Thanksgiving Day

I was scheduled to work this Thanksgiving so we couldn't make to my Grandma's house this year. We were super bummed, but it turned out okay. We still missed everyone, but we had fun making our own Thanksgiving. It was my first time making a whole Thanksgiving dinner by myself and it turned out pretty good!!

Emery and Macie were big time helpers with the rolls.

The Menu:

Sage and Butter Brined Turkey

(Was an experiment but turned out sooo moist and yummy)

Sausage, Pretzels, and Pecan Stuffing

(Another experiment that turned out pretty goo)

Au Gratin Potatoes

(I don't love Mashed Potatoes so since it was just us I opted for Au Gratin)

Green Bean Casserole

Cresent Rolls

Salted Banana Cream Pie

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll 

(Probably my favorite part!)

The kids actually loved the food. They told me everything was so yummy, and they have been eating leftovers ever since. 

We had a perfect day. We are an incredibly blessed family and have loads to be grateful for. So glad we get to have a day all to saying thank you for all we have. 

Pumpkin Painting

We did this waaaay back before Halloween. But I kept meaning to take a "finished product" picture of the pumpkins and never got around to it. And now after a month of sitting on the porch they are very faded...soooo that's okay. These will do! We decided to forego pumpkin carving this year, a) it's a lot of work b) it's even more work with 3 kids who could care less about it (read Jake and I get to do 5 pumpkins instead of 2) c) we have 3 kids who could care less about it. 

But painting pumpkins....that is another story. They loooove painting pumpkins. 

So these adorable pumpkins have been decorating my front porch for a month now. And I am a little sad that in a few days it will be time to get rid of the fall decor. but I sure do love Christmas so it'll be okay. 

Emery's Birthday!

 The other day I realized, I never posted the pictures from Emery's birthday! I don't know what happened, but somehow it fell through the cracks. But we had so much fun! We did our actual celebration on Saturday, since her birthday was on a Monday. We went to the trampoline gym and had so much fun! Emery thought it was the best thing ever. 

This sign cracked me up!! haha!

After the trampoline gym we went back to my mom and dad's for her cake and presents from grandma. She of course requested an orange cake, and one that had sprinkles inside. 

On her actual birthday she had school, but afterward we went and took some pictures of this beauty. I can't believe how big she is getting so fast. I can't believe how much something can grow in 4 short years. Itty bitty to this. She is the sweetest, kindest, most tender hearted little 4 year old you've ever met. She cares about everyone and everything. Anyone getting their feelings heart can bring her to tears. She tells me a million times a day how much she loves me, which I love. She is incredibly smart, and blows us away all the time. I love that she still has 2 years before she starts kindergarten, but she is definitely ready for it. I am okay with it being a while though. I hate that she is growing up so fast. One of my favorite things that she says to me is "Mom I just want to get big so I can do everything with you!" I love it. 

Nicknames: Em, Emmy, Emmy Lou, Lou, Emmy Bug

How old are you?  "Four"

What is your favorite color? "Orange"

What is your favorite animal? "Horsey"

What is your favorite book? "The Escape of Marvin the Ape"

What is your favorite TV show? "Daniel Tiger"

What is your favorite movie? "Elsa" (Frozen)

What is your favorite song? "I know the my Savior Loves Me"

What is your favorite food? "Mac and Cheese and Cereal and Peanut Butter Sandwiches"

What is your favorite drink? "Lemonade"

What is your favorite breakfast food? "Pumpking Chocolate Chip pancakes and Hot Chocolate)

What is your favorite snack? "Sticky Hands" (Fruit Leather)

What is your favorite game? "Hungry Hungry Hipps"

What is your favorite toy? "Legos"

Who is your best friend? "Lydia and Boston and Mia and my other friends"

What is your favorite thing to do? "Help mom make sandwiches"

What is your favorite thing to do outside? "Ride my new bike from my birthday!"

What is your favorite holiday? "Halloween"

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Mimi (blanket) and Baby (a baby doll) and a water bottle, my puppy

Where is your favorite place to go? "To Grandma's House"

What is your favorite restaurant? "A Grilled Cheese"

Where do you want to go on vacation? "Go camping up on the mountain"

What do you want to be when you grow up? "A mommy"

What did you do on your birthday? "Go to the trampoline place, and jumped on the trampoline, go to grandma's, and then eat a cake"

October

Raising 3 very little ones, actually as of this month I have 3 ages 4 and under now instead of 3 ages 3 and under. Oh the looks and comments I would get when people heard that, I still the crazy looks and comments though. Anyway, needless to say it presents for a hectic life. It is craziness all the time, there is usually a baby crying, or at least whining. And most hours of the day one of them is hungry. So with my increasingly limited time, blogging is fewer and farther between. But it is still important to me, so I still want to get it done, but sometimes what used to be 4 individual posts, now becomes one big month long post! So here it is...October in a nutshell. 

 Every year the hospital that I work at does what is called the NICU reunion, where they throw a hige party for all of the babies who have ever been in our NICU. Some are 18 year kids now, some just left last week. So there are lots of people. We had about 200 former NICU babies show up this year, plus their families. The theme this year was Frozen, so of course the girls HAD to come with me. They had a blast. There was a photo booth where they got their picture taken with Olaf, made a frame to put their picture in, decorate Olaf sugar cookies, had lunch, watched the movie, played in the bounce house, ate snow cones, and went "fishing". They had so much fun. My work has had a few parties for us now that they have come to so they think I work at the coolest place ever. 

Just some cute pictures of my Harley. 

A few weekends ago we had a big camping trip planned through Bryce Canyon and San Rafael Swell with Colton and Haley and my Mom, and Dad, and Shayli. They all left Wednesday night and we left Thursday. We were making a pit stop in Manti to see my grandma and Uncle Mike when Harley decided to start throwing up...So we quickly changed our plans and spent 4 days there. We got lucky that my Uncle Chris and his family were in Manti camping and hunting so we talked Amber into staying with us (which wasn't hard to do) and they got some cousin time, which of course they loved. Emery and Macie love their Amber!

We spent lots of time watching college football, the Cubs, reading books, cuddling, and playing with Uncle Mike's new kitty!!

I got a package from Amazon sometime this month...I don't even remember what it was. But these girls thought the box was the funnest thing they got to do all month!

Allll day every day, these girls are changing from one princess into another. And they HAVE to be called by that princess's name when they are in that dress. It gets confusing...

Emery missed church last Sunday because she was sick, so her primary teacher brought her the stuff they did and a treat for Halloween! She is the sweetest! Emery loved wearing her headband. 

During the lunch I got busy bouncing between the girls back and forth and kind of forgot about Harley. He was being quiet so I figured he was still eating and was fine. He was finished eating and long past ready for his name apparently. 

And just a sweet picture of my Harley because he's the cutest.