Oh, how I loved this day!

A wintry drive to check the mail is always so much more exciting when Jessica comes too.

I am convinced that November brings some of the best sunrises and sunsets of the year.

The colorful sky at the start and end of our days has more than made up for the early onset of winter and the several snowstorms that we have already experienced.  

Other November things of note include:

Nate participated in his 4th Champs Basketball Camp and once again earned his end of season Glazed Donut.   For some reason, nothing motivates Nate like a champs issued sugar glazed donut. 

It was really fun to see him grow in the sport this winter and he got to play with several of his friends which was super fun to watch. 

November was also the month that Nate turned 10 years old.  

DOUBLE DIGITS BABY!!!  

To celebrate, his Aunt Jewel gave him a packet of Orbeez which are pretty much the worst things ever created.   Nate filled our tub with them, and that is where they sat for days until I finally decided that I'd waited the appropriate amount of time before chucking a gift. 

Nate's birthday celebration was done.  

I walked into the kitchen one morning to find Nate doing something silly (shocker) in the pantry.   What stood out to me in this moment was that Nate was standing on a chair, something he hasn't had to do in a long time!   He is growing so tall, so fast.

We've taken a few family walks down to the creek this month to scope out the location for our future skating rink, walk our favorite dog Nala, or just get the kids off of the Internet and breathing fresh air for a bit;)    

On one particular day, we were delighted to find that the thick fog that had descended, had blanketed our town with a layer of ice.  Every blade of grass, every leaf, every branch was encased in it.  It made for a slick, but beautiful walk.

It's hard to believe this year is almost over. 

Moments like this remind me to find the beauty of our day, our month, or our year and enjoy it!

My grade 11 girl is growing up SO fast that I sometimes want to sit down and cry.  

I'm not talking about a pretend cry either.  I am talking about legit, real-life, tears of sorrow cry that will pour the day I have to turn this girl over to the real world.  

She surprised me a couple of months ago (yes, I am a tad behind on journaling?) and invited a boy to "Sadie's!"   This is a big deal because Abby has not always attended Sadies, she has not ever really gone on a date, and she certainly has never before considered asking a boy. 

I mean, last year, when Sadie's came around, Abby did go to the dance but she went alone and somehow came home married to her baguette!    Sound strange?   If only that were the strangest tale a kid of mine has come home and told me.   Short story:  Every year at Sadie's there is a theme and "marriage room" because a theme wouldn't be crazy enough.   Students partner up with their dates and two teachers (in character according to the theme) perform a mock wedding allowing the dates to be married, only until the end of the dance.   Last year the theme was around the world, and Abby had gone as a cute little french woman - hence her baguette for a date.     

...Does that seem less strange now? 

This year, I almost cried when Abby said she was planning on inviting a young man.   And I'm not talking about a pretend cry either.  I am talking about a legit, real-life, tears of relief cry.

Traditionally, the girls have to ask the boys out in a creative way, so Abby drafted up an examination for her perspective date that had a secret message encrypted in the answer that this young man would only know IF he got the answers correct.   She then got a favorite teacher of hers to call him in during FLEX and have him write this "missed" examination.   

A few days after her ask, Abby was presented with a giant, and I mean GIANT wad of saran wrap.  It was a darling acceptance that kept Abby occupied for about three hours and literally a years supply of bubble gum which had cleverly been hidden throughout each layer of wrap.   

Our basement stank of cellophane for a whole day!

Jess helped create menus, she decorated, and along with two of her friends, she waited on these couples, ensuring that their meal went as smoothly (and awkwardly) as possible.

These three were hilarious, all crushing on the same boy, trying to act like professional waitresses and being way, way too giggly on the job.  

Sam went to the dance as well, but he kinda just decided last minute to go, threw an animal print piece of cloth on over his hoody and called it good.  (Boys!) 

I've learned that when my kids go out to a dance, a piece of my heart always goes with them.
Even though my body never likes staying up until 12:30, my mind doesn't stop asking all sorts of questions:  Did they get there safely?   Will they get home safely?   Is Sam asking girls to dance?  Is Abby being asked?  Are they having a good time?   Has anyone married a baguette yet?   

