Fall 2012

I have so many months I need to catch up on, I figured I would do one at a time.  Since I'm not a scrapbooker in even the least bit, I think this blog is the next best thing! September brought about a wonderful change to our family that we had been waiting for about 18 months.  Our patience paid off as Matt was given a job offer, then about a week later a counter offer came from his current company...and then a counter offer from the new company.  We were surprised and overwhelmed with gratitude for this, we had tried so hard to stay positive for so long!! Matt loves the new job, and I think he does well at it.  We also were able to buy a second car for me to have to drive the kids around each day, it was perfect timing to be able to get Adam to school. The funnest point for September was going to Logan for Matt's first marathon. He did great and it was a blast staying in a motel with the kids, as swimming was their favorite part.

I, being the amazing wife that I am, had to buy two pictures from the race because I missed Matt crossing the finish line and therefore had no pictures.  I tried to catch Matt during the middle of the race but failed and then we sat at the finish for about an hour(because I'm always paranoid about missing the finish) before Emma decided she'd had enough.  I was tired of holding a crying 2 year old, my purse loaded with things for the kids, their posters, and the camera bag. So I walked them over to the grass for a short 5 minutes and turned to see Matt finish. I felt so bad! Luckily Matt was quick to forgive!

October

In October we kept busy with Adam's school, Matt's scouts and my young womens.  We took the kids hiking and that was a big hit.  Adam wore what he called his special hiking shirt and they were awesome the whole time.

 We also had our usually picnic in Perry park with my mom, grandma and sisters and we were able to have pizza and hot cocoa. It was so windy that day we left a little early to go to Pettingills to get our pumpkins.

 Our last missionary came home!!  Matt's youngest brother Nate finally got home and his parents went to Peru for 10 days to spend some time with him, so we picked them all up at the airport.  Then for a fun surprise they had picked up Matt's sister, Melissa, and her two kids from Kentucky to come home too.  They tried to be sneaky but I had thought that she wouldn't want to miss out on the party!

Then for another fun surprise, Melissa's husband surprised her by flying in right after her.  She had no idea, since she thought he was back home for dental school.  It was a great weekend!! Of course Matt's parents had to keep the boat out until Nate got home, so these are the only two pictures I have that document us boating at Willard in mid-October.

 Last year the kids wanted to paint pumpkins, so I was excited to be able to carve this year.  It's one of my favorite things to do.

 If you didn't know Emma, you'd be surprised if she wasn't a kitty-kat for Halloween. That's all she talked about for weeks before and weeks after. Then, of course, our very own super hero Ironman. Adam had one happy dad when he chose this costume, Matt's just a boy at heart still.

November

We had a great Thanksgiving, it was spent with my family this time around.  All the years before that we spent with my side we have been with extended family, so this was a first to just have Thanksgiving dinner with my immediate fam.  We tried to make it slightly more special than the regular Sunday dinners, so we had some crafts and games for the kids.  I was assigned to make a pie, the favors, and the rolls. Which if you know my family, the bread is a pretty important part of each meal! So I was really nervous to try making rolls from scratch for such a big holiday, but I think I did a pretty good job of it.  I was just happy they raised right and didn't get burned. I really enjoyed being part of making part of the big things for Thanksgiving!

December

This month was great as well, filled with family fun and Christmas activities.  Matt and I celebrated our 8th anniversary, but again I don't have a single picture of what we did.  We had our annual traveling dinner with Matt's fam.  We started at our house with appetizers of cranberry meatballs and artichoke dip.  They were delicious despite my uncreative description of my food.  We then had our salad course at Matt's brother Steve's house, and then the main course at Matt's parents.  It was all such delicious food and we were all stuffed and having to undo our top button of our pants.  Or maybe that was just me.  We then finished with the usual gingerbread house building and decorating at Matt's grandma's house.  She feeds us a yummy frozen peppermint ice cream pie.

 We also had our annual tree making activity with my mom.  She makes tons of sugar cookies different sizes and the kids frost them and stack them to make a tree.

 We spent Christmas Eve with my family since Luke and Lisa were able to make it down from Montana for that night.  I was in charge of a game for the kids and had the idea of pin the nose on Rudolf, I think it was a hit.

 My brother Luke has this awesome Santa suit.  It's like the original, almost European style, suit. It was beautiful.  He came and surprised the kids... and some of the adults. Some of us took a while to realize he had snuck out and didn't put the two together until later.  I won't name names, you know who you are.

 The kids all got sleeping bags from my parents and they had a blast in the family room!

 Christmas morning, the kids looked so tired!  Santa was very generous this year, I think he had a hard time deciding when enough was enough....but the kids enjoyed it.

 A quick breakfast of cinnamon rolls and sausage and eggs.

Then we went to Matt's parents for Christmas day, we were able to be with all of his siblings, even Melissa and Pat from Kentucky.  We all exchanged gifts and enjoyed each other, especially the grandkids being able to finally see one another again.

I think I was more excited about my kids getting slippers.  Every morning they would cry about their feet being cold at the breakfast table and wanted blankets, which of course without fail get whatever we were having for breakfast on them. They were just excited that it was hello kitty and perry the platypus.

Isn't family the best thing ever?

January -May will be coming soon!