Beckett Turns Three

I am super far behind on this blogging thing.  I am just trying to get things caught up so I can do Christmas.

On November 30th my baby turned 3. I know it went by soooo fast!

 This was my little muffin when he was only a months old.  Love those cheeks and that mouth!

 He was very specific about his cake.  He wanted a Thomas the train Oreo cake.  What? Yeah....this is how it turned out.

 We celebrated at my parents, because we were there already.

 He was so excited about the cake he could hardly stand it. 

 Just goes to prove that no matter how terrible the cake turns out the kids don't care.

 He got lots of trains for this birthday.  He is really into them right now. 

He also got this cool "Cars" race track.  You charge the cars and they zoom around the track.  It makes him frustrated so that didn't stay out for long.  

I love you Mr. Beckett.  You are such a wonderful little boy.  I enjoy watching you grow, probably more than I should.  You are such a monster and so spoiled rotten.  You are super smart, too smart for me.  I love your smile and the way you talk.  We so blessed to have you in our lives, and I thank Heavenly Father for you everyday!

Christmas Tree Hunting

It is now a tradition, as it was in my childhood, to go hunting for a tree from the Mackay Mine Hill.

 On the way up the hill Beckett and Elleree both fell asleep.  I wanted to sleep too.  It is tough work looking for a tree.

 Truman and Dillon both decided they wanted to ride the four wheelers up the trail.

No snow making it possible to go places that would otherwise not be.  Dillon wanted to have a sage brush for our tree this year.  Heaven knows there are always plenty to pick from.

I have never really enjoyed this process, and really don't love the end result either, but the kids and Jason really love it.

It's a good way to spend time as a family, I guess.  It is also a lot cheaper than buying tree, I think that is the biggest reason Jason likes it so much.

On the way back we saw tons of deer.  This area is sooo beautiful, even when it is all gray!

We then went back to Grandma's house for a craft.  My kids love themselves a good craft.  And that folks, is how you spend the day hunting for a tree.

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving this year was spent with my family.  We ended up going to my parents house the day of Thanksgiving and stayed until Saturday night.

 

 Both Heath and Ivan and their families were there.  Dakota became Beckett's best friend by the end of the trip.  She was willing to do whatever he wanted and that is always the way to his heart. 

 The highlight was the four wheeling. 

 It had not snowed in Mackay yet, so the kids just cruised around.

 My parents got a smaller four wheeler that Dillon and Truman can handle with no problem.

I was in charge of the pies so I made one apple, one cherry, and two chocolate.

We had my aunt and uncle come, and my grandpa Vaden came too. As always not pictures. It was nice to see them.

It was so great to be with my family.  I missed Allison and her family, when don't I.  

I am thankful to have both of my parents.  I am thankful for my mom for doing all the cooking and baking and Emilee for all the salads.  I am thankful for my crazy kids, and my even crazier husband.  I am thankful for my brothers and their families, for making me laugh and have a good time.  Isn't Thanksgiving wonderful!

Trip to North Carolina

I got to go visit Alli for a week in North Carolina.  I haven't seen her since August, and I have miss her and her family a ton!  I flew in late Friday night. 

 These little muffins are who I miss.  They are getting so grown up.

 Saturday the first day I was there we went to Duke University and took pictures of the gardens.

 I took a bit of stroll around the campus. 

 The buildings are so majestic and old.

 I couldn't even imagine seeing these buildings day in and day out.

I enjoyed visiting the campus.

 The third day we went to a movie.

 Then we went to the art museum.

 It turns out it is closed on Mondays, who knew. 

 It was a nice day, so we just went around and looked at the pieces outside.

 We had a good time and it was a good way to spend the day.

The colors where still beautiful even this late in the season.  

 On Tuesday we were in a fairytale. 

 Allison got us tickets to the famous Biltmore.

 This house is massive and beautiful.

 There were no pictures allowed inside this huge mansion.

 But Allison never let that stop her.

 The Biltmore is 179,000 square feet.  It has a bowling ally and a swimming pool.

 It has over 250 rooms and acres and acres of gardens and forest. 

It is truly an amazing building.  It makes you want to travel back in time, but only if you are rich like the Vanderbilts.

 That night we went the coolest theater.

The next day we went home and got pedicures.  

 The last day I was there was Sydney's birthday.  We went to her school to have lunch with her.

 That night we went bowling and there were some awesome moves.

 We played two games.  I pretty much rock at bowling Eli got a higher score than I did.

 Sydney's birthday is the reason I went when I did. 

 She turned 8 and I am not going to be able to make it to her baptism. So I have to make up for it by being there for her birthday.

I had a great trip and am super grateful to Jason and my mom for making it possible for me to go.  I miss these guys so much.

Halloween 2013

Every year I have a Halloween party.  There have been years like last year that it didn't happen because we have moved, and don't know anyone. Those years are few, since Dillon was born I try every year to have one.  I like to go all out.  We changed things up a bit this year and I think it turned out well.

 I sent out these cute little invitations.  The kids get to invite all their friends.  I was surprised Dillon even had two friends from his class in Twin come.

 These were the kids costumes.  I'm lazy and don't make them...maybe next year...maybe not!

 These were Jason and my costumes.

 We had tons of goodies for the kids.

 Most of the ideas for things came from Pintrest.

 We had Pizza and chips.

 I made witch brooms and deviled eggs that had the spiders on them, but they never made an appearance.  I forgot about them in the refrigerator. Boo is right. 

 In my defense I had other things on my mind. 

 I didn't get a picture of all the things, because once the kids showed up it was crazy.  We had this Pinata.  We did a treasure hunt.  The kids got to spray each other with silly string (outside of coarse).  They went trick or treating after they colored their treat bags.

 We ate, did this balloon dart board thing.  You can't tell but Jason went to a lot of trouble to cut this out in a pumpkin shape.  It was way cute.  Each balloon had a prize in it.  We did pumpkin bowling, and had a movie going in the movie room. 

There was not a dull moment.  We used to do a fish pond, decorate cookies and do a craft, but the kids are getting too old for that now.  Every other year my family has come, this is the first year no one from my imitate family came.   After everyone left we counted 32 kids, that is not even including their parents.  Crazy but fun.  My kids look forward to Halloween every year.  Hopefully they always will.