Thanksgiving Festivities

Last year at Thanksgiving, favorite cousin Steph announced she and I should host Thanksgiving in 08. This really means we are having it at my house and I will put on a great party and Steph only has to drive 15 min. (She has a fear of driving in winter weather). All kidding aside, she did help me with the festivities and it was tons of fun.

The invitations were sent (we missed those who couldn't make it) and the table was set.



The food was prepared




(pilgrim hat compliments of Zach)

The guests arrived





and we ate till we could eat no more. All week Zach reminded me that he wanted his very own turkey leg to eat. He nibbled and nibbled. He is such a funny kid.




Thanks to Uncle Steve for entertaining the kids!
And to Aunt Peggy, Grandma, and Syd for helping prepare and clean up our big mess!




The next morning my Mom and I head out for some early 4:45 am shopping. I have never been out that early on Black Friday and was surprised at how successful we were. Four stores in less than three hours. Bought everything on my list for killer prices. After breakfast we did a little more shopping at my fav decor store Real Deals. Got some cute holiday decorations. Grabbed some lunch and then off to see the much anticipated vampire movie "Twilight." Liked it, definitely didn't love it. Book is much better. Curious to see if the next ones will be better. Got home in time to take Cris and Alex downtown to the BSU vs Fresno game. Go Broncos!

Saturday morning we were spontaneous and headed back downtown for the winter parade, stroll through the Festival of Trees and lunch at Spaghetti Factory. Parade - slow and it started raining, Festival - beautiful trees, lunch - hit the spot.

All in all pretty good Holiday weekend other than the cold bug that hit me Sat night. Thankfully, I have a good boyfriend who takes care of me!

Rewind 6 weeks for our October Road Trip

Yes, I am playing catch up on the blog. Shouldn't put things off like that but other matters took priority. Since this is my journal/scrapbook of sorts I shall document. Plus it was a really, really fun trip! FYI we took a road trip to see Grandma Terri get married in Las Vegas and then ventured to Sedona and Phoenix to visit family and friends.

Highlights, lowlights and overall observations...

Drove just under 2500 miles from my doorstep and then back to my doorstep and I drove every mile myself with my "bootboy" boyfriend as my co pilot.

Have now seen Nevada from the North end to the South end and don't care to see it again in a long while. Mind you we saw it from West to East in June.

Las Vegas is a crazy mix of people. Fun to visit, never want to live there. Realizing I like my small Boise more and more.

Seeing family members that you haven't seen in a LONG time is always a treat and hopefully the next visits will be sooner rather than later.

Still LOVE Sedona and it's beautiful red rocks. We spent the night there and got to visit with Grandma Debbie, Grandpa John, Amber, Scott, Mason and their newest family member, Sadie. Somehow our trips corresponded perfectly! Thanks for the great time!

Finally made our way into the Valley of the Sun and it felt good to be "home." So many things were the same and so many things were different. New stores, roads, kids grew up. What a difference a year makes!

We had a jammed packed week visiting with family and friends and special thanks to you who took time to hang out with us and let us stay with you. Sarah - you have the coolest room ever! Thanks for letting us take it over for a few days.

Don't miss the traffic AT ALL or the minor fender benders that come with AZ drivers. Got tagged on the driver's side bumper on the way out of town.

Zach had to go back to wearing jeans and a jacket outside. He is such an AZ baby. If he had it his way t-shirt, shorts and flip flops rain, snow, or sunshine.

Great friends and family are hard to come by and we have been fortunate to have been blessed with the best.

Home can be anywhere you make it as long as you surround yourself with the people you love.

I did not take nearly enough pictures. Lame camera with dead batteries makes for few pictures. Santa, I need a new camera.


The Newlyweds, Cris and Siblings


Cris, Scott, Cristine & Andrew -- First time I have ever seen them all together!!


Uncle Wade and Aunt Susie with Cris - two of the nicest people I know!


Baby Sadie


Sedona

Hanging with the cousins and playing in their new pool.





Lunch with our favorite neighbor Bob


Paige and Syd ready for anything!


Alex and Hunter pretty much picked up where they left off.


Zach and Ben. Two of the cutest and goofiest five and six year olds around.

Oh Canada!

Oh Canada you ask? Well that is where Boyfriend is for the next four days. The only bad thing about his foot recovering is he is back to traveling. He is off crutches but gets the boot off just before Christmas. Pretty good present Eh' (Canadian pun intended). The good thing is I don't cook dinner and stay up late working on projects. I was a great mom and picked up three Happy Meals for dinner. Gotta love half price Tuesdays.

Can I just Say.....

 

 

I LOVE having a little girl to dress up, fix her hair and accessorize.

 

I love my super cute boys too!

Current Events at the Richardsons

Okay so last weekend's current events is really what the title should say. Things have been hopping at the Richardson casa. The kids enjoyed two days off of school last week so we went to the Zoo on Friday only to be disappointed that the newly opened African exhibit was CLOSED to repave the walk way that was done incorrectly. We were all very disappointed but enjoyed the other animals. We could spend hours watching the tigers. They love to stroll right in front of you. The one tiger gave us a big yawn and we got a good look at his teeth. Scary!! We couldn't resist playing in the park that surrounds the Zoo. Gotta love the fall trees and all of the leaves. We had a great time and then went home took advantage of a beautiful Fall day. I mowed the lawn for the last time this year(yeah), trimmed back the plants and planted tulip bulbs for the spring. I LOVE tulips.











Saturday is game day for my two boys. For the rest of the season their games overlap and are at two different schools so it is tag team effort. They are both doing great and LOVE every minute of it. Then it was time to rush home and get into our blue and orange attire for the football game date. We rode along with Steph and Jake. It was a blow out and got kind of chilly at the end but we had a great time.






Last but not least, it was my turn for Syd's preschool co-op. We rotate between six houses. This week we talked about what the Indians taught the Pilgrims and made Indian vests. Did you know that if you plant a dead fish along with your seeds it will give the seeds all the nutrients it needs? I am learning lots of good stuff at preschool. My cute little Pocahontas loves it.

This ones for Scott R.

At 18 a modeling career was promising. But now at 44, Physical Therapy seems to be the better choice. Happy Birthday Hermano, Bro-in-law and uncle.

Lucky Me

This week I get to go two dates with two of the cutest people I have ever seen and not one of them is my boyfriend. The first date is with the guy in the green. We went to a matinee yesterday to see HSMSY3 (High School Musical Senior Year 3 in case you are unfamiliar with the lingo). My favorite movie of the three. If only I were in HS again. Just kidding, I prefer my current life.

The second date is tomorrow with the guy in blue. We are going to the BSU vs Utah State game. But don't tell him it is a date. Apparently, dates are only for old people. I will remind him when he is sixteen. "We are just going to a game Mom!" Anywho, it is fun to have some one on one time with the boys. We seem to make sure they get it with their dad, but moms need some too.



Fabulous photo taken by the ever talented Julia. Thanks again!