Thanksgiving

   We were very lucky this year and got to celebrate Thanksgiving two times!  The first celebration occurred on the Monday before Thanksgiving.  We drove to Buena Vista to Joey's dad's house.  Don is an incredible cook and we always look forward to all of the amazing food he makes.  The kids are always very excited to see the horses too.
   As usual, Don made an incredible meal and we were definitely stuffed to the gills when we left.  We were very glad we got to celebrate Thanksgiving with Joey's side of the family.  It was a really nice day.

Papa and the kids

Checking out the yummy turkey

Gracie and me

Ashlyn visiting her favorite horses

Gracie loves to pet the horses

   Our actual Thanksgiving, was a busy one.  Even though we had only been in our house for a few weeks, we decided we wanted to host my family.  I worked really hard on the house to get it ready for  our big meal.  I also cooked like crazy, which I always enjoy.  I tried several new recipes that I thought turned out very well.
   While I was at home cooking, Joey started his day with a huge game of flag football with a bunch of his friends from high school.  He always enjoys catching up with old friends and getting to play some football.
    We ate in the early afternoon and it was a great meal. Despite just moving in, our first Thanksgiving went very smoothly.  I think we may have to host every year.  Next year, I hope to be able to squeeze in the Turkey Trot especially since it now goes right by our new house.
   We had so much to be grateful this year.  We are so beyond blessed to be in our dream house.  It was a lot of hard work and dedication to get here, but we are so thankful and blessed.  It is truly everything we have dreamed and hope for and more!  We have a new home, three healthy children, and so much else to be grateful for. To say we are thankful would be understatement.   God has definitely  blessed us immensely.

Joey with his friend Chris

Football time

Looks like quite the game they play

Trying to keep Gracie occupied in the kitchen while I cook.  

Gracie and Daddy

Gracie watching Gram (This is a special smoked turkey that Joey brought back from Texas.  That is why it looks so burnt.  It wasn't.  )

Mashing the potatoes

Time to cut the turkey

My grandma is the best at making gravy

The guys helped by watching football

The sun was very bright, so the picture is bad, but here is our table

Everyone ready to dig in

Best buds

I bet they are thankful for each other

Quick couple shot

Gracie got very tired by the time we ate

What Gracie did while we all ate.  (We saved a plate for her.)

Uncle Bryan had to work, so Gracie ate with him when we got to our house since they both missed the main meal.  

Ashlyn's Birthday

  Our wonderful, first born princess turned 9 years old in November. We are so very lucky to be Ashyln's parents.  She is such an amazing little girl.  Ashlyn is a very, very smart little girl. She is in Gifted and Talented at school and really excels in all subjects.  She is one bright little girl.
   Outside of school, Ashlyn is a very social and sweet girl.  She loves her cousin Ella so much and they are the best of friends.  Her interests are starting to mature a bit, but she still really enjoys her dolls and playing with Ella.  She is very creative and loves to create things all the time.  The other day she made a really neat purse for her doll out of a scrap of fabric and a stapler.  She likes to draw, paint, and color a lot.
   Ashlyn has a great sense of humor and is starting to become more and more witty which I really enjoy.  It has been such an incredible and humbling experience to watch her grow from a newborn with big brown eyes and a head full of hair, to a beautiful 9 year old with interests, talents, strengths, and dreams.  God has blessed us with such an incredible little girl that I am so proud to call my daughter.
   Her birthday was a little different this year because it fell right smack in the middle of our move.  Since we were in the middle of our huge move, we did not have a friend birthday party for her.  We celebrated with just family. We took her entire birthday off from moving so we could devote it to making it special for her.
   Ashlyn started her birthday with a special birthday pancake complete with frosting.  She requested it, and I couldn't say no to my birthday girl.
  Ashlyn chose to go to see the movie "Trolls" for her birthday.  She went to see it with her brother and her cousins.  Joey took them, and all reported that it was a great movie.  She spent the rest of the day playing with Ella.
   Like we do every year, Ashlyn chose to go to Red Robin for dinner.  She loves that restaurant and we don't go out to eat very often, so it was a special treat.  The entire family came to celebrate and it was a perfect birthday dinner for her.  Since we were still staying with my parents, we went back to their house for cake and presents.  Ashlyn requested a huge chocolate cake for her birthday.  It was pure deliciousness!
    After cake, Ashlyn got showered will lots of presents.  She is definitely one lucky little girl!  Even though it wasn't a very big birthday celebration this year, Ashlyn still had a great day and I think we did a good job of making it special for her and honoring the birth of our first born princess.

Birthday pancake time

All dressed up and ready for her birthday dinner

Dinner at Red Robin.  I love her smile so much in this picture.  She is such a beautiful girl.  

Dinner time. Can you tell the Broncos played that day? 

Ashlyn with her Uncle Steven

Present time

Reading her special handmade card from Ella

Ashlyn is a very giggly girl and loves to laugh

Joey did an amazing job of capturing her immense beauty in this picture.  She is so beautiful inside and out.  

Making her wish