Giving Thanks

We were so excited to spend the thanksgiving holiday in Utah with our families this year; especially since we won't be able to visit for Christmas. We left as soon as Kam got home from work and arrived late on Wednesday night. Packing for our trip was harder than I expected - mostly because we have definitely gotten used to the warm weather here in Vegas, that and I was having a hard time finding something big enough to keep my whole self warm.

Thanksgiving day was wonderful! Everyone in Kam's family was there including Kam's grampa and the food was awesome; my mother-in-law is an amazing cook. The best part of dinner was of course the pies; I think there were 12 in all!

On Friday, I spent the day with the boys and my family while Kam enjoyed a boys day with his brother. The boys and I had a special lunch with my grandmother and sister and then we met my mom at the Grand America for their Holiday Window Display & Stroll. It was awesome. They gave the kids a passport where they matched the language with the country while looking at each window and even got their passports stamped. There was also yummy hot chocolate, cookies, a gingerbread display, and we got to be part of their tree lighting ceremony where Santa and Mrs. Clause lit the tree. Braden was so cute, as Santa and Mrs. Clause were leaving the stage Braden ran up to each of them and gave them a BIG hug!

Don't let Cart's face fool you, he loved being there, but he did just wake from a nap.

Dancing in the Toy Store at the Grand America

 

During the rest of the trip we just hung out and played with Gram and Grampa and helped Megan get ready for Navy's baby blessing (separate post). The kids must have had a great time cause they were toast each night.

I was also able to visit my sister, Aubry who had her baby early Sunday morning. I was so glad I got to see baby Riley and that she arrived happy, healthy and just in time before we had to go home. Congrats Aubry!

Doctor Visit

I scheduled a well appointment for Braden and at the same time made arrangements for the boys to get their flu shots. This was the first time Braden had visited our new doctor here in Vegas (Isn't it a great feeling to know you haven't had to take your kid to the doctor for a year because they haven't gotten sick? Wish I could say the same for Carter; he seems to be our sickly in the family.) Anyway, the boys don't mind going to the doctor but this time, as I had warned them in advance, they were not excited as they knew they'd be getting a shot. We talked about how it would only hurt for a minute and that mommy would be right there to hold and love them. Our doctor asked how they wanted their flu vaccine, as a spray up their nose or as a shot. I was surprised that they both chose the shot, which shouldn't have surprised me because they are super funny about things in or near their noses. So a shot it was and they both did really well. Carter cried the most but only for a minute and Braden hardly at all. When we got in the car to go home Carter really broke down. I guess he wasn't quite done being sad about his owie.

 

B's Owie.

Grampa Dan

This is my Grampa. I miss him. I think of him often. Especially around this time of year. He would be celebrating his 92nd birthday next month. This picture is one of my favorites. In fact, I placed a copy of this picture in his casket as I said my final goodbye to him 9 years ago. I loved him. I still do. I loved that I could be myself around him. I didn't have to pretend to be someone I was not. He loved me. I was Katie Brooke, the "big one." (Nearing old age he would forget which grandchild I was. He knew I belonged to my mom but would forget if I was Ashely or Katie, hence I was the "big one" because I was the oldest.) I dream about my Grampa from time to time. Last night was one of those times, but this time something stood out to me:

In my dream, I was driving in my car with my family. We must have been headed towards his house because we stopped at the Smiths gas station near his home. When I got there most of my extended family was there. Probably all of them but I just didn't see them all. I pulled up and Grampa came to greet us. He insisted that we needed to fill our gas tank full. I told him that we were only low by nearly a quarter of a tank, but he kept on insisting that our tank needed to be filled all the way. I let him fill our tank and then got out of the car to visit with him and see the rest of the family who was gathered there.

I don't know if there is any significance to this dream. I could take it as a remembrance of who he was and the love he had for his children and grandchildren, always wanting us to be prepared and not wanting us to be without. It could be a warning to make sure that my temporal needs are ready for trouble that could be in store. I think more than that though, it was a reminder to me that we always need to be full spiritually. We don't know when the Lord will require us to stand up for what is right, especially when everyone and everything around us tells us that no one will listen. Times are tough. The world is becoming more and more wicked. Never before may it be more important for us to be filled full with a burning testimony of our Savior and His gospel. A testimony that will help us stand alone, if needed, to fight against the evils of this world. I hope I can do more to fill my spiritual tank and help my children to fill theirs as well.

