Lots to be thankful for...

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year. We were able to spend time in St. George, UT with (some) family. Our kids were once again spoiled rotten by being the only grand kids around and being doted on all. day. long! What more do you need when you're a kid, right? Well, there were daily trips to the golf course down the road via golf cart to hit a bucket of balls, Crowshaw's pies, movies (Tangled is one of our new favorites), rock throwing and exploring in the backyard pond, car rides--(it was quite chilly), endless yummy food to eat, people to play with you constantly--having 2 grandmas minutes away from each other, new toys, fun games and multiple other fun activities! A quiet, and intimate Thanksgiving--quite nice.

BUSTED--Will and Grandpa Roy sneaking some Cool Whip

Ellie with 2 of her grandmas--Grandma Trish and Grandma Connie

Some of the gang after a delicious Thanksgiving Feast--we're stuffed!

Quiet time with Grandma

Will's crazy bed head

Love this sweet boy!

These 2 seemed to be eating all weekend long!

Busted--Again!

Partners in Crime

We are so grateful for all of our blessings! And our family is definitely on the top of that list. We are so glad for these holidays when we can meet up together and have a wonderful time and make wonderful memories!

Maddy's *REAL* 4th birthday...

was spent at the Happiest Place on Earth. And while I don't want this post to turn in to how much we miss California, let's just say after our full, fun packed weekend was over, it was extremely difficult to leave. But we tried to soak up the California sun as much as we could--(to hold us over until our next California visit anyway)! And boy did we ever soak it up!
We really needed a vacation from our vacation!

Mark and the kids 1st headed straight for the Matterhorn--Maddy's favorite ride!

Will meeting Buzz for the first time--"BUZZZZZZZZ!"

We met Rapunzel and Flynn and they were so much fun that we went out and saw their movie soon afterwards! (Great movie btw)

Flynn was totally hanging with our family outside after our photo shoot--he was making us all laugh so hard!

Making silly faces

The Haunted Mansion--our family's favorite--especially when it's all decked out for the holidays

More silly poses

The guys

I love this pic--even though it was taken with my crummy camera--Sweet sisters waiting for the Matterhorn--

A classic "after a full day at Disneyland" shot--Mark and I headed over and got Cafe Rio while they all slept

The next day (her actual birthday) we sang to Maddy as we ate chocolate doughnuts and she opened her presents

Then Mark snuck in a quick golf game in the morning, while I took the kids over to the Orange County Market place for a quick shopping trip--they love picking out some fun new toys-- and then we went over to see how "our" animals were doing--the piglets are always so fun to watch

Then it was off to the beach. The water was actually a bit chilly for swimming--it was November after all, so we rode our scooters on Newport pier and then ran around in the sand. Then for lunch we ate at the Crab Cooker--yummy!!

Before heading home, we had to stop by our favorite beach of all time--Crescent Bay and enjoy some waves and seal watching. Then we headed to Newport Beach for a little Pinkberry. On our way home, we stopped by dad's in Palm Springs and went out to eat at our favorite--Babe's --BEST sweet potato fries in the world!!!

Happy 4th birthday to the sweetest girl around! We love you Maddy!!

Scooby Dooby Doo-- WHERE ARE YOU?!?!

Somehow Ellie talked us all into being the Scooby Doo Gang this year for Halloween--but in all honesty, we really did end up having a blast! We had a great time piecing together outfits with Grandma Trish while we were in St. George--and thank heavens for her AMAZING sewing talent--without which we wouldn't have had a Daphne costume or have found the awesome Scooby slippers--thanks mom!!

The whole gang at the ward trunk-or-treat! It was a blazin' hot 88* outside that night!!

Freddie, Scooby Doo, Velma, Shaggy and Daphne

Darling Daphne

Fearless Freddie

And of course, the one and only... SCOOBY DOO!!

We walked around our neighborhood with some friends Halloween night

THE END

**I wonder what Ellie will be able to talk us in to being next year??**

**After all was said and done, we had SIX OVERFLOWING BAGS of Halloween candy this year. It could be that Grandpa Ed came in to town that weekend and brought the kids their own pumpkins FULL of chocolate ??

What great times!!

Tricks and treats...

The girls had a great time at their school Halloween parties this year

Daphne and The Queen Bee

Ellie and friends

Ellie's bat pumpkin she entered for the 1st grade contest--she was beat out by a Krabby Patty pumpkin!

Maddy as Princess Cinderella

Maddy's Preschool Class

Happy Halloween!!!

A Royal Ball...

Come one, Come all!

Cinderella poses with the 2 birthday princesses~

Princess Maddy and Princess Risa

Maddy couldn't believe Cinderella had come all the way from Disneyland to celebrate her 4th birthday with her!

Princess Ellie~ The helper Princess

The royal court~

complete with 4 ladies-in-waiting and one court jester

Getting ready for the ball was exhausting! There were dance steps to learn, stories to hear, tiaras/crowns to be made, finger foods to be eaten, cupcakes to decorate, crafts to do, hair to be glittered, nails to be manicured, jewels to be adorned,

accessorizing to be done--AND while some of the girlie things were going on, the princes even went outside for jousting lessons so they could protect the princesses from any possible dragon attacks. Cinderella and her court handled it all so effortlessly and the beautiful ball at the end was so worth it all!!

The royal gardens

Let the royal ball begin...

Goodbye Cinderella~ we'll see you in a couple of weeks at your castle to celebrate Maddy's *real* 4th birthday!

And they all lived...

The End.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!