Thanksgiving Week

We took a trip down to Austin, TX for Thanksgiving this year to see Trent's sister and her family.  We left the Monday afternoon before Thanksgiving and drove halfway to Wichita, KS, where we stopped and stayed for the night.  We got up bright and early the next morning and drove the rest of the way.  I found I would much prefer to get all the driving done in one day.  Splitting it up into two days just seemed to prolong the agony.  We got there safe and sound Tuesday evening and went to Steph and Ryan's for a BBQ so the kids could see their cousins.  They were ecstatic to be able to see them!

On Wednesday, we had the wonderful opportunity to drive down to the San Antonio Temple and witness the sealing of Teague to Ryan and Stephanie.  It was such a special day!

Here's Teague getting all dressed in his whites.  He was so happy for the whole sealing.  He just kept looking at his parents, smiling and saying, "Hi.  Hi dad."  He is such a sweet, precious little boy.

What a beautiful family!  Steph, Ryan and their kiddos Tate, Trey, Taryn, Teague and Tristan.

All of the family.

I love Taryn's pose in this one.  That girl is such a ham!

Tristy and Ryan.

Tate, Steve, Trent, and Sean.

Sure love this cute girl!

Janet, Grandma Chapman, Steph, and Tristy.

After the temple and some lunch, we all headed over to a park over by Steph and Ryan's.  Taryn was so nice to push Jilly in the swing.  It is Lou's personal favorite.

Vivi, Peyton, and Taryn.  Vivi was in heaven being with her cousins.



Teague snuck in a few lollipops.  ;)

Jilly and Taryn.

Noelle and Teaguers.

While at the park, we got to see Jeremy take flight with his latest toy.

Watching him suspended in the air like that was enough to give me an anxiety attack!  I am not a fan of heights though.

On Thanksgiving day, we went to the park in the morning and let the kids play for a bit.

 Jilly, chillin' in the barks chips.

 Jilly and Mea.  Cute little friends!

Cousins Vivi, Taryn, Emily, and Ellie.  What a cute bunch of girls!

Vivi and Ellie holding hands while swinging.

After the park, we all went and got ready for Thanksgiving dinner.  Since there were over 50 of us, we ended up having dinner at the church.  It was perfect!  We had tables set up at one end of the gym, and the kids (well, everyone) could play basketball at the other end.  :)  After dinner, there was a gingerbread house decorating contest.





















There is some serious concentration going on here.

Here is each family's house, ready to be judged.

And here are the judges, deliberating.  :D


There were also some turkey crafts for the kids to do afterward.



Teague was totally happy with his box of Reeses Pieces.

On Friday we hung out with all the family some more.  We all went to see the movie "The Rise of the Guardians".  Such a cute movie.

 That night we went out to Ryan and Steph's new property and roasted marshmallows and hot dogs over a huge fire.

The next morning we got up super early and got ready for a 16 hour drive back home.  We had such a fun week visiting our family.  Especially since we don't get to visit them very often.

On This, Most Thankful of Days...

I have so much to be grateful for.

First and foremost, I am thankful for a kind and loving Heavenly Father, without whom I would have nothing.  I can't imagine not knowing of His role and hand in all things in my life.  I am thankful for a Savior, who, through the atonement, made it possible to return to live with our Heavenly Father.

I am thankful for my hubby.

He is a wonderful and amazing man, and I am forever grateful that he is my eternal companion.  We have so much fun together.  I am so grateful that he chose me to spend eternity with.  I am thankful for how hard he works to take care of his family. I am also very grateful for the wonderful father that he is.

I am grateful for these four little yayhoos.

  While being a mom is definitely not easy, it is one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me.  It is thrilling to bring a tiny little bundle into this world, then be able to watch every day as they grow and learn.  I wouldn't trade the experience of being a mother for anything.

I am grateful for parents.

Trent and I have both been blessed with truly phenomenal parents.  I am so grateful for loving and kind parents and parents-in-law who have always been there for me, at the best of times, and the most difficult of times.  It is so nice to know that I can always turn to them, and they will always be there for me.

I am thankful for good friends.  I have been so blessed to have such wonderful friends, and I can't imagine going through this life without them.  There have been many times in my life where a friend has shown up or called right when I needed them most.  Thank you dear friends... you mean so much to me.

I am so grateful for laughter.  We love to laugh in our home (who doesn't, right?).  Trent and I were recently looking through some of our older photos and having a good laugh.  Here are a few that we got a kick out of.

I know life is not always a basket of roses, but it is so much better when you can find things to laugh about.  With four kiddos running around our house, we find a lot to laugh about in a day.  It truly is the best medicine.

I am very, very grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life.

I love knowing that my time with my family doesn't end here on this earth, and that we can be together forever.

I feel so blessed and privileged to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I don't know where I would be without it.

I am thankful for my home.  Not only for the fact that my family and I have a place to live to keep us warm in the winters and cool in the summers, but also because it is a safe haven for us in many ways.

I am also thankful for:
A good job, modern appliances (can you say 15-20 loads of laundry a week?), indoor plumbing, bubble baths, my sewing machine, a car, clean sheets, egg nog being in season again, pajamas (I would live in them if I could), Colorado (I love it here), good books to read, opportunities for education and growth, and for all of the freedoms I enjoy (and too often take for granted).

I love this time of year, and the many opportunities I have to reflect on all that I have been given.  I have so much to be grateful for.