So Much To Be Thankful For.....

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays I don't normally look forward to. Especially since it was the last holiday we spent with Sam. I'm not a huge fan of turkey either. But I actually loved Thanksgiving. It was a fun low key day. Emmet played football with my uncle and cousins. He loved it! Last year he got bored after 15 minutes. This year he didn't want to quit. He's starting to get the hang of the game! We still need to work on catching. Emmet played football in a huge yard with dogs, cats, chickens, a guinee pig, slide, swing set, and two playhouses. Emery once she got comfortable with all of the kids had a great time playing while Emmet was doing his "guy" stuff. Or as he would say, "I"m a man yo!"

It was a gorgeous day! My parents flew in from Chicago. I loved having them both here. The TV was never turned on and my mom made a great Turkey dinner. My dad had bought an electrical thermometer so we new exactly when the turkey was done. So it was actually quite moist. Emmet found my old game, Stretego. I use to play it when I was younger and Emmet played it all day. Anyone who walked through the door he would convince to play him. The great part was Emmet never won that day and didn't even get upset. He kept on playing. That really shows how much he's grown-up.

My aunt and her family also were in town and over the weekend we hiked A Mountain. It's the mountain (or hill) right next to the ASU stadium. It's the perfect hike for little people. It was another gorgeous clear warm day. We were all in shorts, not too hot and not too cold. You've got to love AZ this time of year. I never knew Emmet was such a worrier. He was concerned the entire time that we might step on a cactus or fall. Poor guy, while Emery was a little dare devil. She raced to the top and actually ran down to the bottom. Beating us all!




I am so thankful for beautiful healthy children. They bring me the most joy and happiness. I truly don't know what I would do without them. They definitely give me purpose and how thankful I am for that! Their excitement is contagious and encourages me to move forward with hope!

Primary Program

Today was our primary program. It was Emery's first program and with her tract record I had no expectations. Well, I was shocked at both of my children's participation. They both went up on the stand without hesitation. In fact Emery was reciting her part to me over and over just before she went up to make sure she had it memorized. I had a perfect view of both of them. They sang their hearts out. Emmet stood like a little soldier and I could pick his voice out. At times I could even hear Emery. I got teary eyed when Emery stood up and recited her part perfectly they were her own words, "I'm thankful for my family because they help me say my prayers." She said it loud and clear. Emmet had a little trouble remembering, "I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he protects my family and I love him." I was so proud of them. I said a little prayer hoping Sam was able to share in that moment with me. I know he would have been just as proud and amazed.

Halloween

In the past I have dreaded this holiday, for a number of reasons. Mainly, their dad isn't here to join in the fun. Sam always made Halloween fun, because I'm not much for dressing up. My point isn't to dwell on that, but that I made a decision to use the power of a positive attitude and see if I could turn this holiday around. I didn't want to be the Halloween Scrooge anymore. I am happy to report that it worked!! For the first time EVER I had a great time at my ward's trunk-or-treat. My kids absolutely loved it. Emery was hesitant at first, but once she realized she actually didn't have to say trick-or-treat she caught the spirit. We spent Halloween day at their Nanny and Papa Hawkins' home. We had a great party with their cousins and they LOVED trick-or-treating with them. They even got to go on the golf cart. I went home Halloween night so proud of myself that we were able to have such a great time. I should probably try this positive attitude thing again!!


Emmet was having too much fun to hold still long enough for pictures.

Halloween Fun

October Break

As much as I hate that my family does not live in the same state as me, it's great having wonderful places to visit. Emmet had a week off of school and we headed to sunny CA for a much needed break. Thanks to a thoughtful dad, we didn't have to drive, but flew into Burbank.

They are such easy travelers and they couldn't believe how short the flight was. They did freak out though when they saw that we had to exit the airplane by stairs. It was raining and they were both so concerned about being out in the rain next to the plane. Emmet especially is my little worry wart!!

Chris and Jenny live in Pasadena and they have such a cute apartment. We probably visited on the worst weekend possible for Chris. He was studying for his first midterms. So, Thursday we headed to Disneyland to keep the kids occupied! (They love Chris and wouldn't leave him alone to study.) Jenny and Chris have season passes. Chris studied most of the day, met up with us for a few hours and then headed back to studying. Jenny and I had a great time with the kids. We stayed ALL day!




