Christmas Trees, Messes, Music, Smiles

We have a new favorite area where you can eat and let the kids play. This tree was there when we got there. 

Katelyn has this new thing where she dumps everything from her tray onto the floor and then laughs. I'm not a fan.

This is Grant and Katelyn at playgroup. He is a sweet ward friend and has this very cool jeep. Katelyn obviously enjoyed herself. 

Troy had his first performance last Monday at my recital. He played Jingle Bells and Ode to Joy. I was nervous for him, and for all of my students. No one told me how nervous I would be as a teacher for my students. But then, he did great. And so did my students. Big smiles on both our faces. Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle for letting us hold this beautiful piano for them!

I played an arrangement of Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella. It's fun to be able to perform sometimes.

Katelyn was sneaking the recital treats. Haha. She loves wearing Liam's hat. 

I got all of Katelyn's hair into a ponytail! Not a great picture, but it's true! I did!

This boy can melt my heart so fast. It happened at least 5 times today.

I played the harp for our Relief Society Christmas dinner. The theme was Angels. I played O Holy Night. I wish you could see all that they did to decorate. It was like walking into a very well done reception. The program went great and I got to play background music. I tried not to cry during the tender parts, so I could focus on the music. I loved the messages shared about being angels to one another.

What Katelyn would look like with a beard... I gave her some chocolate and it was mint. Apparently she didn't like it and just smeared it everywhere. OOPS!

Miss Independent. She was determined to have no help to open this banana. She stabbed it with that knife for about 10 minutes.

She made a small whole and eventually pulled it apart. Then, she ate it with the knife. Haha. To each her own.

Random November Memories

Our sweet Sister Missionaries came and did a family night with us. We are spoiled with such wonderful missionaries!!

Grandma Jana sent turkey stickers!

Fall party at Troy's school!

Michael and Troy

Katelyn has been into blocks lately. Well, the whole house has been, but she is actually starting to build little buildings. 

Mirrors are magical. 

It takes quite awhile to walk home from the bus stop everyday. But I don't mind. Troy said he wanted to help Katelyn push. 

Thanksgiving Outdoors

We spent Thanksgiving with our wonderful neighbors, the Boyers and Torbits, and their family at Stephen F. Austin park. They know how to cook outdoors! Everything was very good. Most of all, we loved just being with everyone. The kids loved it. 

They steamed the turkey.. I think. They had an oven for the pies and stuff, and the dutch ovens for most everything else. We came the morning of Thanksgiving, so I cooked at home and then brought it. More in my comfort zone ;) I made sweet potatoes while we watched The Giver. I LOVE that book. I know it's not an exciting movie, but I love the message behind it, so I loved the movie. I think I'll be buying that one.

They made super hero capes and wore them the whole time.

Lots of tree climbing. The trees have branches that connect like vines. We also played some volleyball. Loved it!

The kids made these cute turkey hats. Liam never keeps anything on very long, but he did make one.

It got colder towards the evening. These little chairs are adorable. 

Girls camp songs at night. Lots of smores and a fire. Katelyn is warming up to Stefan!

These two were always together.

To be honest, we slept horrible. Katelyn kept waking up the first night because she would wake herself up by coughing and then couldn't fall asleep. So, she tried sleeping with us, and it didn't work super well. Then, Troy was similar the second night, but he wasn't coughing, he just said his leg hurt. It took a couple of days for me to actually recover from the sleep. BUT everything else was great. I think we will get better at knowing how to help us all sleep better and be better prepared. We would definitely do it again.