Time to relax...

All I can say is I love my in-laws. They are the kindest, most gracious people I know, not to mention the bravest! They host Thanksgiving in their home almost every year. All 27 try to fit in their 1300+ sq foot home without breaking down the walls. It usually reqires 3 tables, a huge turkey and earplugs! (Just kidding, but with 17 grand kids, it does get a little bit loud!)We had a great time visiting with family for 3 days and are glad G-ma & G-pa have their house put back together!

My little Dr.......

It was so cute last week when Grace was playing Dr. with Willow. She was so gentle and soft, kind of melted my heart a little bit.

2009 Turkey Bowl...

(Jen, make sure Jared sees these so he knows I really did take pictures!)

Every Thanksgiving morning, the guys from our ward get together at 8:30 AM and play a mean game of football. Last year was Trav's first year playing in the blessed event and we joked then that he was getting old because, somehow, he managed to pull a muscle in his leg. I felt sorry for him! This year was a little different- there were no injuries, just sore muscles this time! Yeah. (He actually works out at the Y a few times a week, so we think that helped him this year!)
The kids and I walked to the park to watch Daddy play this time and they actually survived the FREEZING cold weather for about 30 minutes! It was fun to watch Papa play!

Going swimming...

We took the kids swimming the other night at the Y and they had a great time. It was Willow's first bathing suit experience, and I must admit, she looked adorable! Trav is such an amazing Daddy. After a long, exausting,10 hour day- plus another hour of driving, he still wanted to take the kids swimming for 2 hours when he came home! I love that man!

Saying goodbye this morning...

Here we are saying goodbye after a fun visit with G-pa & Aunt Helene...

G-pa & Aunt Helene come for a visit!

I was so happy when dad told me he and my Aunt Helene were coming for a quick visit. They arrived yesterday at 3:00 PM- we had pizza for dinner, had a treasure hunt, made a fire & relaxed, talked, took pictures and then said goodbye this morning at 9:30 AM. I am so glad they were able to make it out 1 more time this year. Thanks for everything!

G-pa & the treasure hunt...

I was talking to my Dad a few nights before he came to visit, and he said he was making treasure maps for the kids and was going to hide treasure in the back yard for them to find. My heart melted as I invisioned my Father drawing 3 treasure maps and placing treats in plastic bags, smiling as he did it. The kids had a great time trying to find their treats. Daisy found hers under the picnic table, Tristin's was hidden in a cinder block between the sheds and Grace found her's in the bottom of a tree. They each recieved a 5.00 bill & candy! It was pretty cute to watch their faces light up as the located their lost treasure.
I think a lot of my healing has come as I have watched my Dad interact with my children. I ached for my father growing up and we missed out on so many years, but it makes me heart smile every time we are together because we have a great relationship now. He comes to visit a few times a year and he rides his bike out often to give me a ride (although I don't think I'll be taking any more motorcycle rides at 7 months pregnant! That was a bumpy memory, but thanks Dad!)
I've learned that I cannot change what happened in the past, and that all those years I missed him, just made me a little more grateful for what we have today. It means the world to me when he drives hundreds of miles to see us and then has to leave the next day to return home, just to drive a few more hundred miles. It proves that I was worth the effort, I meant something, and that's all I've wanted my entire life. Just to know I was loved and valued...Thank you Papa for everything. I love you and I am so thankful to have you in my life.

Willow...

Here's a few more...

Willow is 6 weeks old!

My Little Miss Muffet is 6 weeks old today and doing great! She loves to sleep, watch episodes of "The Office" with her Mom & Dad, go shopping for deals, get wildly drunk off her Mommy's milk, be held by her sisters & brother, sleep some more & look pretty darn cute doing it all. We love her to pieces. My favorite moments are holding her tiny little hands and kissing her adorable little neck. It's amazing how much I can love another tiny person, and how wonderful it is that I get to wake up every day and do it all over again. I adore my babies...

My babies...

As I was leaving this morning at 6:20 to make an early Albertson's run, I couldn't help but take a picture of my sleeping beauties. They looked so adorable.