Not until all my chicks are back together and everyone is safely tucked in bed, do I ever really relax.

This parenting thing is a rough gig, I tell ya.

Sometimes, it makes me want to cry.

Oh, how we love Christmas.

Like, we really really love it.  

We always decorate on November 11th and if it were up to me these decorations would stay up well into February.  

This year we have four Christmas trees set up, and no, I don't think that is at all excessive.

Even though John and I consider ourselves minimalists, I do maintain that you can never, no never, have too many Christmas decorations.  

There is something about Christmas lights.  

They just really make the world a happier place.

This past remembrance day will likely be one that stays in our hearts for a long time to come.

We did one we usually do. 
We found time to put up our Christmas decor.

We got dressed up and attended our local Remembrance Day service.

We had a moment of silence.

We remembered relatives of our own who have fought and died in war.

And we reflected on how blessed we are to get to live in this country.

Those are things we do every remembrance day.

This year though there were a few things that made it a little different and certainly more meaningful.

We learned of the passing of our sweet Linda Burwell.  A woman who has taught each one of my kids to love music, to live and behave like Kings and Queens, and who mentored and loved our Jessica in a personal and profound way.

We cried together. 

We went to the elementary school and along with others in the community who wanted to...made a snow angel on the front lawn in tribute of Linda.

We fled to Waterton (Jessica and I) which seems to be our go-to response whenever our hearts hurt.

We promised to treat others the way this remarkable woman always treated us.

Halloween is celebrated all week long at our house.  

With John's birthday, Nate's birthday and Halloween all happening at the same time, we have no choice but to stretch the fun out in any way we can.  

Halloween night was a little different for us this year.  

Nate went trick or treating with friends.

Jessica participated in a food drive with other student council members.

Sam went to a party, and Abby did too.

John and I sat in the front room and answered the door for all 350 trick or treaters that came by.

I'll admit, we felt a bit of nostalgia for Halloweens past as we remembered how it felt to be the ones out with young kids.   

It was a quiet night, but it was nice.

Around 9:00 pm, Grandpa came by for some late-night food and birthday cake.    

After snacking on mini chocolate bars, chips, and candy, none of us really needed cake, but it just wouldn't have felt right to end the day without singing to John and expressing our love for him.  

We woke up on Thanksgiving day still feeling full from our previous feasting.  

After our company left, Jessica and I considered the cool, quiet day ahead of us and knew there was only one thing we both wanted to do.  

We found a trail in Waterton and attempted to walk off a bit of the turkey dinner we'd so enjoyed.

The colors were stunning.

The temperature was warm.

The park was empty.

We listened to the geese and ducks, watched a bear grazing on a hill (no doubt feasting on whatever was left on the ground before going to sleep for the winter), and paid extra attention to the beauty that comes with the changing of a season.  

I'm convinced that, for me, gratitude is most easily felt when walking in the woods.

One of my FAVORITE Holidays of the year will always be Thanksgiving. 

I love the crispy colored leaves outside, the chill in the air, the sound of Canadian geese migrating south, the promise of Turkey dinners, time off from work and visits from family.  

This year we invited Rachel, Brent, Ben and Kat down and it made for a great day.  

The fun started when Brent and Rachel showed up in their brand new TESLA!

Say what?

John was beside himself.  

Brent took John and I for a drive out of town so we could both take a turn behind the wheel.  My stomach turned a bit when we tried going 0-100 as fast as possible.  

It is a legit, crazy cool car.  

Crackers, bread, chips, sausage and salami's, cheeses, fruits, oils, and jellies...

It all went along splendidly with the Turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravy, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.  

One day (and twenty pounds) later we said goodbye to our company, thankful for their visit and determined to enjoy family and our many blessings more.  

This life is legit.  

We are so thankful for all it has brought our way!

I have been reflecting today on this place we get to call home. 
We have been here for 5 months now.  Almost half a year.  

