Thanksgiving in Utah

Tarl had to work on Thanksgiving so the kids and I headed down to Utah to spend a few days with my family. I dont know if I've just never seen this sign before or if it's just never registered since we've stopped at this place before but this time I made the kids take a picture. 

A Utah sunset.

We timed our trip that we were getting into town just as rush hour was happening so we had a little bit of stop and wait and go and stop on the free way. Something I do not miss what so ever. 

I dare say this was Tyce's most favorite part. For a week before our trip (ever since we called to sing to Ruthie on her birthday) all Tyce could talk about was going down to Utah for her party. He is SO excited Ruthie is now 4 so that she's closer to his 5. 

One of Tyce's most favorite past times. Dominoes. 

The kids set up their own train system. 

Got a 5k in before Thanksgiving. 

(For those of you who run, to put this in perspective my farthest I go is usually about a 5k tops. So I was really excited that after I haven't gotten to run for a few weeks I could pull that out of my sleeve!)

The kids make up weird games. This one was some statue moving person. :)

Aunt Heather took my kids and Heidi's kids to Chuck E Cheese while Heidi was getting her chemo the day before Thanksgiving. I joined up with them about half way in (after I'd gotten back from lunch w/ some friends). 

Tyce and Ruthie are the best little buds. Plus they're both good helpers for Summer.

The table!

My dad carving Mr. Tom. 

Heidi's working on a project so she was asking the kids to help her by taking some spy pictures. It was pretty funny watching them all run around in the house in their black get ups. 

The kids and I went to see my moms grave (Kalyana is cold). This cemetery is beautiful.

Right before this my sisters and I got to enjoy a lovely lunch together. We had a good time remembering my lovely mother and appreciating the family that her and my dad raised. Counting my blessings.

November Beginnings

Tarl built me a second bookshelf. I've seriously been giddy about this all week long! It makes me happy every single time I walk into that room! 

TWO!

Another Friday night sleepover in Kaly's bed.

Another request fulfilled of breakfast in bed. :)

After we had someone come out and inspect our chimneys we decided we really wanted to light a fire and use our fireplaces. Tarl lit up a pretty fun fire and the kids were so excited to get to sit by the fire. Makayla even volunteered to go out in the snow and get some logs! She's a little like her mother really. No coat in the snow.

Our fire!

I was in the comfort of my bedroom taking this from my window. :)

So after we knew our fire places worked I thought it'd be fun to start a new tradition called Sunday Stories. We all gather in the living room Sunday night and read stories in front of the fire before bed. I freaking love my house!

Last week.

Tonight. 

Ending October

It was, apparently, bring a friend to bedtime story.

Tyce was trying to entertain me while I was stuck in my chair recovering from my surgery.

Makayla dancing for me while I was stuck in my chair after surgery.

Kaly's friends over to visit. She's got a lot of little boys who have crushes on her.

Tyce fell in the tub. He had a red line. Then he woke up like this the next morning.

And then it turned into a wicked black eye over the next week.

This girl LOVES to do dishes.

And they're pretty good at teamwork.

I made up punch cards for brushing their teeth. This has been a good motivator for this boy.

Still working out hard. This last week I was able to start up Insanity again. However I usually combine that with my 60-day challenge videos or sandbags or weights. Tarl and I are excited to continue to turn our  pool room into a workout room!

Bed & Breakfast

This is from several weeks ago but one Saturday morning the girls had had a sleepover in Kaly's bed and came in to my room and woke me up, "Mom! Can we please have breakfast in bed?" How could I resist? The girls went back into her room to play and I brought them their own trays of breakfast. It was a fun to get to spoil them a little and they had fun eating in bed. 

Cotton Candy

For years and years I've wanted to get a cotton candy machine for my sweet husband. It is his most favorite snack ever. I found one online that had pretty stellar reviews so I got it for Christmas and then really couldn't handle waiting any longer.

It was pretty funny after Tarl was finished making some and finally gotten a chance to try it he was kind of disappointed that it didnt make very much. I had to remind him it's because he gave away the first 5 batches to his children. :) 

This Kid!

With Tarl's work schedule (right now he goes from 4pm-3am) he's able to usually come home around 11 for 'lunch' (thats what he calls it) or break or whatever.  Which means usually I'll try to get the kids in bed, and then work on bills, family management stuff, or just finally get computer time for the day until Tarl gets his break. (It's nice because we get to visit for about 30 minutes and then he goes back out and I go to bed.)

Well this little boy does not like to be alone. His sisters usually fall asleep before him so then he gets scared and lonely and tries to come find me.

One night I had finished up all my business in the office downstairs, turned off all the lights and did a quick sweep of the house to turn off lights, lock doors, and get ready for bed. I checked on the kids and noticed Tyce wasn't in his bed so I checked both his sisters bed and he was no where to be found.

THEN I realized while I was down in the office I might have heard something in the closet. I went all the way clear back down stairs to the bottom corner of the house and there he was in the pitch dark (now) asleep under his blanket. (pic 2 below) The little turkey. 

Tyce fell asleep in the hallway while Tarl and I were visiting over 'lunch'.

In my office closet. (I had to turn on the light to take a picture.)

Dentist

Now that we're a bit more settled I got us all in for dentist appointments. Good thing too because the girls both needed a little work done.  They have been seriously amazing. The staff just keeps saying what polite, well behaved kids I have. For that I am thankful. (Plus they both got to have the laughing gas for the first time, which they both really really liked!) 

Makayla 

Kalyana

Tyce watching the girls

Makayla picked out rainbow as her prize. 

Tyce just wanted his picture taken since Makayla had hers.