Thanks.

I am thankful.

For so much.

 

I am thankful for my children.

My boys make me so happy.

They help me see the good in others, the good in myself, and the good in just about everything else.

I am thankful for their energy.

(Yes, you read that right.)

I am thankful that they are friends with each other.

I am thankful to share a unique relationship with each of them.

I am thankful to be a mother.

I am thankful for love.

 

I am thankful for Eric.

It takes a special soul to put up with me (for eternity.)

He is fun, positive, thoughtful, tender, and goofy.

I love him.

 

I am thankful for my parents.

They give me confidence in my role as a parent to my own children.

 They continue to set great examples of love and service.

 

My heart is full of thanks.

 

I am thankful we got to spend our Thanksgiving with family.

It was relaxing and delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving 2012.

Skeleton Style

Max has become obsessed with skeletons.  I blame it all on Halloween, but he loves them.
Candy skeletons, lego skeletons, gloves with skeletons, ANYTHING with skeletons...Max is certain it was made just for him. 

When it came to planning his 4th birthday party he was set on having a Skeleton Party.  Max's birthday is just 6 days after Halloween, so finding skeleton stuff (on sale!) was an easy thing to do.

This was Max's first birthday party with friends.  He was beyond excited!  We invited quite a few friends, too.  We had about 15 little three and four year olds running around.  It was CRAZY, but worth it for this cute boy. 

We had a pinata, played Pin the Head on the Skeleton, Pass the Hot Bones, and the favorite was making Skeleton Stew. 

I love that Eric gets so into the boys' birthdays.  He was more than happy to whip up the Skeleton Stew complete with magic words, dry ice, and even a costume change!  The kids thought it was amazing.  Okay, not all of them...a few of the little girls were terrified!  But it was a highlight.

Max had invited my mom to his birthday party months ago, and we were so lucky that she was actually able to come!  She was a huge help...HUGE!  She helped control some of the madness.

Max's birthday fell on election day this year.  We were so glad we had something to celebrate on November 6th!

Max is a character.  You have to know him.  He loves to make other people laugh.  He loves to laugh himself and is full of energy.  He is an amazing swimmer and is so brave when it comes to trying new things.  Max has become an artist the past few months and can draw a pretty great skeleton.  He loves his brothers, his dinosaur blanket, getting cozy, and wearing his rainboots.  We love this four year old boy so much.  He is adorable.

Happy birthday to the most fantastic four year old I know!

I blinked and suddenly it was Halloween!

 

It was a freezing cold night for trick-or-treating, but that didn't slow us down.  We met up with lots of friends to wander the neighborhood.  My ninja, skeleton and pumpkin loved every minute of it.

Fall break keeps going...

Sam's school is on a 'balanced schedule'...trying to be year round, but not quite.  This means he started school super early (August 1st!) but gets longer breaks during the year.  Two weeks in the fall, two weeks at Christmas, two weeks in the spring. 

The last week of his fall break, Eric had to go to Dallas for a conference so the boys and I headed to Utah.  I was lucky enough to get tickets on the same flight as Aaron and Gary on the way to Utah.  This helped enormously!  They pulled my luggage around, each held onto one of the boys, bought us breakfast, etc.  I wish I had help like that all the time.  The flight home, all by myself, was, well, exhausting, but I expected as much.  We survived and it's always worth the trip.  Always.

Now on to Utah pictures...

We spent a few days in Salt Lake.  Saw lots of cousins, did lots Halloweeny stuff, and loved it all.  Thanks to Kelsey for being our vacation planner!  She had so many fun things on the schedule for the week.  She definitely takes after my mom and of course, Grandma Verda.

 



We got to help celebrate Violet's 2nd birthday and enjoy Aaron and Emily's beautiful new home! 

 





Thanksgiving Point was a highlight.  All of us fed the little calves their bottles at the farm.  Max, who is terrified of dogs and cats, had no problem with these cows.  Even let them suck on his fingers, rubbed their slimy noses and wasn't the least bit bothered by their slobber. 

The last part of our week was spent in St. George.  It was absolutely perfect down there.  Bright blue skies, those amazing red mountains....ahhhh, I love it!

Sam always insists on hiking while we are there.  He loves the mountains. 
Josh, Kels and Macey came up from Henderson, which meant we had all of the Morgan grandkids together. 

St. George is heaven on earth.

Again, Max surprised me.  Apparently, camels aren't nearly as scary as puppies and kittens.

What a wonderful week!