November THankful Thoughts...

As we move into the Christmas Season, I have a LOT to be thankful for. Just a couple I've thought of the last few weeks.

1. Cloths from sister -- I was getting much too big and didn't want to spend ANY more money. Of course my sister has the cutest things and was very generous to send out an entire suitcase full of Maternity cloths for me to borrow. Now if I could just have a girl so I could get all my nieces cloths too!! :)
2. christmas ideas from sisters -- I hate coming up with Christmas friend gifts -- and really ANY gifts. I don't mind spending money (much to Taylor's dismay) but I hate deciding what to give -- thanks to my sister and sister in law for their creativity this year.
3. free country -- Just glad I can worship and vote how I want. I hope I never take for granted what we have here in America. My Taiwanese companions used to say -- it's the only place in the world where if you Work Hard, you can Make something of Yourself. I met many hard workers in Taiwan that just scrapped by. We are living in a land of opportunity (although it's tough to realize that sometimes in the current state of the economy).
4. Little boys and their never ending enthusiasm for life!
5. One more day until I can say -- I'm having this baby next month. :)

The final days of November and FALL

So... Fall was beautiful, but very short lived around here. Thanksgiving weekend weather was super and marked the official ending of Fall for us here in Columbus. We decided to rake our gazillion leaves, before the ground was frozen and the leaves were covered in snow and ice.


The boys had a great time helping dad and diving into the pile. Oh, the little pleasures of being young. It's always fun for me to see them enjoying life. -- Of course I was inside where it was nice and cozy -- but it sure looked like fun out there! :) Thanks to Taylor for getting the job done -- if you've ever seen our back yard tree you know it took some effort to rake them all


Now you see them.... Now you don't!

Thanksgiving Day Events!

We had a great thanksgiving. It was great weather and great friends to share it with.

The morning always starts with The Turkey Trot for me. It's normally a 5 mile run, but this year they had a 2 miler and that was PERFECT for my prego belly. It was definitely a walk/trot run for me. I still won a pumpkin pie which made it all worth it. :) Thanks Amber for going slow with me!! It's much more fun to run with a friend. And I know it was a sacrifice for her to contain her competitiveness in races!

The "BOYS" always start the day with the Turkey Bowl. Taylor looks forward to this activity all year long -- it was great weather and great competition this year. He was well pleased!

Then we got ready and went to a Thanksgiving Feast with our friends the Dehners. Mike's parent live just a few minutes away, and so we got to eat with a big family, in a nice big house, yummy homemade food, and the kids LOVED playing with uncle Chaddy (as they call Mike's brother-in-law). What else do you need on Thanksgiving?.....

Gingerbread houses!

Mike's mom Shawn (pictured above) bought all the kids gingerbread house kits and the kids (and me) REALLY enjoyed decorating them. Luke mostly just enjoyed eating the candies but hey it's thanksgiving and that is definitely what HE is thankful for.

The night was topped off with a fun movie at the theatre to REALLY tire the kids out. If only little Morgan wouldn't have gotten the stomach flu it would have been a success for all families involved that day! (but, luckily NO one else got it). Happy Thanksgiving to you ALL!!

YAY, Grandma Heaton is Here.

We just love when family comes to visit. Especially Grandmas and Grandpa. Taylor interviewed this weekend at BYU and I was dreading staying home a lone again while he was gone. My mom called a few days before Taylor left and said, "I found great tickets and I'm coming out!" It made my day. and my boys starting preparing all the things we were going to do when she got here.


Of course we hit the ground running with all our shopping and projects I had for her to help me with. The time flew by!

The boys enjoyed showing Grandma their school, going to COSI (and seeing the new Sesame Street exhibit), and really loved that Grandma treated us to Chuck E. Cheese - the highlight of course. Jake was pretty set on decorating "Turkey Hand" cookies with grandma -- they actually turned out a lot cuter than they look here.



Here is a picture of my mom helping me make a going away gift for Jake and Ali Crockett. Jake was a great little helper - and enjoyed the cutting and sewing with a front row seat! Thanks mom for making this week (that I was dreading) into something I looked forward to and enjoyed! I loved staying up late chatting about all the things going on in my life and listening to your wise advise. Even though we live far apart -- I kind of like that you have to come and stay 100% with us when you come. They are special visits and we all were sad to see you go!

The going away gift is because we just found out last week that our great friends, the Crocketts, are moving. Jake Crockett was offered a fantastic job in Utah and they are leaving next week to get there and find a place to live before he starts in January.

Even though they are moving to Utah and we will most likely see them more there than if they were staying here long term, it is so hard to say goodbye. Little Lukie won't have his best buddy Noah anymore and Jake just for the life of him can't understand why everyone is moving out and no one is moving in.

I will miss Ali's stable-ness. That doesn't sound like a real compliment, but it is. Taylor really appreciates my friends that are just grounded and rational. He worries I get too uptight about things and likes when I have "no drama" influences around me. Ali is a great cook, entertainer, and homemaker. She is yet another friend whose house is always immaculate (you'd think with all these organized friends, I'd pick up a few habits). I can ask her for anything and she is always willing. Jake Crockett, or Big Jake as our kids refer to him (to eliminate confusion between our Jacob and him), will also be missed. It's not easy to find a couple that both wives and husbands enjoy equally, and this is the Crocketts for us! They will definitely be missed by us and all the people they've touched here in Columbus.

Me at 30 weeks..

I hate these pictures -- but I actually have NONE with this baby. I am usually good about taking monthly pictures. Anyway -- this shirt is pretty busy so you can't really even see the size of my belly. But it's big right on track to gain my usual 50 pounds! :) Anyway, my sister keeps begging for pics so here you all go. I've been feeling great and just am so excited for a little one in our home.

Finding fun in the little things...

Morgan, Myles, and Jacob

The other day after leaving the gym, Jake asked if he could walk through the forest. Apparantly the lanscape in the parking lot of tall grass reminded him of diego and his forest adventures. The grass was all completely dead for the winter, so I only felt a little bad about letting them trudge through it for a few minutes. I couldn't believe how much fun they had climbing through the dead shrubs. At the end they found some nice comfy dead grass to lie on, and I caught this cute picture. It's nice to see such simple things can make a kid smile.

The right to vote!

I am grateful I live in a free country. I am hoping that the majority vote won't lead us astray. I have high hopes for Obama running this nation, and although I had reservations -- I am grateful for the democracy we live in and will pray diligently that we can move in a better direction with him in leadership. What an amazing day for our country to have him named as the next president. We are presently living and bettering our history!

Some funny saying from Jake on the elections:
Jake - "who did you vote for mom?"
me -- "McCain"
Jake -- "really? but Barack Obama speaks so well."
It's true -- I do hope his charisma and presence will help in our international
relationships.

another:
Jake - "after Obama is president, will Senator McCain be president?"
Taylor - "no. After Obama is president for 4 years we will all vote again. So, when you are 8 years old, we will vote again on president."
Jake - "well, I don't know what to do. I really want to vote, but I want to get baptized too."
We just laughed at that. I think Jake thinks getting baptized is going to take his whole 8th year of life! :) I also didn't want to disappoint him and tell him he doesn't get to vote anyway. So cute.