Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was great.  We had more people than we normally do because Chelsie, Carol, and Danny came.  Since we went to Bear Lake last summer, things have been wonderful between all the family members. But I wanted to do something unique for the holiday since we don't do a whole lot.

We ate dinner as a family and it was a gorgeous meal that tasted really good.  After that we went downstairs and watched slides from when we were younger.  I really enjoy seeing the old pictures, but I have to admit, everyone perks up the most when one of the kids is in the picture, instead of it being scenery or things happening before we were born.

We had the second course of Thanksgiving and then went outside for some classic Thanksgiving fun - a piñata.  Nothing says peace between Natives and Pilgrims like a piñata.  Unfortunately, my camera doesn't take pictures well in the dark, but the piñata was broken by the third person - Danny.  Kodi went first, Kyson went second, and Danny went third, and that was it.  I think the kids enjoyed it a lot, but I think they would live to have had more turns hitting it. 

Holidays with the family seem to be getting better and better and I'm grateful for a family that still gets together in this world where the family takes second place to so many things.

Swimming Lessons

I'm trying to get the kids to be fluent swimmers since we spend so much time at Bear Lake.  I think it's important for safety reasons and it gives the kids more exposure to other sports.  Kyson has done swim lessons before, but nothing for a long time.  I had him tested before registering him and he skipped a level from just going to the pool and playing around.  It's been great for him.  He really  seems to love swimming.  We'll see what happens with him and swimming.

Kodi, on the other hand, has been able to cross off another sport from her list of possibilities.  She cried every day, every class.  her teacher was a good sport and I'm grateful there are people out there who are willing to put up with crazy children like mine.

Counting by 10's

Even though Kyson just made it into the 200 Club, he's already counting to 200 by 10's.  So exciting!  The kid won't stop until he shoots his star into outer space!

Babysitting for Friends

We have some friends that are angels.  They watch Kodi twice a week and are some of the most giving and selfless people I've ever met.  Because they re expecting their second child, Kris and I wanted to try and do something nice for them, especially since they've been so nice to us.  So without giving them an option, we told them we were taking their sweet boy for the evening so they could have a night out without children.

The kids loved it!!  We tried to go see Despicable Me 2, but it was sold out, so we drove all the way to Sandy, only to turn around.  The kids didn't seem to mind though.  We came back to the house and let them watch a movie upstairs in sleeping bags.  It was like a little slumber party even though their fun would end before bedtime.  Then the fun moved downstairs where they had a little coloring party.  I think all three of them enjoyed the evening. 

The only thing that is hard when there are three is that each argue over whose friend Jason is.  "Jason is both of your friends," is what I say repeatedly.

I'm so grateful that were able to do something to help out friends.  They're too nice to ask, so we just need to tell them we'll take the kids more often.  Good friends are hard to find, and these people are gold.

200 Club

At Challenger, they have a challenge for the kindergarteners to count to 200 by 1's, 2's, 5's, 10's and 25's.  The first time they count to 200 without mistakes, they join the 200 club and each time they are able to count to 200 by one of those numbers they get a new shooting star.  After they complete all numbers, they get to "shoot their star to outer space." 

Kyson has been extremely dedicated in trying to get into the 200 Club.  Every day while driving to and from school, Kyson practices  counting.  He's been writing 1-200 on paper to practice counting.  He would call his Grandma Bodily and count to her on the phone.  So when Kyson made it into the 200 Club, this was so exciting and such an accomplishment for him.  He received a certificate and then this evening, he called all his family to tell them of his exciting news. 

I'm so excited that from such a young age Kyson is learning that with hard work, he can achieve his goals. I'm incredibly proud of my little man.

So silly!

Because we weren't able to make it to our families' houses on Halloween to show off the kids' costumes, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Bodily's the weekend after.  As usual, Grandma Bodily had all sorts off fun goodies for the kids and one thing was silly glasses with a mustache.  The kids had a lot of fun posing in their glasses and Kodi just looked hilarious!