Zoo Lights

Even though we have had a pass to the zoo for a few years now, we have never been to zoo lights.  It just seemed too crowded and cold.  We decided to go this year so we could sneak in some more time with the Fords.
It was the perfect night to go.  It was so warm!  I couldn't believe how warm it was.  For a while, Enoch even took off his coat.  And, since we went one Booster night, it wasn't too crowded.  We were so spoiled!  It really was a fun way to start off our Christmas celebrating.
We saw a lot of lights:

 We danced to Christmas music:

We rode the carousel.  And we did see a few animals.  Greg was disappointed we didn't see more, but they were all asleep.  The bats in the reptile house were pretty creepy at night and the tiger was up and going.
It was such a fun night and I am so glad we went.

The Tree

I love getting our Christmas tree.  It signals the beginning of the season.  I love the smell.  I love walking into the kitchen in the early morning and having the glow of the tree light up the room.  I love sitting on the couch in the late evening, with the lights off, and having the glow of the tree light up the room.  It's magical!
We always get our tree at Smith's.  I know - it would be amazing if we hiked through the woods and cut down our own tree, but realistically, that is never going to happen.  Smith's has a great selection and good prices.
After we get it home, it's the process of standing it up straight with the least amount of bare spots showing.  Everyone has an opinion!

 And then the lights.  Yuck!  I make Greg do the lights.  This year we did spurge and replaced our multicolored lights with white lights.  They match our ornaments better and it just looks so pretty!  We accidentally bought white lights with white wire.  Greg was so brave and returned them to Target and bought lights with green wire on Black Friday.  He said the lines weren't too bad.  Thanks, sweetie!
And, then the decorating.  Everyone's favorite part.

Greg gets to put on the star every year (despite Enoch's whining), because he is the Dad (and I make him put on the lights.  There needs to be some kind of compensation for that!).

So beautiful!

(This picture was taken a few days after we initially decorated the tree.  You can see the bottom is already a bit disheveled!) 

Thanksgiving

This was my view for Thanksgiving dinner.  Beautiful!  We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Fowlers this year at Grandpa Dee's cabin.  It was a great year to be in the canyon - not too much snow to make it difficult to drive in, but enough to feel festive.
Dinner was delicious.  It was a bit tricky to get all the food up there, keep it warm and get it ready to serve, but we did it.  We brought sweet potatoes and the relish tray.  Gavin could only stay for 45 minutes before he had to head down for work, but he was able to snag some turkey, mashed potatoes and rolls before the rest of us ate.
After eating, we headed home, relaxed, watched a movie and had a great time doing much of nothing.  It was a fun day to spend with family.

We are Thankful

We were not as consistent with our Thanksgiving gratitude chain this year, but we did get in a few days.  So, in no particular order - we are thankful for...

Greg
tithing
Brandon Sanderson
job
Gavin
all good things I have
Grandpa Dee
house
Tresa

Tresa
bedtime
chocolate chip cookies
Steeneck family
Greg
Kate
Enoch
Book of Mormon
quilts
seat heaters
Gavin
good doctors
Guard

Gavin
(Apparently Gavin isn't grateful for anything this year!)

Enoch
BYU
beds
Coal
pillow
animals
school
spirit animals
Minecraft
the earth!
food
glasses
fresh food
cardboard

Kate
wolves
Valentine's Day
Mom & Dad
Coal
my blanket
Guard
stuffed animals
house
school
family

Guard
playing chase
kisshugs
horses & chickens
Legos
Mom
nursery
Wild Kratts
Ned
underwear
dinosaurs

Randall Christmas 2.0

Greg called this get-together the Randall Christmas 2.0.  We first celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa in St. George over Labor Day.  Now we are celebrating with the Fords over Thanksgiving.  It just spreads out the fun!
This year we decided to do a cousin gift exchange.  All the kids had a great time opening their gifts and they all liked what they received.
Gavin didn't want to participate in the exchange, but he still got some Roxberry gift cards from the Fords.

 Enoch got a natural disasters book and a solar powered robot from Brynnley.

Kate got a kit to make paper beads from Carson.

Guard got a puzzle with a robot and his name on it from Lucy.

Enoch gave Brynnley a voice changer megaphone.  Kate gave Lucy some dress-up crowns.  Guard gave McKay some animal crackers and a Bubble Guppies book.
After presents, we visited, played with toys, frosted cookies and had a great time being together.  It was so fun to have the Fords home.

 During the party, Guard got a hold of the camera and got some great shots.

Merry Christmas, again!

Scattered Thoughts

1.  Greg and Enoch are a bit worried about their bees.  It's going to be a cold winter.  One hive isn't doing too well and we are all hoping it will pull through.  (Greg is winterizing the hives.)

2.  Kate lost her first tooth.  At least the first tooth that fell out on its own (she lost one when she was two when it was knocked out).  She was very excited!  It was really bothering her and so loose, so she asked Greg to pull it out.  He popped it out without much effort.  The tooth fairy left her a dollar and she was so excited!

