Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving! The smells of all the yummy food, time with family and of course the kick-off of the Christmas Season! We were invited to Tiare and Ko's house for dinner, but I opted to just stay here at home and fix my own. I don't know what it is but I just love to play holiday music while I do my cooking all morning, the kids running around the house playing, popping in and out of the kitchen to stir or taste along the way. That's exactly what we did today, and I'm glad we did because Gene came home from work yesterday and informed me that along with just about everyone he works with, he has come down sick. So it all worked out so that he could get some "much needed" rest before returning to work tomorrow. We're excited to go down-town tonight to see the "Christmas Fireworks" to kick-off the Christmas Season.

Lani has been learning some sign language at school. Here is a song she learned for Thanksgiving.

On Tuesday we were asked to help at Lani's school with the annual "Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast"! This is a lot of fun for the children, they actually get to help prepare their own food, say what they are thankful for and eat together! Most of them dress up for the occasion as either a pilgrim or a Native American. It just happened to be Gene's day off and so we all got to be there. Lani wanted to dress up like a Native American, so she wore her costume from Halloween. Kiara wanted to be a Pilgrim, but only if Mom dressed up like one as well. So away we went! I made sure no pictures were taken of my in my costume-my pioneer clothes don't look like they used to-I think I've put on a few pounds since the trek! haha!

We all had a great time! I hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your travels wherever you may go are safe.

Um, I don't usually do this quite this early, really I don't!

So two weeks ago Kiara started asking if we could put our Christmas tree up. We had been at the stores where I guess she had noticed the decorations up already and it got her excited. She said, "Mom, I don't remember what it looked like last year with our tree up and our lights on our house, was it pretty?" I always wait until Thanksgiving night to turn the outside lights on and at least that day to put the tree up. But, I got to thinking that if I did the tree early, I could enjoy Thanksgiving day just a little bit more-having less to do would be so much nicer! So last week, we put our tree up!

The girls were so excited to help decorate it, and it didn't kill me to have it up, in fact, I've kind of enjoyed having it up this early! I think I've been able to get into the Christmas spirit a little bit earlier this year!

This week has been so warm, that on Tuesday, Gene's day off, we decided we should put our outside lights up while it was nice. This is pretty normal since we move to Cedar-it gets cold and with Gene's frostbitten hands, we just can't even attempt it! We were out there literally sweating! It turned out that it was like 70 degrees! That's like summertime here in Cedar! It was great! So, we had our outside lights done, but I explained to the girls that we will not be turning them on until Thanksgiving night, so not to even ask. But last night, we went for a ride as it was getting dark and Lani yells, "Look at all the Christmas lights!" She was right, in this one little neighborhood we were riding through, there were like three huge houses all lit up for the Holidays! Kiara was so excited, I thought she might burst! So I did it, I totally caved!! I totally broke my rule, and you know, it was fun to have our lights on, so what if the entire of Cedar think we're weird, we already knew that and it's about time the truth comes out, right?! haha! Merry Christmas???

Our house lit up last year-looks the same now.

"Primary Program Sunday"

Today was the Primary Program at our ward. Lani had been learning the songs and was really excited to do her part. I told Grandma about it and she and Papa decided to make the drive all the way up here to be a support to Lani!

We are so lucky to have such wonderful Grandparents that care enough to be here for these important events! A very important person in my life once told me that we should try to make the most of every minute we have with each other, because we never know how much time we have left to make these memories. That person is now deceased and I often think about what he said to me that day. That one conversation has helped me appreciate the time I have with family so much more than I did before.

Our visit was short because they have their own meetings to attend, but it was great to have that time together! We love you so much Grandma and Papa! Thank you for coming!

A Fun Saturday With Uncle Johnny!

So my girls favorite uncle - Uncle Johnny was here with Grandma to spend the day with us on Saturday. We don't get to see him too often anymore since he's busy with three different jobs these days, so there was a lot of excitement at our house.

