It was a lovely Thanksgiving week

I've been on a table runner kick for a while. I've made a bunch of them this last month. This is my Thanksgiving one. I made it from a packet of fall fabric my mother in law gave me quite a while back. I'm contemplating making a quilt with the rest because there is so much leftover. 

I took the girls with me shopping the other day and we had to wait for a really long time to get fabric cut at Joann's. At one point Chloe told me to take a picture of her with this pretty flower. She's so cute. 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with my mom, grandma, sister and family, and niece and nephew. It was really nice. Grandma hosted and we stayed all afternoon and evening. Family is so great. 

We had a Thanksgiving round two on Friday at Bill's parents' house. Also fantastic. The food was amazing. The company better. This was Spencer and Genevieve later that evening, eating pie and watching shows. 

Our neighbors have this cute Santa outside their house. We went on a walk yesterday afternoon after the kids had binge watched TV for hours and hours and I wanted to get them out of the house. Again, Chloe says mom, take a picture of me! Always happy to do that. It snowed during our walk, which was magical. 

We walked to a park and played for a while. My kids may be getting big, but they all still fit on one of these swings!

I made a new set of place mats to go with a runner I made a couple months ago. 

And here's a few Christmas runners I made. 

I'm so incredibly pleased with how this one turned out. I found a picture on Pinterest and recreated it myself. The back is quilted and then I sewed the trees on top of it, so it has an embroidered look. Love it so much!

Thanksgiving was so early this year that I still feel like I have a bit before it's time to decorate for Christmas, but I think I'll put these runners out here sooner than everything else. I really love them. 

Running and skating

 The whole crew ran the SoJo Thanksgiving Run yesterday morning. It was so fun! And so cold. This is the only picture I took of it, whoops! This is my Run Club that I run with a few days a week. Bill was getting our shirts and bibs and the kids were watching cartoons in the car waiting for their race. Bill and I ran the 5k. It was supposed to start at 10:05 and the kids run was supposed to start at 10:35. I figured we better just run fast so we could get back in time for their start, and we gave them instructions on when to come over to race and left them a phone so we could call them. Well, the race started late and I hoped they’d start the kids race late but turns out they didn’t! So as I came in at the end of my race I passed all four kids starting theirs. I was so proud of them for getting where they needed to be without any help. After me and Bill finished we jogged back to catch the second half of their mile and ran the rest with them. It’s a great little family activity. The kids love their medals and shirts and let’s be honest, I love them too. 

The school hosted a skate night at Classic Fun Center. We took the kids and had the best time. The younger three all have their own skates, so they brought them and Chloe was hands down the best skater. Spencer was hilarious. He figured it out, but the first time he stood up on his rented skates he immediately had his feet fly out from under him. It was hilarious, minus the part where he kicked my ankle as he fell. 😆

I play the organ at church and I found this picture on my phone this morning. I didn’t even see my kids take this photo but I thought it was cool to have a photo of this. 

It's so cold

 I still haven't quite gotten used to how cold it suddenly is. It happened so fast this year. I do like the cold though, so I don't hate it, just still can't believe in the space of one week I went from wearing summer clothes to all my boots and sweaters. 

This was a great week. On Saturday Bill and I did our first ever ruck race. He has done the ruck option on several South Jordan races, but this Saturday they hosted their first ruck specific race. We had a great time and rocked it! Took fifth and sixth, and first in both our weight divisions, so we both came home with swag. Bill got a 25-lb plate weight. I got a rucking backpack. So cool! We love all the South Jordan races. They have such a fun race series. 

We also moved my mom officially into her new house in Vineyard on Saturday. I actually committed to the ruck race before I really thought about what time we'd be needed to help move, so we went down at 8:30, stayed for 45 minutes, drove up to the race in South Jordan, and then came right back down to help her for the rest of the afternoon. Her new house is just lovely. It's taken a long time to build, so she's so happy to be moved in and will move herself fully in probably sometime this week. She needs to unpack a few things before she can really sleep there. She lives a lot closer to us now, which is awesome. 

We finished off Saturday night playing a round of Azul. We bought it last Christmas on the advice of probably Mel's Kitchen Cafe Gift Guide, I can't remember. But we've never actually gotten around to playing it. We pulled it out and I thought it was a really fun game. Ignore Genevieve's face. She loved it and just made it especially for the picture. 

Today I made this delicious strawberry rhubarb pie. Oh, it is so good! I got asked to help teach the ladies in my ward how to make pies on Tuesday, which I just so happen to be uniquely qualified for as my dad taught me way back when I was a teenager or maybe even young how to make pies. I figured I best make a pie today to prep. I didn't realize when I did the bottom crust that I wouldn't need a top crust, so I didn't have enough extra to make a good crust and it got a tad toasted, but the rest of it tasted heavenly. 

We ended the day hanging out for the first time with one of Bill's childhood great friends and his family. They moved up here recently for some medical treatment and we've wanted to get together. Our kids line up really well in age and I was hoping they'd like each other, and they did! We went to a farm near their house to see the animals and play on the playground, and then came back and made pizza and roasted marshmallows in their fireplace. It was perfect. I wish they weren't going through the horrible health issues that brought them here, but really happy to be able to spend time together. 

