Thanksgiving

It was my first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner and no one got food poisoning.  So I'll consider it a success!  Does this qualify me for official grown-up status?!  Even though cooking everything made for a busy day, the day was actually more relaxing than other years.  We've always traveled cross-country/world for the holidays so not having to travel and being in our own place was wonderful!  

Crafts

We aren't too fancy/formal (we opted for paper plates) and setting up the kitchen has been a long process.  I never know what accessory/ utensil I don't have until I need it and then never remember to buy it.  Our serving dishes are a bit hodge podge but we did use real utensils and make these cute burlap utensil holders.  They were easy and fun to make.  Samara helped me paint and stamp.

These photo placemats were a hit and great way to occupy the kids as we finished up dinner preparations.   Lizzie somehow managed to open hers and make the dry erase marker permanent.  

The girls enjoyed painting pumpkin turkeys.  Ben was in charge of that...not sure he was much enamored with it.  These  m&m turkey templates were fun and easy.  How did people find crafts and recipes before the internet?!

  

The Food

My mom was going to assist me with the turkey but ended up doing everything but seasoning it.  Hopefully, that doesn't take away my grown-up status.

Some of my favorite recipes were this apple pie--so easy but better than most apple pie I've had. 

And the cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes.  They were both sweetened with honey or maple syrup (the good kind).  The cranberry sauce was my favorite thing to make.

Kasha or buckwheat grouts are a Bikman staple.  Ben can eat his body weight in Kasha.  You'll notice his I-am-not-in-the-mood-for-pictures expression is similar in both photos.

The Guests

My older siblings

My little turkey and niece

My sweet mom, brother-in-law, and nephew

My other little turkey

My little sister and her family were able to join us for pies.  These are all the grandkids on my side minus the newest addition, who was born earlier this month.

Holding my new nephew in the hospital made me both excited and nervous to have a newborn again.   Not too much longer and our little guy will be here.

My brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer this summer.   As anyone knows who has had a love one go through cancer, it's awful.  Add many additional medical complications on top of the cancer and it has been a very tough year for them.   We worried he might not make it past this summer.  We are most thankful that he is here to celebrate with us and that he was able to be a wonderful support to my sister during his son's birth.  Seeing him hold their baby was so special and fills my heart with gratitude. 

Settled at Last

For way too long life felt like this picture--stuck between two seasons.  Even if both are lovely seasons to be stuck between not feeling settled is frankly unsettling.

Life finally feels stable.  Sure the boxes in the basement that I vowed would be cleared out by summer, are still there and the pantry isn't organized/stocked.  They probably won't be for a while and I'm ok with that.   But day-to-day life no longer feels like I'm living out of suitcases or am on a treadmill.  I never imagined it would take so long to settle in but it has and has been a learning experience.  I finally feel content with where we are and happy to be living here.   The jet lag is gone at last.  Now, that's not to say I don't miss the adventures and am not looking forward to a sabbatical abroad someday.  But for now I'm glad to stay put and am very grateful for our home, car, being near family and friends and for this particular season we are in.

Photo found here.
I hope Thanksgiving finds you grateful for whatever season you find yourself in--a lesson that I am find I have to learn and re-learn. :)

A Trip to India and a Campout

When Samara was an only child and I'd see kids fighting with their siblings, I'd think to myself, "when I have two kids, they are never going to fight."  Ha ha!  That was funny and so naive of me.  Sometimes they drive each other crazy but other times they get along swimmingly and nothing makes me happier than that.  I think 'playing nice' with your siblings is one of the best presents you can give your parents.

When we are in the car, Lizzie will often call out, "hand, jei jei.  HAND!"

 It's so fun to see their imaginations develop.   One day they were exotic Indian princesses and we went on a little journey to the other side of the world.  

It may not be quite as exciting as an actual trip but the lack of jet lag definitely makes up for that.

 They love to pack up and go on campouts.  

We take only the essentials.

 

Lizzie is not always a fan of pictures.

 But if you say the right things, you'll get a smile that melts your heart.

