Happy Everything

Life is good.

Thanksgiving was awesome and December has been great. A little busy, but not wearing. Mark had a surf trip to Cali, I had a girls trip to St.George, and then we did a family road trip to San Clemente. We stopped in St.George on the way there and the way back. We just played at the beach and it was fun just to be together and watch the girls play.

I say this in a thankful way-we have so many loving talented generous amazing people around us! Family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances. I believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created this earth, including us. I know he has a plan for each of us, and I'm grateful that part of that plan is helping each other along while we all do our best.

As you may know, Ruby's the spotlight of attention yet again. That girl! I noticed her mass getting bigger a month or so ago. She had a CT Angio and yes, it has grown 1 cm in all directions. We also learned her skull didn't fully form in the back so the mass is pressing on her dura (the outer layer of protection on the brain).  Her doctor wants to do surgery so we've been meeting with multiple doctors and making a plan. This week's doctor is Dr.Taussky. He's going to try to embolize before the actual surgery which is scheduled for January 2nd.  We still have a lot of questions and are just taking it day by day. She's doing great though, bossing and biting (so hard tonight when I was flossing her teeth!) and babbling like a 21month old does.

girls trip to SG

mustache day for Siri's school

recovering from sedation

would never have let the first kid pick out a bathrobe and snowboots for her outfit. 

third kid? sure, whatever, just get in the car.

oh my beauties! Thanksgiving day.

our nephew left for his mission in Peru!

ladies baking night

classic first-touch-of-the-ocean reaction!

He's totally awesome

He's out of town shooting a wedding right now so we celebrated a few days ago, but I made him promise he'd tell at least 5 people it was his birthday today:)  Love this boy more than I can stand. Good thing we get eternity together!

and the finale

Today's Homeowner website says the TV episode is supposed to air this weekend, but I got a text from a friend last Saturday with a picture of me on her TV! ...so it did air last Saturday on channel 4 at 9:30am, not sure if it will be on again this week. Maybe their site will update so you can see the full episode. Again, so fun having that film crew here, they were the kindest people. And as we speak I have installers from Window World working on installing the storm door...I'll post pictures when its done.

Also a shout out to that sister Jenn and brother Justin of mine. Happy Birthday! I'm (still) thankful to be your little sister ;)

good memories at Glenmare, looking forward to new ones in Cali

at the cabin in 2008 (when I was prego w Siri)

catch up and the new door dream come true

September was a lovely month.

cabin with family

walked these crazies home from school

backyard concert at Kelli's. kids were there, yet it was still romantic.

last shaved ice of the summer. ruby=sticky orange mess.

a birthday for our firstborn

time with this favorite cousin who will be moving soon :(

and this is what happens trying to shop with 3 kids

lots of lovely drama over this mini ramp that has never been used and isn't even usable yet.

an anonymous neighbor has been calling Sandy city code enforcement on us. yay!

Mark's grandmother turned 97. She's living history.

everyday (although the table in the background is usually messier)

been running the quarry trail a bunch (pictured above, and below I saw Liz biking it while I was running it). I also had a goal to do a 75 mile road bike ride this summer, which I completed!  Mark hung out at my mom and John's in Marion in case I needed any assistance. It went great and I felt awesome!

So many pears and tomatoes dehydrated. I love it!

because they're mine so they are perfectly beautiful.

Jane did soccer for the first time. "Mom I did a kick!"

date night for mark and I :)

lots of little hikes for these little people

Happy Halloween!

this lady? she's the bomb. she rents out our basement and we love her.

we thought we really wanted a trampoline, which we still do, but concrete became the priority.

And the week we've been waiting for!  Today's Homeowner (they are based out of, and all from, Mobile, Alabama) and Window World came to install our new front door and film and episode on curb appeal this past week. It will air Nov 15 or 16th. I think its on channel 4.

new mailbox

Mark made focaccia a couple times for them

 I loved having them in our home this week. 

Yes they did a lot of work for us, but I'm also grateful to have them all as friends now!  

they had to record an episode for their radio show while they were here.

one of our old outside light fixtures turned holiday decor

planted this little tree today. I hope it survives. 

If we are still in this house in 10+ years it will be fun to see the changes in this picture.