Thanksgiving 2019

We had thanksgiving this year with Chelsey and her family at their house. There was lots to be done as there always is! So we went right to work helping make the traditional hymas noodles, rolls and all the other things

Clyde had to give Chels a lesson on dipping the roll into butter the way grandma hymas did.

The kids played well and shared tablets well.

Beautiful AND YUMMY rolls.

Waiting for the big meal!

We had ham and turkey in the smoker and then Chris showed up with a brisket. There was plenty of meat for this meat loving family.

IT WAS A FEAST! And we ate so many rolls before the meal that Chelsey turned around and made another batch!

Giving Thanks.

And its not Thanksgiving without Brielle's olive finger picture!

We sure love getting together with Chelseys kids because they all play so well together.

Love these silly kids and watching them grow! And we were introduced to Kari's new SNAKE! Brielle actually really loved it! EW!

Then we went to my parents house for another T day dinner! We had all the regular yummy things.

And we all loved our time with baby Camry. She loves to look at herself so in an effort to keep he happy, we played with ALLLL the filters.

My Gratefuls
Day 1 SALES
Day 2 silly kids who got great grades!
Day 3 modern miracles - Uncle Jims Safety
Day 4 freedom to vote
Day 5 phoenix sun and palm trees and awesome parents
Day 6 my villages (those who have raised me and my kids through different stages in life.)
Day 7 temples and peace
Day 8 massage - getting and giving
Day 9 technology that simplifies life
Day 10 Team Santa
Day 11 service men and women
Day 12 brielley-bean and her wonder woman attitude
Day 13 exercise for my mental health
Day 14 Hair!
Day 15 Chad
Day 16 Mol
Day 17 our prophet
Day 18 heaters
Day 19 Chad's job
Day 20 Thursdays
Day 21 Cheese
Day 22 games
Day 23 times when I get to serve
Day 24 laughter - giggle fits with Chad
Day 25 cookies & snow
Day 26 Friends new and old
Day 27 snow plows and their sacrifice
Day 28 a full belly, naps, family and pinochle, blankets, comfortable chairs, warm socks and reliable cars and my comfortable life. There's so much to be thankful for.

New Hair!

I finally found someone to trade with to do my hair!! I have wanted to do this fun red for a long time and it finally happened!! 

 LOOOOVE this second picture! It shows the red off so well!! YAY for pretty hair again!

Lamest 37th birthday everrrrrr

Chad turned 37 this year! We had all sorts of fun plans with friends and EVERY SINGLE ONE had to be canceled because of a tummy bug. We celebrated Chad the best we could though and it started with gifts and Chad staying home from work because of his cold. 

 I bought this jersey as soon as it came out because I knew he wanted one.

 A few hours later, this was our life. Poor Bri got SO sick. We knew we didn't dare leave. I was BUMMED! But Chad held it together pretty well.

 After a super disappointing day I decided to pull out the cake that we had planned to eat with friends and EAT IT! In the basement and eat as much as we wanted! It was late and I just didn't care. AT LEAST ONE THING had to go right on Chad's birthday and that was going to be CAKE! Through tears (mine) we all sang happy birthday. 

 

 I realized after the fact that while I was so upset about the birthday plans being ruined, Chad was glad he was home to help with Brielle and spend the whole day with his family. He's just like that. Always putting himself last and sacrificing for our family without a word. Selfless and so generous.

The next day, Chad looked like this. HE caught that stupid flu bug and was down flat for 2 whole days. After a priesthood blessing he started to mend but man he was sick for a long time. NO FUN! And I'm dubbing this birthday the lamest one ever. And next year will be AWESOME!

Happy Birthday my love! It only can get better after this, right?!

Things

When we got home from our trip our new skinny tree had been delivered so we set it up to check it out! I love skinny trees and the kids tree was being overflown with their ornaments so it was time for a new one. 

 Mol and I escaped one evening for a hot chocolate date at Dennys. Trips like this help us reset and enjoy being together.

 After our little tree was up I was anxious to get our other tree up! Chad let me do it a little earlier this year since it was a BSU tree! It was so fun to have but the flashing orange and blue lights really threw me off sometimes. I always thought there was a cop nearby. And there's just something about the soft white glow of christmas lights that makes it Christmas.