When we purchased the home, there was snow on the ground.  By June, the snow was gone, but a healthy field of weeds had taken it's place.  The garden was abundant with weeds and really, the entire back yard seemed to be made up of them.  The grass that did exist was spotted, sparse and on the verge of being completely choked out.  

The size of this yard was a blessing, but we knew we had our work cut out for us.  

Within a week of moving in - we set to work.  

We started on our hands and knees, pulling up each tangly little plant, trying to get the roots too.

I know this yard looks like it is green and lush , but it is ALL weed!   

Like - 80% lush and thriving weed!

It didn't take long to see that if we went about it this way, it would take weeks, maybe even months. 

It was time to bring out the big gun - Grandpa's rototiller. 

We really debated taking the tiller to the remaining remnants of a lawn, but the hope was that if we could tear up the earth and knock the weeds down and then plant new grass, that might give our backyard a fighting chance.

So, we tore up the garden and the lawn.  Planted grass seed.  And then covered it all with a layer of lawn clippings which turned out to be an awesome move.  (Yay, John!)   Within days we saw beautiful, bright green cross poking up through the matted covering.  

It was the most hopeful sight!!!

We had been excited about this little shed that sat at the back corner of our yard.  The previous owners had used it to store their lawnmower etc, but we turned it into a little lounge area for a while, affectionately called The Swamp.  

We tried to make it useful, but as we watched our lawn start to grow, we knew we wanted more SPACE, so this thing just had to go!  

The novelty wore off a little bit when it was time to shovel our driveway and Grandpas, but even that couldn't entirely dampen the magic of this snowfall. 

I recently stopped by to visit my Aunt and Uncle. 

This beautiful tree stood at the edge of their driveway.

I'd never noticed it before, but on this day, it was so striking.  

My Uncle George explained that it was a tree given to them by my in-laws (Max and Marilyn) years ago.  He said it is normally very ugly and unassuming.  "The wrong tree, planted for the right reasons."  Every year though, for a brief moment, it bursts forth in incredible color grandeur.  Then he is reminded of how great it is and recommits to appreciate it's beauty.  

He actually wrote a poem about it and gave me a copy of it to share with Max. 

I thought it interesting that just has his poem declared, it is not a tree I had ever noticed before.  

On this day though, when viewed against the background of deep green and stark white, it stood out in the most majestic way. 

Sometimes it takes a storm...

Every year since moving here, and I do mean every year, we have gone to watch the elk in Waterton.  It is my absolute favorite time of the year.   It is a busy time of year, but it is always a priority to find an evening to enjoy the autumn colors and watch these fascinating animals.  

This year it was only Jess, Nate and I who were able to go out to Waterton and I am not sure how I feel about that little change in our tradition, but I will take what I can get.  

Here's to crisp, cool, autumn evenings. 

Oh man, September was a wild month.  

The preparations for Moroni's Quest have officially begun.  We are hoping that this is an event that the whole stake will feel a part of.  A few weeks ago we launched our stake wide Book of Mormon reading challenge and introduced the theme for Quest, and really for this year of preparation.  

The theme is "Power to Know," based on Moroni 10:5.  

The hope is that this will be a year of power for anyone of us who seek to know and see truth.  

In that regard, I hope it is a year of change for many, myself included.

A few weeks back we got a message from Brother Paulson asking if we could come in and visit with the Stake Presidency.  Knowing that our Bishopric was due to change, John felt fairly certain that he would be called into the new bishopric.   I felt torn and truly struggled to embrace this new change.  He hadn't even been called to anything yet and I was already fretting about how this would affect our calling with Quest, as we would surely be getting released.  

Turns out we were both right and wrong.  

I'd taken my books and notes to turn over and everything!  haha

John was called to serve as a 2nd Counselor. 

Our Bishop is our next-door neighbor, Kelly Bielert, and the 1st Counsellor is John's friend Jamie Atwood.  Executive Secretary is Norm Watson and Ward Clerk is Mike Despain.

I have moments where I wonder how we will handle everything on our plate, but then I remember that change is good, right?  

John will get a lot of fulfillment out of this particular calling, I am sure.  

With September comes Volleyball.  And a LOT of it!