My plant flowered! Well, it grew some new leaves that look just like a flower, and it's so cute. 

Genevieve and Chloe got haircuts this week and I love them so much. It's the first time either had their hair straightened, and they were both in awe of how much they loved it. I actually didn't have a straightener before this appointment, but Genevieve convinced me she needs one now, so I bought one, lololol. Chloe's hair is finally starting to come in a bit thicker. My fabulous friend that cuts our hair trimmed off actually a good bit of her wispy ends and it looks much thicker now, which is great. 

I got this awesome bathrobe/house dress thing last year and Bill has been jealous of it ever since. We saw them again this year and decided to grab the larger size to see if it would fit him. Turns out it didn't, but Genevieve came right in and swooped my old one and I sized up. So now we are twinning pretty much all the time at home. 

This lamp I had added to an Amazon wish list a while back went on sale this week and I grabbed it. It make this corner of my bedroom so warm and inviting. I loved it already, but now I do even more. I've been actually using that little side table to sew on lately while I sit on the foot rest. It's surprisingly comfortable. Smallest sewing table in the history of sewing tables, lol. 

Happy Halloween and Happy November!

We had a great Halloween this year. We went to a ward trunk or treat on Saturday. That's always fun. Chloe unexpectedly twinned with some of our friends from church so we had to grab a picture. 

Then I went and saw them Monday morning at their school Halloween parade. Spencer was an FBI agent. Genevieve a dragon. Aaron Black Panther. Chloe went as Belle. We had her wear clothes under hers because it was cold! We left for Disneyland and it was still summer here, came back and it was winter. Lolol. Typical Utah. I love the winter, which is good, since most places I've lived have had a really long one, but wooh, that was an abrupt transition this year for us. It was so weirdly hot all the way into October, but it's cold now!

And we had a fantastic time in the evening trick or treating. We did have a hiccup with Spencer. He made a fantastic plan with his friends to get pizza and QuenchIt drinks and then go trick or treating together. Except none of his friends showed up! This is a tricky age where kids make plans but don't tell their parents, and then they don't follow through very well as a result, but it's sad for us with Spencer because he's really exceptionally good at making plans happen and this isn't the first time something has fallen through like this. He rolled with it really well though and enjoyed his pizza and drink and then headed out on his own on his bike to trick or treat. He ran into other friends along the way, but he was a kid on a mission to get all the candy, so he only stayed with them for some of it. He got so much candy! I'm proud of him but also sad he had to go through that. 

We dropped Genevieve off at her best friend's house and didn't end up picking her up until like 10:30. She was living the weeknight Halloween life! We had planned to get her way earlier, but it's hard to say no when they ask to stay later and there's no real motivation to say no, lololol. She had the best time. I really didn't get a good picture of her in her costume, but she and her bestie made their own dragon costumes. They were so cool. They painted them and painted clothes to go with them and it was pretty amazing. 

Grandma Suzanne came over and we all three took Aaron and Chloe trick or treating down our street and then into the single family homes next to us where lots of our friends live. Fun was had by all! It was a great night. These are the kids' hauls. I didn't get a shot of Genevieve's since it was so late, but she got nearly as much as Spencer. Sodas and full size candy bars were favorites this year. We got hot chocolate, donuts, and hot dogs and some of the houses too. Our neighborhood is great!

I made this last Sunday! I haven't had a chance to quilt or bind it yet, but I have two places I put table runners in my house, and I love having one for different seasons. I really love how this turned out. The fabric came from a fall fabric bundle Suzanne gave me several years ago that I haven't had a chance to make into anything. There's enough to make a full quilt left, honestly, so I may do just that this fall!

This is a piece of wood I'm going to make into a table to go under the window in my bedroom. My plants are on the windowsill and it's a tad cold for them there. Of course I planned to sand and cut it yesterday and it was just windy and cold and I had no inclination to go outside after I worked out in the morning. But the vision I have in my head of it is going to be really cool. lolol. We'll see how long it takes me to get it done. It's a piece of cedar, and I'm just going to oil it as a finish once I sand it. I have hairpin legs waiting to make the table legs. 

It snowed this week and I just love the view out of my office window. I only am there once a week, but it's beautiful when I am. 

This was the drive up. 

Much better than out my home office window, lol. No complaining though. I love my home office. 

Aaron had his first day of karate on Tuesday. he's so thrilled to be starting this activity. he's the one in white in the middle. 

Genevieve picked this super fun shoes this week. I love her style. 

This is my one and only Thanksgiving decoration. I love it even if it's a little slim on the decorating. 

I made this table runner last year and backed it with this super pretty silver fabric Suzanne let me have. I love to use this back side for the holidays. 

 

Vacation Second Half

Oh baby, we had the best rest of our vacation! We've never taken the kids to Disneyland, so this was super exciting for all of us that we could go. We had the best time.

