Last couple days of November

Here are some highlights from the last few days of November.

Nyles and Carter helping to put up Christmas decorations, while Hudson takes something and tries to hide it in the fireplace.  Silly kid.  He keeps us on our toes that's for sure :)

Later Hudson found the Santa Hat, jingle bells, and the pinecones my mom sent last year.  Cutie!

Nyles wanted to help cook Steve's birthday dinner, Ribs.  Steve showed him how to do it, then Nyles took over at the BBQ.  He's learning.  They also cooked up some of the fish they caught the day before.  Nyles likes to try his fish, unlike Steve :)

We then went over and had dinner w/ LuDean, Diane, Dave and Joann for Steve's birthday.  We had his favorites: Ribs, baked potatoes, breadsticks, then cheesecake for dessert.  Diane also had a fun game for us to play.  Thanks for the fun everyone!

I took Monday off work as well, to celebrate Steve's birthday, his actual birthday day (the 29th).  The boys had school, but after school we went down to Thanksgiving Point's Curiosity Museum for some fun.  Dave and Joann were able to join us as well.  Thankfully it wasn't super busy and the boys were able to explore.

Hudson playing in the toddler area, and the boys petting a snake.

Hudson had fun going up the stairs and down the slides.

Hudson going down the slide.

Steve, Dave and Hudson playing w/ the green screen, then the motion picture.  

Dave, Carter and Nyles trying to hold on in the wind tunnel.

Playing in the water area.  We were basically the only ones in the area, so the boys were able to really have fun making water tunnels and bridges.  We then hurried through a few fun mazes, and a quick pictures in front of a Christmas tree before heading out for the night.  It was a lot of fun!

I made a photo book for Steve's birthday of some of his hunting and fishing adventures (he has just a few you know).  I also got him a new headlamp for his adventures.

On Tuesday, Steve took Nyles and Carter to get their 2nd dose of the Covid vaccine.  That evening he went over and got his booster shot as well.  I had a sore throat so decided to wait until I'm feeling better.  Though they weren't happy about getting the shot, we're proud they did it, as a way to protect themselves and those around them from Covid.

Great insight from our Prophet.

Also great quote.

4th week of November - Thanksgiving

 Here are some highlights from the week of Thanksgiving.  It was a fun week full of activities, especially w/ family.  I took Wednesday and Friday off, which was great!

Hudson loves to give hugs!

Steve put up the blowup bear/penguin outside.  The boys think it's pretty fun, especially at night.  

Carter won it the year before at Home Depot.

At Nyles' school they had visitors come and tell them about their jobs.

Nyles and Carter earned another stripe on their belts in martial arts for "intensity".  

They've both been working hard.

More pictures of Carter and Nyles while at martial arts.

Carter fell asleep in the car, which is very typical of him.  

Nyles started growing a bean plant at school then brought it home to continue to grow.

Hudson tried Nutella and whip cream and no surprise, loves them!  He also likes having utensils when he eats.  Before I could get him a spoon he grabbed the toy on his tray and used her as a spoon.  Too funny!  It worked though! 

Hudson using a Wild Kratts toys as a spoon for his whip cream.

Hudson learning to walk.

We put up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving before heading to dinner.  It's always fun to decorate it!

Trying to get a quick picture at Thanksgiving.  Hudson reaching for a balloon in Carter's face.

I'm so thankful for these 3 precious boys in my life!

Having Thanksgiving dinner at Dave/Joann's place.

Nyles and Connor laughing at each other.  Chandler playing the piano while Melanie holds Hudson.  Jeff giving Steve a meatball as Stacie gives them a look.

Hudson had whip cream for dessert.  He thoroughly enjoyed it!

The next day my parents came over.  My mom stayed at our place while Steve, Nyles and my dad went fishing at Utah Lake.  Carter, my mom and I played games and did puzzles.  We had a lot of fun.  Thankfully my mom was able to figure out how to get into our bathroom w/ her wheelchair and transfer w/ one leg.  This is the 1st time since her surgery.  Now we know she can stay for a while w/ us!

Nyles catching a fish, and my dad enjoying the sunshine.  

They figured out how to catch them and caught a lot! 

That evening Pauline and Rose and their families came over for dinner.  I cooked up a ham.  

After dinner we played Blank Slate, then did our White Elephant gift exchange.

We also played Pictionary.  It was a lot of fun and great to be together again.

Steve playing Chess against Sophia, while Piper watched.  Carter got a hat and a "movie" from the gift exchange.  He was pretty excited about it.  Later Piper asleep under the tree.

On Saturday, Steve, Nyles and my dad went fishing again at the same place.  Dave met them over there as well.  Since they knew from the day before what to do, they had a lot of success and caught even more fish than the day before!

Dave, Nyles and my dad getting some lunch while fishing.  All the fish they caught in the live well of our boat.  They used the boat to get to the docks since the gate was locked to walk to it, then used the boat to store the fish.  Rob's brother's father-in-law, who is from the Philippines, gladly took all the fish they caught to eat, both days!  He also took their swans they shot earlier this month.

