Our Thanksgiving was really quiet and chill this year!
Because it was just the two of us this year we decided that we
didn't really feel like being in the kitchen all day - so we headed
to our favorite restaurant on the river - Tap Rock!
We were both surprised at just how busy it was for being Thanksgiving,
but we were in good company and we had a tasty, easy meal!!
It was SO beautiful outside so we walked around and snapped a few pics ...
We came back home and skyped with some of our family and enjoyed our time together!
Our November 2013 Gratitude List
We are grateful for: 11/1 - C: her i-pod for giving her music to sing
along to while driving to Selma for work. N: a day off that included
pizza! 11/2 - the opportunity that we have to spend the evening together
because we haven't seen much of each other lately due to our work
schedules! 11/3 - We are grateful for the extra hour that we got to
spend together this morning before Nate had to go to work!! 11/4 - easy
dinners in the form of Safeway Deli Sandwiches! 11/5 - Nate getting off
30 minutes early so we can see each other for a bit before going to
bed!! 11/6 - Truth time: Things have been emotional at our house for the
last month or so. We have loved ones going through difficult times and
we miss Rascal and our jobs are adding a certain amount of stress on us -
it may sound cliche, but we are grateful for each other. We are
grateful that we know how to make each other laugh through our tears and
enjoy the little things through this emotional time. Yes, we are
grateful for each other. 11/7 - we are grateful for FRIENDS - for making
us laugh, for being predictable and being our favorite 'comfort' show!!
11/8 - Nate FINALLY had a Friday off and we got to go on a nice date to
Tap Rock! It was delicious and nice to get out of the house together!!
11/9 - The discovery that 'Chuck' was finally on Netflix and that we had
a WHOLE day off to watch it together! 11/10 - C: grateful for phone
calls with best friends and a productive day. N: the end of a 12 hour
shift!! 11/30 - well I kind of slacked on this list, didn't I? I went on
my trip to Utah and came back exhausted and feel like I am just now
catching up on my life ... we really do have a lot to be grateful for
and we are fortunate that we know it. There are so many people in this
world who take what they have for granted and I pray that I will never
be one of those people. We have been so blessed this past year in our
new life in Oregon and we know that this is exactly where we are
supposed to be at this point in our lives. We are grateful for this life
that we have together!!
I can't believe that you have been gone for two months - it has been such a crazy two months - we have had a lot going on. I took a trip to Utah a few weeks ago and when I got back, your daddy took me to lunch. As we were driving, I told him that I almost asked him if you missed me and if you did okay while I was gone - any time I have gone away from any length of time I always knew I could come back and you'd be so happy to see me. I feel like we are used to not seeing you every day but to go away and come back it was weird for me that you were not here.
I did something this morning that we have never been able to do before. I bought a Poinsettia for Christmas. I love Poinsettia's so much - I think that they are so beautiful, but they are also dangerous to little kitties like you because they are poisonous and I knew without any doubt that I wouldn't be able to keep you out of it. The Poinsettia is sitting on my table and looking at it is bitter sweet - it is beautiful and it does bring me Christmas cheer, but it also reminds me of the reason that I was able to buy it - it's kind of a double edged sword.
Today I'm listening to Christmas music and pulling out the tree and the decorations. It's going to be a quiet Christmas without having to get after you every time I see you attacking the tree and/or the ribbons on the gifts that will be under the tree ...
I suppose I'm telling you all this because even though missing you every day is getting easier, there are still times when your absence is so felt so strongly! We do miss you and we will always love you, sweet girl!
I had the opportunity to take a quick trip back to Utah in the middle of November!
The one thing that I will say about this trip was that it was not a vacation!
It was exhausting and packed full of things to do and people to see
and looking back and thinking about the trip, I don't think I would have wanted
it any other way (except, of course, I would have wanted Nate to come with me).
Here are some highlights & pics!
(Warning: LOTS & LOTS of pics!!)
Day 1
Just because I can ... here's a pic of me waiting for my flight out ...
(yes, those are MY cowboy boots ... yes, I know it's weird to see ME in cowboy boots)
I was lucky enough to be picked up by Ollie, Jack & Sadie! I practically
ran out of the terminal because I was so excited to see them, only to realize
that my plane had arrive early and that they were a few minutes away still ...
Jack & Sadie had fallen asleep in the car but I was happy as could be
to wake them up! They insisted that I ride back to Logan in the back seat
with them and we had a wonderful little reunion in the car and made this
little video to send to Nate!
We stopped at Old Gristmill in Brigham City so that the kids could use the bathroom
I could get some of the most delicious Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread!!
Between the snuggles and the bread I was a pretty happy girl!!
Ollie took me to my parents house so that I could give my mom a squeeze
and then we headed into town to meet up for dinner at Costa Vida (YUM)
with my dad and the Wilkie Family!! (The Wilkie kids didn't know that I
was coming into town so I surprised them at Costa Vida! They were paying
for their dinner and I walked up to the counter and said, 'Well what are you
guys doing here?' It took them a few seconds to register what was going on
and then I got some giant hugs!! It was awesome!! Here's a happy Daisey & Mags!
