A "love"ly Thanksgiving weekend

We had ourselves a Thanksgiving weekend full of fun, delicious food, great shopping, and gobs of love!
Love is ...
Brielle and Sienna snuggling on the couch instead of falling asleep, just cause they "haven't seen each other in forever!" Love is.... showing Aunt Heather lots of love over our oreo turkeys,

just cause we know how much she needs it!

Love is squishing 5 cousins into the 2 closest chairs at a 10-chair table, because waffles just taste better that way!

Love is ... Lucy putting up with Uncle Jody's antics,

and even bonding with Trayson over computer games (while the entire pathetic family stares and giggles for a good 15-20 minutes).

I love my family!

Fall Crafts

I usually don't actually get a major urge to craft until all the Christmas tunes start blasting on the radio, but this year has been a serious exception. I don't know if it's because I'm really trying hard to start making my gifts earlier, or what, but each time I try to focus on Christmas, I end up with another autumn themed decoration. Oops!

Burlap has totally been making me happy this season. I think it just seems to fit out here on our mini-ranch! We had a fun Relief Society activity where we got to make book-pumpkins --- right up my alley! I have to admit that I didn't actually cut them out -- I left that to my super crafty friend, but I did do the rest. I think we were only meant to learn how to make one, but I ended up with an adorable little trio! And they look so cute with my floral wire pumpkins!

My last craft was really just an FHE cop out. It was Monday night, I had no plan, and I REALLY didn't feel like coming up with a lesson. For me, finding a branch, spray painting it, stuffing it into an old spray-painted pot, and cutting out a million paper leaves seemed way easier than coming up with a spiritual thought.

I was sure the kids would just roll their eyes and demand a treat, but it has been one of my favorite things this year and is sure to become a trad ition. The things my kids are thankful for make me smile everyday!

Just a quick laugh

I may get around to posting pictures again someday (my kids are still truly adorable, I swear!) but for now I just had to jot down some recent conversations I had with Brielle that totally cracked me up!

After preschool, yesterday, Brielle and I had a delightful conversation that went a little something like this:
Brielle: "Hey, Mom, neither one of my teachers told me how beautiful I looked today!" (seriously broken-hearted face!)
Me: "Well they don't have to say that every day, do they?"
Brielle; "Uh yeah" (eye roll)
Me: "My friends noticed how cute you looked today"
Brielle: "Oh, well, ok. But I probably should've told them that this dress is new "(new as in, we just found this adorable little dress in a box that I had completely overlooked --thanks again Hayley!)
Me: "I actually did"
Brielle: "Oh good. Thank you!" (serious relief)

Help me! What have I done to this child?

Later on, she was helping make some Christmas presents (cause I'm totally on the ball like that!) and asking all sorts of Christmas questions. She wanted to know why we talk about joy so much at Christmas, so I reminded her that it's because we are celebrating Christ's birth.
Brielle: "Oh yeah. I already know all about that. Tray told me last night. Then Kutter overheard so he totally joined our discussion".

REALLY?

Soccer

Since I can't seem to download my more recent pictures (like Halloween!) I've decided I might as well post some of the stuff that didn't quite make it to my blog this fall.
Soccer season was even more crazy that usual, this year. We had three kids on three different teams, and of course we caved and agreed to coach Brielle's team.

It was actually pretty fun to watch Tray's team this year. He's getting really good and his team did awesome!


Brielle's games were more for comic relief. I love this pic --Jody told the kids to give us their ready faces.Pretty much the only time Brielle was able to kick the ball was when Jody let her kick off or do a corner kick . . .

...I love that this picture shows how far the ball actually went after the kick!
That's quite the kick!
Is it just me, or does she seem to be the only kid running away from the ball in this picture?



Kutter's games were a lot of fun to watch, too.
He 's getting really good and had a blast because two of his best friends were on his team!I am so relieved that it's finally over -- at least until spring!