They had a great time!  Funny Dave and my dad had almost the same outfit on :)

Carter, my mom and Hudson stayed home again.  Carter taught my mom how to use Perler beads.  He then gave his Perler bead creation (a deer) to my dad.  My mom made a flower.  We also played guess who, and other games and puzzles.  Piper later on her bed by the main Christmas tree.

Saturday late afternoon, Steve took Nyles and Carter to a neighbor boy's birthday party at an ice skating place.  It was both of their 1st times trying it.  It was a little tricky, but they make improvements.

We're so thankful for all that we've been blessed with, for our family and friends, and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.  We're thankful for this time of year to reflect on all we our grateful for.  Steve and I have actually been writing down every day (since March), something we're grateful for in a journal.  There is always something to be grateful for, even when at first it might not seem so.  

Here is a great quote about Gratitude.

3rd Week of November

Here are some highlights from this past week, the 3rd week of November.

Cute Carter and Hudson enjoying the swings while they wait for Nyles to get out of school.

Carter made a picture of our family at pre-school.  When he got home I asked him where Piper was, so he drew her in and colored the sky.  He then wanted to put it on his bedroom door. So cute!

Nyles and his school walked up to Alta High School to watch "SpongeBob the musical."

Hudson has discovered whip cream this week and is in LOVE!  

He begs for it every time we open the fridge.  He's a kid after my own heart :)

Steve giving Hudson some whip cream.

A deer ran out while Steve was waiting for the boys at martial arts.  Hudson likes to give hugs.

Piper chasing the laser pointer.  Hudson thought it was hilarious.

On Saturday, Nyles went to his friend Owen's birthday party.  After picking him back up we stopped at his school and played on the playground for a few minutes.  Carter has had a cold this past week, and then his tummy was hurting, so when we got home he took a nap on the couch.  Earlier though he was sitting on the couch with his feet next to his mouth (silly kid).  We have a wild flower still in bloom.  Apparently it doesn't care that winter is coming, it's still blooming and beautiful.  I love it!

Steve went duck hunting w/ Rob and a guy named Ryan and his teenage son.  It was their first time ever going.  Though they didn't get any ducks, they still had a great time.  

Steve and Rob also got their swan skulls hollowed out.  They were pretty excited to get them

Hudson is on the go.  He likes to climb the stairs, and even stand and look out.  He crawls behind the couches.  He also wanted to try on Nyles' googles he got from the birthday party.  Such a cutie!

More whip cream and trying Nutella, yumm!

Hudson got more shots (immunizations) on Friday afternoon.  He had a slight fever that evening through Sunday.  Nyles also had a nasty cough as did Carter and Steve.  We all had a rough night Saturday night, so we stayed home from church and rested.  Thankfully we were still able to make it to our tithing settlement that afternoon.  Steve was also able to bless and pass the sacrament to us at home.

The boys built a fort Sunday afternoon with tables and blankets.  They thought it was pretty fun!

Great quotes.

2nd Week of November

 Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of November.

Carter and Nyles earned another stripe on their belts at martial arts.

We went and saw Santa at Cabela's.  The boys had to check out the fish afterwards as well.

Hudson found our bathroom cabinet, so now we have a lock on it.  He's so cute, even when he sleeps.

I took Thursday and Friday off work.  Originally Steve was supposed to go swan hunting during this time, but since they got their swans the Saturday before they didn't need to go.  We were able to go do sealings at the Draper Temple Thursday morning.  Joann was kind enough to come sit w/ Hudson while he slept then after he woke up.  When we got back she also went w/ Steve to pick up Carter from pre-school.  He was surprised to see her!  Amazingly we have more Mums in bloom and a wild flower.

We were planning to go to the cabin Friday after Nyles got out of school, but Hudson wasn't feeling well (had a slight fever).  The boys were so excited to go up, so I decided to stay home w/ Hudson, and Steve went up w/ Nyles and Carter.  Rob went up w/ them as well, along w/ Dave and Joann.  

Friday night Steve, Nyles and Rob went out fishing in our boat.

When they got back, they had dinner (I made taco soup that they took up) and they had fun playing a game Totally Gross and watched a movie "Elf".

It was a little cold over night.  There was frost on the deck and motor.

After it warmed up a little bit, they went out fishing again at Strawberry Reservoir.  

Nyles caught a few fish and then Dave caught a crawdad trap :)

They had a good time and came home after lunch.  

Carter fell asleep on the way home, all snuggled up in his blankets.

Carter loves to give Piper snuggles.  

On Sunday Pauline and her family came over for a little bit.  They dropped off their van to our neighbor Ron, who is a mechanic, to work on it.  Hudson thought it was fun to have Lincoln over to play with.

Sunday we also had our Primary Program.  It went well thankfully.  For our closing song we had the Young Men and Young Women join us to sing "Risen."  It's a beautiful song.  You can listen to it here.

Great quotes and reminders.