And just because it makes me happy, a video (sorry, it's dark) & picture of Sadie & I!
She was my best friend through the whole trip - man I love these kiddos so much!!
Day 2
I woke up early and got Daisey, Isaac & Mags off to school -
I'm SO not used to waking up at 6 - but for these three, I did my best :)
I headed into Logan to make a stop at the Law Office to see the Attorney's and my D&J Ladies!
I had a nice visit with most of the attorneys and then Giselle, Ash & I headed to Einsteins (YUM)
to get some tasty chocolate chip bagels!! We had a WONDERFUL chat and I'm SO glad
that we were able to get together! I really do miss working with them!!
After our lunch I headed out to Preston to see Sam before his dress rehearsal started - he was cast as the Grumpy Dwarf in Preston High's Shrek the Musical! I didn't get to see him the first day so I wanted to make sure to at least be able to give him a squeeze!! I was SO happy to see this kid - isn't he the most adorable Grumpy Dwarf in the entire world?
On my drive back in to Logan I was hit with a sense of nostalgia
and I realized just how much I missed the mountains and the
landscape of Cache Valley! I pulled over and snapped a few pics on my phone ...
Day 3
This day began with snuggles from Miss Maggie!!
Later in the day I met up with my ma!!We had lunch at Taco Time (YUM),
took a drive around Logan so that I could reminisce a little,
made a stop up at Old Main and First Damand then went and got Pedicures!
It was a much needed and so wonderful couple of hours -
I really wish I could have had several more days with my parents!
It's easier when I've been away for a while but after seeing them
and coming back home, it made me all homesick all over again!
(Sorry these pics aren't the best quality - they were all from my phone.)
I picked up the kiddos from school and we met my dad at Coldstone for a little treat before dinner!
Then we met up with Ollie, Jack & Sadie at Cafe Sabor (YUM again - I made sure to hit all my favorite places)! My Aunt Wendy also came and it was so good to see her!! Here's a little video of the kiddos eating the lemons ...
After dinner we went back and hung out for a little bit ... Sadie & Maggie took it upon themselves to draw pictures of me (oh so flattering) and we chatted and played and it was lovely!!
Day 4
First things first, we woke up to SNOW on day 4!
It was SO beautiful and I was so happy that it snowed for me
while I was there! (We don't get much snow here in Grants Pass)!!
The actual day of the week was Friday, so for this day, I pulled Daisey, Isaac & Maggie out of school and took them out to Joe & Ollie's for the day! Luckily it hadn't snowed very hard at their place and we spent the day outside chasing chickens, riding goats and go-carts and running around!!
It was such a fabulous day!
Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, some jokes by Jack & Sadie ...
Day 5
Despite having a VERY late night on Friday
Daisey, Maggie & I woke up bright and early on Saturday
so that we could go see Marisol & Omar play basketball!!
It was SO, SO great to see the Dutson family -
our visit was short, but very sweet!!
And as a bonus, I got to give my favorite pup Hailey a squeeze!!
We grabbed some lunch at Mandarin Garden (YUM) and took it back to share with Isaac & Bob!
For the afternoon, we headed back out to Joe & Ollie's to catch more chickens, play a riveting game of Spoons, snuggle, laugh, eat and have a wonderful time!
For dessert, Ollie made my most FAVORITE peanut butter frosting
(seriously, it is so YUMMY!!) to put over brownies ...
we found Jack cleaning out the bowl after the brownies had been frosted ...
That evening, G&G Harrison and Leslie & Noal came up to go to Sam's play (and hopefully to see me, too, although Sam is pretty darn adorable ;) ) I'm so annoyed with myself because I didn't
get any pictures with them ... super big bummer ... Even though there are a lack of pictures, I was so happy to see them! I married into such a wonderful family and we miss them so much!
Anyway, Sam did so wonderfully in his play and I am so grateful that my trip worked out so that I could be there to see a performance! I'm so proud of him and his dedication - he did such a great job!
Here's Sam's big line (sorry it's so shaky, I had a wiggly Sadie on my lap through the whole play ... I'm not complaining, though, I got some GREAT snuggles from that girl)!!
We had another very late night hanging out at Joe & Ollie's after the play - partially due to the deer hitting Ollie's car incident (afterwards Sadie ran up to me and said 'We made the dear dead') and mostly because this was going to be my last day seeing them and I was totally putting off the inevitable! As a result, the kiddos were tired and hilarious - we had a fun game of charades and I caught Jack making funny faces at himself in the mirror ...
Day 6
My last full day was the day that I FINALLY got to spend with my parents! We went to Noodles & Co for lunch (Mmmmm .... this blog post is making me hungry) and stopped by Jimmy John's to get a sandwich for later!! My little brother came up with his puppy Stout and we had a wonderful time catching up and playing cards!! It was a much too short visit,
but I'm grateful that he took the time to come and see me!!
(I was feeling a little Oregon homesick so I wore my Ducks shirt!!)
As you can see, it was a very busy trip!! I'm so grateful that I was able to get time off work to go and support our friends and family and get some wonderful snuggles while I was there!
