November

November was a maybe not so good month.  With all of us being sick, missing a lot of school, first big holiday not together as a family, it was HARD but we got through it and I really am thankful for what I have, the people that are in my life, all that we can do, and I am especially thankful for my two sweet kiddos.  Here are their school pictures.  Memphis 4th grade/Kayzee 2nd grade.

 I took this picture on November 6th! Yep.  The tree was up, shopping done, and presents wrapped and under the tree by November 6th!!!  I never put up my tree before Thanksgiving but everything was done and ready to go so we decided why not?!?!?!  My kids loved it.  It definitely helped me not be stressed about Christmas coming up and I got to really enjoy the holidays and relax.

 My kids got haircuts.  Kayzee just wanted a trim but the guy cutting her hair kept cutting it shorter and shorter and putting in layers and I wasn't paying attention.  Kayzee cried the whole way home.  She hated it.  But when we got home I styled it and the next day at school she got so many compliments from teachers and friends that she decided she liked it.  And I guess all her friends really liked it because 3 of them cut their hair short like hers.

 Memphis showed a picture of a haircut he really wanted but his haircut ended up nothing like the picture so he didn't like his either.  Maybe we need to start going somewhere else...

 Memphis drew this at school!  He is getting so good at art.  I was out doing recess duty and Memphis came running out to me in the middle of class because he had to show me.  Good job buddy!

 Memphis and Kayzee ended up going down to Blanding to stay with their grandma and grandpa Royer this year for Thanksgiving.  I knew we needed to have our own Thanksgiving before they left so we all took the day off of school on the Tuesday before and celebrated all day.  It was the best day ever.  Something I will always remember.  First we went to a park and played hide and seek.  I won every round!!!

 Next we went to the movies to see The Grinch.  Such a good movie!!!  Since it was $5 Tuesdays we decided to try out the D-Box seats...the seats that move and I am just glad my kids loved it and got to experience it because we are never doing it again!  I felt so nauseous the rest of the day I was kind of miserable.  Oh well, anything for my kids!  After the movie we went out to eat.  Best Thanksgiving Celebration ever, spending time with my kids.

 The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we got up and went to Funtopia because we still have some punches left on our punch card.  The slide was finally working yay!  Then my kids left for Blanding.

 This year for Thanksgiving I decided it was my Friendsgiving year.  My 3 best friends knew it would be hard for me to celebrate the Holiday alone so they each found ways to cheer me up.  Wednesday night after my kids left, Amy took me out and we went to the movies and out to eat.  It was a great night with lots of laughter and some tears.  On Thanksgiving in the morning I went up to Allison's house and took them one of my yummy chocolate pies.  We snacked and talked for awhile.  Then I went back home and went over to my neighbor's house to have Thanksgiving dinner with my friend Angela's family.  Yummy food!  I hate Black Friday shopping (probably because I had to work it for a few years) but since I didn't have my kids I decided to go try it out so later in the evening on Thanksgiving I went back out with my friend Allison.  I did find a few good deals so it was worth it.  Late night though and then I woke up early on Friday and went back out shopping with Angela.  Whew!  I was so tired after all that I went home and took a long nap!   I LOVE my friends.  They really helped me get through the holiday because it was really hard for me to not be with my kids.

All month long I had been suffering through a painful sinus infection.  I was putting off going into the doctor because I have had so many before and my experience in the past was they wouldn't give me an antibiotic unless it lasted longer than two weeks.  Well, the Saturday after Thanksgiving I woke up feeling fine but then around 11 I spiked a fever of 101.  It was so sudden and my throat was so painful  I knew I had strep.  Went to the doctor and I got diagnosed with a sinus infection, strep, AND a double ear infection.  UGH!  We tried to figure out where I got strep from and the doctor thinks from Black Friday shopping!  Maybe I shouldn't do that anymore...The doctor put me on two different antibiotics to treat the different infections.  I was still so miserable Sunday night so I got a sub for work and I actually ended up getting worse, my fever wouldn't break and the lymph nodes in my neck swelled up so much I couldn't sleep laying down it hurt so bad.  My doctor called in yet another antibiotic and this time he gave me a really strong dose and that finally kicked it.  I waited to go back to work till my fever broke and I could finally eat and get enough sleep to have enough energy so I missed a few days.  And the news for my future is...because I have had too many sinus infections and I have had strep too many times, I need to get my tonsils out and have a stent put in my sinus' to open them up.  It is a long recovery so I need to wait till summer so I don't miss 4-6 weeks of school so I really hope I am not sick all winter like all the past winters.  Lots of prayers!

