Double date!

We went on a double date with our friends Tessa and Alvin Castagno.  We really wanted to eat at Lucky 13 that night.  We had heard that they had the best hamburgers.  Kev dropped us off and went to look for a parking spot.  When we went to put our names on the wait list they asked for I.D.s  I was the only one that didn't have one with me. We even asked if we could eat on the patio outside.  But they wouldn't even let me on the premises without my I.D.  We were all disappointed.  Kev suggested that we try The Bayou.  He had eaten there for a business dinner recently.  He told us that they didn't check I.D.s  We get in there and they ask for our I.D.s   They looked at me and said that they weren't sure if I looked like I was over 30.  I took that as a compliment since I am now 37.  We just laughed and realized that we had to find another place to eat.  Tessa kept teasing me that it was my fault for looking so young.  We finally ended up eating at Buca where they don't check I.D.'s .  The food was delicious and we tried several kinds of pasta.  We had tickets to see the West Symphony and Chorus perform at the tabernacle.  The music was beautiful and got all of us into the Christmas spirit.  My favorite song they sang was, "O Holy Night".  Kev's cousin Melissa was also a part of the symphony.  She played first Violin.  

We also met up with my Grandma after the concert.  She is the one who gave us the tickets.  She introduced us to her good friend Eldon.  We walked around and looked at all the beautiful lights on Temple Square.  It was a fun night out with friends and we laughed a lot.

Thanskgiving Feast

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year.   We really wanted to try smoking a Turkey in our Traeger for the first time.  We bought a 32 pound turkey.  Kev brined it for 30 hours, put some rub on it, then smoked it for seven hours.  It turned out amazing!

Mckenna and I spent most of the day cooking and getting ready for the big meal. I always appreciate having her help in the kitchen.

We had 22 family members come celebrate with  us.  We weren't sure how we were going to get everyone to fit.  We ended up moving around some furniture and putting two long tables together in our living room.

Ken, Mike, Elle, and my Dad talking while we waited for dinner.

Spence was showing Halle and Mckenna some snowmobiling videos.  I think someone is really looking forward to winter.

Parker enjoying his giant Turkey leg.  Hayden had one too.  The dark meat on the Turkey legs was really tender.  Hayden shared some of his with me.

My brother Greg came to dinner too.  I always get this pose when I take his picture! 

Hayden chilling with Grandpa.  A couple days before Thanksgiving my Dad took Hayden to his house for a couple days of fun.  They went out to eat, a BYU basketball game, and watched movies.  Hayden loved all the attention he got from Grandpa and Grandma Loni.

It was fun having Mike, Amy, and the kids with us.  Addy had fun running around with her cousins Hailey and Elle.

I was grateful that my Grandma was feeling well enough to come for Thanksgiving.  It made me so happy to have her there.  

Kayley and Mckenna had fun breaking the wishbone.  Mckenna ended up with the biggest piece.

Parker showed Grandma the pictures he found of her when she was little on Family Search.

We had lots of pie to eat that night.  There was apple, berry, pumpkin, raisin, chocolate mousse, and raspberry cream cheese!

We took a picture of Grandpa and Grandma with all the cousins.

Mckenna talked me into some Black Friday shopping that night at the outlets.  We went to the Vans outlet and a few other stores.  I got my best deal at the Columbia store. Parker needed a new coat for winter. I got it for 50 dollars and it was normally 120.  It was a fun night out with Kenna.  I took her picture in front of the real giant tree that they had.  It made me excited for Christmas in a month.

Piano recital

Parker and Halle played in Grandpa's piano recital on Monday November 20th.  It was at Riverton Music.

Parker played Pumpkin Boogie by Nancy and Randall Faber.  It was fun to hear him rock it with the band.

Halle played Journey by Camel by Nancy Faber.  It was her third piano recital.  She has improved a lot and is gaining more confidence when she plays.

Grandpa played Johnny Be Good with the band.  It is one of my favorite songs they perform!  It was a fun night with the family.  We also took the kids to get some ice cream on the way home.

Lots to be grateful for...

We made a grateful tree for FHE.  I admit that I got the idea from Pinterest.  It was a fun activity to do with the kids.  We were grateful for family, food, good health, friends, grandparents, and Shawn Mendes to name a few.  I loved seeing our thankful tree all month long. 

I took this picture of Addy watching Halle warming up in her Hip Hop class.  I am thankful that my girls love each other. Addy really looks up to her big sister Halle.

Cody invited Kev and Parker to go to the BYU football game with them.  It was on Saturday November 18th and they played UMass.  It was the last home game of the season.  They went early so they could hear cousin Kyle play in the Drum line.  They saw Aunt Tracey too.  Parker had a great time with Tucker and Gunner!

The kids had their primary program on Sunday November 19th.  I always enjoy hearing them sing and share their parts.  I am grateful for my calling as a Sunbeam teacher.  I have the cutest little class.  I was proud of them for doing such a good job on their first primary program.  My favorite song that we sang was Gethsemane.

Mckenna had Young Women In Excellence night on Wednesday November 29th.  She displayed all The Work and the Glory books that she read for her knowledge project.  It went above and beyond the 10 hour needed requirement.  I think she counted that she read over 5,000 pages.  She also accompanied the songs that night and made cookies.  It makes us happy to see Mckenna developing her talents and choosing to do good things with her life.

Halle's wax museum project

Halle had her fifth grade wax museum on Thursday November 9th. I was excited when she chose to do her research on Sacagawea. She worked hard on her board and memorizing her facts.

Her friend Rachel Strongo was also Sacagawea.  They got to stand by each other that night.  It was fun to look over and see them giving each other a high five.

Halle looked really cute in her costume! Her best friend Maddi was Annie Oakley.  It was fun walking around and seeing all the projects that night.

Parker's surgery

Parker had Orchiopexy surgery on Thursday November 9th.  It was outpatient surgery that he had done at Primary Childrens Riverton Hospital.  It was the first time that one of our kids has had surgery.  I was more nervous about the general anesthesia than the actual procedure.  Kev gave him a really nice blessing the night before and I know that it helped.  Parker was really nervous the day of the surgery and was pacing in the waiting room until it was his turn.  The Surgeon/Specialist that we met with was great.  He answered a lot of our questions before the surgery and that helped.  The procedure went really well and we were able to walk back to see Parker.  He was still asleep from the anesthesia when we went back.  The nurse told us that as soon as he heard the sound of our voices he would wake up.  He yawned, opened his eyes, and stretched.  He does this every morning when he wakes up and it was a comforting sight.  He also told us it was the best sleep he has ever had.  He kept snapping and giving us a thumbs up.

He kept making us laugh with how enthusiastic he was.  He told us the doctor was amazing and also the pillow that they gave him.

They wheeled him to another room to keep an eye on him and check his vitals.  I was surprised when they offered him food right away.  He had a root beer slushie, chocolate pudding, and oreos.  They basically gave him whatever he wanted.

He didn't have to stay long because he came off the anesthesia so well.  They wheeled him out to the car for us.  They told us that Parker was the happiest kid they had seen come through the OR.  We were very pleased with our experience there.  Parker got to miss school on Friday and stay home recovering.  He watched a lot of Marvel movies while he was home.  He also spent some time indexing some names for family history.  He indexed over 100 names.  He has taken it easy the last few weeks from anything strenuous and his recovery has gone really well.  We love our Parker!!