Thanksgiving Getaway

This Thanksgiving, my family (my parents, siblings and nieces and nephews) decided to do a Thanksgiving getaway.  We found a cabin in Cedar City and for 5 days and 4 nights were unplugged from the world and enjoyed our time together.

I cannot say enough how wonderful the week was.  My sister Emily said it best:

"The past two to three years have been a very interesting time for my siblings and parents; we watched our brother suffer and eventually pass on to the next life from cancer, we experienced other forms of loss through miscarriage and moving - including physical ailments, surgeries, procedures, etc. and found ourselves stretched thin. To say it was easy is a lie, to say it was worth it... I still don't know. To say that this Thanksgiving Weekend was a healing balm to my grieving heart is the best way I can describe my feelings. We had an amazing family trip that I felt Ben was so happy about! Five days and four nights of all of us under the same roof. No cell service. Celebrating all of our reasons to be thankful."

It was EXACTLY what we all needed.  I wish we could have stayed there forever!

I took a TON of pictures (almost 500...but don't worry, I'm not putting them all on here) and don't have many more words to say.  So enjoy the pictures!

Grandma wanted to take Brody outside with her one morning.  It was cold and we didn't have great winter clothes for him...so we improvised.

The kids getting ready to make their personal apple pies

Cute cousins!

 Working hard!

 The finished product...they turned out great!

Out for a walk one evening... 

Cousin Cadence was so nice to cuddle and tickle backs.

Rocking on the front porch

Another walk out near the iron mines

Movie night

  Lots of gaming happened in the rec room

Grandpa surprised everyone by bringing the stuff to make stilts!  It was WAY fun!

Some of the kids took me to their secret spot...we took some fun pictures. 

 Cute cousins, so HAPPY being together! 

Setting up for the Thanksgiving feast!

Molly...just being silly

Hot tubbing!

 Daddy and his boy

Christmas paper chain countdown craft with Grandma

And there we have it!  It was truly an amazingly fantastic few days.  I wish we didn't have to go back home.  Living away from family is always hard, but it gets magnified every time we go visit and have to leave.  Some day maybe we'll make it back to live by family....we can always hope!

Happy Birthday Addison!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADDISON!!

Today, our passionate, sassy, funny, loving girl turns 5 years old.  FIVE!

WHAT?!

It seems like just yesterday that she was our sweet little early Christmas present, just a couple days after Thanksgiving, and just two days after Marty's birthday.  People may say she didn't want to crash Marty's birthday...but I think she wanted to have a day of her own to have the spotlight on her.  She was born in Texas, and has had a larger than life personality from the beginning.

She has grown into such an amazing girl.  She stretches and pushes me further than any of our other kids, but she gives me so much as well.  We just couldn't imagine our life without her.

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Kid Funnies!

I've been trying to remember to write down kid funnies...because they're some of my favorite posts to go back and read.  But I haven't been great...I do, however, have a few gems to share!  

YAY FOR FUNNY KIDS!  

Enjoy!!

 

Claire came out of her room one night to tattle on Addison...what she had to tell us about made me fall over laughing:  "Addison climbed up into my bed, and all seriously said to me 'Claire, I'll go back to bed by myself in just a minute, but this is really important.  Do you ever dream about a purple pony named bacon?'"  Addison asks the tough questions.

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While scrubbing Addison's hair with shampoo:

Addison: Let me do it! Let me! Let me! Let me! 

Me: Ok, you can finish now. 

Addison: [frustrated] Mom, didn't I tell you to let me do it? 

Me: Yes, you did. 

Addison: You should really listen better.

Ok mother.

Claire: Cute hair Addison, you're getting a China braid!

Me:  A China braid?  What's a China braid?

Claire:  That braid you're doing.

Me:  That's called a french braid.

Claire:  Oh...right...french braid.  I always get those two mixed up.

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Claire asked me what we were having for dinner, and I told her we were having Red Chicken.  She says, "Well...I don't know what red tastes like, but I LOVE chicken!"

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Claire: What's that place?

Me:  It's a miniature golf course.

Claire:  Ohhh.....so is that where midgets golf?

Marty:  Hey, peace out homey.

Molly: [indistinguishable muttering]

Marty:  No, say peace

Molly:  peez

Marty: out

Molly: ou

Marty:  Homey

Molly: Homey

Marty:  Peace out homey

Molly: [pointing at front door] get out

Brielle:  We could maybe go to Knott’s Berry Farm sometime. 

Claire:  I want to go to Disney land though!

Brielle:  Well, Knott’s Berry Farm isn't really a farm, it's an amusement park.

Claire:  Well, I am not amused.

Hopefully you enjoyed that short little burst of funny...

At least Brody thinks his sisters are HILARIOUS!