Getting back into our routine

Well we have almost been back from our trip 2 weeks now, and I feel like we are finally getting things back on track. We got home just in time for Thanksgiving. We thought we were going to spend the day at some of my friends that live here in California. Anyways, I am figuring out more and more that things don't always work out the way you plan. We ended up at our house having dinner with just our little family. My highlight of my meal was the fruit turkey I made. ( I am a little sad that I couldn't post a picture of my cutest turkey. Later on that day we went to the park, and my camera fell and got broken. The positive side of this story is that I got a new camera for an early christmas present :)). Anyways, it ended up being a very memorable Thanksgiving. It was nice that we got to spend it with Brett. He even got most of the weekend off as well. Since he did have some time off we had a friend take some family pictures for us. I didn't post the one that we are using for our Christmas cards, so you'll just have to wait to see the cutest one when I get your Christmas cards sent out. :) Other than that we just kind of had a relaxing weekend. The highlights of this week have been getting some good workout in before my race next week, and a little cooking day with some friends. We each prepared meals for our family and my four other friends' familys. When we finished we all took home 5 prepared meals. It was awesome.We each have three kids each and most of the kids were there. I tried to get a picture of most of the kids, but I think 7 were missing. We were suppose to freeze them but I kind of cheated because I have already used 2 of them and it has only been 2 days. Anyways, whatever works is what I say.

Blast Off and More

We went to Blast Off on our last day in Idaho
before we headed
to Utah. The children

loved it. It is a big indoor
playground with a cute,

larger, and fun dress up room.

After Blast Off my parents watched the kids while Kelsi and I went to a spin class. We got home at 9:00 and then my parents wanted to give the girls their Christmas presents.(Needless to say we had a last night, which the girls loved). One of the gifts was a big pink bag. Aubrey and Brynn loved it because they could get inside them. My parents spoiled the kids. We had so much fun with them. Thanks for everything mom and dad!

We then headed back to Utah for our last few days of our trip. It was so nice staying at the Banks. They were so good to let me come and go. We kept super busy seeing family and friends.

I saw some of my old college friends. Michelle, Sunny, Reggie, Amber, and I got together with all of our children (11 children) at Sunny's house. It was a great time. Thanks Sunny!

We then went and visited Brett's grandma Phyllis. She is such a great grandma. Brayden loved it because she was letting him play with her box of Lifesavers.

Brynn loved playing with grandma and grandpa's adopted cat.

I went to dinner with two of my dear friends Kara and Andrea. These two girls have known me since grade school and Junior High. I am so thankful for good friends that are haved loved me through thick and thin. I am also thankful for my father in law who watched all my kids so I could enjoy a night out. Thanks Alan! (And thanks Sharon for watching my kids every morning so I could work out! :)

One of Brynn's highlight is hanging out with her cousin Bridger. They are only about a month apart and they love being with each other. It is so cute. I am so glad we got to go out and see all of our family and friends. Thanks to all of you for making this such a great trip. It made all the long hours of traveling worth it. (For all of you that I didn't get to see this trip I hope I can see you at Christsma).

Hanging out at the Johnsons

We have been having so much fun here in Idaho. All of our days have been so busy. Last night we served dinner to my brother Shane and his girlfriend Christy in the tree house. The girls got to be the waitresses. They loved it. ( I think they especially loved it because the dinner didn't even start until 10:00 pm). We also went to the Bee movie with my brother, sister and mom. Another nice thing was my and me got to do a session at the temple. One morning we spent in the dentist office. The girls really like the dentist for one because it is their grandpa and another they get to pick a lot of prize because the assistant don't want to tell them "no" because they are the grand kids. The girls and me are really the only ones that got our teeth fixed, but I had to have Brayden just sit in the chair. My dad said his two teeth looked great. :)The picture of the girls holding the cookies is right after they just got their teeth cleaned. My dad told then they didn't have any cavities and then he rewarded them with huge cookies. I thought it was pretty funny. Other than that the girls just love playing in the leaves and hanging out with their grandma and grandpa and aunt Kelsi.

Loving the fall weather in Utah and Idaho

We decided to make a trip to Utah and Idaho. I just couldn't miss coming home during my favorite season. We left on Saturday, and got to the Banks exactly 12 hours later. I wasn't sure if me and the kids could do it by ourselves, but we made it safe and sound. We had fun with the Banks on Sunday and Monday. The first thing the girls wanted to do was ride the Jeep. We are never prepared enough for how cold it is here. Luckily Grandma Sharon had gloves and jackets for the girls. We also got to go to my brother in laws 30th birthday party. Some of my brother and friends came over to the Banks for the party. We had a great time. On Monday Grandpa Alan took the kids on a lawn mower ride. Then Brynn decided to take Brayden on a little lawn mower ride. Brayden actually loved it. Then later that day we loaded back up. Brynn was in tears first because she had to leave grandma and grandpa and second because she said she didn't want to have to be in the car again. She said it was going to take "forever" to get to grandma and grandpa's house. Anyways, we made it to my parent. It was so fun seeing them. Then that night we went to my sister soccer banquet. My sister Kelsi is a very good devoted soccer player so it was fun to go and support her in her stuff. Then this morning the girls played in the leaves and picked apples. Cute Brayden just sat in his stroller and played with leaves. The girls love playing in my parent yard. My parents live in the country, so they have so much yard to play in. It is a little different then our patio backyard. My parent have a tree house, playground, soccer field, etc, etc. Anyways, and the last picture is the kids going to bed. There bedtime is always so much later than at home. They love that. It has been so fun to see my family and friends. It always feels so good to get back in touch with my roots. I will probably be posting more than usually because this is how Brett is seeing the pictures. (Cute Brett has to stay home and work, work, work. Thanks Brett for working so we can play).

Halloween Fun

To end our day off we went trick or treating with our friends the Mannings. It was the first time the girls have ever gone tricker treating door to door. They really liked it. The only problem is they got TOO much candy:)

Brayden slept though the party, but he woke up for the dancing after the party. He didn't love his bat baby costume, but he sure looked cute in it.

Brynn had a fun party at her school. She has such a great teacher. Here she is with Ms. Ruby, as Snow White. We got to go and help out with her party. We love parties!

This is Aubrey's little Halloween party. They made little craft, and then tricker treated around to little stations. Aubrey was so cute walking around because she wore Ariel shoes that were like 5 times to big for her, and they made this loud click. She was a cute princess.

Here is Aubrey at her mom and tot preschool. She made the little basket, and then she got a muffin. ( It was a really a chocolate cupcake, but she calls them muffins).

The girls love holding the starfish at Sea World.

On some of the rides they have little lego playing areas for the kids that aren't big enough for the ride. Aubrey and Brayden enjoyed many of these places. (Look how big Brayden is getting. It won't be long before he passes up Aubrey).

There are these Yummy apple fries at Legoland that Brett loves, and now Brayden loves them. (Like father like son)

Brett's good friend Greg Larson came into town, and we went with him and his family to Legoland and Sea World. It was so fun. It was so great spend time with their family. We wish they lived closer. The girls wanted to wear the costumes to Legoland, but they decided to just wear regular clothes to Sea World.

We had a great ward trunker treat. We had a wonderful carnival and the the kids loaded up on the candy from all the cars.

We had a fun Halloween party at our friends the Spurgiesz. We carved pumkins and decorated cookies. The kids had so much fun.