THANKSgiving is spent with FAMILY...

There are many things I am thankful for. My top 5 are:

1. The gospel in my life. I feel so blessed to have been raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ for his birth and death so I can have eternal life.
2. For my family - Erik, Lindsey, Conner, Carly and Cole

They bring so much happiness to my life. They help me each day try to be a better person.
3. the temple

4. For Erik's job which provides for our family and gives us amazing insurance.

5. For tender mercies.
We spent our Thanksgiving with the Larsen side for lunch.
The food was so delicious!
After we ate the men/Conner went out and played football in the road. Conner was thrilled. The women looked through the Black Friday ads and eventually made it outside to be the cheerleaders.
Carly made sure everyone had snacks (is it possible to even want any more food?)
Crew making a silly face showing me his snack!
Sienna, how could anyone say NO to that face?
Case, he loves to be outside!

Whitney and Carly

Kylee and Oma

Brynn, Ramie and Crew playing house.

Larissa and Heather

Papa Larsen and Lindsey

All the men...

Jase and Lindsey

WOW, look at Uncle Logan - what a jump!

Carly and Papa

Lance and his boys. Check out there shoes! Matching high top black converse!

The later part of our day was spent with the Morris side. More yummy food and more cousins to play with.

Stephanie, Carly, Megan, Kaelyn eating yummy pie!

Silly boys...Caleb, Jared, Conner and Jacob
Erik and Cole

The teenage girls: Jordan, Lauren, Lindsey and Sheridan

Shelene and Marcus (it was so good to see Marcus he is always working at Target)!

They are great examples to the younger kiddos. I love visiting with them and hearing about their young adult lives.

Liz, Tina and Liesl fun sister-in-laws! I think I am their favorite sister-in-law (oh I am their only sister-in-law, LOL)!
Papa Morris relaxing after dinner.

Famous Richard Webb, the best temple photographer!

Uncle Brian - he is our silly UNCLE!
To end the day...

Lindsey, Sheridan and Lauren talked me into taking them to...

You got it Lindsey finally got to see TWILIGHT!

(It was Lauren's 4 time to see it and Sheridan's 2!) Lindsey loved it!
The girls spent the night and I think feel asleep sometime early moring?

The end of a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cole visits the EAR specialist!

Wednesday, November 26 Cole went to visit Dr. Mancuso (ear dr.). His ear's at this moment look great! NO fluid no redness (of course). We decided to wait and see what happens the next few weeks/month and if he gets an ear infection all I have to do is call his private line and schedule a time to get tubes placed in his ears. Cole has had around 8 ear infections in the past year, yuck! His infections occur every time he gets a cold.

Putting Christmas up EARLY...

Sunday, November 23 we decided to set up our Christmas tree EARLY. Erik, Lindsey and Conner are heading up north after Thanksgiving for the weekend.

We made Aunt LaSchelle's "Monkey Munch" yummy yummy!

Monkey Munch

1 C. chocolate chips

1/2 C. peanut butter

1/4 C. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

9 C. rice chex

1 1/2 C. powdered sugar

Microwave: Chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter for 1 min.

Stir every 30 seconds til smooth

add vanilla

pour over chex mix and stir well

put in a container that you can shake and add powdered sugar

I like to add some powdered sugar to the bottom, then the chex mix, then more of the powdered sugar on top and then shake well.

Keep stored in fridge so it doesn't melt.

Erik and kiddos piecing together our prelite tree. We love to watch it grow! I love the lights!
Dad and Cole - having a great time. All the lights are actually working, HURRAH!

Fun fItNeSs day...Tempe Town Lake

It is that time of year when Arizona is beautiful, truthfully why most people live here (it's definitely not because of our HOT summers). The temperature today 80 degrees, gorgeous. I have been thinking about how crazy life is and how it seems like our Saturdays come and go with not to many memories being made. It's time for a change. I really only get to be with them so little of time with school, sports, friends, callings and life. What could we do to spend fun time together? I came up with an idea for today, go on a bike ride outside our neighborhood. Called Papa and Gramers Morris and asked if I could use their truck? Why of course (thank you so much)! Talked to a few of my siblings and off we went for a fun fitness day riding bikes enjoying nature and time together. What a blast we had. Started our adventure with a picnic in the back of the truck. Kids didn't eat to much, I think they were excited.Sienna wasn't quite sure where we were and what we were up to. She is such a cutie!Logan and Larissa enjoyed this fun fitness day with us. Cole was ready to go. He loves to go on bike rides.If we were to give out awards Ramie would win the best sport award. She learned to ride her bike without training wheels about a month ago. Here we take her to a place with other bikers, runners, walkers, hills and roads and she smiled and pedalled her little legs without complaining. She had a smile on her face the whole time. The one time she crashed she jumped up and got right back on. She even went down a big grass hill with no problems. I love this girl she is so fun to be around. Carly did a fabulous job too. Her confidence in riding her bike improved today. She made it up the hills and laughed and had a great time. Conner he is a great kid. He is such a good sport. He could of lapped us several times, but he was patient and had a fun time.

