Family Photo Shoot

 

Mike took some family pictures for us while we were in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving.  Jim and Susan’s backyard was perfect for a few shots.  But with us, it’s never just a few.

A few trampoline jumping pictures…

My Birthday

November was, of course, a busy month filled with all kinds of fun things… Hair appointments, dentist appointments, orthodontist appointments, soccer games, Visiting teaching, music concerts, gymnastics, home teaching, Stake dances, Relief Society Meetings and a few parties… including mine. 

My birthday was on a Friday and Chris had made plans to take me out for dinner and shopping – which I was looking forward to.  Little did I know, that as soon as I left for Enrichment on Thursday night, my husband and kids got working for an early birthday surprise.  They wrapped presents, made cards and got everything set up for when I walked in.  When the kids complained, “Where’s Mom?  She’s taking forever!”  Chris explained that Mom really likes to talk to the other ladies at Enrichment and that they’d have to be patient.  They were tracking my iPhone and when they could tell that my iPhone was ‘on the move’ they quickly got in place, lit birthday candles and got ready.  When I walked through the mudroom and into the kitchen they all yelled SURPRISE!! and I was completely shocked!  So fun to have a birthday surprise come a little bit early.  Chris had gotten a few things from Pier One that we had seen together and wanted – especially a new turquoise chair for my computer desk.   I love it.  I also got a big fluffy white robe that I LOVE.  Ryan pitched in on the Blender… he’s been dying to have smoothies.

 

The next night, Friday, Chris and I went to Biaggi’s for my birthday dinner.  We love their food!  Amazing Bruschetta and delicious squash ravioli with walnuts.  Cheesecake and Pumpkin Crème Brulee for dessert.   

Hogwart’s Halloween

It was Emily’s idea to do the Hogwarts theme this year.  Last year we just picked random costumes out of the Dress Up Box and Emily was adamant that we needed a theme.  Love her.  She has devoured the Harry Potter books the last couple of years and wanted to be Hermione – a perfect fit since she’s kind of a book worm and a smarty pants herself.

Megan was happy to jump on board and had no problem being ‘Ginny’ – especially since Ginny is a little sporty, being on the Quidditch Team.

Emily needed Matt and Luke to be Harry and Ron… pretty much as an extension of her own costume, but they were more than willing.  10 years ago, Ryan and Katie were Harry Potter and Hermione for Halloween and so we already had Matt and Luke’s costumes which have gone untouched for the last decade.  Matt loved ‘getting the scar on’.

Luke was happy to be Ron because, and I quote… “Ron is the buff guy and he’s funny and he’s scared of spiders.”  For his school Halloween party, though, he went as Harry with scar and glasses.

We had a great Halloween night.  We were excited to Trick Or Treat in our own new neighborhood.  We dropped off Ryan (Prince – The Charming One) and Katie (BYU super fan) off at Ryan’s friends house to go Trick Or Treating and then headed back to hook up with Emily’s best friend from school, Caroline and her mom.   Then we trick or treated up and down a ton of streets surprised at how long the boys wanted to go.  It was a great night.