Thanksgiving Day

John and I started the day off running in the Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot is a 10k run (6.2 mile) that they put on every year down in Mesa. There were over 2000 finishers this year.We were trying to get pumped up despite waking up early to rain and a chilly 52 degrees outside (super cold for us Arizonans).WE DID IT! John ran it in 49 min. and I ran it in 55 min. We saw a lot of our friends running the race as well and cheering from the side lines - it really was a lot of fun!We were on our own this year for Thanksgiving. We decided to take it easy and go out to eat at Lucille's BBQ. They serve a special Thanksgiving meal but of course our picky family opted for the usual favorites of cassadias, ribs, steak, and pulled pork sandwiches. I love the JAR of soda they give you. Royce was fascinated with the guy turning all the ceiling fans off.Snickers pie... our kind of pie. Thank goodness for the Turkey Trot, it made indulging in this scrumptious treat gilt free.mmm deelish!The boys were intrigued by the flashes of lighting streaking across the sky... an amazing lightning show right outside our window. The best part was leaving the mess at the restaurant and coming home to a clean, peaceful house. We continued our tradition of putting up the Christmas tree.
The kids all pitched in but I think Myla was the only one who really accomplished anything.

Although we miss having family around especially on holidays, I am so thankful for my little family and that we are able to have so much fun together even when it is just us. I am thankful for my loving, caring, hard working, sensitive, funny, handsome husband who treats me like a queen- he is my best friend forever. I am thankful for our 4 beautiful, healthy, energetic, funny, smart children - they are my life. Even though I don't always see this as a blessing, I am thankful that I am able to stay home and be a mom to my kids while they are young - I just hope that I can realize the joy of it before they all grow up. I'm thankful for John's job which provides for all of our needs and then so much more - we have been so blessed. I am thankful for my family and for John's family - they love and support us in everything we do. I'm thankful that my moms surgery went well and that she is on the road to recovery and that she sounds like our "mom" again. I'm thankful for the gospel- without it there would be no meaning to my life. I'm thankful for my friends, some new and some from my early childhood - they listen to me vent and help me see the comedy in life... life would be so much harder with out friends. I'm thankful for the country we live in- despite all the negative we can say, we truly are blessed to live in this great land. I'm thankful for my nice home and the good schools that my children are able to go to. I am thankful for the quiet, peaceful moments at night when I get to relax with my husband, read a book, catch up on some cleaning or blog our family memories. I'm thankful that I didn't throw up after the Turkey Trot this morning when I felt like I was going to and I'm so very thankful for my life - I have a good one!

Vegas Baby!

John and I took a much needed weekend getaway to Las Vegas. We stayed at the Palazzo which was super nice.We went with one of our favorite friend couples, Branden and Jenesey Sparks.We had the pleasure of watching O and Mistere of which both were truly amazing shows. I liked O because the stage and props were so unbelievable... one minute people were diving and splashing in a huge pool of water and the next minute people were running and jumping on dry ground - truly amazing! The craziest was in Mistere with the two muscle men(Johns going to roll his eyes)... seriously I have never seen anyone so strong. We rode the deuce...or the bus, we shopped, relaxed, ate out, watched shows... all in all a great, relaxing break from our every day responsibilities.

Oh, and we checked in on the kids... Uncle John stayed with our kids. To say the least, it was a real eye opener for him. He just couldn't understand why all his sisters were so tired by the end of the day and needed "breaks" all the time or couldn't get around to doing certain things or talk on the phone when he would call- I mean what could be so tough about playing with kids all day long? Well, eight packs of fruit snacks unconsciously devoured in a single day just to calm himself down and he knows now- right John! Yeah, going to bed at 9:00pm really is a little peace of heaven on earth.
No, really John did a fabulous job! The kids loved him. The boys are still asking me "where's Johnny?"
Thanks a MILLION, Johnny!

Jad's 4th Birthday

Jad turned 4 years old today. His day started off with his favorite breakfast of french toast.A new haircut for the big birthday boy. He sat as still as a statue for the whole thing...How handsome and grown up he looked after his hair cut.Spiderman Jad...Spiderman brothers...Spiderman sisters... And a spiderman cake. Jad has been asking for a spiderman cake for his birthday for about 6 months now... finally the day has arrived. I did the best I could do having nearly zero artistic abilities.Big smiles for all the presents he received. The favorite was a "Cars" Mack truck that opens in back. Big sis, Myla, helps Jad open and assemble all of his new toys. Happy Birthday Jader Bug, we love you!

MOUSE IN THE HOUSE!!!

So this is what I came home to this afternoon. John was home watching the kids while I ran a few errands "kid free". I walked in the door to find a blockade of cardboard boxes in front of my bedroom. The kids were all on the bed with sticks and other sharp objects. They all screamed in unison, "there's a mouse in your bedroom"... John was looking really tough in his work out attire and boots holding a broom and plastic bowl... nice. So of course my newly trained blogging mind forced me into action and I ran to grab my camera.

First, it was under the chair...Then, it was behind the side table...After a few minutes of stressful hunting, we finally cornered the tiny mouse into this towel stuffed box. We walked the box down the street to an open field but the peace of mind of it never returning to our house wasn't satisfied by that...so we agreed on a dumpster near by. Doubt got the best of me, so before dumping it I had to see with my own eyes that it was really in the box. I carefully opened the flaps and moved the towel around a little with a stick... the mouse nearly jumped out on Royce's head as he passed by oblivious to any danger - I screamed "Yep, it's in there... get rid of it."

My theory as to how a mouse got in the house: It was a beautiful day outside, mid 70's. I spent the morning catching up on some much needed cleaning around the house. The boys were in the back yard playing, so I left the back door open all morning to let the cool breeze flow in and also to hear if my boys got into trouble. A mouse must have snuck its way in during those hours of the door being open... shiver down my spine!

Halloween

Getting ready for the big night... one day of the year when they get to wear make up and lipstick... how exciting!

Ashlee the little angel...Myla the pretty witch... Jad the race car driver...Doctor Royce...Royce had a lot of fun with his doctor tools... Dinner at the Sparks to start the night off right...We continued the tradition of trick -or- treating on the ranger... as far as my kids are concerned it's the ONLY way to trick -or- treat... We started at our old neighborhood... dad was quite the trooper helping Royce along...We had to trick -or- treat at our old house... too bad no one was home...UPS driver Grayson and Dr. Royce quickly got the hang of it... go up to the people, look really cute, get candy in my bucket... sounds good to me... Mermaid Dreya and race car driver Jad...Lots of loot and smiles... another fun, successful Halloween.