After we rode around several times we stopped for a potty break, drink and time for the little ones to walk around. Logan, Larissa and I had a little one on the back of our bikes. Poor little Sienna cried for awhile she wasn't quite sure if she wanted to go on a bike ride. Kylee smiled and was as quiet as could be, she is so easy going. Cole got to put his hands in the sprinkler as we rode by, look for Sharks and Nemo (in the lake) and carry our water bottle (he hates the camera). We had a great time!

Carly and Ramie best little cousins (next time we are going to have to bring the Steverson's and Larsen's)! I think Oma and Papa should get bikes (it is great exercise and fun)!!

Aunt Larissa was funny on her bike, she hadn't rode a bike for awhile let-a-lone one with a child seat on the back. She did awesome! (thank you Lance and Heather for letting us use your bikes). I am going to tell Uncle Johnny to get her a bike wagon for Christmas (sh, don't tell her).

On our break we sat and watch as people (athletes) came by preparing for the Ironman event(an intense triathlon) tomorrow. What an amazing event - wish it wasn't on a Sunday or I would go watch.

Kids have so much energy!
Yeah, I got him...my little man is getting so big!

Uncle Logan, I love that he will come hang with us and all our kiddos. We have so much fun with him. He is so patient with the kids and up for trying new activities. I admire his love for being healthy, this morning he ran 8 miles. He is dedicated and faithful to keeping his body healthy. I love you!

I love Haircuts!

One of my favorite things to do is get my haircut! I love that someone else is doing my hair and I just get to sit there and enjoy. I think I got this from Grandma Larsen. She loved for us granddaughters to comb and do her hair. She would say how great it felt. I would have to agree 100%.

I have really thick hair and it grows super fast. I seem to get it cut shorter and shorter each time. My sisters think I am crazy. My hair never looks the same, one day it is curly the next day straight, one side curly the other straight. My curly hair makes for unpredictable hair days. I should be good for another 6-8 weeks!

First Graders present: Frog and Toad

Carly was in the play "Frog and Toad" last night. The first graders at her school did a fabulous job. She was a squirrel. The CUTEST squirrel I have ever seen (a little bias)! She sang her heart out. Carly and me, one of her biggest fans!
Uncle Logan, Carly and Oma they are so good to support us!


Carly got to pick where we would go for dinner, she was happy with wherever (one of my best well rounded eaters). We ended up at Sombrero's Mexican Restaurant. Uncle Lance, Aunt Heather, Crew and Case met us there.

Stay tuned for Carly's first PHOTO shoot.
Aunt Heather Silly Uncle Lance
Crew chewing his 25 cent gum. Case, he is such a happy little man. He was talking away and oh what a great eater he is!
Oma, happy and smilin' Case kept calling out her name. Me, Carly's FAVORITE mom. Carly and Uncle Logan, her favorite SINGLE uncle.

TaG

8 Things About Me

8 Favorite TV Shows

1. Law & Order

2. ER

3. Wheel of Fortune

4. Biggest Loser

5. Price's Right

6. Oprah

7. Extreme Home Make Over

8. Funniest Home Video's

8 Things I did yesterday

1. Visiting Teaching Conference

2. Super Saturday

3. Morris November Birthday Party

4. Bra shopping with Lindsey @ Target

5. Attempted the temple - date night

(realized Erik's recommend had expired)

6. Dinner at Matta's

7.Christmas Shopping

8. Prepared materials for Carly's primary class to make cards for her teacher who had surgery.

8 Things I look forward too

1. Having my Christmas tree up

2. Losing more weight

3. Running and being able to keep up with Logan

3. A get-away weekend with Erik

4. Printing my first blog book

5. Cole being potty trained

6. The Romney's coming for the Holidays

7. Sleeping in

8. An updated family picture

8 Favorite Restaurant's

1. Nello's Pizza (great salads)

2. Applebee's

3. Serrano's Mexican Food

4. Olive Garden

5. Outback Steak House

6. Anywhere I don't have to cook or clean up

8 Things on my wIsH list

1. a camera

2. new clothes

3. to win the $1000 Santa cash on KNIX

4. happy/healthy kids and husband

5. long weekend to see LaSchelle's new house

6. cruise with Erik

7. to make a temple trip visiting as many temples as possible

8. to become a better cook

I tAg my sisters!