Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  How I love this holiday!  It is a lot of work when you've got two busy toddlers, but it sure is satisfying when everything turns out nicely. 

This year, we had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, glazed carrots, Brussels sprouts with pine nuts, yummy rolls, orange cranberry relish, ribbon salad, Martinelli's and pumpking spice cheescake for dessert.  I am stuffed!

I am so thankful for a wonderful family: for my fun loving husband and for my sweet children, and for all my extended family.  I feel so richly blessed at the joy of family. 
I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It brings me such happiness and peace.  This is what gets me through life's hardest trials and brings me great joy.  I am so thankful to be a member of this church.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Halloween and kid pics

We managed to get the kids out for the trunk or treat.  The Primary was in charge of providing treats, so we had to be there anyway...not that we would have missed it.  Peter had a lot of fun.  Elly was a little bit sleepy, as it was past her bedtime.  But they both loved their costumes.  

I love the banana sticking out of the monkey's pocket.  So cute.

My little kitten. 
I am still not sure what color her eyes are going to be.  Gray?  Gray with brown?  Hmm...

Recent pictures on the stairs.  Elly is 19 months old here.  She's being a little coy.  

Elly looks to her brother for many things lately.  She has learned to say "please" solely by our coaxing Peter into asking nicely for things that he wants.  She is quite clever in her use.  When she is asking for something, and we are not wanting to give in, she gets a sweet little smile, squints her eyes and says, "Pease?"  I think she may have us wrapped around her little finger.  Such a cutie!
Elly has really taken off with her talking lately.  She probably has somewhere around 50 words at this point.  Although, she has a hard time with "s" at the beginning of words.  For example, "sorry" comes out, "vorry." We'll have to work on that.  It is fun to hear her talking so much.  I think it shocked us how much she understands and can say now.  She's growing and learning so fast!  

They like to play together.  Their favorite pastime is running around our large leather chair and chasing each other.  For such a little toddler, Elly sure can run fast!  

It is hard to get Peter to hold still for pictures lately, but Elly seems to love to ham it up for the pictures.  My sweet little girl!  

New Piano! and Cox Farms

Well, after months of searching, we finally found our piano.  We got it used from a dealer who gave us a good deal with free delivery and 5 year warranty, and free tuning.  It is a Yamaha console, and sounds pretty good for a piano of its size.  It is such a joy to have a piano in the home, and makes such a difference!  My kids seem to love it too.  I hope it means we can have even more music in the house.  I love a home with lots of music in the house!

Duet time.

During the government shutdown, we decided to go do some fun things.  It was hard to find fun things to do, as all museums and government parks were down.  But this little gem, Cox Farms, was AWESOME!  We had a great time and the kids loved it.  We will definitely make this an annual trip.

Fun hay maze

Chris and Elly at the top of the hay maze.

Daddy and Elly going down a giant slide on a burlap sack.

Peter LOVED these slides.

Fun little play area with train and music makers.

Couldn't resist posting this one.

I love this picture of Peter in the fire truck that he got to get on and explore.  He was a happy boy.

Peter and Chris going down a ginormous slide together.  Elly and I watched from below.  They also had a great corn maze and a hay ride, and a kid goat feeding pen.  It was great.  We also got to take home some free pumpkins at the end.  Such fun!