November catch up!

I voted for the first time! We have always been moving during the election and I haven't been registered, so this was my first time. It was neat to finally do it... just sad the result wasn't what I was hoping for.

This is Brinley dividing her candy the day after Halloween... on the left is her "good candy" and on the right is her "bad candy" (hence the stinky face). All of her "bad candy" is the yummy chocolate candy Ryan and I would have stole from her bucket anyway :)

Casen and Marlee playing with Audrey. Marlee was happy to be able to join in the fun :)

It was my turn for playgroup. We read the funny and so cute book "Parts" and talked about Fall. Then we went and found all the colorful fall leaves and used them to make pictures of themselves. Here is Casens, I think it turned out so cute! On the top right we also rubbed the leaves on the paper to make color.

Three crazy kids! I can't help but crack up when I look at Meg in this picture!

This is my friend Jake Green and his cute little family! We were great friends freshman year at BYU and then he moved home. We kept in touch and visited eachothers homes. I went up there quite a bit and have great memories with him and his family. I haven't seen him since I got married 7.5 years ago, and so it was great to catch up!

We had new neighbors move in across the street. Vic the Dad is so nice and laid back, he is the fire captain at the station just a block away from our house. Remi the Mom is so sweet, cute little lady who moved to the US just 1.5 years ago from the Philipines.  Cass is their 7 year old daughter and my kids have loved having her so close! Obviously she is the one in the middle :)

Vic and his crew brought the firetruck over to our houses and let the kids play around in it. They had so much fun!

This cool dude loved talking to the firemen. Right when they were leaving Casen looked at Vic and said " Remember how you're the KING of the firestation! "  We all cracked up, I don't think his crew is going to let him live that title down!

We have this little vacuum we use for quick messes or to have the kids help clean. Marlee really likes to get in on the action and loves to push this thing around. This pic cracks me up, she little like a little cartoon :)

Brinley taught herself how to blow bubbles!! So fun!

There was a staff development day and so we headed to the park for Brin's day off. It was a beautiful day and we had fun with friends at a new park on Lone Mountian.

Casen helped Marlee dress up in his knights armor and then let himself be the target... nice big brother :)

Crazy Case helping me make 10 batches of corn bread.

Dance Party!

I made greek food one night, I had some marinated artichoke hearts from Costco I really wanted to use up, made for a very yummy meal!

Dawn Brown's baby shower. She moved in to my ward in August and is such a sweet girl! So kind to everyone. She has 3 little girls and a baby boy on the way! She is in the black cardigan right behind me.

Casen made this turkey at playgroup... the end is my favorite :)

Brinley and I stayed up late one night making this turkey for school, it was fun to work on it together. It was supposed to be a family project, but not really Marlee and Casens thing!

She wrote things she was grateful for on each feather.

Marlee and Liberty... we were able to have the Browns over before their baby boy arrived. Such a great family.  Dawn had the kids and I over one Sunday while Ryan was out of town and I was glad I could give her a break right before her baby arrived.

Brinley took off Marlee's dress and put these boots and jacket on her, she looked so cute walking around in her bloomers.

If Marlee could talk and if there was a "I Love Bananas" song, than Marlee would be walking around singing it all the time :)

 One Saturday we headed out to Original Pancake House for breakfast and then headed over to the M&M factory on the strip. It was a fun morning together!

Crazy Marlee decided to climb on my back rather then get her jammies on after her bath. I love this little monkey :)

Air Show and Christmas Lights with the Nyes

One Saturday while both our husbands were gone, Jess and I took our kids to the Nellis AFB Air Show. It was pretty freezing, especially with the wind! But we still had a good time.

Inside one of the helicopters

Kids were too busy watching the planes to say cheese :)




Thunderbirds

I had 4 kids riding on the stroller and trying to keep warm! Jansen jumped in for the picture :)

The week after Thanksgiving we headed out to see Christmas lights at the Las Vegas Speedway. It was the last night for military to get in for free.  The kids had fun all piled up in he back of Nye's car.

Poor Marlee had to stay with us, but she still had a good stime climbing all over the front seats and sticking her head out the window! :)

I thought this was the prettiest part... I love when there are a lot of lights all in one area but this was a lot of lights all spread out. Just not the same...

Afterwards we got hot chocolate and the Nyes treated us to donuts at a nearby truck stop. You can see how close the slots were to this bench by the donut shop... and yet we got yelled at for allowing our kids get to close to the slot machines! It was pretty ridiculous! But we had fun chatting and watching the kids get covered in sugar and frosting from their donuts!

On our way out we were asked to jump the battery for a guy. It was a beautifully restored 1950's Cadillac. Light pink! It was a pretty neat car, I wanted to take a picture but didn't want to offend them by taking a picture while we were jumping the battery!

Thanksgiving in Idaho!

I did this entire post weeks ago and then it got deleted! I have been so busy since I am now taking a quick break from everything else and finishing it!

Looked out the window early Thanksgiving morning to find these two angels. So grateful for my girls!

 Dale had the idea to move the couches and make one giant table for everyone to sit at, we have never done that before and it was lot of fun. Sure love this Nelson gang!

 Brinley decorating Turkey sugar cookies with the girls. They were so cute, and awfully yummy :)

 I love Casen. He is a good boy, truly loving, and full of life. So grateful for him and his fun personality.

All my kids love their Aunt Megan. She was so sweet to them and let them visit their apartment up above the garage.  She is so sweet, sure glad she joined the family!

 Dale and Quenalee brought home beautiful hand-carved Nativity scenes from Israel. They were carved from olive trees that were hundreds of years old. So beautiful and special. On the way to the airport I asked Brinley what her favorite part of the trip was (she was having a blast the whole time), and yet she said the best part was when Grandma gave her the nativity.

Marlee really liked her Uncle Jeff!

This dog loved playing fetch! I think we total threw the stick about 200 times and the dog just wouldn't quit!

We wore these two out! They sure did a lot to make this a fun trip for us!

These two were little twinners!

Olivia, Calli, and Kylie. They were just 4 when I met them and it is crazy how grown up they are now!

Marlee dancing for Grandma Q and Grandpa Dale! They loved it and Dale even danced with her :)

Casen was so excited that we got to go up to Dale's cabin. He LOVES riding the four-wheeler there. Ryan and I had to take turns watching him at least half dozen times that day!

They had a big family scavenger hunt which started with a pie eating contest. It was so fun!

Lots of running!

The Mickelson gang with all their race awards! They are a so much fun and we are glad Quenalee married in to such a great family!

Poor Marlee wasn't feeling well and if I wasn't already holding her this is what I saw nearly every time I looked down.

Brinley and Carlie, these two have so much fun together!