Decorating the Tree

 

 

 

Jason REALLY wanted to get a live tree this year! I have never in my life had one, so it made me a little nervous. I LOVE IT! Jason was right...it is prettier, smells amazing, and was so fun to go pick out. The kids LOVE decorating the house and tree. It is such a fun tradition! Addi cracks me up...this is how she ran around a lot of the evening!

Sea World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to say - I am becoming more independent as Jason is gone all during the week. I am learning to do more and more on my own. Jason had to go on a business trip to Las Vegas during the first part of the week of Thanksgiving, so I decided to take the kids to Sea World ALONE!!! We drove down on Sunday and all went great on the drive and we even found our hotel! The kids think staying in a hotel is GREAT. Unfortunatly I got sick and did not feel well all week, but we did not let that stop us. We went to Sea World Monday and Tuesday. Hailee's favorite part was feeding the dolphins...she would spend hours with them if she could. Brady loved the roller coasters. Meg liked it all! Addi was just mesmerized; she had never been here before and thought it was the best place ever (zoo, water park, and amusement park all in one). It was a little chilly but she did not let that stop her from playing in the water anyway. Tuesday night we left and drove to the JW Marriott to try that. It was a beautiful hotel, but we were not terribly impressed...so expensive and the pools were COLD. At this point 3 of us were sick and we were dreading the drive back home the next day. The drive home was terrible - it took us 8 1/2 hours in bumper to bumper traffic almost the whole way, but again...we did it! The kids were troopers (car sickness and all)! We had such a fun getaway and loved it! I am still so impressed at how good we all did alone. As my kids get older it is getting easier to do this kind of stuff with them -- again, I LOVE THE AGES WE ARE AT!!!

Christmas Card Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We called Angela at the last minute and asked if she could snap a few pictures for us for a Christmas card. Wow, picture taking is so much easier now that the kids are older. Honestly it took us about 5 minutes start to finish. As I sit and look at these, I am just in shock at how grown up my kids are getting. I wish I could freeze time exactly where it is right now and keep them the ages they are now forever. Life is SO good!

Halloween Night

 

The kids were SO glad Halloween was not on a Sunday this year - after missing trick or treating last year, they were really looking forward to it this year! Unfortunatly Jason had to go to Oklahoma at the last minute and missed going with us. Hailee enjoyed going off with her friends alone to trick or treat. The kids came home with a ton of candy! The weather was so nice that the kids didn't even want to wear coats (but of course I did since I am ALWAYS COLD).

Brady's First Goat Show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brady is now old enough to show animals with the FFA. He has been looking forward to this for years! He had his first goat show and actually won 1st place with one of his goats (he is raising two). Gavin had a ball at this show seeing all of the animals!

Ward Social

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have such a fun Halloween Ward Social that includes trunk r treating, booths, cake walk, a hayride, and hot dogs. Ang and her family came with us again this year! Addi decided she had had enough of her Rapunzel costume and wanted to wear the pony that we had in our dress up closet. Thank goodness because it kept her much warmer anyway! Meg was a mime, Brady was a cowboy Zombie, and Hailee was once again Barbie.