Thanksgiving and then some.......

I have been grateful for many things this Holiday season, especially my faith, family, and friends! I haven't always expressed that verbally, but in my prayers and in my heart, and soul, it rings true! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in our home with just our children. We voted and decided that we would just do dinner with our family. It was so nice to sit and talk with each other and laugh. Matt made a wonderful dinner! He is the best cook!
Matt then talked me into going to Black Friday at midnight. I wasn't feeling very good and didn't want to go, but he talked me into it. We drove over to Toys-R-Us and Matt took one look at the line, and pulled right back out and went home. He never listens to me because I told him it would be crazy! We went home and went back to bed for a few hours, and then we were right back up again to face the madness. I had a great day shopping with Matt! However, I will say.... we have some really cheap friends (you know who you are), that let's just say Matt turned into when Christmas shopping. I have never spent so many hours shopping for one particular thing in my life. I kept calling him....... well a four letter word that's not bad. I just thought I was married to someone else for a day. Anyway I personally loved this weekend with my family. We worked hard, and we played hard! I am so truly grateful for each member of my family!
Just a little note about Ashley that I always want to remember that happened this weekend.......She spent the day with my sister Terri while Matt and I went shopping. We picked up the kids late in the afternoon and dropped them off at home while we went to do some more shopping. When we came home late that night, Ashley had taped a picture up of Jacob Black (New Moon) above my bed. With a note that say's, here's your Jacob! I think I have been talking about his hot body in that movie a little too much! Anyway we came home to a clean house and a picture of Jacob above my bed. What could be better then that? We laughed so hard! But I truly am grateful that my daughter is always willing to work hard, and make us laugh!

Thanksgiving and then some......

Just playing around with the boys! They ate so much on Thanksgiving day I couldn't understand how they could eat anymore.


On Thanksgiving we made wreaths with our neighbors and learned some Martha Stewart holiday helps!

This was so cute. We were cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner and turned around to find Dayton eating all of the strawberries out of the top of the jello. We just let him eat them until he was done, and he loved it!

Andrew was so excited to see the Christmas lights come on the tree. He was so proud of himself every time he put up an ornament. He would say, "I did it"! And still said it 30 times after the first!

Let the holidays begin!

Kelsey was the Christmas tree engineer. She's very good at it I might add. She told everyone where to put things and what to do. The funny thing is the boys actually listened to her.


Here's Ashley who couldn't wait to put up the tree. She gets so excited every year to do this. I love that about her! Maybe because I am the same way!

They do actually work together well, at least a couple of times per year!

We thought the decorations actually looked better on us then the tree!

Who wouldn't want to take her home from the Christmas tree lot?

Baking with Ashley

This is our first homemade pumpkin pie that Ashley and I made together. I have never made a homemade pumpkin pie, starting with the pumpkin. But it tasted awsome! Ashley picked as one of her goals for Young Womens to plan and cook the family meals for the last 2 weeks. I must say she did an amazing job, and she is a pretty good cook. Matt and I each took turns teaching her some of our favorite recipes and cooking with her. At first Matt joked that we would be making a lot of late night fast food visits, but we never did because she did such a great job! She did end up buying pizza twice though with her own money because she didn't prepare well. Over all I thought it was a great lesson for her, and Matt and I. Way to go Ashley, we are so proud of you!! And just a little note to the Price family (alright Justin). We said we probably wouldn't make another homemade pumpkin pie, because it was a lot of work! But we decided we have to bake one just for you guys, so you know for yourself that it's not stringy!! Something to look forward too!

Life's Little Blessings

Last Thursday Kelsey begged me to go eat lunch with her at school. I hesitated due to other obligations, but told her I would try. After some running around that morning, I decided I needed to make it there after all. I get tears thinking about the look on her sweet face when she saw that I had walked into the lunch room with Andrew and Dayton trailing behind me. We had such a great visit. She talked about so many things, and she just couldn't stop. I swear that girl can talk faster then any girl I know. I hugged her and left to get on with my day. Later that evening when I arrived home from my appointment filled day, I mentioned to Matt that I had stopped to have lunch with Kelsey. He told me that he already knew because Kelsey had run home and told him all about it. She was so excited about me bringing her a shake to eat and spending some time with her. Matt said as he listened to her, he could hear the excitement in her voice. My heart melted, and I truly was grateful for her sweet spirit! For there is no greater gift we can give our children, then the gift of time and love. Kelsey I know you will one day read this blog, and I want you to know how special you are! You are truly a special child with so much love! Thank you for being you! I love you so very much!

Blake and Mishelle's Wedding!

I love weddings! I am a sucker for true love, mushy gushy stuff, romance, and everything else that comes with it! I truly believe in Happily Ever After! That being said this past October my brother Blake married a beautiful person both inside and out, named Mishelle! I know that they are a happy couple in so many ways. She is a person that loves Blake unconditionally and he in return. Watching this happy couple get married was a true prayer answered from God above. For I believe that nothing is just by chance, it is by a loving and wonderful Heavenly Father who truly wants us to be happy! Blake and Mishelle Thank you for allowing us to be part of your special day! We couldn't be happier that the two of you have shared your lives with us. For we are blessed because we have you in our family. Mishelle, I love Blake dearly, and I think you know that. However I want you to know that I love you just as much. Thank you for blessing my life, and thank you for loving Blake! We wish you both the best marriage!

Here are a few pictures that were my favorite! Sorry for not turning them the right way!

Blake and Mishelle's wedding

Cute cousins dancing!


Put your butt in, putt your butt out, putt your butt in, and shake it all about!

Do we look like Taylor Swift or what?

Get down Mishelle!

Drunk Kenneth!

Blake and Mishelle's Wedding

Kelsey dancing with her cousin Ryan.

This is the sign for how the rest of the marriage is going to be!

We can't wait to plan our wedding!

A BEAUTIFUL Ceremony!

What a beautiful bride you were Mishelle!

Matt's pride and joy, Kelsey, not the fish!

Matt took Kelsey fishing this past summer, and she was so proud of this catch!


Matt loves having a fishergirl in the family!

Halloween Memories 2009

We got together with friends for a really fun Halloween party!

This game was... Where's my mummy? Or I guess my daddy will work also!
(Matt's the shortest one, HA, HA)

A BEAUTIFUL Butterfly!

On Halloween night, Andrew and Dayton would walk up to the houses and say Trick or Treat. However when they would place a piece of candy in their bag, they would take it out and say..."I don't want this one". Then they would pick a piece of candy that they did want right of the bowl! It was so stinking cute to watch, that I never corrected them. I was entertained all night. It was a cute memory! Ashley laughed just as much as I did!

A few family pictures!

Just me and the girls!

One of my favorites of Kelsey, Andrew and Dayton!

My WONDERFUL children!

We weren't really trying to push Matt off! It just looked like we were!

I love this picture of Ashley and myself!

We tried to take family pictures, it didn't go as well as I had hoped! I forgot how uncooperative 3 year olds could be! But it was still fun!