Thanksgiving 2012

So for Thanksgiving this year, we were blessed to be able to go to Heber for a family reunion on Christian's Dad's side. There were 40 people there and it was so much fun to actually get to know some of Christian's Aunts and Uncles and for Tyson to meet some of his second cousins! I left a few days earlier than Christian and got to spend some time with my family before the reunion began. Christian was so nice to drive an extra 3 hours to drop me off at an airport with a direct flight to Utah and still get back to school on time. He's amazing!

Need I say more?? The boys did amazing on the flight! We were so lucky to get an extra seat which made sleeping so much easier!

Christian's mom was so nice to pick us up from the airport. Then we got to spend time with Grandma Sumsion and Sandy. Austin got to open early birthday presents and Tyson got to put together some new puzzles. It was so fun!

My boys slept very well--which I know is uncommon in new places so I felt extra blessed! I love the gap in his teeth!!

My cousins Cheryl and Linda came to see me and let their kids play! It is always so much fun to see them!

Grandma let us help her in the yard. She is seriously the hardest working Grandma to ever exist. She is amazing and I'm so grateful for the blessing it was to grow up near her and learn so much from both her and Grandpa.

Every night my Grandparents read the scriptures together. I love their example and how it's a priority in their lives. They read side by side in these chairs. I told them I thought that was a good idea and Grandma said, "Well when we were younger we would read in bed, and sometimes we'd fall asleep." I just had to laugh because people really are not that different. My grandparents were just like Christian and me when they were our ages. That realization made me feel close to them :)

Most of the Thanksgivings I remember were shared with these two and I absolutely cherish those memories. I remember sleeping over at their house and helping with the turkey, bread, and cranberry salad. I remember playing games at their house and everyone falling asleep on their couches and extra beds! I remember their centerpieces which I loved (one was a native american with hair that grew longer every year!) It was fun to see them at this time of year!

On Tuesday, Tenille was so kind to come and meet us for breakfast at Magleby's Fresh (best syrup in the WORLD) and afterward walk around with the boys and me. I can't believe I didn't snap a picture with my beautiful sister or with Jake and Sadie who came up and spent some time with us. Jake could make Tyson laugh harder than anyone! It was too cute!

By Wednesday we got to pick up Christian from the airport and head to the cabin. It was amazing! The first day, we went out for a walk. Here is Austin's first taste of snow...

Three snowballs in the face later and he decided he wasn't a big fan :) Poor kid!

His new friend Ella lent him his hat to keep his hands warm and he refused to take it off for the rest of that day! On Thanksgiving, there were a ton of pictures taken but none with my camera. Someday when I get the coveted copies I'll have to post them here. Thanksgiving day was amazing. I wasn't much help since Tyson woke up throwing up in the middle of the night. The poor kid! He has been sick every Thanksgiving of his life (except the first one) Anyway, he and I got to watch a lot of movies as we were trying to keep the germs in one place, so I don't think he minded too much.

On Saturday, I got the 24 hour flu (same thing Tyson had) and ended up sleeping at Aunt Patty's for 4 hours. I was so sad to not be able to see Aunt Laurs or play with the family, but I'm glad nobody else got sick! Christian and the boys still had fun!

By that night, I was feeling much better and we were able to go to Temple Square in Salt Lake and see the lights. If you have never been, it is amazing. I love the peaceful feeling there. I know Christ lives and it was fun to share that testimony with my kids.

This was the temple where Christian and I were married for time and all eternity. It is such a beautiful place because of the special promises we made here. It brings back some awesome memories. This was also where he proposed to me the first time :)

Overall it was a great trip. I'm so grateful to have been able to spend time with Christian's siblings. They really do feel like my own family now and I love them! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I'm so thankful for my Savior, my family, our health, our friends, and for Christian and my two boys. We are very, very blessed! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Horse Park

We went to a horse park that was dedicated to retired race horses for playgroup and it was the COOLEST thing! We will definitely going back because it was free and amazing!

It was the most beautiful day! Even though it was starting to get cold, the sun was out and by the end of the tour we were wishing we hadn't worn coats!

This horse is their star, Little Silver Charm. He is the only retired horse here who is not a famous race horse. He can play soccer, sit on the couch, and is awesome around kids! Most of the other horses were either rescued from slaughter houses or sent here instead of a slaughter house. Some were champions, some won millions of dollars racing, some were owned by kings of different countries, and some are descendants/parents of the greatest race horses of all time.

