Thanksgiving

We started our week at Terry’s parents on Tuesday night and then went to Twin on Wednesday morning. I got my crown all finished (woo-hoo!) and then we I hung out with my Mom and Laura and the kids in town while Ter went fishing with his brother Brett. My Grandma and her husband Jay came up that night and we enjoyed just hanging out. Thursday morning the Thanksgiving festivities and my dad’s birthday began bright and early at 4:30 when the guys got up to go hunting-and they think we’re crazy for black Friday shopping! At least we bring back cute things! Us girls spent the morning cooking and getting everything ready. We had both sets of grandparents, all my family and the Barnes family this year for dinner and it was great. Ter has always said that Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday and I can see why. It’s just laid back and filled with great food and even better company (although his list of reasons has football in there somewhere). After dinner we started to plan our shopping attack. We started at 10 Thursday night and ended at 9 the next morning with only a few hours of sleep in between! This is by far one of our craziest traditions but one of my very favorites. I love just getting to spend time with my sisters and mom!

After a few more hunting trips for Ter we headed to Raft River on Saturday morning and met up with Nicole and Jordan and Brett and Vanessa to go Christmas tree hunting at Pomerelle. We found a cute little one and now are all ready to go for Christmas. We all went back to Ter's parents and enjoyed the chaos of 6 little crazy kiddos. Our family sure has been blessed over the last 2 years! Happy Holidays!

thankful

The other night we were watching TV and a special about Congresswoman Gabby Giffords came on. At first it was kind of just background noise to Bryke playing, Ter doing homework and me reading. But then I started to watch and really listen and I am so glad I did.

Gabby was shot in the head while giving a speech and I think13 other people were injured and 6 people died that day. She went from being ‘the most positive person in congress’ to someone who had to relearn to do every little thing that we take for granted. Watching what she was like before the accident made me feel like she was unstoppable. In almost every picture she had a smile on her face. She was charismatic, determined and forging ahead in the world of politics. And then that fateful day happened and her world was turned upside down. But through her ordeal she has remained positive. She is now doing her best to forge ahead in a new world, the world of recovery and fighting to regain what was taken from her.

I had never heard of Congresswoman Giffords before her accident and now I will never forget her. I don’t really know anything about her political agenda but politics isn’t what makes her a woman that I look up to. It is her determination and her unfailingly positive attitude in the face of tremendous trials. It’s hard to convey what I felt while watching that special in words. It made me determined to be thankful for every little thing that I have and am able to do. It made me thankful for my healthy body and all of its capabilities. I need to be more positive and not the little things get me down. Gabby made me realize that if I had a chance to throw my trials in a hat with everyone else’s and choose a new set I would run the other way and hold on to mine for dear life. I have been blessed with such a wonderful life and I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving me all that I have. 

busy trip home

November has had a great start! Bryke and I took off for Filer on Wednesday and got to stay and play with Grandma Kris and Grandpa until Sunday. While we sure busy while we were there! We surprised Grandma at work on Wednesday by coming a day early, Thursday I got a temporary crown put on, Friday we tried to go to the Gold Mine in Hailey but it was closed {which we found out when we were all loaded up in the truck and on the road}, Saturday I went to Maureena and KC’s sealing and then later we went to the reception, after the reception my Mom stayed with Bryke and I went to Kiwi Loco with Trent and Dustin and Madye {so fun to catch up with them!} and finally on Sunday we got to see Daddy again at Rebecca’s blessing. Whoo! Busy trip but so much fun!

 Meena and KC’s sealing was amazing! Meena and I have been friends since the 8^th grade and it was such a neat experience to be able to be with her in the temple on her special day. She is the sweetest girl and KC is the luckiest guy!  I love you Meena!

It was great to be able to visit with all the friends who came to support Meena-I'm really thankful for the good friends that I had in high school and that we're still friends today.

 Sunday was Rebecca’s blessing and it was the first time that Ter’s family has all been together since Cody got home in August. It was great to be able to be with everyone and we even managed to get all the grandkids in one place for a picture. 6 grandkids in less than 2 years-holy smokes!

9 months

weighs 19 lbs 9 oz -25%

is 29 inches-76%

and is in the 90% for his big head :)

is a stair climbing machine

I can’t emphasize this enough, has the HIGHEST scream I’ve probably ever heard {and really likes to let us hear it}

waves goodbye

upgraded to a big boy car seat and loves it

says mama, which makes my heart melt every time

walks like a pro behind his lion walker toy

tries to stand on top of everything (if he is standing up to the table and there is a cup on the floor he has to try and stand on top of it, or the wipes case or your toes)

still doesn’t understand that night time is for sleeping, crazy boy!

thinks that old people on tv are hilarious

is a little man baby and eats as much as we do!

Is so much fun! Mama and Daddy love you Bryke!