Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving we has such a great time. My entire family came down to our house for the weekend. They came on Wednesday and stayed until Saturday. It was so good to have them visit and stay for so long.

Here are lots of pictures!

There was a lot of this going on - playing the Wii. Usually if there was whining kids, it was because Crae and Travis were having too long of turns. Imagine that!

On Friday after Thanksgiving, we took a trip down to SLC to see the Christmas lights, watch the Joseph Smith movie and we had to go to Build-a-Bear!

Lily loved her cute bear "Brownie"

Allie picked a bunny and Jaycie picked a cat.

We had to go to PF Changs! Yum!!

Sharing a drink

Bundled up for Temple Square. The lights came on while we were in the Joseph Smith movie, so when we came out, it was all lit up. It was soooo cold, but very pretty.

Amy and Travis and their family

Us

My cute parents

Us again by the temple door

Lily again with Brownie

This was my favorite picture of the weekend. One morning we were out eating breakfast and we heard that Lily had woken up. I saw that the kids all went into her bedroom so I took my time before I went in there. When I walked in, this is what I saw. Zak, who is 10 was in her crib with her. Seriously?? We laughed so hard. He didn't understand why it was a big deal! Too funny!

It was such a fun Thanksgiving. I think it was one of the best so far. We are trying to make as many memories as we can with my sweet mom. She is declining too fast and it breaks our hearts to see her slip away from us. She had such a great time with all the kids and my kids love spending time with her. We are so fortunate to be so close as a family and to be able to enjoy time together. It was a great holiday!!

Our little Lily is one! We can't believe how fast this year has gone by. She is such a joy in our family. She gets loved almost too much by her big sisters! She is such a fun, sassy, stubborn, but sweet little girl.

Here she is opening her gift from her sisters. They gave her a baby doll.

She loved her radio flyer wagon.

"

"Are they really letting me do this?" She was a little unsure at first.
It didn't take long before she dug right in.

That is a lot of frosting in her eye! She got tired and rubbed her eyes with her hands. I had to snap a quick picture before she got cleaned up. Poor thing!

Grandpa and Grandma gave her the favorite toy. How can you top an Elmo airplane?!

Her cousins gave her this walking toy. She started walking about two weeks before her birthday so it was perfect.

Happy Birthday cute Lily girl. We love you!!

Just some fun pictures

Here is our little trouble maker hard at work. She loves the lid drawer!

Allie loved her fun lunch.

This picture cracks me up. Just look at her eyes! She loves giving herself kisses.

If we ever leave the wipes open on the floor, or anywhere in her reach, this is what happens. That is a lot of wipes!

Our little Aggie!

Allie & Jaycie on crazy hair day.

Oregon

In October we went up to Oregon to visit Crae's sister Lisa and her family. They moved up there a little over a year ago to live on a ranch. Her husband Wit is a true rancher! They have three boys and they love living up there. We had been told what it was like up there, but until you actually see it with your own eyes, you really won't believe it!!

We laughed about how they live in a "gated" community. You turn off the main highway onto a gravel road, then you turn onto this road - or should I say trail?! It is a three mile drive on this road to Lisa's house. And, I can't forget, you have to stop and open three gates too! (Sorry, these pictures are not in order and kind of random!)

The second gate! We were pulling a camper too, so we had to be extra careful.

The real Cowboy Wit roping a horse to show the kids.

Allie & Jack

This was the last gate we had to open before we got to their house. That is her house in the trees.

Here is the road to Lisa's house! It was like this for 3 miles. We were dying!!

The highlight of the trip was riding horses. Jaycie absolutely loves horses. She even got thrown off, but she got back on and she still loves horses! Thank goodness!

Crae is not much of a horse lover!!

Allie and I went for a ride.

So, in Lisa's house there is this little pink bathroom. According to Crae, the toilet is way too low. So, this was his way of saying that it could be very comfortable! Seriously! We laughed until we were all crying!

Another horse picture. Jaycie loved this horse.

Lily just wanted off!! She has a little of her daddy in her!

Do I even need to explain this one?

Keenan & Jaycie

All the boys spent the entire day building this hut. They had told us about it, but we didn't think much of it. We all had to walk down to see it and it was well worth the walk. We sure were impressed! What creative kids. See what fun you can have even if there is not anywhere to go within 20 miles!! :)

We had a great time. It was such a different vacation that we have ever been on before and my girls loved it. It was nice to have a camper to crash in and for Lily to nap in. And I must say, I have to hand it to Lisa for being such a trooper and so prepared. I think about her every time I am running to the grocery store to grab that one thing I forgot.
Thanks Roath family for letting us come visit!!

Bear Lake

Every summer my friend Natalie comes to Bear Lake for a vacation so us Cache Valley friends drive over and meet her. Other than we about got blown away, it was a super fun day. It is so much fun getting together and catching up.

Wow, that is a lot of kiddos!!

First day of school

It was so crazy to send both Jaycie and Allie to school this year. Allie started Kindergarten and loves it. She has the same teacher as Jaycie had last year, Mrs. Allgood. She is the best teacher!

Allie got to sit between her friends Addy Hess and Azi Allred

She was soooo excited!

Jaycie was a little nervous about being at school all day in the first grade. It took her a couple of months to realize that it was fun. She is liking it better now.

Here she is heading out the door.


Outside the door of her classroom. She looks pretty excited!

Big Birthday Weekend

Allie and my mom have the same birthday. This year they both wanted to go camping. We went up to Aspen Acres in Idaho. This is a fun campground and golf course. My family has gone there for as long as I can remember. Living away has made it so we haven't been up there for a few years. It was a super fun weekend. My parents have a nice camp trailer and then my sister's family borrowed a trailer from a friend. We, on the other hand, slept in a tent! (Which broke and fell down!!) Other than that, we had a great time. The kids loved every minute of it. Here are a TON of pictures!

Lily during one of her happy moments. (They were rare!!)

Crazy driver Allie. Crae taught my girls how to golf and they loved it.

Jaycie and Jazzie (My cousin Chuck's little girl)

Mi Padres

Allie during the donut eating contest. Chuck's wife Natalie put together some fun games for the kids. They were so fun to watch.

More donuts. Apparently they didn't get the instructions to NOT use hands!

Jaycie bobbing for apples. SERIOUSLY??

Allie opening her plethera of gifts.

Time for Cake

Lily in the tent. It was cold, but we bundled her up and she slept great. Jaycie and Allie were spoiled and slept in the trailer.

Smore smear

For my mom's gift, we gathered some jeans from all of us, including the grandkids and I made my mom this quilt. She is always freezing cold, so we knew she would use it. It was so neat to watch her as we opened it for her. She just couldn't believe that it was for her. She got so emotional when we showed her all the cute little pockets from all the grandkids' jeans. Such a great moment.

Already putting it to use!