Christmas Party

 Santa came to our Ward Christmas Party! Kate was happy to talk to him, but Abby had no desire to sit still long enough. So this is the best pictures we got! And then the Primary sang a couple Christmas songs, always fun to watch Kate sing!

Kate turns 5

1. What is your favorite color? all the colors!

 2. What is your favorite toy? her faries

3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries and blueberries

  4. What is your favorite tv show? Sophia the First

 5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? turkey and cheese

 6. What is your favorite outfit? dress up clothes!

  7. What is your favorite game? matching game

  8. What is your favorite snack? gold fish

 9. What is your favorite animal? cute big dog

 10. What is your favorite song? Tomorrow from Annie

11. What is your favorite book? Pirate Fairy book

 12. Who is your best friend? Bella Daws

  13. What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

  14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play soccer

  15. What is your favorite drink? water and milk

 16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

  17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Elsa Barbie

 18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Lucky Charms

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cupcakes

 20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a mom

Pirate Fairy Birthday

 So this year Kate requested a party themed after the movie A Pirate Fairy. I had all these plans to decorate all cute and have fun..,and then reality of being pregnant set in and this is all the decorating that happened. Luckily, the kids didn't care at all. Kate still had a total blast. Thank goodness!

Thank goodness for all the friends who came to help make it fun! And then after the party I thought it was precious that Kate asked Dad to paint her nails with some new polish she was given--needed photo proof!

November recap

This year November came and went and I hardly did a thing. I really have not much to report--it's pretty sad how little I have to say about our life for the last month. We did have a few events though:

 My cousin Arielle and her husband Nathan and their dogs came to visit on their way across the country. My girls LOVED having the extra dogs and friends around! But sadly--this is the only picture I have, reading a bedtime story. So fun to see my cousin!

 Then the rest of the month pretty much looked like this-- at least for my kids. I went to the doctor yesterday and confirmed I am officially working on making baby #3, but man alive it is killing me! I have been sick with every pregnancy, but the demands of keeping 2 other kids alive while you are super sick is not proving easy. But the girls have been amazing at helping me out (oh and Jon too!)

Our thanksgiving was about as low key as they come. We just stayed at home with ourselves. I made a small feast and we just enjoyed the free time with Jon home. The weather was great, so we ended up getting Kate a big girl bike for an early birthday present and attempting to fly a kite-- which promptly broke every time we thought we fixed it....but the girls still had fun anyway.

Carnival Rides with Dad

 Thursday evening the girls and I drove past a small carnival in our mall parking lot. Kate said "Ooooo Mom Do you think Daddy would take me to the ferris wheel??" So I told him about her request and he took her the next night. Since most carnival rides would be too big for Abby she and I hug out at home while Kate and Dad had a date! She had a blast!!!

Last Soccer Game

 Kate's last game of the season was Saturday. After the game the team went bowling and got trophies! Kate was so excited about her trophy that she carried it to every place we went that day.

H A double L O W double E N Spells Halloween!

 This year for Halloween was extra fun since it was our first year with a kid having a party at school! Captain Hook took the Preschool by storm. She was so sassy as the Captain--I loved it!! She even started talking like a pirate as soon as her clothes were on. I have a feeling this girl was ment for the stage--she is loud and expressive, and can memorize like no other kid I know! While walking into school she said "Here mom, hold my hook! hahahaha! That's funny!" Her teachers gasped and clapped when they saw her in costume. Overall it was SO fun to see her confident little self strut around as Hook!

 Then the next day 31st, we had our ward trunk or treat party. So the rest of the family was revealed. Abby was Izzy from the show Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Jon was Jake, and I was Mr. Smee, naturally! I am pretty proud of how all our costumes turned out!

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 Abby and Jon were the good guys. Kate and I the villains.

 Some of my favorite people in the world, Kate and Abby's adopted Grandparents Gena and Don decked out as Repunzel and Flynn including the floating lanterns. Then Mallory and Daniel in classic couple costume!

 This last picture is blurry but it is the one that we are actually all smiling so I had to put it up anyway!

First time in curlers

 As many people we are getting ready for Halloween around here. I'm trying to finish making our costumes... it will be done in a day or so I promise! Kate decided she wanted to be a girl Captain Hook. So she has to have curly hair! I decided to do a test run in curlers to get her used to it before the big costume day. The girl did great! She was so excited for her hair to be curly she didn't complain at all about it being uncomfortable. Such a champ (or maybe it is her vanity....she loves to feel pretty!) The first thing she said when she saw her hair was "Yay I look like Brave! (aka Merida)" I have to agree--she pulls off the crazy curls great! Now stay tuned for the full costume effect...if I can pull it off it will be super cute!

The big 2 8

 Well we all knew this day would come eventually. I'd eventually have to turn 28. It is really depressing to me to see the numbers of my age click closer and closer to 30. I feel like I'm still young and hip--but then something like a birthday happens and I realize I'm OLD! My birthday was fantastic, despite my decrepit age. I went on a shopping spree for some new clothes--always fun right?! Then a group of our friends came to the temple with us. And Leslie was able to join us! I've missed her so much since she moved! We then went to Leslie's house and Ezra had decorated for my birthday. We had dinner together and just sat around talking. It was magical. I thought my birthday partying was over--but I was wrong!

 Jon woke me up Sunday morning with these!!! I was so surprised! I didn't know I wanted them, but I assure you I have always wanted them! So sweet--he just picked them out because he said I deserved them and they looked like my style. Such a wise man!

 THEN he also had a group of our friends over for cupcakes and ice cream. Such a great time. The best thing about birthdays is seeing and hearing from all the people you love most. I am truly one lucky lady, even if I am getting up there in years!

Look at the Sky

When I was a teenager I read a story about optimism. In it the young girl is getting a landscape painting critiqued by a teacher. As the teacher begins listing the shortcomings on the ground of her picture, the girl keeps thinking, but look at the sky! It is a lesson to find and focus on the good despite shortcomings around us. One thing Texas has taught me is to look at the sky! It is often too hot, too muggy, too insect infested, too flat to be considered pretty in my book. But if you look at the sky, Texas doesn't disappoint. The big open sky is often filled with awe inducing clouds. Looking at the beautiful sky reminds me of this story every time and as I drive I find myself mentally counting my blessings. I love the amazing feeling it brings me. I am such a blessed woman!