They can't wait to go back. Emery absolutely loved every roller coaster and especially splash mountain. Emmet loved It's a Small World. I really can't believe how great they were. It was a fun, long day and they keep asking to go back.

Chance and Angela flew in Thursday night. We hadn't all hung out since May so it was so fun to see each other.

We played around some of the famous Hollywood sites Friday while Chris studied. We spent a little bit of time in the fashion district, but none of us felt like we were fashionable enough to shop there!

We headed to Huntington Beach Saturday and had another fun day. It was foggy most of the time, so you really couldn't see too far out into the ocean. Even thought it was the middle of October it didn't stop the kids from getting in. I couldn't believe how happy Emmet was at the beach this time. He just hung out digging the in the sand by himself most of the time. We were there for almost six hours and he didn't want to leave!! What a change from when he was little and hated the sand.



Most of the day the kids with the help of their aunts and uncles built a sand castle. The diet coke is in honor of grandma kathy!

I loved being with family and so did my kids. The vacation didn't last long enough. We ate two nights in a row at Yogurtland. Seriously, if you live anywhere near Pasadena you have got to go. It was so yummy build your own yogurt!
Despite me getting sick the last two days and not sure if I felt well enough to fly home we had a great time. I swear I get sick on every vacation because I finally relax.

Another Year Older

It is nice having both of my kids birthdays literally a month a part, but a little stressful as well. I don't know how moms do it who have kids birthdays in December. I guess you get everything done in one full swoop.

Here are a few highlights from Emmets 6th Birthday. Emmet's last night as a five year old ended in such an odd and curious way. He comes into my bedroom dressed in what he calls his "army gear"!

All I could do was laugh. He loved his little getup and was determined to sleep in it. What shocked me is he could fall asleep boots and all.


I did eventually take the boots and hat off.

On the morning of Emmet's birthday I am awakened by Emmet's whisperings in my ear, "Mom, mom it's my birthday where are my presents? Can I open them right now?" He is a very persuasive child and an hour later he was opening the three gifts Emery and I got him. He headed off to school and his teacher invited me to come spend the morning in the classroom with him. I was excited to go spend time with him and thankful my mom was in town to watch Emery.

Emmet came home to more surprises. Grandma Kathy and Emery had hidden a few more gifts around the house. Emmet loved "hunting" for his presents. He blew out his candles at Outback. It's his favorite restaurant because he loves the bread. When he was little I got him to try the bread because it was the "Wiggles" Restaurant and he still calls the bread Austrailan bread! We ate dinner with Nanny and Papa Hawkins. Emmet shares a birthday with Papa and it's fun to do something together on their birthdays.

Nanny and Papa gave Emmet a gigantic lego star wars cruiser. It had 1170 pieces. We laid out a white sheet on our family room floor and for the duration of conference I put together this fun lego. It took almost 6 hours. We did separate the pieces into piles by color and that really helped. I finished it Sunday morning.




The ship stayed in tack for almost an hour. As you know the kids want to play with the lego structure even though it falls apart and breaks quite easily. Well the bottom broke and I began fixing it and couldn't. I told Emmet okay I'm getting frustrated with this and then more broke. Well in what may be my proudest moment in mothering I broke the rest, picked up the pieces stuck them all in the box with instructions and stuck it in Emmet's room. He just stared at me. He didn't cry I think he was shocked. I told him when he was older, he could build it and that was that. He hasn't mentioned it since.

He had a great birthday. He's getting taller all the time. I fear he will be taller than before I know it.

This is for you dad!

My dad's goal is to get Emery to like him! It's a running joke between Emery and him. When ever Emery talks to my dad she always says, "I don't like you grandpa." He pretends to be sad and she laughs and laughs. So dad I know you've been missing her so here are a few funny pics I've taken recently. She is beginning to love posing for the camera!

She wore these purple vampire teeth for an entire afternoon. She kept saying, "mom look I'm a vampire." I promise she knows nothing about Twilight!


Emery is in dance and loves it. It's a great little outlet for her. She gets nervous with adults and she loves her teacher and loves going.
I'm so grateful for Emery. Her humor, smiles, hugs, and need to be with me makes life so much sweeter. I am eternally grateful to be entrusted with Emery and Emmet. Emmet's birthday is this week so I'll have some fun pictures coming later.