Our Traditions....

Sam and Ashlyn LOVE setting up the train.
In college I worked at a Christmas store, and was lucky enough to buy an expensive LGB train with a smoking engine. I never imagined I would let my 8 year old put it together and PLAY with it, but I do.... She loves the train even more than Sam does.

Setting up the track.....

Playing with the "people".....
Oops! This guy was trying to fix the tank, and fell in!

Dobie supervising, and wondering when he gets a turn.

A must see...

This has to be one of my all time favorite movies. Made me want to be a better person, and love unconditionally.
I laughed, I cried...

The best line was: " Who would've thought we'd have a black son before we met a Democrat?"

So funny, especially if you know people from the south!

Many Thanks....

Our little pilgrim...

This was the first time(that I can remember) that it was just our immediate family for Thanksgiving. I was supposed to work from 6am to 6pm, which meant I would not be there for dinner. I was blessed to be given the chance to go home early and have dinner with my wonderful family.
I have so many things to be grateful for. I have an amazing family and a loving husband who is so talented and helpful. I have a beautiful, fun daughter who enjoys life to the fullest. Wonderful friends and coworkers. I am grateful for a job that I love. I am blessed with parents and parents in law that love me, and who serve me unconditionally. I am blessed to know I am loved by my Heavenly father and I know I have him to thank for all my blessings.

Midnight, New Moon....

Can you believe we fought the crowds and stayed up....WAY up.... past our bed times to see a MOVIE???
Yep, We did! And it was SO worth it!

It's a ZOO out there...

What a great time to go to the zoo! In case you have not heard.... It is baby time at Hogle Zoo.
The main attraction is ZURI, the most adorable & playful elephant. She was born 8/10/09 weighing a mere 251lbs and 36 inches tall!

Off to the giraffes. Guess what? A sweet "big" baby! Here is a pic of a giraffe doing something I have never seen. He kept slipping... I was so afraid he was going to snap one of those long legs in half.

Sweet "baby" 7 feet tall. Mom is 16 feet tall. Beautiful creatures!

Then off to the cats. My favorite was the snow leopard and her cub. I was so in love I forgot to take a picture( here is one courtesy of Utah's Hogle Zoo website :).

While I was wondering if I could take the baby snow leopard home, Sam snapped these pics of momma tiger and one of her three cubs.

Baby did not enjoy having its picture taken!

We got the biggest kick out of this squirrel storing up at one of the many bird feeders . Smart guy figured how to get from the tree, and sort through finding all the sunflower seeds.

Star Wars Halloween...

Well, after countless hours of questioning and a blog poll, Ashlyn chose to be Padme'. Sorry to all of you that voted for Cleopatra, but this girl loves her Star Wars.
Dobie, on the other hand, did not enjoy being an Ewok

Protecting the universe and shooting a zombie.

FriGHtFuL FeAsT....

Mummy Meatloaf...
Vampire Blood...


Witches Teeth & Mashed Potato Ghost's...



Skeleton Bones....
Graveyard Dirt...

This is my attempt. I wanted to do something fun for Halloween dinner. After a LONG google search, this is what I came up with. I just wish my planning included a much better estimation of how much time the meal would actually take to prepare. (I am amazed what a little "Focus" can do to ones energy, thus speedy cooking.) The meal was ready WAY before Sam and Ash finished visiting the grandparents. In return the bones were quite brittle and the mummy was petrifying in the oven.... Oh,well! A girl can try...