November

 The first of this month started off really optimistic and exciting.  I really enjoyed November 1st through the 4th.  Then November 5th came....and well....it didn't go my way.  So I sulked for a good solid week or so.  Then I pulled it together and decided to go on with my life.

We had a great Election party with the Jensens.  We all wore our red, white and blue and had some fun American History trivia games.  Lydia recited the pre-amble and will now take over that role for Emma, she is quite delighted with herself, and I don't blame her.  The night was a huge disappointment, despite the themed food and decorations.  

Meanwhile.......

My mom and dad were off in Africa having an experience of a lifetime.  It was really great seeing their photos and hearing their stories.  I am so thankful to have parents who do more with their time and money than just go on a cruise or to Hawaii!!

This young man's name is Jote.  All he wants in life is to be loved.  He really bonded with my parents and I sent him a few emails and he now considers me his sister.  If ever someone wants to send him a message via facebook to just let him know you include him in your prayers, well, it would mean the world to him.  

 I had fun taking my sister's annual family photos this year.  Could her boys be any more stylin'?  Love these little nephews of mine!!  And check out my sister!  Couldn't.Be.Cuter!!

These are some random photos Ryan took on his phone.  This is the girls and I snuggled up for a movie and a family room picnic.  Watching a show with the girls means so much to them, go figure. 

Ry sent me this photo while I was at work.  The text read "Like mother, like daughter."  Turns out Emma has my "butterfingers" gene. 

Ryan doesn't cook all that much, but when he does.....boy howdy, it is tasty.  This is a curry squash soup he made.  I was over the moon for it!

We made a thankful tree for the month.  Every day we would write down something we were thankful for.  It was a great activity for the whole family.  The leaf below is my favorite...from the mouth of babes.

For my own record, these are the things we were thankful for.  RYAN- Opposable thumbs, depth perception, free social system, free economic system, the comforts of civilized world, private transportation, free access to information, animals, inspiring Sunday school teachers, modern day Prophet, the Book of Mormon.  LINDSEY- Emma's laugh and enthusiasm, Lydia's voice and sweetness, being in a great ward, Internet communication, second chances, beautiful weather, cozy beds, keeping my kids warm and comfortable, food on the table, sanitary living conditions, paved roads.  EMMA- her teacher, Holidays, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, living on Earth, cousins, bread, family, insects, Grandma and Grandpa, fish.  LYDIA- Friends, Emma- the best big sister in the whole world, "My best mommy, but I'm not thankful for Satan," lots of toys to play with, Joy School, Second dam (which entails hikes, picnics, and feeding ducks,) "snakes, but not rattle snakes," family dinner, my sweetest, snuggliest, best mommy, my sweet sister Emma.

My parents returned form Africa the night before Thanksgiving.  So this year we just ate out and had a wonderful time and the most delicious food at Elements restaurant.  Earlier in the day we took our girls to see Rise of the Guardians.  I wanted to cry my eyes out.  Childhood is so important and children have so much more strength and power than they realize.  It was a really great movie.  We went back to my parent's house for great white elephant gifts and some fun games.  Then spent the night before heading back home (30 minutes) the next morning. 
On a side note.  LOL, it totally looks like Bundy is rocking some eye shadow and lipstick.  Just in case you were wondering, my man does NOT wear make-up....he's just naturally handsome ;)

My birthday was 3 days after Thanksgiving so we cooked our official turkey dinner on Sunday and had Sara's boys back with us to eat and party it up.  My mom made some nice efforts to make my birthday special and she even let me order a whole pumpkin cheesecake from Olive Garden which made me a very happy girl.  

32.  Eh.  I'm kind of over the whole birthday scene and hoopla.  I had a nice day, but it was just another day.  I was very happy to have my sweet family to share it with though.  My mom, Sara and I ditched our kids a few days after my birthday and went for an all day shopping excursion and out to lunch at my favorite place, Red Robin.  I got most of my shopping done and had a collection of birthday money to spend on myself.  This was perhaps my favorite day of the whole month!

I think this little door might be the high of my Christmas season so far.  One day Ryan and the girls and I were getting ready to go out for the evening when we heard some sawing and hammering noises coming from the family room.  We ran in there and found this little door attached to our wall. 

When the girls opened the door they saw the magic dust that is a portal leading to the North Pole.  They FREAKED out!!  I can't remember when they have been so delighted with something.  I am still beaming inside with the success of this addition to our Christmas traditions.  

