November

November 4th
McDonald's- A rainy day activity.

Isaac of course fell asleep in the car.

SO... Isabel and I played for a bit so Isaac could sleep a little longer.

Until Isabel decided to try and get him out of his car seat! It was really sweet to watch Isaac groggily wake up. He smiled, put his hand on her cheek then fell back asleep.

November 5th

Another rainy day. 

Those of you who know Isaac well, know that he is obsessed with his spikes. They are the first things he wants in the morning and the last thing he wants at night. He panicked when he saw it was raining and said, "Oh no!!! My spikes... (then quickly said) Look Mom!! It's an umbrella for my spikes!"

November 6th

While the boys are away, the girls will.... SHOP!

Cutest shopping gal pal I've ever had.

She is also a super good helper :) I had literally just folded and put those clothes away.

She is getting so big (okay, not taller, but more grown up). And thinks she can do pretty much whatever she wants. Including climbing up Isaac's bunk bed ladder.

She Says: Yay! Dog. Thank you (Da-Du). Hi Dadda. Oh no. Hi baby.

She Can: Fold her arms. Goes down the stairs. Pats our backs when snuggling. Rocks her babies.

Cute boy. Good weather. What more could a girl want?

Skateboarder Chic!

Our newest nephew Ty entered the world. Cute little peanut with an older brother and two older sisters ready to dote on him! He looks just like his daddy and sweet as can be.

The start of our "Thankful Tree"

For the first 5 days or so, Isaac was thankful for the letter "I" and drew one each night!

November 10th

Good morning sunshine! Two sippy's are always better than one!

We were meeting Daddy for lunch and Isaac was so SO proud of himself because he got dressed all on his own! Shirt backwards... no biggy! He's setting a trend!

Two thumbs up for being a super cool super big kid!

LOVE this view. Backwards shirt and all!

November 11th

My kids are total Texans. Should the weather dare drop below 50 degrees. Their world crumbles and they turn to icicles.

Isaac suddenly turns into this fragile flower when cold weather comes around. (Unless we are in Utah then he because the abominable snowman and is all about it, as you'll see later in this post.)

My tender flowers warming up by the heater. Thank you Costco for providing such relief!

Drum Roll Please....

SCHOOL PICTURES!

Now that, is the smile of one classy dude!

This one, Eric and I busted up laughing, how the photographer didn't do the same, I have no idea.

CHEESE! 

UTAH

We found that flights to Utah the week before Thanksgiving decently priced so on November 12th the kids and I hit up the airport and flew to the COLD!

I had to wake them at 4am to make our 6am flight.

My tired baby with her kissy lips.

Isaac was so excited about the snow.

Auntie Jen picked us up and we headed straight for Jay and Charlie's elementary school to check them out!! Let the cousin fun begin!!

Doing "work" on Uncle Matt's computer. Uncle Matt is pretty awesome and taught Isaac how to type his name. Isaac was so proud of himself.

His smile is so charming!

November 13th

The kids fell asleep in the car as we were driving to Auntie Stacie's house, so I took a trip down memory lane. This is the house that I grew up in (age 2-13 ish). It was so fun to see but also broke my heart. It was run down. My dad took such great care of our yard. All the neighbors did. We would have sleepovers on the flat roof over the garage and in the winter would jump off it into the snow. Stacie and I would play house in the neighbors trees. We spent every summer swimming in the backyard having to have our hair stripped before school each year to get the chlorine out. I even remember my mom calling my dad informing him that she was in labor with my brother Spencer! I got my most favorite childhood Christmas present in this house: a Barbie camper! I slowly drove down the street reminiscing on who lived where and the fun we had on Elaine Drive!

School lunch. This was something I really wanted to do. It was hard for me but I really wanted and needed to do it. Atticus would be in 1st grade. The kids and I would have eaten lunch with him a number of times... Jay was so excited to have us come and was so excited to show Isaac the ropes!! And let me just say, school lunch has really up'd it's game. The food is way better.

Oh these boys! They have so much fun together.

Sure love these people.

Just doing her splits!

Isabel was obsessed with Gussy-Bear (the Trevino's dog) it was so cute to watch her crawl around trying to get him!

Grandpa Jim came to play!!

Setting up a race track... it was a bust :( but Grandpa wasn't going to let that slow them down, he took the boys to the store, and let them each pick out a special toy!

Spider Man. X2

Charlie and Isaac- a force to be reckoned with.

While the boys played and Isabel napped, Stacie and I look through scrapbooks. This my friends, is me in all my  childhood glory. It sums me up perfect. Girly. Chubby Cheeks and .... Big hair?!

