Give Thanks

This was our second Thanksgiving here in the West. (If you don't count the 20+Thanksgivings from our youth). We were able to spend much of it with my dad and we loved every minute of it.

The weekend started with a pretty scary drive up to Idaho Falls. After we got there (alive) we had a lovely dinner at my dad and Penni's.

Sage's first Thanksgiving.

Can't wait for some dinner.

After dinner we went to Rexburg to visit Nic's family and then we headed up to Island Park. We spend 2 days at the cabin where we snowmachined, watched movies, and sat by the fire. It was heaven. Saturday night we headed back to Idaho Falls and spent the night at Nic's parent's. They watched the (sleeping) kids while we went to Harry Potter. Then finally, after church on Sunday, we took another scary ride home to find 7 inches of new snow and a shoveled driveway. So much to be grateful for.

Happiness...

Last Tuesday we had our first snow storm. Nic was actually able to come early and for the first time in a while we had a few hours in the evening to just spend together. The night was perfect. The kind of perfect that you want to freeze so you can live in that moment forever. The snow falling outside the big window in our family room. Oldies Christmas swing music playing and everyone dancing. Mason bouncing around the room while alternating elbows up in the air. Occasionally he would look up and close his eyes, lost in his dance. Sage giggling while bouncing on either Nic or my hip, her legs and arms flailing in excitement. Nell, who is always excited, prancing around. And Nic, unabashedly dancing and tickling the kids. At that moment it didn't matter that I hadn't packed for our trip to Idaho, or that the laundry wasn't folded, or that the falling snow was sure to make for a long drive north. Other than each other, nothing else mattered. I stood back and thought to myself that this is what happiness is. This is EXACTLY what happiness is.

More Mason-isms

Mason has been such a ham lately. By the end of the day he has said so many funny little things that I forget most of them. Here are a few that I remember from today:

(After finding Nic's basketball while I was cleaning out the coat closet). "Mommy, this isn't just any ball. This is a REAL ball."

and

Mase: "See ya Mommy. I'm going to work."
Me: "Oh really. Where do you work?"
Mase: "With Daddy."
Me: "Oh. Ok. Well have a nice day at work. I'll miss you."
(He goes upstairs and ubruptly turns around and comes back down.)
Mase: "My goodness Mommy, I didn't give you a kiss."

Thats right bud. Don't you EVER forget to kiss your Mama goodbye.

Mason-isms

Last Sunday I put shoes on Mason that were too small. (I realized this after taking them off, as the tops of his feet were red for a few hours afterward.) On our way home from church he kept pulling at his shoes and when I asked him why he was taking his shoes off he said, "Mommy, my feet are SPICY!" Funny kid.

Yum

Every bite I give this darling has a little help.

She loves to grab my hand and the spoon and shove it into her mouth.

The result is a very messy little girl.

A very cute, messy little girl.

Victoria Gail

My mother in law is an artist. A good one. Here is a sampling of some of her art that we are privileged to have in our home. (I hoped to post pictures of all her art that we have, but alas I do not have time. So I will post them at a later date.)

This is part of the mural she did in our play room.

She also painted Mason a truck to go in his room.

She is such a good artist that a few months ago Extreme Makeover Home Edition asked her to do the artwork in a house they were doing in Pocatello, Idaho. She (along with her brother Jason and friend Rebecca) did the murals in the home and she even had a little on screen time with the recording artist who is performing. (We don't know whether her on screen debut will make the editing cut or not, but still exciting). Why am I telling you this? Because the episode I speak of airs TONIGHT! So go watch. (I also want to put a plug in for my step brother's company, Rocky Mountain Supply, which donated all the pavers, rock, brick, etc. for the house.)

If you want to learn more about my talented mother in law (and see more of her work-from stone sculptures to fine art) visit her website. Artistsforhire.net.

A Dinosaur and a Chubby Skeleton

We partied.

We carved.

We tricked.

And it was a treat.