Sunday, December 5, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year spent with Chris' family at Grammie and Grandpa Grafs.  We enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by mom and dad Graf and good company, including "Grammie Opals" aka Grandma Jones, Aunt Beth, Aunt Brenda and Uncle Mike, cousin Anna and her two cute girls, Emmi and Ella and also another little cousin named Serenity.  It was a laid back day and perfect for rest and relaxation!


 Most of the crew
(missing: Ella, Brady & Olivia!)



After a relaxing day for Thanksgiving we headed down to the hustle and bustle of Salt Lake City for some serious shopping and to see the lights at temple square, something we'd like to make a tradition!

We stopped in Layton at Red Robin for a very tasty lunch and then on to the malls...watch out!  Four women!  Our poor men and kids!!!

Shawnae and Brady enjoy their respective chocolate milk and lemonade and puzzle over some puzzles in the children's menu!!!


 Chels and I cozy up for a snapshot!


While these two love birds get caught on film as well!

Four cheeseburgers, one corndog, one fish sandwich, two salads and a ton of french fries and fry sauce later we were stuffed!!!



After lots of shopping we went to Salt Lake City and checked into our hotel room and then hoofed it a few blocks to the TRAX where we got on board and rode to Temple Square.







We missed the narrative for the nativity but it was so beautiful.




The reflection pool in front of the temple had tons of floating candles in bubbles.  It was so pretty!







This picture is blurry but still a nice backdrop!

Two very patient children! 
They spent 90% of the weekend confined in either a car, stroller or on a train!




We also got to spend some time in the Visitor's Center.  We went up and saw the Christus and the kids thought that was pretty neat.  Then we went down to the basement (or in some cases we went "UP" to the basement!!!  Haha...inside joke, right mom Graf???!!!)



In the basement they had a ton of exhibits and unfortunately we only had a quick look around because it was closing.  Below there was an earth perched above all of the Book of Mormons in different languages.  I thought that was a really neat exhibit.
                



There was also a replica of Joseph Smith and his testimony of the Book of Mormon and also several replicas of ancient prophets who took part in recording in the scriptures.  I wish that we had more time to spend there and I'd definately like to take the children back there when it's not so busy and really engage in the displays, videos and exhibits.




On the way back to the hotel we had to wait a very long time for the TRAX to come and poor Brady had to go to the bathroom very bad.  Then the train was PACKED and there were some "delays!"  Basically, we could have walked all the way back to the hotel  by the time we rode the TRAX back!  Here are some troubled looks on mom and Shawnae!!!


Thanks for a fun weekend!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

First Winter's Snow






Brady's buddy Sam slept over after we went out with his parents, Jon and Charlotte to see Harry Potter.  The kids awoke to about 4 inches of snow and couldn't wait to go outside and play! Unfortunately Chris had to work this morning but Charlotte came over to hang out and then Jon and Alivia came for some fun too!  I thought they'd have a blast making a snowman but it seems that mommy and Charlotte were the only ones interested in that!  Olivia had fun walking around and finding fresh snow to eat, Alivia followed Olivia, Brady and Sam ran around in the field across the street, burried Sam's hat in snow, lost Sam's hat, went on a "missing hat" hunt, found Sam's hat...and then we broke out the sled!!!

 




Four kiddos on a sled having a blast!!!

 


Here's a couple of simple videos- they didn't come out very well (I think my lens was fogged up)









Jon attempting to have a conversation with Olivia



4 chilly kids- time for hot cocoa and cookies! 

After our friends left I played games and read stories to the kids by the fire for a couple of hours.  It was such a PERFECT morning!!!  I really think that this was one of my funnest days of being a mom ever.  Just simple fun with my kids and friends, beautiful snow outside, cozy being inside and feeling the nostalgia of the holiday season.

 
The cutest "midget" snowman ever! Thanks to our expert snowball maker, Charlotte

My Little Pilgrims.

Today we tried to be crafty.  We made pilgrim hats and wore them {briefly} while coloring {briefly}.  Some of us like to color more than others.  Others of us just like to eat the crayons.




Fall & Thanksgiving Decor.

I was so excited to decorate for fall this year!!!  I LOVE fall: all the colors, smells and the change in the season.  Last year we were in the middle of packing our house up to move so I never got to decorate for fall. 

In fact, we moved into our house 1 YEAR AGO!!!! 

Isn't that crazy?!?!  I don't know where this last year has gone, it has gone by so fast!  It has been a very busy but very wonderful year for our family.





My mom got me this set of Thanksgiving figurines a few years ago and this is my first year using them- they are so pretty on the mantle!

 

 




These are some of the pillow I made: 
the rust-colored square pillow, fall leaf pillow and below,
the tree with fall leaves pillow

                 

                    


And last of all, the pretty berry vines that I bought with some of my brithday money to decorate the plant shelves in the living room

Cabin fever already???

One afternoon we just HAD to get out so we walked down the road to a little park in the neighborhood next to us.  Brady and Sam rode bikes and did a great job while Olivia and Alivia rode in the stroller.  It was nice for all of us to get some fresh air and I think I was successful in wearing them down a little by having them do "races" to the fence, playing "Simon Says" and having sliding contests.


Sam - aka "Harry Potter!"




Baby blue eyes