We started our day out with a visit and some silly picture taking and then Uncle Jon took us out to eat lunch.

We thought that was special, when he gave both Lani and Kiara their own money to spend at the store on whatever they wanted! They were so excited! After lunch, we went to find the girls some new church shoes since my girls out-grow a new pair of shoes in about a month! We picked some out and Uncle Jon handed the sales lady money to pay for it! I tried to argue, but as you can tell by the pictures, Jon is just a little bigger than me, so I had to let him do it. We had so much fun just hanging out with Jon and Grandma all day!

The girls just love their Uncle Jon, they have so much fun with him and I hope we can spend more days just being together! They spent their money last night and wanted Uncle Jon to be able to see what they wound up buying after a long hour of careful contemplation in the toy department at Wal-Mart!

Thank you Jon, for everything! You probably would have rather done something totally different than to spend your entire Saturday up here with us, but you did it anyways and you spoiled us all rotten! We had a great day! Thank you for being such a wonderful Uncle! We love you so much!

We Love You Lucille!

Our good friend, Lucille has had a hard time lately and had to give up her home and move herself into an assisted living center. It has been a hard thing for Lucille to admit that she shouldn't live alone anymore, she's always been so outgoing and strong physically and emotionally. My heart has been hurting for her for the past few weeks, it would be so hard to give up most of your posessions and the comfort of your home because you were too old to be alone anymore.

Lucille has stayed quite close with my girls throughout their lives, coming up to Cedar to go to the "Fourth of July Parade" with us and just to go out to lunch with us. Lani and Kiara think of her as another of their "Grandmas".

Having fun with Grandma Lucille!

Lani and Aunty Carol

My friend Carol called to invite me to a luncheon that was to be held in Lucille's honor at our old neighborhood in Hurricane. It just so happened that we had planned a trip in to Costco that same day, so it totally worked out. We sure had a good time hanging out at Carol and Art's house and seeing all of our old neighbors and of course, especially being there for Lucille's Farewell Luncheon. Thank you Carol for calling to let me know about this special event!

We love you Lucille, you have been such a wonderful friend to us throughout the last 14 years! Don't worry, we will come down and visit you whenever we are in town!

HALLOWEEN FUN!!!!

This year, I decided to make Lani's Costume because obviously, she wanted to be Pocahontas and I couldn't find anything that I liked. It actually turned out good enough that she was proud to wear it! Phew!!

First thing Halloween morning, we had to get all ready to go to Lani's school. They were having a Halloween Party in kindergarten and needed some help. Kiara and Lani were so excited to get their costumes on and show all their friends! When we got there, the children all looked so cute in their costumes and even the teachers were all dressed up and looked so great!

Mrs. Payne looked so cute in her which costume!

Mr. Shirley in his "flower child" outfit. Lani was like, "what?!"

I helped the kids decorate their own cupcakes, which was the most fun of all the different stations. Those kindergartners were so careful and did such a great job!

I thought Kiara would have a hard time sitting still and want to leave, but she totally blended in with the other children and even joined in as they paraded around to all the other classrooms in the school!

She was so into the story that Mrs. Topham told...I think she even forgot that I was there for a while!

The cute little paraders making their way through the school.

We sure had a great time at school! Thanks for inviting us, Mrs. Topham!

We then came home and had some lunch and a quick nap before heading to our ward's annual Halloween party. Gene and I were just put on the activities committee and so I had to go over early to do some last-minute decorating. It was fun with carnival games after dinner and then finally, the trick-or-treating at each classroom door of the church. People were all dressed up and had the doors decorated and one family even gave out those "Frazil" slushy drinks to everyone! We had a great time there and then headed home for trick-or-treating around our own little neighborhood. Trunk-or-treats are fun, but I don't know why, I just don't feel like it's Halloween unless we get to go from house to house on a dark night and here, people decorate so well that it gets you really in the spirit. Our kids came home with way too much candy and had way too much fun! It turned out to be a great Halloween!