Gingerbread House

Ben always decorates the kids when we are done with the ginger bread house. I wish I had a picture of him because he was covered in frosting and he wasn't trying to decorate himself.

This is a tradition we started a few years back and we love it. The kids love to decorate the house. I think next year we will try a train. Fletcher kept sneaking the candy when he thought no one was looking. He would take it to a corner and eat it. It was funny. I love having our own traditions that just our little family does. I know that this is one the kids will love and remember forever.
This is the house we didn't like this kit as much as the other ones we have got, but we still had fun. We finished our night driving around looking at Christmas lights. Such a fun night.

When we went to dinner for my Dad's birthday my Mom presented us with this poem. Karen Nelson a really good friend to our family wrote this of my Dad.

I have been struggling so much lately. I think so much happened in such a short time that I am having a tough time coping. Some days I feel like it gets harder to have my Dad gone. A lot of times I feel cheated. So many times I pick up my phone to call or I have a free day and I want to call him to go to lunch. The other day I stopped at his grave and ask him to go but he was a little busy;) It is so hard to have your parent who you have known since you came to this earth and have gone to for advice and comfort gone. I know that he is still around. I have felt his presence several times since he has gone and for that I am thankful. I know that he was sick and that it was his time to go, but it doesn't make the missing him much easier.

The other struggle is leaving Las Vegas. I miss my friends down there everyday. I think about my primary kids constantly. I don't think there has ever been a time in my life when I was happier or more confident than when I lived there. I don't know what it was? I was sitting in the foyer at church this Sunday and the Primary President was walking the halls and I was so jealous of her. I miss my presidency, the teachers, and the kids. It was one of the best times in my life. I keep trying to figure out a way to get down there but haven't yet.

Sorry this is kind of a downer post. On happier notes I am thankful for Ben and my kids. I wouldn't survive without them. I love mine and Ben's relationship more the last year than I ever have. We compliment each other so well. A lot has happened to get us where we are. Some things I would go through again and than there are the things that I am thankful for the knowledge gained but as for going through that again, no thank you. I am so thankful to be around family for the holiday season. I missed that last year.

This Friday I will be another year older and I am thankful for my life. I feel blessed to have the people I have in my life and all the people I have come in contact throughout my life. Watching my Dad and my friend Becky, I am so thankful for health. I am thankful for our extended family and all of our friends. Even though I am struggling a bit life is definitely good.

My Dad....

Today my sweet, fun, and courageous Dad would have been 60 years old. Holy Moly!! It has been 4 months since he left this life. It has been a long 4 months. I think about him everyday and miss him. Sometimes it seems to get harder rather than easier.

Last night we went to my Dad's favorite restaurant Sizzler to eat. We never understood why he loved to eat there so much, but last night we smiled thinking about my dad. A special friend of my Dad and Mom and our family wrote a poem about my Dad that I will treasure forever. I have some awesome memories of my Dad. I feel blessed to have had the relationship I had with him. Happy Birthday Dad. I love you so much.

Thanksgiving amony other things

So I was lame and didn't get any pictures on Thanksgiving. This year was my very first year hosting Thanksgiving at mine and Ben's home. It's a lot of work. I think everything turned out pretty good. We were all starving because the turkey took forever. Emotionally it was a lot harder than I expected it to be. We just past the 4 month mark since my Dad passed. We all kept expecting him to be there. I do know that it was good we did it somewhere else this year and that my Mom had a break. It is crazy how we all know it was my Dad's time and that we wouldn't want him here sick and suffering anymore, but man some days I miss him so much it physically hurts. Today I got Ben's little truck sideways because I could and it is fun and my Dad pops into my head. He always made winter driving fun. It's those things I miss, but am thankful I have those memories to make me smile.

Life in Cache Valley is cold. I have been freezing. I love having my family close but I have been so homesick for Vegas. I have been trying to figure out a way to get down there for a couple of days. I haven't had any luck yet. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving:-)

First Snowfall

Well we have officially had our first snowfall for this winter season. How do I feel about that? I think I am in for a long winter. I am pretty much cold all the time. I have a cup of hot chocolate every morning to get the body warmed up. I will admit that the snow was beautiful.

I am thankful that my Dad taught me to drive in the snow and not be afraid. That doesn't mean I'm not afraid when I am the passenger. I prefer to be the one in control in those situations. I remember my dad used to pull the parking break on my little Volkswagen to see if I could pull out of the slide. Yep I always did. He always took us to do donuts(my mom hated that). I remember I would come down our street on my way home pull the parking brake and slide right into my parking spot. My Dad was proud and my Mom kept threatening to take my license away. So as far as the upcoming driving this winter I am ready, but as for the cold I would love my Vegas winter please.

Halloween

Don't you love Fletcher! He was roaring at the kids in the neighborhood. So funny. Probably one of the best Halloweens we have had. Wasn't to cold and we weren't running around like crazy people. We stayed home this year. I cooked some potato soup and we let the kids go trick or treating around our neighborhood. After awhile we let them all go without us except for Fletch.
Jarrett the scary zombie vampire. He did his own costume, makeup and everything.

Isabelle as Medusa

McGregor was a Skeleton Ninja

Fletcher the Dragon
We have never lived anywhere where we get more than 4 or 5 trick or treaters. Well that is not the case anymore. I bought 6 bags of candy and they started coming around 6ish and we were out of candy @ 8:20. It was crazy, but a lot of fun. The kids had a blast. McGregor had his funnest year yet. The older kids couldn't keep up with him. It was great.

Finally New Family Pictures!

We finally got some new family pictures. The last ones we got Fletcher was only 3 or 4 weeks old. I cannot believe how much our kids have grown!! One thing about it we have a good-lookin family.

We have had another busy weekend. Friday we went to the Brough Halloween party. It was fun to see everyone. I don't think we have been to one of those in 2 years. Saturday morning Jarrett had a wrestling meet. He won his first two matches, but lost his third. He did good. Wrestling is one thing I hate watching Jarrett do. I want to go and pull those kids off my boy. I don't know who is more wore out me or Jarrett. I got to watch my niece and nephew for a couple of hours. I am glad I am here to do that, I have wanted a closer relationship with them. After that we went to Mantua and my Mom took our family pictures. I think they turned out great. She does a really good job. Then after that we had a Halloween party at my Mom's. It was a little tough with my Dad not there. That was one of the parties he really got into. Friday was the 3 month anniversary of his passing. Lots of emotions this weekend.