I started laughing and asked  Stacie if my hair was as big today as it was then? Then we both started laughing. So she took this pic and I sent it to my  husband with some obnoxious comment about my big beauty then and my big beauty now and what a lucky man he is ;).

November 14th

Fall in Utah... my favorite time of year.

Tiff Huish. My superhero.

Isaac the blaster vs. Elsa (aka Shiloh).

Ignore my big nose and focus on the sweet little cute pie, Sarah. The Huish families newest arrival. She is absolutely precious. 

Isabel got her first Push-Pop! Leave it to Tiff to spoil her with sweets!!

An impromptu visit with our long time dear friends the Barney's. I'm so glad they were home. Fire (my husbands nickname in his younger days and still called it by his friends) and Brandon have been BFF's since elementary school and I feel so blessed that Brandon's wife Kerstin and I hit it off the second we met and feel as though we have been BFF's since elementary school. 

It was a quick visit, just long enough to give hugs, meet this handsome fellow, baby Mitch, and make plans for get togethers when we come back in December! Thanks for letting me crash Barney's. XO

After visiting with friends, we headed to Oakley, UT and spent the weekend at the Cabin. Thank you Jim and Karyn!! Clearly, Isaac was beyond excited. 

Isabel was too!

Ninja jumping!

We spent the entire weekend playing, laughing, crafting, sledding, eating, and having FUN!

Snuggle time with Uncle Jason!

Cooking time with Auntie Stacie!

Costumes of course. Charlie wanted to make sure he packed one for Isaac too!!

Yes!! Superhero's do suck their thumbs.

Jason and Charlie. Both incredible artist.

Our attempt at playing cards. Things got a tad bit goofy.

Jay and his mad skills!

November 15th

GOOD MORNING!

Jay adores Isabel.

We wen to bed without snow and woke up to 5".

8:30 am and ready to play in the SNOW. 

"Cliff Jumping"

This kid is getting WAY too big.

Add Eric and Atticus to the mix and Id be in my happy place.

Snow ball fight with Grandpa.

"The COLD never bothered me anyway!"

Their laughter was the best sound in the world. It was such a fun morning.

First came the snow...

...then came Grandpa!

All bundled up and lasted WAY longer than I expected.

Tummy first??

Feet first!!

As I walked back inside I saw this. TWENTY-FOUR degrees!!!

Warming up with some hot cocoa and cards.

Oh my goodness I love this boy.

Afternoon sledding.

My best-est friends in the whole wide world. I would be lost without these two.

We missed you Spenc, but congrats on the awesome score on your papers!

He was hesitant to go for a ride but ended up loving it.

Mr. Charlie! Watch out for this one. His artwork is going to make it big. Seriously.

Grandma Shawna and Isabel had the right idea. Stay warm and cozy by the fire.

Hello?

Kennedy! She is so good to entertain the little ones.

Fischer and his sledding/snowboarding skills!

Sledding behind the 4-wheeler. Although his face doesn't show it, he did have fun!

Post sledding fire and s'mores.

Isaac sure loves his Uncle Jason.

They wrestled cuddled and napped!

Grandpa and Grandma Romera

Sugar Cookie time

10% cookie 90% frosting and sprinkles. 100% delicious fun!

November 16th

We stopped at this awesome place for some iced hot cocoa!

It is so unreal.

Sissy-girls first pedi!! Not really :) She just sat on our laps and threw every single shellac color wheel on the floor!

Isaac told Zachy-Boy that he wanted some fishes in a BIG bowl... Wish granted. Oh, Zachery! 

November 17th

Isabel trying to "hold" Livvy

Meeting sweet baby Ty.

Playing in cousin Will's room!

Pre-Play dinner. Best Pumpkin soup ever.

Ladies night: 'The Grinch" at Desert Star Playhouse. So fun and funny.

November 18th

Isaac helped Pop-pop with jobs and Pop-Pop helped Isaac bounce on the trampoline. 

And this kiddo (it's Atticus, not Isaac. They look SO much alike). Was particularly heavy on my heart that day... It was a week before Thanksgiving 2011. Isaac was napping and he and I were treasure hunting  riding his scooter down the ally.

What I wouldn't give to kiss those chubby cheeks again. I love you sweet boy.

So what do you do when your down and out? You BOUNCE!

And BOUNCE...

And BOUNCE!

I was teary eyed watching this... These older boys were so kind to Isaac and let him play in their big boy dodge ball game. I am so grateful for parents who teach their kids to be kind to strangers. Those strangers are like big brothers to him.

I wanted a pic of Grandma and Isabel but she did not want to stop bouncing! And neither did her hair!!

Jump. Somersault. Bounce. Repeat.

 For two seconds, when I look at this picture, I pretend that older boy is Atticus.

