Dicken's Festival

December 1 - 4
What a week! We had so much fun going every night and watching Noah. But by the end of the week, we were ready for a good home cooked meal, and to stay home. He did two plays each night, 1 Oliver - where he played an orphan; and 1 Scrooge - as Tiny Tim. And on Saturday there was a matinee, so 4 total performances that day.

the video took way too long to upload...then there was an error.

He had quite the fan club every night! 

Surprisingly enough, Cutler and Lexie sat and watched every single show.

Oliver: as an orphan

Scrooge: as Tiny Tim

Thanksgiving

November 25

Let me just start by saying this... I love that we have so much family, and that we live close to most of them...Until the holidays come around. That being said...this year is our year to have Thanksgiving with my family, and with Colby's family. I was very THANKFUL this year that we had an early Thanksgiving with my family so that we could enjoy our day without running around from one place to the next.

We started the day with breakfast at the Danjanovich's. Super yummy hootinannie's(???), eggs, biscuits N gravy...the works. After breakfast the boys broke the wishbone (from a turkey a few weeks before)

Then we met up with all the Labrum's for Thanksgiving Dinner. Lots of yummy food. Laughs. And good times. I was sad my parents weren't here for the actual day, but so glad we didn't have to split the actual Thanksgiving part up.
This year we are thankful for:
Our family...big & small
Our health
A good job to help take care of us
A home to stay warm and be protected
A free country to do the things we want
The gospel

Teddy Bear Picnic

November 20
Cutler, Lexie, and I joined Hallie, Blake, Mel, and gramma Sherie this year to celebrate Birthday Style at the Teddy Bear picnic. We've never gone before. It was fun. Very much for the little ones. Cutler loved it. You never can tell with Lexie.

she was totally intrigued with his hat. funny girl.

Cutler loved this dang monkey and just had to have his picture with him.

Jubilee of Trees

Christmas...It's the real thing!

That was our theme. Natalie always decorated her tree Coca-Cola.

And ever since she passed away, Sherie and the girls

have always wanted to do a tree in her honor.

This was the year.

And they asked me to help. [Ha, like I really helped.]

I was good at watching them create this amazing scene.

And it was alot of fun.

 Sherie even got us all matching shirts to wear

She has been planning and collecting things for a long time. And it paid off!

Two truck loads, a couple trips to the store, a ton of laughs,

and a million memories!  

We won Designer's Choice!

I was honored to get to be a part of this amazing tree. After the Jubilee, we had to deliver it. Sherie and I were the only ones in town, so we rounded up some boys to help carry the fireplace and tree. We delivered it to a family in Washington. The perfect family! Their whole basement was decorated in Coke stuff. Not just for Christmas. Like...DESIGNED around Coke stuff. It is the cutest basement ever. And especially now that it has our tree in it!

And just a little something I found...
Natalie's tree
The year before she passed away

Tiny Tim

I'm pretty sure I never posted anything more about the plays Noah are going to be in.
In 'Scrooge', he's Tiny Tim, and in 'Oliver' he's an orphan.
If you're in town this weekend, come see them at the Dicken's Festival.

He's been practicing a ton, and just over the weekend caught some stupid cold that's going around. I hope it doesn't affect his ability to perform! [I kept him home from school today so he could rest and not have to go outside.] Tonight is their last dress rehearsal and tomorrow is the big "opening night".

We can't wait to go watch him. I'll get some video of it and put it on here for those of you who can't be here.

Cub Scouts

Along with turning 8, for a boy, you get to start cub scouts. Noah has been watching me do things for scouts for a couple of years now and would come with me every once in a while.
Now it's his turn to go to scouts!
At the first of the month they welcomed him into the pack and gave him his book to start working on.

 He hasn't been able to go to any den meetings yet because of play practice, so after this week he can finally start doing that. And hopefully get caught up!

Mr. & Mrs. Chad Miller

November 5
[finally]

Kadence & Cutler were a flower girl/ring bearer

Chad & Amber both had amazing vows. Boy am I glad I didn't have to do that.

Chad wanted Peyt-Peyt to be there too so he could promise her the same things.

And he gave her a beautiful little necklace.

 We got such a kick out of watching the kids get their groove on.

Since my parents aren't here, the wedding was pretty much up to Amber and me. I was stressed. And worried. And nervous. Mostly worried that we'd forgotten something...something very important. But we didn't. And everything turned out perfect. I thought anyway.
I'm not gonna lie...
I'm glad it's over.

Choose The Right

 Baptism Invitation

front

back



You plan for this day for what feels like forever.

I remember when Noah was 4. I remember thinking, 'Only 4 more years and we'll baptizing him. He's half way there'.

And now the day has come and gone.

It was a crazy day. We squoze a lot of things into it. But the Baptism was the best part of all!

Earlier in the week Colby said to me 'What do you think about having Kent confirm Noah?' It had never crossed my mind, only because I think it's such a special thing, I just thought Colby would want to do it. But I got where he was coming from. We decided that it was ultimately Noah's decision.

