Tenn.

The kids and I were fortunate to spend Thanksgiving break in Tennessee! It was exciting getting ready, the kids couldn't wait to go on an airplane and see their cousins Roxy, Dono, and JoJo.







We had so much fun playing and visiting and so many things to do together, the time went by way too fast. Tangled, ear piercings, swings, McDonalds, walks, pictures, dance battles, Black Friday shopping, dress up, sword fights, delicious Thanksgiving feast, lots of treats and playtime.







Someday we'll all live close together and the fun will never have to end!



We miss you guys and can't wait till next time!

Changing Seasons

And soccer's over.
We had a really fun season. No, it wasn't close in our own backyard, but we've concluded it was worth a little extra drive. We definitely lucked out with our coach. He was great. He had the perfect temperament to coach, and Dillan responded and respected him. Plus he had a lot to teach the players, things that I didn't think 5-year-olds were capable of learning!



They proved me wrong. Dillan did great with scoring goals, dribbling, and playing defense. We're a little sad to see the season over, but the coach asked if we'd play in the springtime as he'd like to coach again and wants Dillan on the team. So we'll just all be together again! Should be fun.

But we're getting ready for Christmas around here. Since we'll be gone to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, we decided to get everything ready before we left.



We've been decorating, making lists, making plans, and we're getting ready. It's a lot of fun to see how excited the kids are.



Dillan asked, "How old is Jesus going to be on His birthday?" I told him since Jesus doesn't live on the earth, he doesn't get older. That just disappointed him, since he's hoping to live to be infinity-his new favorite number. He wants to be the first in his class to count to infinity.

Speaking of, we had his parent/teacher conference this week. His teacher said he's in the top 5 in his class. Then she said he's at the top. She tested him on 2nd and 3rd trimester skills, and he's already mastered some. She asked my permission to start him on 1st grade site words, since he's finished the 35 for Kinder. He's just got to work on his penmanship and writing. And writing his last name, which is apparently long. We'll just keep working but we are so proud of our little smarty pants Cub!

Moments with Dillan

The Kindergarten classes brought home the Thanksgiving Turkey to disguise for Thanksgiving dinner and not get eaten.
Dillan and I brainstormed a few ideas. We were set on dressing up the turkey like Santa Claus. Of course, Mommy with extremely forgetful brain cells completely forgot about the project after a few days. It was Dillan who, the night before the due date, brought up the turkey project!
Oh NO!
Then he told me that he had talked with some friends at school about doing Santa and they wanted to do the same. So naturally that idea was dissed.
After more thinking, Dillan chose Batman. Great. Sunday night scrounging around for how to pull of a Batman turkey.
Thankfully I found some paper in just the right colors. And it worked.
Yes, I helped with the project. I wanted Dillan to be proud of it. It reminded me of years ago when my dad stayed up late helping me finish a project for school. No, I don't claim to have any kind of artistic talent, but I was fairly happy with the finished project.
I looked online after Dillan went to school and found some pictures of classes who did the same project. I saw Santa, more than once, and a lot of snowmen. Three cotton balls pasted over the turkey. Draw-in some eyes, a carrot nose and you're done. I'm still proud of ours.


Before


After

And another recent moment...

Dillan: Mom, when's the baby gonna get here?

Mom: Just a few more months.

Dillan: So am I gonna be 6 when the baby is born?

Mom: No, you will still be 5. It will be after Christmas.

Dillan: (pondering)...AFTER Christmas???

Mom: Yup.

Dillan: (huge mischievous grin) So the baby won't get any presents!!!

Oh to have the worries of a 5-year-old!

So you're turning 31? Here is a list of 31 things that I love about you.

So here they are in no particular order....

1. The fact that you are willing to call me out when I am acting like a jerk.
2. The way that you love me no matter how I am acting.
3. Seeing the way that you care for our children.
4. The unbelievable patience in which you raise all of us.
5. You always insist that your car is clean.
6. How proud she is of Dillan when he plays hard in soccer.
7. Seeing her take time to help Dillan with his homework.
8. She keeps me organized when I am ready to crack.
9. She reminds me about things that I would normally forget about.
10. Her weekly list for cleaning things around the house.
11. The passion with which she fills her calling in the primary.
12. Memorizing every child's name in the primary, normally before she meets their parents.
13. Her smile, especially when she is laughing hysterically.
14. Her cute figure, oh yes!
15. The way that her pregnancy really makes her shine.
16. Her willingness to take on tasks, even when she is busy.
17. Her stubby little legs. (I like to call them pistons)
18. Her competitive nature, she hates to lose.
19. Her selflessness, always thinking about others before herself.
20. Her amazing faith, it has helped me to stay on the right path more than once.
21. Seeing her read stories to the kids before they go to bed.
22. Laying in bed next to Leah every night until she falls asleep.
23. The fact that I can talk to her about anything, she really is my perfect match.
24. Her willingness to let me watch every Jazz game, and then putting up with me when they lose.
25. I love it when she tries to sing, it is soooo adorable.
26. I love the way that she fits into my arms when I hug her, just the right size.
27. I love seeing the relationship that she has with her family, they are all very close.
28. Her willingness to make dinner for the family, even when she is not feeling well.
29. She always keeps our home clean and loves to welcome people into it.
30. I love her testimony, she is the perfect example of how a mother should be.
31. I love the fact that she was willing to take a chance on me. I will eternally be grateful for her love and devotion to our marriage. I look forward to an eternity of happiness and love from the one that brings me the greatest happiness of all. Je t'aimerais a jamais. Gros Bisous!

Weekend

Costumes, Candy, treats from Grandma and Papa = our weekend.

We loved having Grandma Donna and Papa Bob here with us. They wanted to have some Halloween fun with us and even dressed up!



If you needed proof as to why we call Leah "Grandma's Girl," you'd only need a few minutes. She followed Grandma EVERYWHERE! In the mornings, she watched Grandma do her hair and makeup, just fascinated. Then Grandma would fix up Leah. She wanted to sit by her, hold her hand, do everything that Grandma did. Such a girl's girl!



They came with us to the trunk-r-treat/chili cook-off and Grandma made a delicious pot of chili! It was gone the next day, we couldn't get enough!

It was such a fun weekend, and of course too short a visit!

Halloween

This year, after finally making up our minds and not being able to look back last minute, we have Super Mario and Cinderella.
Both were able to wear their costumes to school, and both looked great. Even though Mario seems to be an EXtremely popular choice at Dillan's school, he was the only one I saw wearing his mustache. Whoever saw a Mario without a mustache?



Daddy was supposed to be Luigi, but he of course changed his mind.

I was telling Chris that I can almost remember every costume I wore in Elementary and Jr High. Some of them my mother still has. He said he'd just throw together whatever he could. Basic and generic.
I love seeing all the different costumes, admiring the homemade ones. It's fun to dress up.



We're ready! Bring on the candy!
Should be a fun weekend!

Field Trip!

Oh Happy Day!
Dillan has been waiting for this day since the first week of school, when his teacher announced they would be going on a field trip to Bates Nut Farm.



Best part? He got to ride a BUS! Finally.
2nd Best? Daddy got to go too!!!



He was up extra early, reminding me that he had to eat a good breakfast and get to school early to catch the bus.



They came home and showed off their prize pumpkins they chose.
Dillan said he loved the hay ride pulled by the tractor.
Daddy took a bunch of pictures of Dillan with his buddies.
I know they had a great day!