I am glad for many things

We had a fun, relaxing Thanksgiving with our old friends but we were so wrapped up in the kids (and let's face it, the food!) that we forgot to take any pictures! I can assure you everything was lovely and delicious and we definitely did not starve. Our kids, however, ate about three bites and then had quesadillas a couple of hours later. Lame.

Today we kicked off the Christmas season with a little shopping, a visit to the Air Force museum and lunch with the fam (not sure what that has to do with Christmas!), and a Christmas choral performance and nativity. Tomorrow it's Christmas decorating (lights are up and on-thank you Brent) and Sunday is the Messiah sing-a-long (thank you Shannon for indulging my need to pretend like I'm in the MoTab and not be alone in doing so)

A few things I am thankful for...

1. My wonderful husband who treats me like the person he thinks I am and not the person I think I am. He really is amazing.

2. My awesomely rowdy and crazy boys who are never, ever boring! Who needs mellow kids, a clean house, and order anyways?

3. My sweet, new little baby who smiles at me in the middle of the night, helps me have perspective, and forces me to sit, relax, and enjoy being a mom.

4. Brent's job! Steady employment and wearing uniforms to work every day that I don't have to wash. And he loves what he does. (It helps that he gets every holiday off)

5. Parents who support us even though we're far away and who come and visit whenever they can. And siblings who go to great effort to stay in touch even though we all live so far apart.

6. Old friends and new friends who are our family wherever we live, love us and our kids and would do anything for us.

7. A son who will sing rounds with me in the car and write important things on the calendar-like when movies come out and when he's off from school. A son who tells me I'm pretty and thank you for dinner. Another son who still loves to snuggle and giggles all day. A fourth son who makes me laugh every hour of every day and tells me I'm his best mommy friend in the whole wide world. A fifth little son who is perfect for now, lets me hold him whenever I want and kiss him all over, and doesn't talk back or make messes-yet.

8. Girlfriends. I love a good girls' night out (see picture below) You help me stay sane and happy.

9. Music-especially Christmas music right now. I love to hear my kids sing and I love to sing.

10. The gospel and my testimony of the gospel. I know how to be happy, have my sweet family with me forever, and I know from whom all of my sweet blessings flow.

No kids (or husbands)+ butternut squash ravioli+ great girlfriends+ a movie based on the book none of us could put down+ a vampire with wacky hair=fun girls night out! I know you're reading this and I love you all!

Max-2 Month Update

Max is two months old and I can't believe how big he is! He's been gaining weight like crazy-he was 12lb. 4 oz. at the doctor two weeks ago. He is so alert (meaning always awake!) and cranes his neck to see us when he hears our voices. He smiles and makes little sweet baby noises. He's starting to get a little more vocal and loud. He's already learning how to survive and be heard in this crazy house!

He kicks and waves his arms around and wacks himself in the face alot. He can stuff practically his whole fist in his mouth too! (Our gene pool seems to produce big heads and big mouths) His eyes seem to be staying a dark blue, for now atleast. And he seems to have stopped losing hair-or atleast it's slowed down! Yay! My kids always go bald and I'd love for him to keep some of that dark hair, although I can see the light hair growing in underneath.

Luke is already his favorite brother, probably because he's so attentive. He runs to Max when he's crying and helps feed him. He always tells him about his day and says good morning and good night to him every day. He tells him all the things he's going to do with him when he gets bigger. He even tells him about the food he is eating and how yummy it will be for Max when he gets big and has teeth. And he always introduces "baby Max" to people and tells them he is zero, which cracks me up. Owen also loves to be around Max, I'm just not sure that Max isn't a little scared of Owen!

He loves his carseat. It might be because there are days that he's in it the whole day being dragged around.

He finally isn't screaming every time he gets a bath. Owen helps bathe him and Max just stares at him while Owen talks non-stop.

He's beginning to chub out and I love it! I love squeezing on him and kissing him to death. I think it scares him a little!

I crack up when I look down and see just his little face peeking out from under the carseat cover. I think I would get claustrophobic in something like that.

Harry Potters and Jedis and Cowboys-Oh My! (and one cute little bumble bee)

Here are the obligatory Halloween pictures! My kids are awful about getting their pictures taken and it was made worse because they were so anxious to go trick or treating! We had a good time though. My kids last longer and longer every year. Especially Garrett and Eli-we dropped the younger ones off at home and then kept going. Brent and I-Oops! I meant the kids! -got alot of great candy!

Garrett was Harry Potter

Eli was Obi-Wan Kenobi (or as Owen says Nomi-Kadobe)

Luke was Harry Potter, The Younger (my kids recently discovered Harry Potter and are a little obsessed) Notice the flared nostrils keeping his glasses up!

Owen was a "Mean Cowboy" We told him he was a cute cowboy and he said "No, I'm mean! Stand back!". Then he drew his guns and shot us.

Max was a bumble bee. Buzzz.

It's fun to see how excited the kids get-how much they like to dress up, the parties at school, the candy. It always brings back memories of being a kid. I think it's almost more fun to relive it through our kids' eyes.

Happy Halloween! Until next year...

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This...

plus this...

equals this!

Owen's perfectly round head made this a must! It was calling his name. Well, actually Charlie Brown's name...