 My kids came home from Blanding on that Saturday and they were so wonderful and took such good care of me while I was sick.  They were always checking on me and making sure to get me anything I needed.  I made them wash their hands a lot and tried to keep them out of my room as much as possible so they wouldn't get strep.  Luckily they didn't get it but they did get really bad colds and coughs so they didn't sleep well at night either so they missed a few days of school as well.  Memphis was so sweet and made Kayzee a get well card.

 So far we have all felt fine and haven't been sick since so we are so excited for Christmas!  It's going to be the best!  Just me and my kiddos celebrating a wonderful holiday together and keeping our traditions alive.  Happy Holidays everyone!

October

October was the BEST month ever because my family came to visit!!!!  I miss my family all the time and it's rare when we all can get together with us living in 3 different states.  Yay for Family!

First my brother, my sister Annalyn and her husband and their cute little James showed up!  They drove from Washington.  James is definitely not shy and just started cuddling with me.  He is such a cutie...

 I especially love his smile and laugh...

 My parents flew in from Washington and so did my sister Alicia and her little Max.  Max was super shy at first but he warmed up to everyone.  He sure loves his grandpa.

 Love this pic...

The reason my family all came to visit was for a very special reason...Kayzee was baptized!  I am so proud of her decision and I just love her so much.  She is so kind to everyone and is a hard worker.  We may or may not get into fights when she acts like a teenager ha ha but she still likes to snuggle with her mama and that my favorite thing about her.  October 13, 2018...

 The stake takes pictures of the kids being baptized with whoever is baptizing them.  Kayzee picked my dad, her grandpa Thorpe, to baptize her but I haven't received the picture yet.  They were really nice and let me take a picture with her though.

 Here is a picture of my mom and dad and those cute nephews of mine.  I can't believe we didn't take a picture with all of us.  I forgot at Memphis' baptism too.  oops...

 Kayzee picked her other grandpa, Grandpa Royer, to do the confirmation.  Kayzee is so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents who love her and support her.  We also had a party after at our house and had tons of family and friends coming over throughout the day to congratulate Kayzee on her special day.

 My twin sisters bought suits for their little boys for the baptism and without talking about it and with their twin brain connection realized they had bought the exact same suit!!!  Love it...

The day after the baptism most of my family were staying one more day so we all decided to go to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake.  It was COLD for October and there was SNOW!!!!  BRRRR.  But that just meant it was not crowded and I was surprised that there were more animals out than I thought.  Fun day with my family...and the zoo decorated for Halloween.

The next day my brother, sister, her husband, and my nephew James had to start the long drive home back to Washington.  It was sad saying goodbye.  My parents also flew home later that day.  

My other sister Alicia and her Max stayed for an entire week!  I got a sub for work and pulled my kids out of school and we had a week of fun filled days.  We tired to squeeze in everything my sister wanted to do while she was here.  First up...the haunted aquarium!

Max LOVES dinosaurs and he wanted to go to the dinosaur museum.  My kids didn't want to go because we have been there so many times, so I we dropped my sister and max off at the museum and me and my kids went to a painting studio.  

Last year my kids wanted to go to Cornbellys at Thanksgiving Point and we just didn't have time so I promised them we would go this year.  Perfect timing to bring my sister and Max along.  But this is the first and last time we will ever go.  Way too expensive and crowded!  Glad we got to experience it though.  

Had to say goodbye to my sister and her Max.  Max is growing up way too fast.  Miss my family!

And finally...HALLOWEEN!  This year Kayzee was a unicorn again this year but she got a different costume.  My favorite part is the Halloween parade at school.  

 Memphis chose to be Harry Potter!

 This year for trick or treating we had our Halloween tradition of the pumpkin shaped pizza and then the kids went trick or treating.  Their auntie Nita asked if she could take them so I stayed home and passed out candy.  They went on their scooters this year so they were home twice as fast as last year!  So nice:) I let them pick a ziplock baggie full of their favorite candy and then the kids had so much fun passing out the rest of their candy to the trick or treaters who came to our house.  We called it reverse trick or treating.  The kids said they had more fun doing that.  Win Win.  Less candy in our house.

 My sister and her Max for Halloween

 My other sister and her husband and James for Halloween!

 I went out with my best friend Amy for Witch's Night Out at Gardner Village (our tradition forgot to take pictures) and auntie Nita watched my kids for me.  She took them to hike the Y on the mountain  at night!  They loved it.

October was a great month!