Thanksgiving weekend

Of course it wouldn't be Thanksgiving if it didn't start off with a game of football. Ry was Mr. Studly quarterback and his team came away with a win. On the sidelines, besides taking pictures, I had fun watching all the mini-men playing a game of soccer, football, and forming a club. There were 9 boys running around that day having a blast. Uncle Todd and Uncle Doug cut up Mark (turkey before mentioned) for Thanksgiving dinner, but once Nate found out what they did to his dear friend he went out on the porch to pout and we both swore to each other we wouldn't eat any turkey that day.

Friday we took off first thing to meet up with our friends, the Wades, for a trip to Monterey and Big Sur. After a wrong turn, Tomtom saved us and we met up at Point Lobos to ride bikes. Nevermind the rain and wind we had a great time. We made our traditional walk along the cypress trees (place where I walked with Ryan on our first Christmas and knew he was the one). Every time I make that walk it all becomes surreal. I loved being able to share one of my favorite places on Earth with my boys.

When we made it back to our cars the Wade's passenger window had been knocked out and their diaper bag stolen. We moped over the loss with a dinner at Chile's and a late night watching of Calamity Jane at our hotel.

Saturday we packed our lunch and headed down to Big Sur. Beautiful place!

First we hit the waterfall that runs off onto the beach, and we definitely enjoyed the beautiful weather.

After our walk we set up the grill and made our lunch. Sadly a key component of the grill was left back home so we improvised using left over briquets and an hour later we ate a delicious lunch. While we waited for food the boys had a great time exploring the woods and stream close by.

Nothing is funner than watching a boy playing in the woods and having the time of his life.

Our setting for lunch.

Jack explored and found the setting for this picture and insisted I take a snapshot. He thought it looked just like the Sacred Grove.

To end the trip we stopped by Feiffer beach where water crashed through holes in the mountain of rock. There were lots of photographers there to capture it.

Truly, we live in a beautiful world and this trip was a good reminder of that.
Nevermind the little mishaps along the way (took a wrong turn on the way home).
Thanks Wades for inviting us along!

Happy Thanksgiving
Our family has so much to be grateful for.
Here are just a few


#1 Birthday parties. We got to go to our friend's train party on Saturday and a Jump it Up party on Monday.
The boys are so happy and I enjoy being with my friends.

#2 We are grateful for music and dance. We hear a beat and we feel it in our feet.

#3 I'm grateful for Golden. He has said more than once this week how he loves being with his mom. I love his handsomeness and his sweetness.

#4 I'm grateful for Jack. Jack is my best friend. I try to mother him, but it seems we have a friendship at the same time. I appreciate his love of learning and his desire to be his best.

#5 We're grateful for this guy - Mack. We all love his fun personality and his quietness. Mack has a way of making all of us smile.

#6 I am especially grateful for hugs. I love getting hugs from my family. My mom and dad were always giving me hugs growing up and now I am spoiled with hugs from four boys every day. Nothing can make me feel more loved than a big hug.

#7 We're grateful for warm sunny days in November. We love that we can take trips to San Francisco and its 70 degrees outside. We love that we can visit the beach and play in the sand on Christmas day. We love that the sun shines bright for 90 percent of the year. Nothing beats the Bay weather.

#8 We're grateful for each other. Whether we're in a circle kneeling in prayer, singing songs, or snuggled on a bed reading - together is definitely our favorite place to be as a family. We know if everything around us were to disappear; as long as we have each other we could be perfectly content. Family is our heaven on Earth.

#9 We're grateful for our baby. We can't wait for another spirit to join our family to add in on all the fun. One more little body to kiss and love and one more spirit to brighten our home. Just last night the baby was kicking and moving inside of me and both Ryan and I felt an overflow of love for our child. Each child sent to us from Heaven is the best gift Heavenly Father could give us.
We love you baby!!!

#10 Ryan and I are grateful for each other. 8 years of knowing each other has brought so many great things into our life and unforgettable experiences. It seems life really began when we found each other. We've learned that together we can accomplish anything and together with the Lord we can become anything. We've worked, sacrificed, and loved and now we are reaping the benefits. THIS is what life is all about, and we're so grateful we get to experience it together.

Gratitude is acknowledging Godliness. We give special thanks this time of year to our Heavenly Father who truly is the giver of all the good in our lives. He seems to be everywhere and in everything.

Frazzled - my word for the day.

You know those days where things seem frazzled and crazy and when it gets to the end you're so grateful its over. It's not to say though that their aren't lots of great moments, just a lot more crazy ones.

It was a Sunday morning just like any other Sunday morning. It begins with Nate complaining that its Sunday because that means he can't watch his t.v. show. So Jack puts on his usual church movie "A treasure more precious than gold." After nagging them to eat their breakfast a million times we begin the ever so trying ritual of getting them all dressed, me ready, and all of us on time to church. Ryan is usually at an early morning meeting which means I do it all solo. Although this morning he came home to eat breakfast and help me out.

But this morning we made it to church late. So we rushed in to sit down and I smell poop. Problem was I couldn't figure out where the smell was coming from. I knew McKay did not have a poopy diaper (I'd changed one earlier) but I distinctly knew I smelled poop. Come to find out it was on the inside of his pant legs. In my rush to get the boys ready I must have mis-wiped and now I had a horrible smelling child.

I rushed to the bathroom to wash his legs off and ran out to the van to find an extra pair of pants. Luckily I found a pair of not so cool pants that looked real snazzy with his church clothes. At least he smelled better. I get back to our bench where Jack and Nate were sitting quietly coloring by themselves ( Ryan is helping to pass the sacrament). Right before the sacrament is going to start Nate shows me his fingers with poop all over them and says he pooped in his pants (did the same thing three times the night before and the kid NEVER has accidents) So I ask my kind friend sitting in front of me to watch McKay while I run to wash off Nate. I ran to the van for underwear (no luck this time) So the poor kid had to wear a diaper which he was not happy about.

We raced to sit down after the sacrament finishes. Ry joins the boys and I walk up to the stand to present my talk on humility.

Yes we were speaking in church today about humility and gratitude.

I've never felt so frazzled and unprepared for a talk in my entire life. It was very humbling. I had to completely rely on the spirit hoping that the things I said made sense and that I taught with the spirit. I gave the shortest talk I've ever given ( I think ). I was too frazzled to add in all the personal thoughts and stories I wanted too.

Gratefully Ry pulled through on the meeting and gave a beautiful talk on gratitude and did awesome. His main point was that gratitude is recognizing godliness.

After sacrament meeting I then raced off to teach a primary class (asked this morning to fill in) and it was on the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. Not sure how to wing that lesson, but luckily I knew the story by heart and was able to retell it. The blank stares on the kids faces make me worry I didn't do too good of a job, but I'm learning 12 year old kids don't really show much emotion.

I did get a nap today between the 3 tantrums Mack through (one at our friends house over a cookie). That kid is so stubborn and doesn't give up getting what he wants.

So now all 4 boys are sound asleep. Jack and Nate fell asleep in my bed snuggled up to Ryan listening to star wars stories.

I know its my turn to go collapse in bed, but for some reason I prefer to stay up and just relish in the peace and quiet that is all mine for as long as I like, especially since I need to get back my sanity after a day like today.