Samara is always ready for a picture.

Then we go to the landing, where we can make it really dark, tell spooky stories, and 'sleep'.  

I am so loving this season of having a 5 and 2 year old.  Samara is learning to read and write and Lizzie is learning to talk--such amazing processes that their bright little minds are figuring out.

Fall Fun

We had a busy but very fun October.  We were lucky to have family and friends in town visiting throughout the month.  I think we had more outings last month than we had the whole previous year put together.

During Samara's fall break, we were able to finally visit the children's museum at Gateway, which is awesome!  I heard they are building one in Lehi and I'm so excited.  We also made it to the pumpkin patch/maze and cornbellies.

Pumpkin Patch

Despite how unenthusiastic they look, they did enjoy the pumpkin patch and activities. 

Cornbelly's

 Cornbellies is so fun.  I can't believe how many fall/halloween/mazes/haunted house type things they have here.

Hotel Transylvania

Movie time with cousins.  We love our cousins who are close by and we love when the others come to visit.  

 Pumpkin Carving

What is October without pumpkins galore?  We carved a little too early and they rotted.  So we did it again and Ben was a little tired of being the resident 'carver'. 

I thought everyone like mashed potatoes but neither of the girls do--even when they are little ghosts.

Riverwoods Fall Festival

Riverwoods shopping area is trying to re-invent/promote themselves.  They have various fun activities and festivals.  This was the first year for this one.  There were food and crafts stalls, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and carriage ride.   Thank you Lena and family for a fun evening and the cute photo!

BYU Museum of Art

The BYU Museum of Art has awesome free programs.  Art projects are the best especially when there is no set-up or clean-up involved on my part!  Lizzie and I went to a toddler program called "Van Gogh to Play Dough" and loved it.  The first Saturday of the month is an open family day.  We all went to together and were apparently so cute and coordinated that they featured us on their website.  :) 

The Secret of the Wings

 The new Tinkerbell movie was a straight-to-video release so we held a premiere on early out day with a few neighbor friends. 

It's a cute show and was a lot of fun, even if the kids didn't like my gingersnap pumpkin ice cream sandwich cookies.  Such unrefined palates in kids these days.

Colonial Halloween Party

My sister-in-law hosts a themed Halloween party every year.  This year it was 'The Headless Horseman' theme set in colonial America.

The party was great and every detail was perfect.  It was held in a barn and we had a horse carriage ride.   I would NOT have fared well living in that time.  The clothes are so cumbersome and uncomfortable...not to mention the itchy wigs.  Ben said, "I don't know how you people with hair do it.  It's so uncomfortable!"  Ha!  Thankfully, real hair is much more pleasant.

The Dinosaur Museum

Our friends were here visiting from Singapore so that has been a good excuse to get out.  We've loved having them and wish they didn't have to go back.  The day after Lizzie said, "I wanna see Noah and Gage again and eat Cheetos with them."  Forget the dinosaur bones.

Wheeler Farm

Be warned that when they sell you food for the ducks and geese there and tell you, "Be careful.  The birds are wild and aggressive," they are not kidding. 

Thank you Malia for these two photos.  The latter one is an all-time favorite!  It totally shows Samara's personality.

Halloween Train Ride

We went on a train ride on the Heber Creeper and it was so fun despite the stale pumpkin cookie they gave us.  Isn't their baby is so cute?!  I think she is wondering why Lizzie is glaring at her mom and why Samara thinks she is an "air bender".  

Is there anything cuter than kiddos in their costumes?!

The train was 100 years old so we didn't go too far.  It was a but rickety but was scenery was lovely. 

 Afterwards, we got to paint pumpkins, which was great because the girls could do it all on their own (as opposed to carving).  Lizzie loved pumpkins and told everyone that day, "I'm  dough-ing to da pumptin patch to get a pumptin dats not too hebby!"  Unfortunately, all the pumpkins were too heavy for her so she may have smashed a few when she dropped them.  There was also a haunted train car--small enough and just spooky enough for little ones.

Yay for fall!  We are already looking forward to next year.