Deck The Halls 2016

Oh how I LOVE having our home decked out for Christmas and the glow of twinkling lights while wrapped up in a blanket with snuggles from the family sounds perfect!

The kids getting ready to decorate the "Kid's Tree".  This tree has been in the family since our days at BYU-Idaho!

Decorating the family tree.  McKenzie is hanging a felt star that the four big kids each got to sew their own with Sarah while Mckay and I were away in Vegas.  They did a great job and even put on buttons.  It was a perfect project for all of them.

It is so nice having so many helpers.

Happy Brielle!

Cute.

Taylor in his new hoodie from my parents.

Handsome Payton.

Gavin was even a great helper this year!

It is so fun to see him join the festivities more and more!

Brielle was excited to hang her bulb that she made in preschool last year... I miss having her home.

We have started decorating most of the house before we leave for Thanksgiving at my parents'.  That way when we return home it really feels like the Christmas Spirit in our home and we love it.  It is so nice to not have to rush and do it when we return.  Plus we like to enjoy it as long as possible!

Gavin's First Dental Visit

All of the kids had their routine dental visits and this year Gavin had his first visit.

It was short and sweet and he did great!

I forgot to mention that I gave him a black eye while we were at the YMCA.  I was tightening the strap on some swimming goggles and it broke lose while my hand came back and smacked poor Gavin on the cheek bone.  I felt terrible and it is looking much better here.  The entire family as well as perfect strangers would ask Gavin what happened to his eye and he would quickly reply," Mama"...NICE!

Thanksgiving in Oregon with Family

This year we went to my family's house for Thanksgiving again.  It is always so good to reunite with family and let the cousins play!

In Caldwell they have an area covered in lights and it seemed like we kept driving past them and one evening we stopped to enjoy them for a bit.

It looked magical!

Amongst all the playing there was some baking to be done...and willing samplers!

Kenzie helping to make pumpkin pie.

Some of the kids have really taken a liking to cooking.

Getting ready to enjoy the Thanksgiving Feast.

Here is a big kids' table.

Here is a younger kids' table.

Look at all those grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa.

What a crew of buddies!

A family picture.

I love my family!

It was a little too sunny.

Three little girls.

Buddies!

The youngest 3 boys.

Ashlee and Kenzie

Allyssa and Payton

Kaden and Taylor

The couples 

The gals

My good parents.

Love them!

What everyone wants to do after the Thanksgiving Feast!

Having a movie night with the kids.

We also went bowling as a group.

It feels like ages since we did this as a family.

Go Kenzie

All ages enjoyed it.

Pretty girl.

Payton's turn.

Mckay giving Brielle a little assistance.

Taylor is so serious when it comes to sports.

Silly Gavin trying to smile.

Mckay and his mean curve ball.

While we were there we also went to the YMCA on a free family pass that we had.  It was a blast!

Payton on the rock wall.

Brielle and Max giving it a try.

Payton made it to the top.

Now Taylor is climbing.

He was a natural too.

Taylor made it to the top as well.

Kenzie was going to prove that girls can do it too.

She was a champ!

Made it to the top!

It was so fun for the kids to let out some energy.

Gavin wanted to try!

Then Brielle wanted to strap in and go up as high as she could.  

Good job Brielle!

The kids had so much fun at the YMCA and even swam for quite a while.

It was a great week back in old familiar territory!