3.  I've been gathering ideas for Christmas.  Enoch has a few things he is asking for.  Guard wants a camera.  Kate keeps telling me she has everything she needs and can't think of anything she wants.  Oh, Kate!  You are awesome!

Museum of Natural Curiosity

My kids love this museum.
We have gone a quite a bit since it has opened and each time the kids find something new to do amid the crowds and craziness.
Enoch loves Kidopolis.  Kate loves the Jungle.  And Guard loves Water Works.  I love seeing them have fun and exploring.  Something for everyone.
We went back in July as a farewell to the Fords before their big move to St. Louis.  We had a great time, but it was bittersweet.

While the Fords were back in Utah visiting for Thanksgiving, we knew this had to be on our list again.  The kids had just as much fun and it was like Carson and Brynnley had never left.  It's great to have cousins like that.

Thanks Museum of Natural Curiosity to give us a place to play and reconnect

Appendixless

Since Gavin doesn't talk to us much these days, we had no idea that he had been sick.  He finally called Greg from school and asked to be checked out because he had spent the last hour dry-heaving in the bathroom.  When Gavin got home, he told us he hadn't slept or eaten in two days because he was having intense pain in his abdomen.  Can you please just tell us this!?
Greg took him to the doctor, who diagnosed him with appendicitis and sent him to the hospital for x-rays.  The radiologist confirmed the diagnosis and Gavin was immediately admitted to American Fork Hospital.  Greg stayed with him while I took care of things at home.  I called Annette and she volunteered to take the kids and have them for as long as we needed!  She is a lifesaver!  I don't know what we would do without them.
After dropping the kids off at the Steenecks, I went to the hospital.  We didn't know exactly when Gavin was going in for surgery, but we were told it could be anytime.  He was doing well and playing on his phone when I got there (the only thing he requested from home was his charger).  They put him in the children's ward and he was quite a bit long for the beds.

 

Greg and Gavin got to the hospital at about 2.  I got there around 4.  Gavin finally went into surgery at 7:30 pm.  He was a bit worried, but put on a brave face.  I gave him a kiss goodbye and they wheeled him off.

Greg and I grabbed some dinner while he was under and scarfed it down because we weren't sure how long he would be. 

 His surgery was a bit longer than usual to remove appendixes because his was twisted up and around and had attached to the wall of his intestine.   His surgeon, Dr. Patterson, seemed excited to have discovered that and went into detail about it.  I just wanted to know if he was okay.  He was.

He spend about 30 minutes in recovery before they wheeled him back to his room.  He was a bit loopy, but actually came out of the anesthesia quite quickly.

He kept complaining that his mouth was very dry and that he couldn't hear without his contacts in. 
It only took him about an hour before he was up and walking around.

Once he passed all the criteria for being discharged, he choose to come home (they gave him the option of staying until morning).  Greg and Gavin got home about midnight (I came home at ten, so Annette could get home and get some sleep).
He slept well that night and has recovered remarkably well.  He only took two Lortab, went to school on Monday and back to work on Wednesday.  It has all seemed too easy for surgery.  He has three small incisions that are healing well.  Aside from soreness, he is doing great.

Enoch and Mom date

It has become a tradition at Eaglecrest Elementary to see a movie at Thanksgiving Point Megaplex for their mother/son date.  I think it is a great idea.  Enoch loves it.
This year we watched Big Hero 6.  I wasn't sure what to expect when it started, but it was a very fun movie.  Enoch really liked it.  He laughed, he covered his eyes, he jumped in his seat and he laughed some more.
We had a great time!  Thanks for going with me, Enoch!  I love you!

(We aren't very good at selfies!)
And look who we saw working at Megaplex?!

First Snowfall

My kids always look forward to the first snowfall of the year - no matter how much or how little.

 It's something that they haven't seen for months.  It signals change in their world.  They love playing in the snow.  And...Mom makes homemade hot chocolate to go along with breakfast.

Enoch is convinced homemade hot chocolate is the absolute best thing in the world.  He always lists it as his favorite food.  He loves it!
So do the rest of us.

Sorting

It was a sad day for Guard when Enoch and Kate went to school.  Now he has to stay home with mom.  She is boring.
I'm using all my ideas to keep Guard entertained during the school day.  It can be challenging.  He would be perfectly happy sitting in front of the TV all day watching Kratts and Diego, and some days it is tempting to let him do that.  But, we play Legos, read books, go for walks, play dinosaurs, build forts, try to clean and anything else I can think of that will keep him busy.
Today, we sorted.

Guard really liked it and had a lot of fun.  Truthfully, he enjoys dumping out the muffin tins when they are full and then throwing the marbles all over the family room.  Perhaps that is why we haven't done it since.  We'll try it again.

Family Pictures