The guide fed them carrots and mints as she told us about them. Most of the Stallions were too dangerous for us to feed, but Tyson and I were able to feed the geldings and Austin even fed one horse whose teeth had been extracted due to biting :)

So I learned that all race horses have tattoos on their upper lip, which is how they make sure that the horses racing are the same ones that have been registered in the race. This gelding shows his tattoo on command! The horse next to him played Seabiscuit in the movie since he looked so much like the actual horse!

Overall it was a great day and I can't wait to go back with Christian's parents over Christmas break!

Ohio

We went to Ohio and saw our awesome friends Jordon and Andrea Despain this past weekend and it was so awesome!  We participated in their very own Amazing Race Date competition and got dead last!  But it was so much fun!  We ate delicious food, played some fun games and just spent time together.  I couldn't believe that it had been four years since we'd seen them (Andrea and I were both pregnant with our first and hadn't seen each other since)  So much has changed but it felt like stepping back in time because nothing had changed between us!  Hopefully we'll get to see them again soon!  Thanks again for having us!

A Forgotten Post

We really wanted to go camping with our friends the Parkinsons and the Lees but we were rained out!  Instead, the Parkinson's came over (the Lees were sick) and we made smores in the oven, played games and went hiking the next day.  It was so much fun and so much less work!

Crossing the rickety bridge!

Here we are on top of the Natural bridge!  It was pretty high up and had a beautiful view!  I thought Karyann was going to die several times!

Isn't is beautiful?!

Tyson was getting ahead of us on the way down!  What a goofball!

Tyson wanted a picture of him 'not smiling'

We also went to our first ever Roller Derby competition!  It was pretty crazy!

Here's just a picture I like!

Happy Halloween!!

I have never liked Halloween before, but this year it was one of my favorite memories of all time.  We left our house right at 6:30 since Christian had to go to interview some of the incoming residents.  The sky was a bright pink and orange--it was incredible!  My boys were so cute and excited and all around us were tiny tots running around dressed up as princesses and superheros.  By the time it was 7:00 it was starting to get dark, it started to sprinkle, and the older folks started to come out (that's the part I don't like).  But that first half hour was just precious!  I loved every minute of it!

Anyway, here are pictures from all of October.

 Tyson got to dress up as a Pirate for preschool--he was Captain Blackbeard :)  I have since had to hide the dagger even though he knows they are only to be used for cutting fruit and branches.  It was causing too much of a problem!

 Our neighbor invited us to their trunk or treat.  We were 30 minutes late and missed the whole thing!  I still thought they were pretty cute!

 We carved pumpkins with our friends the Parkinsons.  Tyson is drawing out exactly how he wants the face to look.  He mostly wanted it to be identical to our neighbor's pumpkins but I couldn't perform--oh well!

 Christian and I with our pumpkins!

Every year I try to cook our pumpkin seeds and every year they go rancid.

 Grandma Sandra saved the day by sending us Superman costumes for the kids.  Tyson LOVED his costume.  My dad sent us a Superhero collections book and Tyson sleeps with it.  He knows all of the stories by heart (it is 100 pages long) and begs me to read it everyday.  Now he just reads it on his own!

 Here's our super low key trunk or treat.  It was nice since they had a red wagon full of doughnuts and cider going trunk or treating as well so even the people handing out candy got treats!

 Tyson dressed up for his Halloween party at school.  He was so excited!

 We had yummy mummies for dinner Halloween night.  Thank you Crystal for the tradition and sorry Luffs for not burning them the one year we weren't together :)  These ones are Superman Mummies!

 My boys ready to go trick or treating!

 Aren't they adorable?!!

 Here we are home from getting treats!

 I love Tyson's face here!

 After we came home, we played a mad game of Sorry and ate candy before going to bed.  It was a wonderful day!

We scored a sweet puzzle from the Goodwill.  It is 100 pieces and Tyson does it all on his own.  Here Christian and Tyson are measuring how big it is :)  Tyson thinks this is a funny picture since Christian's head's cut off!

We've been going to the duck pond to feed the ducks with our new friend and neighbor Alicia.  It has been so much fun!

My favorite part are the Canadian Geese that are migrating.  They are elegant and beautiful.  We are so lucky to live less than a mile from this beautiful place!