When we asked him he wasn't quite sure what to say. He said he didn't know.

We gave it a couple days then asked him again.

He immediately said Papa.

Kent had been out of town for 2 weeks. He got back the same day as the baptism.

He had no idea this was coming. [I don't think]

Colby talked to him just a few hours before and asked if he would do it.

~~~

I was fine the whole day. Never got emotional. Surprise!

Until during the musical number.

She sang "No Ordinary Man"

I turned around just to look at everyone and saw Kent crying.

I lost it.

Noah was the only one from our ward, so we had the room all to ourselves. Our whole family was there.

Minus a few who had good reason.

All the kids rushed up to the plexi-glass to watch. I stayed in my seat watching through the mirror.

They walked down the steps and into the water.

Colby immediately got emotional.

So did I.

As soon as Noah was layed into the water I started crying.

And it was over

~~~

While we waited for Colby & Noah to change our sweet Bishop said a few things. Then he had all of us introduce ourselves to him. He talked about baptism being the gateway to Heaven. And behind the gate was a very long path. Full of all the things we have to do to return to our Heavenly Father. This is what he talked to Noah about during his interview. And Noah remembered. He answered him back when he would ask something.

And then Kent confirmed Noah. And he did such a great job.

I am so blessed to have so much family around. So many priesthood holders who are able to take part in these important things for my kids.  

~~~

After the baptism we had a dinner at the church. After thinking about all who would be there we decided our house isn't big enough for everyone.

Luckily there was a ton of food left over from the wedding.

We dined on homemade soups: butternut squash, and broccoli cheese [Sherie]; chicken noodle [my mom]

homemade breadsticks [Sherie's neighbor] bless her heart, Sherie asked her to make 40, she made 90

chicken salad sandwiches; chips; fruit; brownie bites; pumpkin bars [Jennifer]; cream puffs; cheese cubes; Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist

 Noah's grandma great made him this totally cool [he doesn't think it's cute] blanket. It has little scouts and flags all over it. He's sleeps with it every night.

I am so happy for Noah and the choice he made to become a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ

of

Latter-Day Saints

He has set a great example for his brother and sister and lots & lots of cousins.

Family time

Last weekend my brother got married. Yeah!! All I can say, is it's finally over. All of that is a whole other post...

So because of the wedding we had some visitors...

My parents came home from their mission for a few days. And my sister and her girls came down. Talk about a busy week. And now I'm paying for it. My house is a disaster, and I got sick so I've been worthless.

We took off church on Sunday, [is that even allowed] Halloween, and drove to Vegas to pick up my mom. It was a family affair.
Monday, Lexie and I went with her to Minersville for the day to visit with her parents and sisters.
Tuesday we drove all over town trying to finish up buying last minute things for the wedding, and struck out on everything we tried to get done.
After 3 days in the car, I told her I was done running around. Makayla got here late Tuesday night, so Wednesday those two ran around while the kids all played at my house. My kids LOVE her girls so it was so nice to have them playing all day with absolutely NO fighting. At one point I went to check on everyone because I wasn't hearing anything, and I wasn't a hundred percent sure where they were. I went out back and asked Cutler if everyone was out there. He said yes, they were in the sandbox.

 When I came back in I could hear little voices. I walked down the hall ito Lexie's room, and found these two...

Kadence & Lexie walked around the whole day holding hands. And everyday for the rest of the week Lexie asked about Kadence. And Addi.

Thursday we had a rehearsal dinner, set up for the wedding, and then went home to my moms to finish the cake. Makayla did the cake, but she had a support group. I'm just really glad that's not something I've ever really cared to want to try. Thankfully, I have a lot of people around me who like to do that kind of stuff. And they're really good at it too.

Just to finish the week...

Friday was the wedding

Saturday we had Thanksgiving lunch with my family since it's our year and my parents won't be here.

Then Noah was baptized.

The wedding and baptism each get their own post.

It was a crazy, busy, don't know if I ever want to do that again week! But it was fun. And I'm so glad I got to spend some time with my parents and a lot of one on one with my mom.

This picture was taken Sunday night, when my parents made the rounds before they went back to Florida. It was hard saying good bye again, but I'm sure they're loving the peace and quiet they get to have all day...every day.





Award of Excellence

November 2

Halloween Friday, I got a call on my cell phone from Noah's school. [That's never a good thing. Trust me.] This time, however, I was surprised to hear that they were going to give Noah an award during an assembly at school.
I was so excited! They acted like he didn't know anything about it so I never said anything to him. I told Colby, so he would come, and my mom was here, so she got to come too.

Noah was very surprised to see us when his class filed in to the lunch room.

They were awarding some of the students for their excellence in different areas.

Noah's was for reading.

They never told me any of the criteria for the award or anything, but it made Colby & I feel like our efforts in making Noah read every single day are really paying off!

Way to go Noah!!