Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving at our house this year was loud and chaotic, and so much fun. Two of my sisters joined us, along with their families. So there were three babies, three 2-year-olds, a 4-year-old, and six adults. The cousins had so much fun together. Riley and Brady especially had a fun time with Cole. He was great at coming up with ideas to keep all three of them entertained. They pretended to be camping in the backyard and spent nearly an hour collecting every stick they could find to build their imaginary fire.

This was the first time all seven grand kids were together. I'm amazed that we were able to get all of them in a photo, awake, and not crying. Pictured are Caleb, Brady holding Brooke, Cole holding Avery, Riley, and Asher.

The highlight of the weekend was definitely the train. It's the same train that my Dad put around our tree every Christmas when I was a kid. I know he was happy that his grandkids enjoyed it so much.

While the three brothers-in-law were at the Broncos game, the rest of us ended Thanksgiving day with a dance party.

Sunday Best

I have photos and video to post of Thanksgiving and all the cousin madness that overtook our house for a couple of days. But I just couldn't wait to get this photo of Riley and Asher up here. Asher's birth family sent these adorable outfits. How cute are these kids?

She Says...

Riley: Mommy, I'm glad.
Me: What are you glad about?
Riley: I'm glad about you.

"I love my swimming blessings." She meant lessons.

"I need to throw away my sample." She was talking about a toothpick. Think we spend much time at Sam's Club in the middle of the day?

After waking up in the morning she told us that Aunt Courtney didn't sleep in the bunk beds with her the previous night. Then she said with the saddest little face, "That's a bummer." (In Courtney's defense, she did sleep in the bunk bed. She was just so covered in blankets that Riley didn't see her.)

After Courtney and her friends left our house, "My friends had a fun, fun day with me!"

Me: Riley, we're having friends come over for dinner on Tuesday. What do you think we should feed them?
Riley (looking confused): Mom, our friends can feed themselves.

Turkey Song

Riley's preschool class had a short Thanksgiving presentation yesterday. I had coached Riley all morning: "Sing loudly so Daddy and I will be able to hear you." She didn't let us down.

I Am Thankful

Have you seen this video yet? It’s awesome. I want to invite the college student on the skateboard over for dinner. I bet he’d be great company. And around my house, we’re also very thankful for muffins.



I love this talk of Elder Oaks’ because I am so thankful for my adversities.

I am thankful for all the work and stress and frustration that was involved in settling my Dad’s affairs after he passed away last September. Without that my brother and I wouldn’t have the trust and respect for each other that we have now. We wouldn’t have had the chance to work so closely together and learn how much we have in common.

I am thankful to have been stuck in Texas for 6 weeks after Asher’s placement. Without that I wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know my aunt, uncle, and cousins as well as I did. I’m a better mother because of the short time I lived with Ann.

I am thankful that Scot had the ambition to get two graduate degrees after we were married. Without those he might not have a job now. And we have some great memories and great friends from our time in Austin.

I am thankful for my experiences with infertility. Without that I wouldn’t have learned how to trust in the Lord so completely. I wouldn’t have the empathy and the sensitivity to others (and maybe even the thick skin) that I gained during that time.

I am thankful that we “had to” adopt. Without that I wouldn’t be Mom to the two most perfect children, and I wouldn’t have been blessed to have their birth-families in my life.

I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for these adversities, and for those I will surely face in the future.

What are you thankful for?

Stuck

Ten Months

Asher is turning into such a fun little boy. He can pull himself up to his feet and he has even started to cruise along furniture. He waves hello and bye-bye and gives kisses. He can clap, although he usually doesn't manage to get his palms together. And last night he learned to sign "more." I am just loving this age when he's learning so much, so quickly.

His 9 month check-up ended up being two weeks late, but he weighed in that day at 18 pounds 10 ounces, and was 27.5 inches tall. That is 15th and 20th percentile, respectively. His head is still completely out of proportion, at 85% now!

Falling Leaves

Last weekend, it was time to pick up the leaves. I made a pile that was about 6' tall, possibly the biggest pile I've ever made and/or jumped into. There's few things more manly than using a leaf blower (a chain saw comes to mind as even more manly). The lighting was really good, so while Riley jumped into the leaves, we took some pictures (Asher was taking a nap and the few minutes he was awake, he ate the leaves).

These pictures are for my sisters, who are infamous for their jumping photos - at home, at the beach, etc.

In order to convince Riley that is was safe to jump into a pile of leaves, I got out the ladder, climbed a few steps, and fell in backwards. I think the last time that I jumped into a pile of leaves, I was 9, 20 years ago. What did I learn? Even a 6' pile of leaves really doesn't break the fall of a 180# man. I got a little brain jarring when I went straight through the pile into the ground.

Becca had more luck. I think her technique was a little better, spreading her weight out (and weighing a lot less probably also helped).

Snow day

A few days before Halloween, we got 16" of snow in just over 24 hours. I worked from home and Riley had a good time romping around and eating the snow.

Hot Diggity Dog

Riley sings the theme song to her newest favorite show. I think this preference may have something to do with the fact that the song mentions her current favorite food.