November

I sure was glad that I had Molly make us a felt tree for our thankful tree last year.  Putting it up was zero work this year.  Ivy was super excited for the tradition to come back. She even got a head start on her leaves and wrote several in one day.  Then all she had to do each night was choose one of her pre-written leaves to hang on the tree. Voila!  Also, I love the age when they insist on writing their own with their cute handwriting and misspelled words.

 

Game 7, World Series, Braves v. Astros in Houston.  This was it...were the Braves going to pull it off?  We all waited with anxiousness, some more than others (Justin and Stockton).  I went to a RS dinner but got home to watch most of it.  Mostly I watched my boys as the Braves did in fact win the World Series.  What a dream for Stockton!  And so cool that he was in Atlanta just a few months earlier.  Justin and Stockton were on a high for a few days.

some anxious moments

and suspenseful ones

Justin couldn't stop smiling when he was re-watching some of the highlights that night

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, Ivy went gung-ho with her crafting.  A turkey and a cornucopia in the first couple days of the month!  Lucky us.  We hung them by the thankful tree.

 

When Brynn and Ivy fight (a lot), Justin makes them park their noses.  Haha.  It usually reduces tensions because they giggle the whole time.

 

For FHE one week Brynn planned a long jump game for us. She had written everyone's name on a strip of paper and was going to use those to measure how far we jumped. Stockton jumped up to go first, jumped, and...crack.  Then rolled around in pain.  Justin and Molly heard a crack when he landed so they knew something was up.  He wouldn't put any weight on his foot at all and spent a painful night on the couch.  Justin took him to Dr. McPhie (foot doctor from our ward) the next day but he was unable to see what the problem was with an x-ray.  He ordered an MRI and gave Stockton a boot and crutches.  The MRI found two small fractures on his front heel bone.  Luckily it didn't need casting, just the boot and crutches.  He used the crutches for about 3-4 weeks then wore the boot for an additional month after that.  Then a couple more weeks limping and wearing the boot for about half the day when his foot got sore.  It took a long time to heal!...is still healing actually, he still has a slight limp but doesn't use the boot anymore (Jan. 16th).  It was a bad fall for our family as far as bone health went.  Ivy only had her cast off about 3 weeks when Stockton did his thing.  Pretty much drained our HSA-but good thing we had it!

 

For YW's one week we went to a devotional put on by UVU Institute Choir and Michael McLean.  This is a funny picture because the people in front of us are unsuccessfully trying to hide while the people behind us are doing all different things-smiling at the camera, turning around, ignoring the camera.  The people sitting in front of us are in our ward so we showed them the photo and had a good laugh.  We went for ice cream at Dairy Keen after the devotional.

Rachel Larsen, Kelsey Larsen, Molly, Rendi Holm, Sam Steiner, Lauren Whimpey, Emma Stinebaugh, me

West Ellingford, Rendi, me, Emma, Kelsey, Sam, Rachel, Lauren, Sloane Ellingford, Molly

Stockton finally agreed to let Justin cut his hair.  It was like a mop on the top of his head...so long everywhere.  It looked much better when he was finished.

 

The fake Christmas tree comes out two Sundays before Christmas.  It's so much work getting all the stuff out that I have to do it in stages.  Justin put it together and I {mostly} decorated it...with a little help, of course.  Stay tuned for the finished product.

 

Stockton made a couple posters in his graphics design class.  He enjoyed every minute of that class and wishes there were more he could take (only a graphics 1 and 2 is offered at his middle school).  His teacher, who is in our ward, says all of his projects are baseball related.

 

Getting baptism appointments for the temple is nearly impossible.  We tried and tried for several months to get one for our Young Women's class.  We finally figured out that the best way to get an appointment is to stay up until midnight when they open new appointments (the 1st of each month for the following month).  Rendi did that on October 1st so we could go as a class in November.  Totally worth it.  I canceled my piano lessons for that day and we drove down to Provo City Center for our appointment.  We had originally made the appointments for the teachers quorum and their leaders as well but they ended up not being able to come.  We weren't sure who was going to do the baptisms but went anyway.  As we were walking into the baptistry, two men walked in with us asking if they could assist in the baptistry.  They had missed their endowment session and thought they would try the baptistry.  I don't think it was a coincidence that they walked in right at the same time as us willing to fill a need that we were needing.  It was a great day in the temple and we took the girls to Pizza Pie Cafe before going home.

Lauren, Kelsey, Pallas Andersen, Sam, Rachel, me, Emma, Molly, Rendi

Brynn had an "open gym" night for cheer. This is just where they go and work on stunts, tumbling, etc but not an official practice.  I went in to get her and got to see her doing some of her stunts.  It was so fun to see after several months of just hearing about everything.

 

Stockton loved having stage crew for the first two terms this year.  The drama classes had a play so Molly and I went to watch.  Stockton was behind the scenes so we never actually saw him until the end when everyone came out to take a bow and then I made him take this photo. 

 The Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving is always dress rehearsal nights for the train.  They open discounted tickets to families of employees before opening it to the public.  We've never gone since elves cannot be on the same cars as their families (for obvious reasons...they are supposed to be actual elves from the North Pole so if someone knew them the guise might be ruined) and we wanted to go when we could see Molly.  This year with Molly being a host I thought it would be fun to take the kids to see what Molly does.  We've been a couple times before but neither Stockton or Brynn remember and Ivy wasn't born yet!  We didn't even live in Heber the last time we went.  My parents, the Moyes's, and the Broadbent's also drove up that night and it was one giant happy family (minus the Walker's who we definitely missed).

This was such a magical night!  Everyone's excitement level was totally amped up and we were all feeling the Christmas spirit.  We had so much fun.  So glad we were able to go see Molly and ride the train together.

Molly and Abby

Brynn and Grace (Spencer and Seth in back)

Ivy and Lucy

Scrooge and Grinch...Stockton and Grant

Brynn and Spencer

Molly and Jeff

when Santa came in...Lucy, Ivy, Grant, Stockton

Brynn, Spencer, Grace, Santa

getting a bell from Santa

Erin, Bryce, Abby, Brynn, me, Ivy, Molly, Grandma, Grandpa, Grace, Spencer, Justin, Grant, Ben, Gavin, Seth, Stockton, Lucy, Jeff, Ali

Grandpa, Molly, Grandma

Stockton got out all his old editions of Sports Illustrated Kids.  At least the ones that have their covers still intact.  He reads these over and over so some of them are in rough shape. 

Ivy was proving that she could fit in one of the bookcases.  Probably not for much longer, the way these kids are growing! 

The Sunday right before Thanksgiving is set aside for Christmas villages.  We have a lot since Justin is a bonafide collector of anything.  Molly and Brynn made a tower with the empty boxes while I set them up.  We piled on the couch and watched a Christmas movie after they all fell down.

 

I have no caption for this.  Classic Brynn.  

Stockton, Brynn, and Ivy did a how-to-draw on their day off before Thanksgiving.  Pumpkin Spice hot cocoa.  Stockton framed his and gave it to Gene and April the next day when we were there celebrating.