 

Our elf, Tinsel, came the night the door arrived.  She has been such a joy to have in the house and the girls genuinely adore her.  We also added a new member to our Holiday collection....Hoot.  Hoot is our owl who lives in our tree.  He's not magical or anything, just a fun addition to keep our tree cozy.  Tinsel likes to snuggle up with him from time to time.  I like that Tinsel is not frightening.  She is just a beautiful elf fairy and unlike the elf on the shelf, she doesn't look like she might kill me in my sleep.

We've had a great Christmas season so far.  In years past it has taken me a while to actually have it feel like Christmas.  However, this year I have felt the joy, and love and wonder right from the start.  Emma and Lydia have been such a joy and delight to the spirit in this home.  Here they are kissing beneath the mistletoe.  I just can't imagine my life without them.   

October

 We continued to take advantage of this beautiful fall weather and colors.  One night we went up to third dam and had a fantastic FHE.  My mom went all out with the decorations.  I put together a nature scavenger hunt and we divided into teams.  A few of the things you had to find are posted above.  A leaf with a bite out of it, something beautiful, a photo of your team member with their feet not touching the ground, a treasure (that's Emma.)

 Then we had an awesome lesson given by Bundy.  Might I just say that I LOVE the spirit that man has with him.

For UEA we went to SLC with my mom and the girls.  We first stopped at This is the Place park.  We panned for gold, rode the train, and toured David O McKay's home.  

Then we made our way to City Creek for the girl's to buy something at the Disney Store with the money they have been saving.  

We toured Temple Square and then went to Gateway where we were crushed to discover that Thaifoon had closed down.  We salvaged the day with dinner at Z'Tejas.  On our way home we picked up Emma's best friend Addi to come and spend the night with us, and unfortunately I didn't snap one single photo.  

Providence has the cutest mini golf course.  This time of year it is decorated for Halloween.  They go all out.  It was apparently scary enough that Emma couldn't fall asleep that night.  Kids!  We went with my mom, Sara, and our kids.

My most favorite uncle in the whole widest world was able to get away for a few days and come visit the family in Utah.  I hope that doesn't offend any of my other uncles, but let's face it, they don't read this blog, and my Uncle Paul does!!  So if that's not best uncle then I don't know what is :)

We had an adventure on Betty and drove over to Liberty for lunch at Eats.  Then had a family party that night with the rest of the Logan Clan.

Here's Lydia DeNae and her new lamb to add to her collection, she named her Silky the Milky.

One day Lydia was being a little ham so I told her an expression or feeling and then she would give me a pose for it.  Crazy is my favorite!!

We've enjoyed many adventures taking our bikes up Logan Canyon and biking along the trail up to Second dam for a picnic.  We did it one day with my mom and the Pete boys as well.  

My favorite activity of the month was going to Ogden and hooking up with all of our Vivint friends from the summer in Oklahoma.  

We met at the Junction in Ogden and visited for hours.  Then I put together an amazing race at the Junction.  You had to find the employee listed below to get your next clue, get a hole in one at glow in the dark mini golf, take a photo in front of someone surfing, take a photo of an upcoming movie, win tickets at the arcades, Find a scale to weigh yourself on, and the list goes on.  Everyone really got into it and we all had a great night!

These two girls are just best friends.  I hope it lasts forever!!!

We had the Jensens over one night for a new recipe and some Jenga

We had dinner in the family room and had a picnic on the floor for FHE.  

What I love about 3 year olds is that almost everything is a new experience to them.  Their memory's aren't great, so although they have done a lot of these activities before, it's like they;re doing it for the first time.  Here's Lydia's process of gutting a pumpkin.  She looks thoroughly disgusted, and then ends it with delight!

We enjoyed letting the girls think that Ryan's hand was to be stuck inside that pumpkin forever.  Check out the looks on their faces :)

My mom went ALL OUT with her Halloween party this year.  I could hardly bring myself to eat those "scabs and earwax" treats.  Everything was delicious though, despite the appearance. 

The kids went to every door inside the house, and trick or treated.  There was a lot of ground to cover!

In the above photo my dad had a spook alley in his office.  It truly was disturbing.  Lydia is still suffering from the effects of his production.  In the end, he did give each of the kids their own personal Halloween themed cake.  So some sugar helped to chase the trauma away.

Then we played a plethora of games, including recording a scary story and listening to the story form last year.  It was fun to hear how the kid's voices had changed in a year's time. 

Here's just a few of the Halloween decorations in our home. For girl's night the girls made those mesh ghosts and placed them in random locations throughout the house.  

We went to the Blue Bird in Logan for their Halloween photos.  

Halloween couldn't have been more beautiful.  We had Sara, Cody and their boys and my parents come over for dinner and then we all went trick or treating together.  Lydia was thrilled by everything and it was so nice not having to push a stroller this year.  I just love Holidays!!!