 I'm still working out alot at our stake center and recently have joined in with the Tongan branch doing cardio dance. They are such a fun group of ladies and it has been having fun having some zumba back in my life!

 Me and Ry soaked up the last few days of sunshine in November .

 Mid November we joined in with the youth of the church watching the face to face event regarding the new youth program. There are so many cool, inspired changes for our youth and I'm so excited that Carter is in this first group of BIG changes. I'm sure we will learn lots. My heart almost burst when they announced the new YM's theme and Carter, without prompting, stood and recited the new theme. How cool. I love that the prophet and apostles are so involved with the youth and their concerns. This church is so great!

 I signed the fam up for turkey bingo and it was a fun night! And we walked away with a BIG cooler bag!

 As we were pulling out snow clothes, the snowboards came out too. Carter was quick to strap Bri in and show her the way. I was surprised she could hop around in it. Maybe she'll be our next snowboarder. Then I'll have to get a job to support the snow habit we are creating.

 Morning snuggles!

PHOENIX!!!

Back in Sept, Chad was supposed to attend a training in SLC but due to a family funeral he had to miss it. He jokingly asked his boss if he wanted him to go to phoenix to do it since there was a training there and he said YES! He came and talked to me and I said I'm Coming WITH YOU! And after a few approvals at work and talking my parents into staying with the kids we were off!!

Chad flew up on Monday so he could be there in time for the tuesday morning class and I flew out the next day. Everything went flawlessly and I made it through the airport and security with no problems.  

 I've always loved seeing the land from high points. It's amazing.

 The clouds were glowing so bright and I was feeling so relaxed and ready to enjoy my husband and some me time for a week!

 I caught a shuttle to the hotel and spent some time getting ready and waited for Chad to get home. We went out that night and ate a whole pizza (adult kinds!) to our self! It was yummy!

 The next day I took Chad to class and went out exploring finding any stores to shop at and hitting all the thrift stores! It was a good time. I spent so long in Ross just because I could! I did plenty of laying by the pool and feeling the wonderful 80 degree weather and trying to not think of coming home to snow.

 When I picked up Chad I saw some bright things hanging in the trees. I got up close and it was a pomegranate tree! I was so tempted to pick it but i didn't. I did touch it and a ton of spiders dropped onto my hand. EW! There were also limes or lemons growing in bunches. So cool to see.

 One evening we went to a HUGE mall! We could have spent all day in it and not seen everything it was so huge. We had dinner there and shoppped and then went to see Malifecent 2. We found this big boys toy store where you could drive the remote control cars. Chad tried it out.

 We had rolled ice cream too. It was fascinating to watch them scrape it into rolls and put it into cups. It wasn't really worth the money though. Just mediocre ice cream.

 There were cool lego displays all over the mall.

 On one day I took myself to the Gilbert Temple! It was gorgeous among the palm trees and red flowers.

 I don't know what they are but they are every where and SO SO beautiful!

 Whats a vacation without a massage?! Yes we bought a groupon and spoiled ourselves with a couples massage. Mine was heavenly.

 Zupas after our massages.

 And some TV watching and R&R in bed.

 On our last day we didn't have much time to do anything but we did find a park with a cool hike to a hole in the rock at Papago Park.

 What's a desert vacation without a picture of a cactus! They were everywhere along with palm trees at the park.

 The path goes up the back side of the rock.

 We could sit up in this hollowed out cave and peek through the hole in the rock at the beautiful city. It was a really cool feeling and it was cold in the rock.

 There were ponds  all around you could fish in and ducks floating around.

 From the hole in the rock we could see this random pyramid so we decided to go check it out. Apparently its a TOMB! of the first mayor! Weird....several of his family members were buried there as well. I wondered what you had to do to make the cut of being buried in the tomb.

 Our car was fancy and fast and fun to drive! I meant to get a better pic of it but as we were returning it this was the best we could do. We both left dreaming of the day when we could have a car!

It was SUCH a nice trip and we were able to be together on the flight home. Our kids were good for their grandparents and that made us happy and eased our minds while on the trip. I'm grateful my parents were willing to do that. Chad and i really needed a getaway and despite having a cold, we still made the most of it and our time together!