We slept in Monday morning and slowly got ourselves going and headed down to California, leaving at probably 11AM. Arrived in Anaheim at 3:15 and checked into the hotel, then changed into swim clothes and headed towards the beach. Well, first we grabbed some In-N-Out and then we went to the beach! We ate, played in the water a bit, and then watched the sunset over the ocean. It was beautiful. 

Tuesday morning bright and early we headed to California Adventure. We stayed at a Marriott like a half mile from Disneyland, so it was super easy to get there early. We had so much fun. The kids could ride basically all the rides. Chloe was too short for the Incredicoaster, but that's it at this park. The park closed at 6pm for an evening event that had been sold out when we got tickets, so we left at six, but we could totally have stayed longer. The kids picked out their Disney ears and wore them the entire two days. They got Mickey bubble wands. Aaron got a sweet remote control spider. Genevieve got a hat. Spencer got a light saber. They all saved up their money for a month or two to have money to spend and they were gifted some money as well from family, which was so sweet. 

This is us riding the tram into the park the first day. So much excitement!

Chloe and I moseyed about doing some of the kid rides while Bill and the older kids did the Incredicoaster. We found this cute picture spot. 

Genevieve and Chloe switched their ears for this picture. 

Waited to see the cars on this ride, but they weren't as cool as we thought. Got a cute picture though. 

Spencer picked Star Wars ears. They were pretty cool. 

The Guardians of the Galaxy ride. We didn't tell the kids what it would be like. Their faces make me laugh so hard! Chloe is wondering when the heck it's going to be over. Aaron too. Genevieve is questioning her life decisions. Spencer was super proud that he didn't scream once. He likes so deadpan here. 

Much more love for the Incredicoaster. They went on this a couple times. 

This one makes me laugh. Aaron was sitting next to Bill but he's only barely tall enough for this ride, and between that and his dark hair, you can't see him at all. Genevieve nearly lost her glasses on this ride. They fell off during the loop d loop but she was able to grab them. She held onto them really tight the rest of the two days!

Day two we went to Disneyland. We showed up at 8am when the park opens and didn't get back to the car until 11:45. We walked ten miles! The kids had the time of their lives. It was so fun. I love Disneyland. There are just so many fun things to do there. None of the kids had ever been, though we teased Spencer that this was his second trip since the last time Bill and I went was when I was so newly pregnant with Spencer that I didn't know yet. 

Gotta snap a shot with Mickey!

Inside one of the Star Wars rides, the Millennium Falcon one. We rode this one twice too because it was so fun. 

The Star Wars area was so cool. 

Teacups! Bill took the kids for quite the ride. Chloe didn't want to go so fast, so she and I went together slower. 

Riding the train around the park when we were hot and tired. 

Astroblasters. 

Apparently none of the kids are destined to be the king/queen of England. 

We rode the carousel. 

The bobsled ride at the Matterhorn. 

Chloe wasn't that great a driver on Autopia, lololol. She made me take over and right at the end our car died and someone had to come restart it. Quite the adventure!

Spencer being goofy in line. 

Space Mountain. I love how Aaron's eyes are squeezed shut. 

This is what Chloe does when she's mad about something. It's so hilarious and cute. I don't know what was bugging her just here, but I snapped a photo to remember. 

Splash Mountain! Chloe was too scared to go on this one, so she and I did some other fun rides while Bill and the others did this one. 

This is us waiting to go in the Tiki Hut. It's such a weird presentation, lol. But an Ashman favorite, so we made sure to take the kids and they loved it. 

I don't even know where this was, but just a cute picture of the girls. 

One of the rides Chloe went on when she didn't want to go on a roller coaster with the bigs. 

Late night shot as we were heading back to the van. 

We didn't get a reservation at the hotel for Wednesday night. Figured we weren't quite sure what we wanted to do after our Disney days, and thought we could get a better price further from the park. What that evolved into was we'd just head back to Las Vegas to Bill's dad's condo and not pay for a hotel. That went well for approximately one hour, lol. The kids went right to sleep in the van and slept the night through, but Bill and I struggled and struggled to stay awake. 15-hour day at Disneyland and walking ten miles wasn't conducive to staying up late. We got an hour or two away from Anaheim and stopped at a rest stop near Baker, CA to sleep for a few hours. It wasn't too cold, but not that warm either, so I definitely didn't get great sleep, but after a few hours we were able to finish the drive to Las Vegas and crash at Doug's place. Genevieve woke up once to go to the bathroom but the other kids actually didn't even know we had stopped to sleep because they slept all the night through in the car. I was totally amazed by that. So they played on their tablets for a couple hours while Bill and I snoozed some more and then we got back on the road and headed home. Expected to get back to SLC by about 6pm. Ran into an hour and 40 minute traffic jam outside of Mesquite instead and didn't get home until 9PM. That was crazy! But we had all of Friday plus the weekend to have our vacation from our vacation, which was glorious. It's back to work and school tomorrow and I'm feeling just fine about that, which is amazing.

This was seriously the best week. We've not had a chance to go on many family vacations over the years. This was a particularly great one. It's really nice to be at a place in life where we can do more family vacations. We probably won't be going to Disney again anytime soon, but wow, what a great memory.