A Lot To Be Thankful For

We were so grateful to be able to spend Thanksgiving weekend with my family. We made the long drive to Utah...and it was definitely worth it. We had a lot of fun in the four days we were there, and the girls surprised us on how relatively well they did on the long car ride.

We arrived late Wednesday afternoon and were greeted by almost my entire family that had come from as far as California, and as near as down the highway a few miles. After unloading the car, it was already time for our first holiday outing. We bundled up and headed to Heber Canyon with my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. There we took a ride on the "Polar Express" (a train normally called the Heber Creeper that they deck out with Christmas decorations.) We took about an hour and a half train ride to the "North Pole" and back while we were served hot cocoa and cookies, listened to The Polar Express (the book) read aloud, and were even visited by Santa Clause and his wife! As you can imagine, Grace had a magical time. She loved the idea of riding on a train and looked around constantly with wide eyes. When Santa asked Grace what she wanted for Christmas she replied, "A bell." (Having just heard the story that was fresh on her mind.) She was delighted when Santa handed her a bell (as he did to every other child on the train as well.)

Grace and Eve had so much fun playing with their cousins. It was so enjoyable to have all of the Grandkids together at one time. I don't think that has ever happened before. Aaron and I also had fun visiting, shopping, and playing basketball with my family. We had a beyond delicious Thanksgiving dinner and pie galore. I am so thankful for Thanksgiving and the opportunity it gives me to reflect on my many, many blessings.

In Her Shoes

Just before she turned one, Eve got her very first pair of shoes. Whenever it's time to put them on she laughs with excitement, because she knows it means she gets to go outside to play, on a walk, or on some other outing. Sometimes she'll even bring them to me and hold them up to signal her desire to put them on.

Her little shoes get quite a lot of wear and tear from all that she does in them. I can't believe how big she is when I watch her keeping up with her sister as they play in the backyard. Eve runs all over the place, collects sticks and rocks, climbs the ladder to the top of the play structure, slides down the slide, and tries to ride Grace's bike (she climbs on and sits there waiting for something to happen!) I think she's officially moved from baby to toddler.

Halloween

Our Halloween started pretty early with a playgroup costume party in the morning. Grace dressed up as a fairy-princess and Eve as a frog. The kids had a fun time playing games and making Halloween crafts. It was especially cute to see Grace and her friends comparing their costumes and acting like whatever they were dressed up as. Afterwards we went to Halloween story time at the library. It was packed with little firemen, princesses, animals, butterflies, and Elmos (to name a few.) There were so many kids there! Grace and Eve had a fun time listening to the stories, dancing to the music, and watching a spooky puppet show. Later that night we put the girls' costumes back on and enjoyed more games and "trunk-or-treating" at our ward Halloween party. This is the first year that Grace has really gotten into all the festivities...so it was a lot of fun.