Thanksgiving 2015

I had such high hopes for Thanksgiving this year.  It was going to be amazing.  I was just going to help out with cooking enjoy being around all my family and eat as much pie as possible.  That was the COMPLETE opposite of what happened.  Caroline and Devin were lucky to go down a day early with my dad so they could have extra time to play with cousins.  Shawn and I were going to leave early Wednesday with Graham and George, no big deal.  Then it happened I got a pretty bad stomach bug.  I have no clue from where but Wednesday morning I woke up and the thought of food made me want to... well puke.  Not a good omen for the week.  So I called Shawn and he came home to pack us up and leave and make sure the boys were taken care of.  I then got to spend almost 5 hours in the car driving down to Houston with the stomach bug.  Thankfully we brought a waterproof bag because I got sick in the car twice on the way down.  It was the longest 5 hours of my life, and probably Shawn's.
We finally got to my mom's house and I collapsed on the bed.  I felt so much better the next day, just weak from being dehydrated.  Now Shawn was down, and Graham too.  So they missed Thanksgiving at Bethy's and spent it trying to stay quarantined at my moms.  It was really too bad because the food was so good!  I can't remember the rolls ever being that good. I still didn't feel great so I skipped out on the pies which looked amazing and instead was at my moms trying to keep Graham and Shawn somewhat happy.
Devin in the meantime felt like we had totally forgotten his birthday and had a meltdown at Bethy's while I was trying to help Shawn out. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I cried because I felt bad for Devin and for getting Shawn sick and missing Thanksgiving, but mostly for Devin.  It couldn't get any worse right?
Well it didn't for us but we then proceeded to get almost everyone else sick.  Poodle then Lindsey, then Bethany then Dad.  Ryan's family was the only one that went unscathed.  We were able to have some fun after all the awful sickness.  We celebrated Devin's birthday and more importantly his baptism on Saturday.  We had so much fun with cousins and grandparents we decided to end on a high and head home that night.  It was the best decision of the week.  Shawn and I talked the whole way home and it was a blast.  It was so good to sleep in our own beds that night.  So it wasn't the best Thanksgiving ever but we will never forget it!

Caroline and Mabel were crazy enough to get into the pool.  It wasn't that cold outside but the water was definitely cold!

We did have some fun and help Reed put her Christmas tree ornaments up.

I even got a cute little Charlie in my pictures!

All those pies just waiting to be eaten and I just couldn't do it this year.  It was sad.  

Veteran's Day

When Caroline was in kindergarten I really tried my best to go to every party, performance, special moment, you name it I was there.  Now three kids later I really try and probe to see how important the performance is before rearranging my schedule.  I've become a little lazy and with George still on naps I don't have a ton of time to get things done while the kids are at school.  Anyways when Graham told me he was singing for Veteran's Day I thought good for you, tell me about it when you get home.  Then when I told him I wouldn't be there he broke down in tears so sad I wouldn't be there.  So I went not too excited and a little irritated I would have to try and wrangle George while trying to make it seem like I couldn't be more happy to be there.  So Graham's class comes walking in the auditorium and he beams when he sees me.  For that a lone I decided it was worth going.  Then the program started and the kids sang "God Bless America" and did the sign language for it as well.  It was by far the highlight of my day.  Graham LOVES performing and did his signs bigger and more precise than any other kindergartener.  I forgot what a big deal these tiny little performances are to kindergarteners.  He felt so special and we sang "God Bless America" about 50 times that day.  It was so fun to see him really trying his best and feeling so big and awesome.  I love my Graham and I'm so glad he guilted me into going.  It was spectacular!

Graham walking in feeling like hot stuff.  

I should also note that Graham was voted most respectful in his class for school. They take a picture with the guidance counselors dog and announce their name over the intercom at school.  Nothing huge but hey if it help the kids feel important and helps them behave I'm on board.  Caroline also got recognized for responsibility earlier in the year.  Alright Devin time to contribute.  Just kidding.

Wax Museum

I'm pretty sure I mentioned a few months ago that I really don't like the amount of homework the school assigns.  I may have been a little quick to judge though.  Yes there is homework every night but the school also has some really great assignments.  The forth grade here is amazing.  The teachers work so well together and the projects they assign get the kids excited about learning.  In November Caroline had the wax museum project.  She had to pick a person she wanted to learn about, write a short biography about them, then memorize a short retelling of their life, and recite it as they are dressed up as that person.  I think my favorite part about the project is that they did most of it at school.  We still worked on it at home but it was integrated into what they were learning at school.  I loved it.  It was so fun to see what kids were interested in.  All the kids were so well prepared I loved going around to see the different people.  