Wrestling with Zachy-Boy

November 19th

Final farewell till Christmas time

Isaac was very cooperative!

The kids and I had a FIVE hour layover in Denver. Thankfully my Auntie Diana and Grandma Carol live an hour away from the airport and were kind enough to pick us up. Take us to lunch. Have a snowball fight with Isaac. Purchase the kids a Christmas gift and SAVE the day. 

Instead of crayons, the restaurant gives the kids these wax stick things. VERY fun!

Seriously!!

Thank you Auntie Diana and Grandma. It was so fun to visit I love you both!!

Two very tired kids on our flight home.

Isaac was asleep before we left the ground.

November 20th

Back in Texas and back to school. It was the "The Big Feast."

Isabel chattin' it up with Elliot while we mommy's set up.

Her fake, "I want out" squishy face! Thanks for the cute Thanksgiving dress Grandma Lori!

Gobble Gobble!

What did Isaac eat you ask... the cookies and popcorn. He is so picky!

My handsome Pilgrim!

He was so excited to have me there. I saw his class in the hall as they were walking to go outside and he got this biggest grin. Came up and patted Isabel on the cheek and said, "Guys!  My mom is here. This is my sister Isabel!"

Atticus' "Big Feast" 2011

Where's Isabel?

So SO thankful for these my little turkey's 

Isabel being entertained by Colin and Reagy.

November 21st

A very rare moment caught on camera... Isaac playing on his own!!

We needed an outing so after nap time, we went to the mall and got us some Sees suckers. The third child gets basically anything. There is no way I would have let Atticus or Isaac have a sucker this young.

After our treat fix, we did a little shopping. We stopped in at MAC and this nice gentlemen was willing to "paint" balloons on Isaacs cheeks. I wish I would have recorded Isaac after. He was strutting his stuff around the mall like he was the coolest cat around!

The first time Isabel folded her arms for prayer!!! 

November 24th

Both Isabel and her hair had fun at the park!

November 25th

My helper! He is so good to her (for the most part!). I frequently find him biting off little bits of his food for her! Makes a momma's heart happy to see her kids be kind to one another.

November 26th

She has become a going-down-the-stairs expert and hauls booty.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Yes Thanksgiving is a lot of work, but I LOVE IT!!

Adult table (a pretty table is very important!)

The kids table!

The morning started with flag football.

The kids played their own game then...

Watched the daddy's.

Isabel loves hats, glasses, jewelry. Basically anything she can "put on."

"Ta-daa!"

We had our "Texas Family" the Fishs' over for Thanksgiving and had SO much fun. We love them dearly. We met in Waco while our husbands were in Law School. We lived 9 houses down from each other. Leah and I spent almost every day with one another. She is one of the most kind and Christlike people I know. Isaac and Isabel absolutely adore them too! They are truly like family. I have known them since Claire (the very cute teenager) was 4. They new us, since before Atticus was born. And he too, loved the girls.

I had the girls bring their nerf guns and told them all that we had an emergency... Our upstairs had been attacked by turkeys!!

It was so fun to watch them excitedly run up the stairs, guns a-blazin'.

Ballon turkeys that is!

I love how serious he gets when in battle mode!

A was a sweet moment. The girls were singing church songs to Isabel!

Turkey time! I saw an e-card the other day that said, "Don't post pictures of your Thanksgiving meal. We are all eating the same (inappropriate 4-letter word)." I busted up laughing! So, because of that e-card, I will not be posting pictures of the food. But it was delicious!

Isaac mad a funny comment while we were preparing the turkey to be fried. It was on the turkey stand. Raw. "Uhhh.... What's wrong with the turkey? Is it kinda crazy?!?!"

Julia.. Audrey.. Claire.. Hallie.. Isaac.. and his awesome grin.

Josh (Zebs brother).. Leah.. (Alexis Grace in her tummy).. Zeb..

And of course our sweet angel boys, Atticus and Caleb. Leah sent me a text telling me: "At bedtime, Hallie said, 'I really loved Uncle Eric's prayer for dinner. He said we are grateful for Atticus and Caleb.'" Of all the people we know and love in Texas, these girls new Atticus the very best. Heart breaking for all of us. We are all so grateful for eternal families and the knowledge that we will always be together.

Happy Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for our family, friends, strangers-now-friends. 

xoxoxo

November 28th

Post Thanksgiving balloon fun.

November 30th

Isabel had just finished eating breakfast and I was washing her hands and face trying to hurry Isaac along to pick out a few toys for church, when he turns the corner asking me if he could wear this to church! He makes me laugh!!

It was a busy but good November. Im so thankful for the blessing of family and the opportunity to journal (blog) about our crazy adventures and day to day life.