A little late but still thankful...

We hosted Thanksgiving for 20 hungry people! I made homemade rolls (thanks Rach for the tip), made cute napkins (thanks Ang for that tip and Mom and Kami for the labor),

I feel like I was so busy getting ready for it and balancing the rest I didn't take time to think of all that I am thankful for, so here is some of the things in no order...

My well rounded husband who I can send to pick out a cute outfit for Ella for pictures then have him do something manly...whatever that may be!

Ella Grace my sweet loving, "charming" daughter! I forgot my wallet at Target after I had my cart halfway loaded, I realized my spaciness and said "dang it, mommy forgot her money!" She said "It's OK...cry" and she kept saying "dang it...money!" So sweet she is so empathetic!

All my family and there never ending support, they are my friends.

My wonderful creative job and all that it has provided for us.

Friends...love Friends and how happy and excited they make me to do every day things with!

That I have the ability to wake up and work out every day with no physical limits...such a blessing and reward.

The gospel in my life. Just learning how important it is to raising a family with guidance and direction from the Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving and my Christmas has been up since mid November! We are ready!

It was a Zoo...

What a fun Halloween!

Ella was a Giraffe, I was her Zoo Keeper and Kevin was the Animal Recruiter!

So fun to have Corey and his family here this year and to have Kami and Blaine with us too!

Britt always does such a nice job of hosting every year as we stomp around her neighborhood hoping people will take on our large group of 15!

Mine!

How do you teach a 19 month old to share and to not say...MINE! At church she yelled MINE at a boy sitting next to us. Then we went to a friends house and she yelled MINE over and over again over a cookie, vacuum, a little pumpkin toy, a hat I could go on!

She really is very sweet and knows very well that she is being naughty. Last night my parents were over and I asked Ella what she did that we naughty and she said "no, no, share...cookie."
Kevin told the nursery leader at church sorry and asked her what she we should do and she said have another baby!

Don't know about that advise...Anyone got anything else??

(This is also an apology/ warning if you play with Ella and I, she might say MINE)

The 1st time I...

Danced on a stage with a WITCH at WEE witches weekend at Gardner Village!
Went on a tour of a Witches house at Wee witches with cute Kas!

Rode on a Pony and LOVED it!

Bottled Tomatoes...

I found out someone has a huge field of tomatoes that they were letting people harvest. So I took my mom with me and we filled several baskets full and would have kept going but it got dark. I got inspired by my friend Denise who bottles tomatoes every year, her mom did 48 and I bottled 24...maybe next year when I am not a newbie I will go for the 48 :)! It was actually pretty fun and VERY rewarding knowing that I am growing my food storage!

(Saved the best for last) Went potty on the toilet!

Ella went potty in her little toilet the 1st time on Wednesday! She has been so interested in the toilet and she always announces when she has went "poop" or "pee" and wants me to change her promptly. I read in this book, not to potty train until they are 2...and if they can do these things. One of them was can she follow three commands. I asked her if she would go into her playroom and find her baby then bring it to me. She said "No" then I asked her again and she said "OK". So she left and ended up playing in there for about 5 to 10 min. then she came walking back to me and said "Got it!" and sure enough she had two babies! She has went pee a couple of times about only once a day. But it is fun to see her starting to get it and love learning new things!

I teared up when I heard that little tickle in the toilet...she is growing up!

WEDDING of the Century and POST of the century!

\ Kami, my sister in-law just got married. I know that Blaine will be a carring husband, he is always the first to ask me how is your work going?? Kami will be a fun, thoughtful wife because she is always willing to play...go hiking, fishing and help get the yard done for her wedding!

So happy for you two! We love you!

A big group of geese flew overhead, it was so pretty!

Ella everywhere but up front with the rest of the line

Ella decided to take a squat and get every single petal out of her basket right there. I didn't know what she was doing so I ran up to her and she would not move until she did her job, as soon as the basket was empty she took off and walked to the front!

"Oh no" Ella said as Chloe started to drop her petals

Chloe being so good, as Ella tried finish the goal of getting ALL of the flowers out of her basket!

Center piece, 1 of 20.

Suckers were a hit, especially with Ella who thought they should be her dinner (and were)

Yummy dinner, Ruby River catered and Kneaders did the desserts

Lemonade, Root beer and Orange Slush for your drinking pleasures...
always fun out of a glass bottle!

Hard working Mother of the Bride gets a smooch xoxoxo

Of coarse there were favors, Carmel Apples

Cute Chloe and Cael

Kami made her entrance down the stairs...so GRAND!

Hello orange chair, and pumpkin...Welcome to the wedding!

Can we cut this cake?? And get on with OUR night!

Papa and Ella getting their dance on... sweet!

We all wanted to be carried by the end of the night!

You have to sweat when you work and when you dance, I did BOTH!

Market, Babies and Flowers

We haven't been to the Farmers Market yet, I like to go closer to fall, can't wait for the pumpkins! We went on Saturday to get our favorites! We shared a Buckwheat pancake covered with berries, nuts, bananas and peanut butter! Bought peaches, kettle corn, honey, green peppers, onions, corn and my favorite treat a Mazurka bar from Great Harvest it is a bar covered in berries so good (they only sell them at the market and the Great Harvest on 9th and 9th). Then on our way out we wanted to support our cute neighbors who have a Thai booth so we bought some Pad Thai and some Thai Buffalo wings for Kev, very good but a lot to eat before 9:30!

-LOVE FALL-

I love the smell and feel of fall in the early morning, especially when I walk out of the gym in the morning, it reminds me of camping! I took Ella on a walk, one of our favorite things to do. She always has to take a baby and smell the flowers!

$10,000 Shower

We have a joke at work that when you do a shower or a party at your house it ends up costing you $10,000 (Kevin doesn't think it is a joke). You end up deciding that in order for you to host the event you need to buy all new furniture or in my case buy everything and the kitchen sink!

Really I was just getting my house ready for a going away party for Jessica and a Wedding shower for Kami (Kevin's sister).

I got a couple of pictures at the start of Jessica's party and a shot of the yummy food. Food is always better when everyone helps and brings some of their favorite dishes!

Jessica we will miss you, you were a "Big Deal" to us and always will be! Hot tamales will never be the same! And a party is not a party without a game! We played Jessica and Ryan picturenary and drew some of the best moments of Jessica and Ryan living in Utah from Ryan with Taylor in he Bijorn at the Uof U games to Jessica being weighed while on a hospital bed. Love you Jess!

Glad the parties are over and I can stop spending money (on that:) Sad the fun is over!