Feeling thankful. And full.

This Thanksgiving was hands-down, without question, absolutely, positively 

the GREATEST Thanksgiving of my life.

Here's why.

1.) I didn't have to leave my house.

For the first time ever, my family came to me.

Having a new house + a guest room is where it's at.

2.) Guitars + S'mores + Campfire Songs + Hot Chocolate.

Need I say more?

3.) Bailey's first Gymnastics class.

Didn't go well at all, but OH. MY.  That little diaper butt in a tiny white leotard falling spastically off a balance beam.  Nothing cuter I tell ya.

4.) The Aquarium.

All our wildest dreams - lizards crawling on our bodies + feeding raw shrimp to sting rays + getting pooped on by birds + letting fish eat the dead skin off our fingers.  Magical. Ish.

5.) Ice Falling.  Oh, I mean Ice Skating.

I wish pictures could convey the sheer emotions of this experience. 

It's safe to say that Bailey inherited my California blood/repulsion of all things winter.

She no likey.

Cameron was a close second on the Ice Skating Hate Graph. He gave it a good effort for approximately 23 seconds and then ate it and spent the rest of the time pouting and trying unsuccessfully to avoid frost bite.

Aubrey loved it and picked it up in a jiffy.  She was so fast, I couldn't even get a single picture of her.

Brooklyn was THE most hilarious ice skater of all time.  She just didn't give a crap.  She slipped and skidded and stumbled and swerved.  She was Tara Lapinski one second and eating ice the next.

6.) Winner Winner Turkey Dinner

This year the boys cooked Thanksgiving dinner while the girls watched a football game.  My how the couches have turned.

They did THE BEST job and it could not have been any better.

New tradition.  For sure.

7.) Family Talent Show

I have only videos of this, but let suffice it to say that it was maybe the best thing ever.

The highlights were Aubrey and Brittany's Acro routine + My dad's guitar songs + Cameron and Luke's light saber fight + Braden vs. the kids in the pit + Brittany and Maria's gorgeous song + My mom's slideshow + the brother's guitar solos + Bailey's sign language + our family's "Riptide" jam shesh + so many more.

8.) Cookie making.

9.) Temple with family.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Halloween - Two Thousand Seventeen

It finally happened.

We were sitting at dinner one night and I said, "So what are we going to do for our family Halloween costume this year?"

And there was an awkward pause and then the kids were like, "Umm... so we were thinking.... what if.... I mean hypothetically..... if we just like.... didn't... do.... a.... family thing. this time.  Or something." 

And I cried a little in my mind.  And swore a few times.  And declared Bailey my favorite child, and then just said, "Yea.  I mean, of course.  Cause family costumes are like totally lame...and stuff."

And that is how our family Halloween theme died.

(Thank goodness we still have one child who doesn't get to make her own decisions yet, amIright?)

But just like in years past (awww, the good old days), we all somehow seemed to perfectly fit our characters (and in some ways - not so much.)  

 (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) 

So here is how we are similar (and not so much) to our Halloween costumes.

Brooklyn - the Tiger

SIMILAR: Brooklyn's spirit animal is a tiger.  A FIERCE one that is constantly on the PROWL for the next big adventure.  She POUNCES on every opportunity and has a PASSION for life.

NOT SO MUCH: She usually doesn't viciously murder other animals.  

Aubrey - the Peacock

SIMILAR: Aubrey is a MAJESTIC little beauty.  She has a DIGNIFIED and REFINED presence and she is SOCIAL and fun to be around.  She makes every day BEAUTIFUL. 

NOT SO MUCH: Peacocks are extremely territorial and Aubrey could not be more opposite.

Cameron - the Cop

SIMILAR: He is the ultimate RULE ENFORCER.  He likes order and structure and he's not afraid to lay down the LAW. 

NOT SO MUCH: He maxes out at half a donut.

Bailey - the Big, Bad Wolf

SIMILAR: She is a FURY little ANIMAL who likes sneaking up on people and stealing their beds.  She's UNPREDICTABLE and WILD and my, WHAT BIG EYES SHE HAS.

NOT SO MUCH: Nothing big or bad about her.

Luke - the Woodsman & Ashley - Red Riding Hood

LUKE:

SIMILARITIES: HUNKY, MANLY, and MACHO.  They both fend of danger of any kind and come to the rescue of the damsel (when she's in distress.  AKA dinner time.)

NOT SO MUCH: Carries an ax around at all times and stalks little girls in the woods.

ASHLEY:

SIMILARITIES: Enjoys a good skip through the forest on the way to Grandma's house.

NOT SO MUCH: Basically everything else.