Thanksgiving Helper

Welcome to our messy Thanksgiving kitchen! 

Here is my beautiful little pie making helper. 

above we were finishing up the oreo cream pie

had just finished up a pumpkin, pecan, chocolate silk, and were starting our 

Pumpkin cheesecake:

 I'm definately having her help me next year too!

 Love the help around our house... 

 it makes me smile. 

Love you Lyssy Ann!

Our Dolls

My Dolls

Their Dolls

 (pictures requested by: Alyssa)

(Huh!)

?...

...Creepy!

Oh Pumpkin Carving

 Pumpkin carving is a tradition that we have enjoyed every year, the event that we look forward to most besides dressing up and going trick or treating! This year, Jeremy and Michael carved extravagant ones that I failed to take a picture of...can you believe it?! Me?! The one that will forget a camera for a one time event such as a graduation or critical game of the season? *sigh* The poor things rotted before I got the opportunity to snap any shots. Truly amazing though. It's so fun to see how much their creativity evolves over the years!

The following pictures are of our mantel. We enjoy dressing it up each year.

 

More to come!

Cold Style

It's getting quite cold around here. 

But our children are managing to find ways to keep warm.

 Whether with a pillowcase for a hat...

Sitting by the fire...

or wrapped up in a cozy blanket...

 

One can't argue that they are displaying their own sense of style!

 I think it's building character...cold style!

Praise to the Man

Probably a good year ago around General Conference time when we had cable (the only time of year that we do) I was watching the BYU channel when this video was just starting. By the end, tears were streaming down my face as my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith burned within me. Immediately I tried to find it on YouTube without success. This morning I thought of this video one more time and thought I would try again and was delighted to see that it is on there! I hope that as you view this video, the spirit of the Holy Ghost will testify of truth to the words of the song, as it did in me. A personal favorite of mine and our son Justin.

When We're Helping, We're Happy!

Sundays are traditionally a big dinner day. We go to church from 9-12 and eat between 1:30 and 2p.m. It's Always a meal of Roast (Beef or Pork), mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, homemade biscuits or rolls and varieties of vegetables like steamed broccoli with cheese sauce, carrots, green salads, etc.

 Over the years I've often thought of changing things up to make preparations easier. Like the Sunday I served a Costco Lasagna. Who doesn't like Costco Lasagna? My kids on Sunday. That's who! Our oldest son was not only disgusted as he was taking a bite, but remarked, "This isn't homemade. Is it?!" *sigh*

To be honest, the preparations for the Sunday dinner just get easier as time goes on. Changing things actually works against us. Not only that, but the family ALL look forward to the traditional spread and are disappointed when any regular item is missing. That's why it is now called, "regular".

 Who would want to change a scene like this in the kitchen anyway? There is no greater blessing, in my perspective as a parent, then to see your children working happily together. Because the truth is,

When we're helping, we're happy!

Passage of Time

After serving our baby girl her lunch the other day, I realized just how little she still is, sitting there on that stool.

Our cute pigtailed, jumper dress darling

with the ready smile

and happy demeaner.

It was then that I realized in clear reality how swiftly time passes, and that she won't be like this forever.

Childhood doesn't last. In the blink of an eye, they are grown. So to enjoy our baby all we can now is a necessity.

I am so grateful our family gets to enjoy the blessings of the joy in our lives that our baby girl brings.

Sweet Amy Nicole.