"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more."

-Melody Beattie

Thanksgiving is fast becoming my favorite holiday.

It's all just so simple, sweet, and easy.

I shouldn't say that since I have never been in charge of the meal, but the whole celebration is simple and easy. This particular Thanksgiving seemed especially easygoing.

My Mom cooked a killer bird, and all the fixins' were delish (courtesy of my sisters and me).

My Grandpa came, along with Uncle D, and my new Aunt G (who brought the cutest fruit tartlets and cupcakes), then my siblings and all their posterity (except for the oldest who was basking in Hawaiian sun).

The kids loved being together.

They hardly ate a thing and then ran off to continue their games.

I felt so thankful that I am related to these people.

So thankful that the kids are old enough to play with less supervision.

Grateful my parents have a large basement were the kids go to play.

Grateful for the Wii and Just Dance 2.

This is how we all looked afterwards happy, content, and Full.

We did celebrate Black Friday, and we didn't have to hit the stores to do it.

The power went out on my parents block for most of the day.

So when the sun went down we went bowling!

Check out Mark's form, he doesn't even use the finger holes.

(He's single ladies)

This is Soren's preferred seat.

Wyler has to share Papa when Soren comes around, but he was pretty good about it.

Bad photo, but this is a classic shot.

Waiting and waiting and waiting for the ball to finally reach the pins.

The girls celebrating a sweet shot.

We then transported all the food to Julia's house, where there was working electricity.

We repeated our Thanksgiving Feast, it's the only meal where left overs are just as good as the original.

I am grateful for the joy and laughter family brings.

Tonight while putting the kids to bed I was reminded of how much fun it is to have kid commentary. A post about family seems an appropriate place to write them.

So here goes:

Bub jumped on me yelling "Dog Bone Stack!" what he meant to say was "Dog Pile". "Dog Pile" will forever more be referred to as "Dog Bone Stack" in our family.

Miriam asked Darin how to spell "microscopic word 2011" when she typed it into a google search Darin asked her why and she said "that's where we practice typing at school"-Darin realized she had meant Microsoft word 2011.

Miriam has requested that she be able to type a message below:

''Mom don't write down everything I say! - Miriam"

Bub told me he didn't want to grow up to be an adult because we work too hard. I said "Amen Brother" and he said "I'm not your brother!"

Love those kids.

The Nutcracker-I never get tired of it

We had a girls afternoon with Ris and Lindsey to see a local performance of The Nutcracker.

This performance, although not Ballet West was wonderful, and included a full orchestra as well as tons of little ballerinas adding extra touches to the Land of Sweets.

Ris and I are so glad our girls are friends. If it's up to us they always will be!

I now owe Bub an outing while Miriam is at school....he is starting to notice and care about all these "girl outings" he is excluded from. I guess if I HAVE to go do fun things with the boys all week to make up for the fun girl stuff on the weekend then I will suck it up and do it.

{I hope the sarcasm wasn't missed in that last sentence}

Stay Golden Ponyboy

Nature's first green is gold

Her hardest hue to hold

Her early leaf's a flower;

but only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down today,

Nothing gold can stay.

-Robert Frost

Stay golden Ponyboys.

I went through a huge Outsiders phase in middle school.

I read it 6 times in one year and cried every time.

This Fall day reminded me of Robert Frost's poem, and I can't think of the poem without thinking of the line "Stay golden ponyboy" (my big brother use to write that in letters to me).

I watched Sven, Bub, and Ren play happily in the leaves warmed by the afternoon sun until it began to set.

Then it got cold, and the big boys came out which resulted in squabbles and tears...still fun but not the golden moment I had captured before.

It's harder for me to let Bub grow up than Miriam. Maybe because he isn't fighting to grow up like Mimi did, or maybe because I was so excited for M to reach the next stage, to see what it was like. I don't know. Maybe (and this just occurred to me) it's because Miriam is so helpful that I didn't need Bub to grown up so fast? Whatever it is, I am not as excited for the next phase with him, I want to keep him 4 forever.

Soren seems too stubborn to let me keep him young. Sometimes I feel like I am breaking a wild colt. He wants to do it his way on his terms. I don't want to break his little spirit but I do have to change his diaper once and awhile. He pushes me to the limit, but if Darin and I get the least bit stern with him....OH MAN you should see him crumble!

He brings so much laughter and fun the stubbornness is worth it.

So You Think You Can Dance?

Because my sister Julia lives her dreams we all get a piece of the action.

Miriam again got to tag-a-long with Encore Dance (again) to be taught by So You Think You Can Dance finalists.

Caitlynn Lawson

Marko Germar

Sasha Mallory

(and her sister...from another season or something?)

Tadd Gadduang (from SLC)

She met Ryan Ramierez and Wadi Jones at the last conference.

So her signed T-shirt is now her favorite article of clothing.

Thanks again Julia!

Our Second Grader

Isn't she lovely?

Teacher: Mrs Gibby

Favorite Subject: Language Arts, Math

Least enjoyed part of school: Spelling (must be genetic)

Best book discovery so far this year: The Doll People by Ann M Martin and Laura Godwin

School friends: Mary, Alex, Lauren, Jessica, Mya, Ashley, Tayler, and Kiera

Favorite School Lunch Meal: I like home lunch buuut if you're talking about school lunch, I like chicken patty and the days we get sorbet

What she likes to do durring recess: Cartwheels, monkeybars, or soccer

Halloweenies 2011

The big costume reveal of 2011.......

Wise Master Yoda

Fierce Jedi Knight

(I think technically it is Obi Wan Kenobi, but Bub didn't want to get technical)

A Woodland Autumn Fairy

Miriam sold 2 lbs of candy to Darin, and still has enough to have treats in her lunch till Christmas. She is giving the money to our "Caring Cousins" Christmas charity. Love that girl.

Byron will have treats till Christmas as well. He has waay less candy than Miriam but he can only take small doses of sugar at a time. Love that boy...wish I was more like him.

Soren gets all the candy he wants because he has two adoring older siblings. Love that Yoda.

I was introduced to the homemade donut lady's house so I call the night a huge success!