Thanksgiving

Let me just start by saying that I love the holidays. There is such a good feeling associated with all aspects of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love Thanksgiving for many reasons. I love the smell of pumpkin spice and apple cider, I love the colors of the falling leaves, and I love being able to really focus on what I am thankful for. 

This year was definitely a success, I hosted dinner at my house. With Hannah working that night I felt I could handle having only two couples in the house. I don't have dinner parties very often (if ever) due to the fact that we usually end up eating on our laps. Well this year for Thanksgiving we ate on the coffee table and a great time was had by all. I decided to cook cornish hens instead of turkey. I didn't want all the left overs and I also didn't want to have a turkey in the oven ALL day. The cornish hens were great, I will definitely cook them again. We had all the normal fixings, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rolls. I forgot a vegetable (o well). There is nothing well balanced about holiday food so I wont try and kid myself that adding a vegetable to Thanksgiving dinner makes it healthy. I also made and apple and pumpkin pie. I was going to get a Costco pumpkin pie but with only 6 people who needs all that pie. Both pies turned out so good, I don't know if I will ever buy Costco pumpkin pie again. We ate and played heads up/charades and had an awesome time. 

What we are thankful for this year:

Our family of course, especially Ellie. Although little Ellie brings me to tears multiple time a week she is such a joy to have around. Our life would be so boring without her. 

Jared's job, he is loving it, and they are loving him. The company treats their employees really well and he has a great manager. 

Jared's/Our business. Jared's business is going so well, he is doing a ton of freelance design, web design and of course photography. We are so blessed to have the extra income. My little business of crocheting is booming too, I have been crocheting like crazy these last few weeks. 

Our home. We are getting to maximum capacity in our place, but we will hold out a bit longer. We love living here in Pleasant Grove and love our ward and neighborhood. 

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, we miss our huge family get togethers, but with the increase in children I guess it makes up for the lack of adults. 

I love the way this garland turned out. Just twine and ribbon and some hot glue. So cute!

Ellie's felt tree. I thought she would be more interested in it, maybe next year.

Our gratitude tree that we have done the last two years.

Ellie didn't eat anything related to thanksgiving dinner, mac n cheese it is. 

The aftermath, Jared helped me clean the whole kitchen and then we passed out on the couch!

My 20 Month Old Maniac

The days are getting colder and that sadly means more time inside. 

 This child of mine........... it's hard to describe a child isn't it. They are complicated creatures! I still can't believe that she is a toddler, that happened way too fast. Ellie continues to be one determined little spit fire. She is in to absolutely everything and finds everything but her toys entertaining. She is really into climbing, her new favorite spot is the fireplace hearth, when it's all too quite in the living room you know she has weaseled her way up there. We have since booby trapped it. She follows me everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE. She hates it when I stand at the stove and cook. She will stand between me and the stove and push me away. SIGH. I am REALLY feeling the effects of the semester, I will be so happy to have Jared home in the evenings again. He is my tag team partner, and I need to be tagged out by about 5pm. 

I have been trying to get creative with some activities for Ellie and we have been making frequent trips to the craft store. She's been enjoying it so far, and it makes me feel like a better mom too, I'm not just turning the TV on. She is currently obsessed with her stuffed animals, she particularly likes her stuffed cow. She plays make believe with them, cleans them, feeds them, it's adorable. It's amazing how her little mind functions. We are super excited about Christmas this year with Ellie, we know she will be excited about opening presents, and Jared and I are doing our best to not spoil her too much. 

                          

In other news, Jared is loving his job. He was able to photograph some architecture in downtown Salt Lake and everyone in the office loved them. The semester is almost over, he just has a few more projects to finish. For one class he interviewed a World War II vet that is in out Ward. It was a great opportunity and Jared got some great material. 

I have been crocheting a bunch, I have had some people places orders so I have been busy. I hosted book club at my house last week, I made apple crisp (which was a hit) and we never stopped talking for over an hour. That's what happens when you get woman together. I also got called to the Primary Presidency in our ward, I am second counselor. I feel honored to have this calling, I have been teaching primary for a year and love it so this is an exciting next step. It is a bit overwhelming but I look forward to everything that goes along with it.  

Halloween

When pondering what Ellie should be for Halloween I drew on inspiration from her favorite show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Super easy, no sewing involved! Just a tiger costumer and a red sweatshirt and some whiskers. She was by far the cutest Daniel Tiger I ever did see. We had a great time at our ward Halloween party that I actually helped decorate (I'm on the activity committee). Then on Halloween we went to a little get together in the cul-de-sac. No trick or treating this year, Ellie just didn't get it and Jared had class so I didn't want to go alone. So she ate a total of 2 pieces of candy, which I feel is sufficient and we called it a night.  She sure looked cute though and thats what really matters. 

Alpine Loop & Squaw Peak

We decided to drive the Alpine Loop one last time before the road closed. The rest of Utah Valley also had this same idea. We missed most of the fall colors but it was still a beautiful drive. On the way down Provo Canyon we drove up to Squaw Peak to make out...not really. (squaw peak is known as a make out spot). I had never been up there and it was such an amazing view of Utah Valley! Love having Jared home on the weekends ALL DAY!

Most of these were taking by Jared.

The next three pictures....LOVE!