Here is Caroline as Dian Fossey.  She is the Jane Goodall of gorillas.  Caroline did a great job and since Shawn was on call the night of the wax museum Ashley was nice enough to watch the boys so it could just be me and her.  We had a great time and were even able to grab some hot chocolate before heading home.  I love my smart girl!

Halloween 2015

I was so happy a few months ago when I found out Halloween was on a Saturday.  That meant that we could spend it with all the cousins down in Katy.  It had been an a very exhausting week and honestly going down there is a lot of work but its so worth it!  The kids have so much fun with cousins and Shawn and I love getting to talk to adults!  Shawn can even get work done when he needs to so that's also a plus.  But there is definitely not a lot of sleep going on.  We got in Friday night at almost 11.  It rained about half of the time we were in the car, pretty heavily too so we had to go slow oh well.  Friday the kids played, I got to bake, (it was so nice cooking in a proper sized kitchen!) and we went trick or treating of course.  Bethy is awesome and had a spare costume for George when the one I borrowed from Adam didn't fit.  Note to self, never assume George will fit into something Adam used to wear.  Anyways George looked so cute as a baby Yoda and fit right in with Leah and Bethany and Mabel.  We left back for Dallas after sacrament meeting and are already excited to see them again at Thanksgiving.  Caroline cries after every visit, it breaks my heart!  But I"m so glad we get to have so much family time this year, its so wonderful.

Leah and Annie LOVE George.  They were so sweet to him, it was adorable!

See they were always ready and willing to help him.

The babies sticking together. 

See isn't he the cutest Yoda ever!?

Graham rocked it as Peter Pan!

We weren't able to get Ryan's kids in the picture but at least they made it a few minutes later!  That awesome Storm Trooper in the back is Bethy. See best mom ever.  Oh and George loved her helmet!  

And of course we had to trade candy.  I love watching this every year. 

This is my lame attempt at getting a picture of Devin in his Hulk costume.  Caroline went as Hermione again because when she saw the Black Widow costume she was not impressed.  It was a great, although exhausting weekend! 

Graham's birthday

We had big plans for Graham's birthday this  year, and got rained out.  We were going to go to the zoo and do all the extra stuff we usually don't do like feed the giraffes, and even have lunch there.  It was going to be so fun, and then it rained ALL weekend.  So we went out to breakfast had family movie nights on Friday and Saturday and tried to make the most of it.  Graham is such an easy going kid he was happy with anything.  I love him so much. When Shawn gave him his blessing I remember him saying he would have a good heart and he really does.  He is often the peace maker between Caroline and Devin and always wants people to be happy.  He is his number one fan.  After I had a conference with his teacher she said that he is a very hard worker and good listener.  When I told Graham about he said, "I know, I'm a super hard worker."  No problem with confidence.  If anything he could stand to be a little more humble.  He is still very much my first baby.  He loves to snuggle and watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood with me.  Its something we did when George would sleep and the big kids were at school.  I want to always remember him loving that show.  Happy birthday sweet Graham!  We love you!

Family movie night!  Graham even got to pick, which NEVER happens.  He was pretty excited.

Love his squinty smile.

And here he is downing his birthday pancakes.  YUM!

We let Caroline and Devin tag a long too.

Graham wears his heart on his sleeve, you always know how he's feeling.  He was pretty excited about his presents.

Here he is on his actual birthday.  Such a handsome guy!

We also had a silly string fight at Ashely's house to celebrate.  It was pretty awesome.

Devin wouldn't stand still for a picture but I love how happy this made him.

And this captures Graham's personality so well, I'm gonna get you! 

Corpus Christi

A few weeks ago Shawn interviewed at a hospital down in Corpus Christi.  I remember when he first asked me if I wanted to live down there I said, "NO."  I wasn't interested at all.  Well the job is actually pretty great.  They would have plenty of work for Shawn and doing complex surgeries too which he would love.  The people that interviewed him were so nice.   The hospital flew our entire family down put us up in a nice hotel and just spoiled us rotten.  It was a welcome change.  They even gave us tickets to the aquarium and U.S.S. Lexington.  It was a really fun weekend and I liked it more than I thought I would.  Shawn still has some other interviews but it was great to go down and check it out.  I'm a little worried he could be too busy down there.  If I've learned anything this year its that we are all happier when Shawn is home more.  So that will be a huge factor when deciding on a job.

The kids would have stayed there forever.  Devin was sure we could live in the hotel. I don't think they will care as long as we can get out of this tiny place. 

This is the most random thing I have ever seen.  I went to go get food for the kids before we went out to dinner and there was a pony at a gas station.  I took a picture so the kids would believe me.