Thanksgiving Week 2017

The week of Thanksgiving started out with Noah's 7th birthday party at the park! It was fun to be together and the kids had a blast playing. We grabbed some empanadas and ate lunch over at my mom's house that afternoon. She was watching Jon's kids over night as a birthday gift for him so all the kids were able to play longer together which they all loved. On Sunday we had the missionaries over. We have started inviting them over every Sunday at 7pm after the babies go to bed. We love the message they share and the spirit they bring into our home. It's really good for Parker to see what life is like for a missionary, too. They like coming to our house because we are super relaxed and they can rest and eat treats for a little while.

Parker was bummed he had to go to school the week of Thanksgiving but Tanner is still on the job hunt and we are still negotiating offers. So it wasn't like we were playing all day every day! But it sure is nice having Tanner around!!!! He's so relaxed right now and it's fun to hear all of his ambitious ideas and see how respected he is in his field. He's had SO many interviews, it's not even funny. Every wants a slice of Tanner Pie!

On Thanksgiving Day, I woke up to breakfast in bed made by my sweet Tanner Ray! We swam because it was record breaking hot. It felt like summer! Then we got all ready and went to Jon's for our feast! Every single member of my family was there. Josi and her boys drove down from Vegas. It was crazy and I don't think I even had a chance to chew or taste my food. I pretty much inhaled it. It was a struggle getting 26 people all organized to sit down and eat. But we pulled it off! Everyone brought a dish and it was perfect. Jon set up a bounce house in his backyard and the kids had a blast with that. Someone in the not so distant future the kids will all be sitting around playing a board game or off at the movies the second dinner is over. But for now, it's loud and chaotic and crazy. And pretty dang fun.

After dinner we went to Fashion Island to see the giant tree! This is one of my all time favorite traditions. Poor Rayleigh threw up in the parking lot when we got there. She must have bounced too much or something. It was just the one time and then she was fine. But going to Fashion Island on Thanksgiving night means my kids can run around and be loud and not bother any one because no one is there! We took pictures and play around the tree and then ran around the koi ponds. It was magical and so nice

Friday we decked the halls! It's our first year in another new house and everything always fits so differently when we move. But it looks great and makes me want so much more stuff! ha ha But it really is so fun and the  kids love it. We blast Christmas music and dance and probably make a huge mess before it's all said and done. It was HOT and we had the AC blowing. Thank goodness for the pool!

Saturday was busy! We got up and swam and got ready for a baptism. We were a little double booked but we wanted to support our good friends and be there for sweet Austin. There's nothing quite like the spirit felt at a baptism. From there we met my whole family again at Chuck E Cheese for James' 6th birthday party! (We have a busy week of birthdays with Noah, and then Josi, Jon, and James) The kids all ran around and played games and ate pizza and loved every single second of it. After that we went to the Montage. We grabbed some Pei Wei and Carl's for the kids and ate dinner around the fire pit because it was chilly and cloudy at the beach! Not 1/2 mile inland it was bright and sunny! Jack, our brave eater, tried sushi for the first time. After we ate we let the kids play down on the beach for a little while before we headed back home. Tanner and I realized that it was 14 years ago that very day that he proposed to me at the Montage! So it was a beautiful way to celebrate the start of our wonderful life together. We struggled (yelled at our kids) to get a "nice family picture" together until a sweet stranger offered to take one for us! Props to fellow moms and dads who share in this crazy journey and lend a helping hand!

We stopped at the Rack on the way so that we could get Parker some new church clothes which he desperately needed. I was in charge of wrangling the babies- no easy task and a stranger, a man about 25 years old, came up to me and told me I was doing a good job. I'll tell you what, that man was an angel. Most days I feel like a failure and I absolutely DREAD taking my kids to the store or a restaurant or any place like that. So the fact that this sweet man would approach  me and say these kind words meant the world to me. And the kids really WERE being good! ha ha

The next day at church, I drove separately from Tanner in case one of us needed to go one with a baby (which happens 100% of the time) but for some reason I was in the foyer with all 4 kids during the sacrament while he was in the chapel having a nice reverent time. I had to chase the kids around the entire building, pick up markers a thousand times, calm snack hungry savages, and put Ray and Jack on time out before the sacrament was over and Tanner came out to help me. But in the middle of all of that, a sweet woman told me I was doing a good job. Twice in 24 hours I heard what I so desperately needed to hear. Those sweet people felt the spirit whisper to them to open their mouths and share their impressions with me and I will not soon forget it! Tanner eventually took Jack to the nursery. But we ended up staying for all 3 meetings! It was glorious! Ray almost fell asleep on her teacher in primary. We got to practice with the choir for our Christmas program and of course my first time back at Relief Society they asked me if I could teach next week. ha ha All these things made me so happy.

After church we invited Carson and his family over for dinner in exchange for him taking our family picture for our Christmas card. Well, it was totally awkward because Tanner never actually asked him to take our family picture so he was caught off guard as we threw our camera at him and presented our made up and matching selves. At least we got ONE decent picture! The kids were terrible and it was a crazy night. The missionaries came over at 7 and I had assumed Carson would be gone by then and our kids would be in bed. NOPE! We struggled with everyone until 9pm when finally everyone left! We had to be rude and put Ray and Jack to bed at 8 because they were deliriously tired from a few long, napless, days. Chaos aside, it was wonderful having Carson and his family in our home and having the missionaries come and share a sweet message with us too. 

Our lives are abundantly blessed and rich with wonderful relationships and amazing opportunities. During this season of the year where we so often focus on  the things we are thankful for, it is easy to see the Lord's hand in our lives. The light He sheds on our little family is immaculate and fills our home with love and joy. How thankful I am for my eternal family, for my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for my testimony that He lives. He is in the details of our lives and will never leave us in the dark. His hand is outstretched continually and it is my hope that I will always live worthy to fulfill any call he extends to me.