the lights, then Jackson helped us put on the ornaments. It was so fun to have a little helper this year. Jackson had so much fun. He liked to comment on all the different ornaments. And he really wanted to play with some of them, like an airplane we got a few years ago, or the ornament he got this year, it is race car with a 5 on it. Then I had this great idea that we should all sleep under the tree. Mitch thought I was crazy, but he always makes crazy plans and I go along with him. The boys had fun, but they didn't get enough sleep. Asher stayed up and drove cars, flew jets and played with my hair, but he was so cute, I couldn't force him to go to sleep. We sure paid for it this morning. He was a bear! So much so that I had to bring him home from church, and he took a four hour nap.

I love Christmas. And I love my boys. This is going to be the best Christmas ever!

I am grateful to get to spend Thanksgiving with my favorite people in the world.

Happy Thanksgiving

This year it was just the four of us for Thanksgiving. I have never prepared an entire Thanksgiving meal by myself so I took on the challenge. I have to say, it was pretty good. Of course the boys didn't care for anything other than the turkey and the pumpkin pie, but Mitch loved it and his is the stomach I cook for.

The table. Don't worry, I removed the stemware just after I took this picture. The boys had nice plastic cups. They were also a little curious as to how they were going to eat the pumpkin in their plate.

I just made a turkey breast since it was just the four of us. It was so good and super easy. The secret, mayonnaise.

Cider-Glazed carrots. So good!

Roasted Butternut Squash dip.

I made this so I would have something

to eat while I was cooking. It was an adventure

to make, and really good.

Sourdough Stuffing with Apples and Ham. This was my favorite.

Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole. I am ashamed to admit that I have not had this one yet, but Mitch really loved it. I was just too full when it came time to eat this one.

Not pictured; pumpkin pie. I made it with my very first ever made from scratch crust. My friend April, the wonder baker, gave me a private lesson. I used my grandma's recipe and it was as good as ever. Jackson had four pieces!

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This is a lousy picture of my kitchen but it is the only one I have. Today as I began preparations for tomorrow Thanksgiving dinner. I thought again, how grateful I am for this kitchen. This kitchen of my former life was smaller than most people's bathrooms, a small half stove and oven. This isn't the kitchen of my dreams, but I love it.

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So many great memories. So many memories yet to be had. What a magical place.

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None of this would be possible without it.

New hats on Happy Jack!

I have been a busy needle/hook wielding machine, and I wanted to share some of my newest creations. They are on my other blog. Feel free to check them all out!

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No, this isn't my library, but I wish it was. I love beautiful old books.

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This is Mitch's Grandma Parrish. One of the kindest people I have ever known. She really has a heart of gold.

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This is Mitchell's Grandma Lindsay. Jackson calls her "my grandma" after we spent a few days with her this spring. She is an amazing woman who passed on so many wonderful traits to her family. One of which is determination, I am so grateful that Mitch had her as an example his whole life. I know she helped him become the man he is.

Midnight

I am not usually one of those girls who goes to the premier of a much hyped movie, but some friends were going to the midnight showing of Twilight, You know, that show about teen-age love and Vampires. And me, not one to be left out of the fun, decided to join in. I have to say it was pretty fun (funny?) to be there with all the Twilight moms and the teens who were allowed to stay up way past their bedtime. Some people are a little obsessed. When the movie started there was actual cheering. I kind of wanted a T-shirt that said, "I am not like all the other Twilight freaks, really I am just here for fun." And yet, there I was, midnight, on a school night. It's fun to let out my inner 13 year old every now and then.

By the way. I do recommend the movie. You don't have to hear all of Bella's whinny inner thoughts, which really helped. My life wasn't changed, but if I wanted life changing I would join the Peace Corp.

I am grateful for...
This is a picture taken from a newspaper article on Valentine's day 2007, entitled "Preparing for your Happily Ever After." I cannot think of two better people to focus an article of that title than my Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Fred. They are an example of love to everyone, and all of their posterity has felt the blessings of that love.

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I was one of those people who swore I would never drive a van. Well, now I do and I LOVE it! It is one of my favorite things. I love this picture. It was taken at Rising Sun camp ground in Glacier. I just think the van looks so pretty next to our tent in the shadow of those beautiful mountains.

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Music if you were wondering.

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Because his degree is a lot more useful than mine

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All By Myself!

I interrupt the usual "grateful" posts, to post just a little about my recent trip to Utah. I got to go all by myself! That's right no kids, just me. This has NEVER happened. It was dreamy. I went down to do the spinning certification class. I am now a certified instructor and I am excited, and a little nervous, to start teaching. The certification class was really fun and I learned so much. I am really glad that I did it.

I then spent the next few days seeing family and hanging out with friends and yes, shopping. I am not a huge shopper, but we really have nothing in my hometown, so when I get the chance to go to IKEA, I am there.

Some highlights; Driving 7 hours alone listening to what I wanted to. For the drive down it was "Austenland" by Shannon Hale, on the drive home I scanned through my ipod listening for good spinning music. Seeing old friends and family. Ikea and REI. Going to "High School Musical 3" with my fellow forever 'tween, Holly. And stopping at the Idaho Falls temple on the drive home. And my other most favorite thing about the trip; how happy and excited my boys were to see me when I came home. Jackson even said "Mommy, I missed you so much my heart almost broke into half."

I don't have many pictures because it was just me, but here are a few:

Rivers, just after she lost the second of her two front teeth!

Yeah, it's silly but considering we took it with the automatic timer, I think it's kind of cool, okay it's mostly funny. Holly and I had the theater all to ourselves, it was a lot of fun.

No, I didn't take this picture, but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

I am grateful for...I have been blessed with amazing friends my whole life. I wish I had a picture of all of them. This was hard to put together because I know that I am leaving out many who have been such a blessing in my life. Since going digital I don't have a lot of my older pictures with me. Thank you to you all. You may never know how much you have influenced my life as my friends.

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