Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving with the Moores...
This year we had Jessica & Maddie, Greg, The Lindsays, The Flakes and us all together. We missed the rest of our family... Carole & Russ provided an amazing Thanksgiving filled with great food, great conversation, car rides (grandpa's old cars), 5k fun run (really a highlight), and outdoor activities. We appreciate all of their hard work... my kids think they are Great! This year all of the cousins played nonstop... I don't think anyone fought! AMAZING!!!

our crazy crew...

they are never serious...

E2 trying to get up the tree to join the other kids...

the three girls... abby, natalie and "the sassy one" they had so much fun hanging out together...

I love where we live... this was our Thanksgiving day! It was beautiful and the kids loved playing in Grandma & Grandpa's yard. They all got new airplanes and had fun flying them.

E conquering the rope bridge... everyone enjoyed crossing the rope bridge and doing the zip line... Melanie and Jessica both went for the first time...

K getting ready to do the zip line... this year all the cousins were climbing up and getting down by themselves... it is crazy how big they all are now!

Aunt Melanie working on crafts with the kids...

S playing with the dog... my kids love playing with all of the dogs and chickens...

the girls wearing their new pajamas from Grandma & Grandpa...

Time for Pies....

This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to make pies! Every year I get to the night of making them and I am tired and usually dread it a little, but then I start and remember why I love it so much. I love trying new things and taking the time to make something creative. Everyday cooking can become boring and I love working with Fly Guy and making these. This year I only made three, but they were so good!!

pioneer woman's apple pie and my cherry pie... the apple pie is now my ABSOLUTE favorite! these are strong words, but i stand by them.... go try pioneer woman's recipe...you'll die!!

this is the second year i have made this pumpkin chiffon pie....i looove this pie. it is so light and fluffy.... seriously amazing. i got this recipe from the Oprah show last year, go check out her web site and try it.... Amaaaaazing!!!

New Moon Girls Night Out

It was Alyssa's birthday and her nice husband arranged a girls night out to see New Moon for her. We started the evening at her house doing manis, pedis and eating this amazing food. She makes to die for treats and arranges them beautifully (my picture is not that good). After we took a limo ride to the midnight showing (yes.... I felt a little crazy to be up this late...but it was sooooo worth it!) of New Moon.

This was Alyssa's first limo ride ever... she was like a kid at Disneyland... she was so excited and giddy. What goof balls...

i have not rode in a limo since high school... it was fun and we didn't have to worry about driving home so late...

we made it to the movie without falling asleep... actually it was easy because the girls kept me laughing the entire time. i am officially a "Jacob" girl... i did feel a little guilty staring at him so much in the movie... he is so young, but super HOT!!!

A Time Out for Women - 2009

sisters, sisters and more sisters....
Haylee.. Tonya.. Me.. Tina

I have six sisters and one brother.... getting us all together is near impossible! When I realized I could get three sisters, my mom, aunt, niece and friends together for an entire weekend I knew it would be great! We shopped (yes malls....they had malls!) in Vegas and St. George, ate amazing food and stayed up late into the night talking and laughing. I think all women need weekends like this to recharge and gain perspective.

My favorite speakers at the conference were Cheiko Okawsaki (probably wrong), Emily Watts and Mary L. Edmunds. I was laughing and crying throughout all of their talks. Hopefully, I can apply what I learned to my family.

We missed you A.J. and Tori... we'll get you on the next girls trip. Thank you to those who went! It was much needed and I enjoyed all of you!!!

my friends, Dawn, Jan, Ashley & Vicki kept the trip eventful.... we laughed so hard....

Tonya's mother-in-law, Karen was able to join us for the conference. She was fun and blended in with the group easily....

The last night we ate at the Pizza Factory...their breadsticks are huge and really good!

Sisters... still looking good and definitely not acting their age...

My Curious One...

Lately, my days are filled with keeping this little guy out of trouble. He is so adorable, but definitely a curious child, which I love and hate at the same time. To this date he has broken more in my house than any other of my children. On this day he confiscated my mascara and colored all over his face....

this smile has saved him more times than I can count...

so proud of himself....

While I was doing laundry E2 became obsessed with putting on K's clothes... after trying for a while he finally got his underwear on and then managed to get his shorts on. He wore K's clothes all day and then would not let us take them off at night. I love this little guy....

Halloween 2009

Halloween is one of my kids favorite times of the year. They love the pumpkins, decorations, dress up and definitely the candy. We went to a fun party with carnival games and trunk-or-treat....they loved it. Unfortunately, most of my pictures turned out blurry....I hate that! I was able to salvage a few pics....

E our fierce pirate and K our Captain Jack... They had so much fun playing games and collecting their candy.

S's favorite part was getting a huge cotton candy. She was our princess, of course.

Eli loved participating in the games. He was our little glow in the dark skeleton.

Stephanie, Doug, Oliver, Gabriel and Lily joined us for Halloween. It was fun to celebrate with them and see their cute costumes.