International Thanksgiving

We were blessed to spend the Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family. The weekend went by way too quick but it was a nice break.
We left on Wednesday with three extra passengers. Jake posted on the ride board on campus that we were headed south and had three empty seats. The seats were quickly spoken for. We pre-warned our passengers what they were committing themselves too - three small kids. The kids actually did really well. Breahna cried for a bit, okay, screamed. She was tired so I can't blame her.

We spent most of the time at my parents house.
Thursday, Thanksgiving morning, Alexander was eager to help me prepare for a house full of family and guests:

 Kaleb was content to watch
This is a boy who loves his cow Phil

My grandma got a ride with an uncle that was passing through and dropped her off. She jumped in to help with food preparations:

My sister brought their new dog, Blue. The boys were in love ... Blue sure was cute and a very mellow dog that quietly put up with all the chaos

Now you may be questioning my post title of this being an international Thanksgiving. We had the traditional Utah American food but we had some added guests. I didn't get pictures of all of them. We have my sister-in-law and her mom from Spain, my nephews friend from Australia, and two exchange students from Japan. We all enjoyed spending time together.

Alexander took over picture taking for a bit:

Pretty soon it was time to carve the turkey and ham. Jake was volunteered for that job:

I don't think anyone went away hungry:
We'll start with a few Hors d'oeuvres:

 Then the spread:

The boys really celebrated Thanksgiving with their Nutella sandwiches:

 I think we all had a fabulous time. I am so grateful for my large family. Not that they are large, that there are many of us. That we all enjoy getting together for lots of laughter, and usually food.

We spent a night and a day with Jake's family ... I didn't take any pictures! That was also an enjoyable time. I sure am blessed to love the family I didn't choose and the family I chose to marry into.

Back to my parents for one more night. I made sure to raid their storage room before I left. Coming home with a cooler of red potatoes, bottles of grape juice, and I stopped to pick some lemons! My parents have a solarium in their house. They don't do much with it now. Even the lemon tree was dug up and planted in its own pot. Actually, the tree does better in this pot than I think it ever did being planted.

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Sometimes things can get quite hectic and complicated and it's nice to be able to take a step back, relax and be with my family and friends to give thanks. I am very thankful for everything that has happened to me in life and all the opportunities I have. I am especially thankful for my health, my family, and friends.
Family to me is the most important thing a person needs and can have. It is good to know that no matter what your family will always be behind you. My family is close and gets together often. I love this.
I am thankful for the smiles of my kids. For the feel of their arms strangling my neck, for the trust in their eyes, for the peace I see in their faces when they sleep. For the joy in their faces when they play. I am grateful they remind me to relax and go with the flow. I am thankful for the love this family shares. I am thankful for the beauty that surrounds me.  I am especially grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves me and is patient with me. I am grateful he has enough trust in me to trust me to be an Earthly mother of some of his precious children.
I have so much to be grateful for. I feel like I too often take everything for granted. I am truly blessed.

Mis-Mash

I have to blog about these pictures before this week begins or else this post will be mashed together with our Thanksgiving stuff and just chaotic.
I have been trying to get a family picture for quite awhile. We were scheduled and then all got whooping cough. Then our financial funds didn't cooperate. I finally got another date set ... and it snowed the day before. First snow day of the year (of course). I decided to go for it anyway. I dressed everyone in multiple layers. It was still too cold. The photographer was able to snap a few quick pictures before we had to pile the kids back in the car, crank up the heat and shiver the whole way home to sit in front of our roaring fireplace. I didn't get all the pictures I wanted and still hope to get back together with the photographer. But, we got some good ones!

So I'm kind of biased but I think Jake and I make pretty cute kids.
I love being a wife and mother. Although most days I am pretty drained by the time 8:00pm rolls around. The best thing about being a mother is feeling each baby kick for the first time, then hearing their first cry as they enter the world, then counting little fingers and toes. Hearing their first word, then watching as they take that first huge step. I love my job! The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that tomorrow, I have something awesome to wake up for! They don't care if I'm having a bad hair day or if I might have gained a few pounds. They love me for who I am and that helps me love myself.
Seriously ... this is who I get to hang out with all day ... how could I not have the best job in the world?

Moving on:
An Idaho Thanksgiving!
We have some pretty awesome friends here in Idaho. We decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner for them before we head home for our own Thanksgiving with family:
The boys loved helping me prepare the food.
They were great helpers as I made the rolls and pie crust:
(poor Alexander biffed it on the driveway yesterday. His nose is so scraped up and he has quite the goose egg on his forehead)

And this guy spent 11 hours smoking the best turkey ever. It was so tender and juicy. Great smoked flavor. Good things do come to those who wait:

 mmmm - I don't think we will go back to traditional baked turkey

Until next week when I write all about our 2nd and 3rd Thanksgivings. Enjoy your holidays!

A Family is Forever

I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday ...

Yes, this is a religious post. Most of you who read my blog will understand what I'm talking about. If you don't, I highly recommend you go look it up and come ask me any questions.
http://www.mormontemples.com/

The boys love temples. They love pulling out our church books and finding pictures of the temples. They quiz me quite often as they point at the different pictures:

"where's this one?"

"this one?" 

They are really familiar with and easily recognize the temple Jake and I were married in. It makes me smile when we drive by it in Utah or the boys see a picture of the Jordan River temple and they declare, "there's your marry temple!"

We are so blessed to live within minutes of a temple. We could walk there if we weren't too lazy. I walked up there with the kids the other day. Jake had a break between classes so he joined us.

The boys love the temple and beg for us to drive by it whenever we're out-and-about. They were excited we were going to actually walk around the temple.

The boys were eager to learn all about this special building:

We are truly blessed with the spirit the kids bring into our home and I hope we can do our part and teach them as we should.
Last week I had a beautiful experience with Alexander: It had been a long, rough day. I was frustrated with the kids and couldn't wait for bedtime. The usual routine is bath, read a few verses of scripture, sing a primary song, pray then bed. I skipped it all. Told everyone to just get in bed before my frustration boiled over. I threatened them that they better not come out of their room or else! A few minutes later I hear Alexander quietly say "and it came to pass, Jesus loves me, Amen" then he proceeded to sing "I Love to See the Temple" The whole way through (it's his favorite song right now). He followed that with a sweet prayer and by this point I'm sitting in the hall with my head leaning against the door, tears streaming down my face. I am so blessed to be a mom. I had to go in and just hold that sweet little boy. I love these kids so much.

Switching gears:
I have always wanted a photo editing program but they are just not in our budget. I recently discovered a few different free ones online and have been playing around figuring what they can do.
Here's a few pictures I'm going to print out to hang in our home (let me know if you want one, I'm happy to make one for you!)

Then I uploaded some cell phone pictures ... why are they always of Breahna?

Life goes on, I'll keep capturing these everyday moments. I'm excited to now be able to make my pictures unique and fun.