...can you?

a Navy Bean

While up for our brief visit we got to see Megan and Kris' new baby: Navy Noelle Cope. She is so beautiful! And I am so grateful that she listened to her auntie and arrived just in time for us to see her. Megan is a champ and has fallen into the roll of mommy-hood much better than I ever did!

We loved our time with miss Navy. I couldn't get enough of her. I wanted to hold and kiss her all day long. I even thought about stealing her when we left but thought twice about that knowing her daddy is a cop! My favorite part about our visit was watching my boys with her. They were completely smitten and were so gentle with her. Carter was especially tender with her. He couldn't stop loving and touching her. It was wonderful to watch my boys with Naby as it gave me a glimpse into what life will be like when our little Riley joins our family.

Under Arrest

My bother-in-law, Kris, was recently sworn in as a State Trooper in Utah. He works for Salt Lake County and has been in training for the past month doing crazy things that make me appreciate more those who serve us in this capacity.

While visiting over the weekend we got to see Kris' other baby, his patrol car, and he gave Braden the royal treatment by cuffing him and locking him in "the cage."

I like to look for Rainbows

This last weekend we made a super quick trek up north to be with our family to celebrate my niece's choice to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a wonderful day and the spirit was so strong. I loved that I could talk to my boys about baptism and about the Holy Ghost and following our Savior. I loved the smile on B's face that brightened the room after she was baptized. I loved remembering my own baptism and the feelings of love I have for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I loved being with my family. And I love this little niece of mine; she is a ray of sunshine and prettier than any rainbow I've ever seen.

Carter wasn't cooperating and wouldn't
smile until B started tickling him; love her.

It's lots of fun on Halloween!

We had a great Halloween this year. Very different from years past, but Great. It's a whole different experience to be trick-or-treating when it's warm outside rather than cold and the lack of fall leaves is a strange phenomenon to me. This year not only did we trick-or-treat on the big night but we also attended 2 trunk-or-treats; one at Braden's school and the other with our new ward.

Braden's school went all out with a huge extravaganza! 

They had a DJ, bounce houses, crafts, dancing, a haunted 

house, food vendors, and of course trunk-or-treating. 

Braden loved the crafts. Carter didn't want to make anything 

(he was feeling sick) so Braden made two of everything 

so his brother wouldn't miss out.

Carter was mostly excited for the treats! 

Braden with one of his classmates and friends from our old ward, Lucas.

This is Braden with his art teacher. He kept teasing 

Braden asking him not to cook him for dinner.

Our ward truck-or-treat was awesome too. The event was 

held at a park and the kids played hard while the grown-ups 

got to socialize. Then just as it was getting dark the trunk-or-

treating began. I was delighted that Carter finally wore his  

real costume instead of his too-small-doctor-dress-up that he 

wore to the previous trunk-or-treat and party at his school.

The night before Halloween we carved our pumpkins. The boys each picked out their own pumpkin and both knew just the perfect design they wanted.

Brady wanted a Lorax pumpkin...

 and Carter wanted Superman!

On Halloween we weren't sure what we were going to do. We had heard that trick-or-treating in our neighborhood wasn't that great so we almost joined some friends from our old ward until we were invited by some ward members to come with them in our neighborhood. I'm really glad we went with them as we got to meet so many more people in our ward and the kids had a great time with their new friends. Not many participated in treat giving so there was a lot of walking in between houses, but luckily there were some older kids in our big group who would run ahead of everyone and let us know what doors to knock on. After we went up and down a few streets we stopped at one of our friends houses and climbed into the back of their truck and we then drove around the neighborhood stopping at specific ward members houses and known big-time-treat-giver houses. The kids thought the truck ride was the best part of the whole night and they totally scored with several full-sized candy bars! 

At the last minute as we were getting out the door to take 

Braden to school, Brady changed his mind about being a chef 

and I had to put together a cowboy costume. It turned out really 

cute and he ended up wearing it the rest of the night.

Cart wore his pirate costume! I loved hearing him say "Arrr!"

Such a serious cowboy.

 Brady and Cart with one of their friends, Madison; she drives carpool with us.