The Window Displays at Macys

I have a confession. We cheated. I am very strict on the Christmas-celebrations-do-not-start-until-after-Thanksgiving rule. But we made a very big exception and spent last night downtown at City Creek.

When I was a little girl we lived in the big SLC. Every single year my family would go and see the windows at ZCMI. They were wonderful and magical and best of all, made from candy! So when Parker told me that Macys was continuing the tradition, I knew we had to go.  Last night was the night and my parents and Hustons decided to join us.

They were all Christmas tree ornaments, and they spun around. The top right one is a picture of Salt Lake City. And yep that is a candy depiction of the Temple. It is not every day you see a jelly bean version of where you got married.

I don't know if they are really spectacular or if I was just in bliss on memory lane. But it was a blast.

Gracie and Fin seemed to think they were pretty great. 

My mom and I in matching Red and Green sweaters. 

We even stopped in at Lambs Cafe for some Coco. If you haven't been to Lambs... you should. You really should. 

Since we had already broke the Thanksgiving-Christmas rule Lisa took her kids to meet Santa. There was no going back after that so we listened to Christmas music on the way home.

Maybe I am not such a scrooge after all. How could I be? Parker is the biggest fan of Christmas I have ever met. Now all we need is some snow!!!

The Big Four: Country

I am thankful for the U. S. of A. 

It might not be perfect, but at least I have the freedom to complain about it openly.
No really, I am thankful to live in this country. I shouldn't complain. Sometimes I forget how great it really is, and I shouldn't. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

The Big Four : Home Sweet Home

I am thankful for a home.

Parker is home to me. However, I am so thankful we have a physical space that is ours.

It is a nice place to land at the end of a long day. It is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is where we wake up in the mornings, and go to sleep at night. But it is so much more than, shelter.

I am thankful for walls to hang our pictures on. . A shelf for a box that holds old memories. A kitchen table where we eat dinner and talk about our days. And we have plenty of closet space.  We live here, laugh here, love here. 

I am excited every time I walk through our front door. There is no place like home. 

The Big Four

Did you ever trace your hand and make it into a turkey? In elementary school, they would have us write four things we were thankful for in the outline of our four fingers. The thumb was busy being the head. Hopefully you know what I am talking about. Anyways, I think I always wrote close to the same four things on my turkey. They are the obvious answers to what are you thankful for, but important to remember all the same. So this year this is my version of a hand-traced turkey. One blog post for each of my Big Four.

Family:

 Maybe it's just the two of us and the fuzzy thing, but we are one happy family. From the little things that he does for me, to the monumental ways he has changed my life for the better, I am thankful for Parker every single day. 

We believe families are forever, and that the family is a key part of an eternal plan.  I can't express how grateful I am for my little family. 

We both come from great families too. 

My mom and all her girls: 

(Yes mother I am using this photo taken in 2007 as a subtle hint that we need new family pictures! )

Parker's dad and all his boys:

Some things to smile about

The snow came. Real snow. Not a light frost on the grass. Or the stuff that is somewhere between real snow and rain, that melts as soon as it hits the ground.  This was the kind of snow that comes down in big flurries, that if you time just right you can catch on your tongue. The kind that packs well, and is ideal for making forts. It was a blanket of white over our little Logan. And although it warmed up and melted a bit, we still see this when we look out of our window.  

Hockey is in full swing. If you are in Logan and haven't had the pleasure of attending a USTATE Hockey game, go. It proves that crazy Aggie fans can be found outside the Spectrum. We stand. Sitting is for squares. 

Walmart had a killer sale on all things cold and flu. And since both of us have had MAJOR colds recently, we took full advantage. Tis the season and all.

And this brought a little perspective and made me feel, a little bit better :

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/statement-on-election-result

I love, I Love Lucy, and other stuff too

Back to blogging. Where to start?
I know I am a little way late on this one, but Happy Fall!

 

We had a killer October. Haunted houses, forests, circuses, hayrides, corn mazes, and more scary movies than I can count. Not to mention the long walks in my sweaters and scarfs I missed all summer, watching Dax ran around chasing the leaves that were picked up by the wind, and Parker making me laugh. It's been pretty perfect around here. 

Speaking of perfect. Little Tayla finally got to go home to her sweet family. We finally got to be properly introduced. And Parker held the smallest little human he had ever seen. Its a good look for him. 

We are the coolest Aunt and Uncle ever. Ask anyone of our nieces or nephews. 

In other irrelevant news, while we are committed to (more than) a few shows this time of year, we unexpectedly found ourselves hooked on an old classic. 

Two words. Quality Television. 

Welcome to the world little Tayla!

. She is here! My sister is doing well, and although baby had to go straight to NICU, she is considered a healthy premi.
We are so happy your here, Tayla Rae!

She is a whole 5 pounds 10 ounces. And considering she was 29 days early... that is great news.  

She weighs enough, but her little lungs just haven't developed all the way. They will keep her in NICU until she can breathe on her own. 

And if that didn't melt your heart.... here is mammas first time with baby. It will be awhile before she can hold her, but Tayla grabbed onto her finger right away. 

 Congrats Jill, Kyle, Landon, Colter and Oaklee. She is beautiful. Our hearts are so full of gratitude that Jill and Tayla are both well.