November

Since November is the month of gratitude, let's make a list of things I am grateful for...that happened this November:)

-I took a solo trip to Canada 

(stocked up on scarves from Grandma and did a sisters/mom dinner at White Spot)

-I voted (for President) for the first time...although I wasn't happy with the results:/ Trump

-Mike and I saw Wicked (the musical)--Amazing!!!

-We had a huge wind storm that shut off power for most of Bothell and Woodinville, but ours stayed on:)  We had to find something (kitties) to entertain us while the rest of the town was shut down

-School was cancelled for 2 days because of the power outage

(which meant Summer got to go to Elevated Sportz with Genevieve)

-At Summer's parent/teacher conference her teacher raved about what a great student she was

-We got to go to the Scholastic Book Fair (for the last year)

-We made popcorn balls

-Tyson came home for Thanksgiving

-We set up and decorated the Christmas tree

-We went to the movies to see Wicked as a family

Why didn't I take a picture??

-We ate a delicious turkey dinner

No picture of the turkey dinner this year either.  I had high hopes for this gluten free pie, but the crumble wasn't great.  All the gluten free attempts for Thanksgiving weren't great...try again next year.

There are so many things to be thankful for each and every day.  I am blessed beyond measure.

Halloween 2024

Fall Foliage

I absolutely love growing our own pumpkins:)  Although this year, I accidently bought two extra zucchini plants and only 4 pumpkin plants--oops.  Summer went to a pumpkin carving activity with her friend this year, so it's ok that we didn't get around to carving any of ours this year--oops again.

Magical fall street in Bothell! 

I can't stop taking pictures of the beautiful trees...seriously, it's a problem:)

Pumpkin Patch

This year, some friends invited us to a bon fire at the pumpkin patch.  We, of course, had to fit in the traditional pictures, and stop at the shop for peaches and gummies...sadly, no donuts for us gluten free people.  There were definitely less pumpkins at Bob's Corn this year--weird.

Only one year apart!  I guess it was a year of growth for Summer.

It was a rainy bonfire in the corn maze!  But still fun...

Cute Costumes

This year, Summer knew exactly what she wanted to be for Halloween.  Probably because she's reading Twilight:)  She was the cutest little vampire ever!  And yay that the very first costume we bought was perfect and fit her just right.  

Mike and I did very last minute costumes this year (reused from a murder mystery dinner we went to a couple years back).  Summer only let me do the bun in her hair for the first party, then it was down after that (apparently a bun with so much hair is heavy haha--I wouldn't know).

Trick or Treating 

We started with the trunk or treat at church the Saturday before Halloween.  It was dry all day...until everyone started decorating their trunks, then it poured the rest of the night!

Summer has trick or treated with her friend Reese for the past few years, so I was happy to keep the tradition alive this year...maybe their last year with parents, since next year is middle school.  Just like with the trunk or treat, it was dry all day until we started trick or treating, then it rained the rest of the night!  Such a rainy Halloween this year.

This house always has the best decorations!

So much candy!

Always glad when Halloween is over:)  

Moving Up, Moving On, and just Moving

Summer moved up to 5th Grade

I missed Summer's first day because I was driving Kya and Clayton to Rexburg.  Mike did a great job making sure everything went smoothly.  It was nice that Summer knew just about everyone in her class (since she's been with most of them since 1st grade) and had already met her teacher (Ms. Flanigan).  Hooray for our last year of Elementary School!

Tyson moved on to BYU Provo

It was nice having Kya and Tyson at the same school, even if it was only for one year!  Tyson was pretty excited to get accepted to BYU...and that he gets to be roommates with his best friend Luke again.  So far, I have only heard good things and he is loving life at BYU (except for the fact that he has to pay to wash his clothes haha--$4 a load!!)

It was meant to be:)

And Kya and Clayton moved into their first apartment together!

Driving 12 hours to Rexburg with my "check engine" light on was a bit stressful (not to mention driving back ALONE).  But I was so happy I got to take the trip and help the newlyweds move into their first apartment.  It was so fun to open all their new things and set up their cute new apartment.  I think they are going to have a great year...especially since they don't have to deal with crazy roommates haha.

Lots of changes and exciting times!

Kya & Clayton's Wedding Day

 Perfect, magical, wonderful, amazing day full of love.  

Wedding Week

After an entire year of planning, the week of the wedding arrived...and we were ready, right?!

The first groomsman arrived the Friday before the wedding, and then after that our house was just a revolving door of family, in-laws, groomsmen, and bridesmaids.  There were dinners, hikes, sightseeing in Seattle, hot tub parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, football games, and even a few rounds of Mario Cart.  It was exciting, stressful, fun, busy, and memorable.  

All the groomsmen but one...still waiting on most of the bridesmaids!

Watching Twilight, the night before the bachelorette party.  Summer was so excited to be included...even though we had to make her close her eyes a few times:)

Kya and some of her bridesmaids got ready at our place before heading to Seattle for the Bachelorette party (Jordan hosted the girls at her place for the bachelorette party)

Summer and I got to meet up with the girls at Alexa's for breakfast the day before the wedding

The rehearsal felt a little rushed (they only gave us one hour and then rushed us out for another event, so we didn't get any pictures until we got to the restaurant)

Rehearsal dinner at Brooklyn Bros Pizza in Everett.  So many people, so much pizza:)

Clayton's groomsmen hoisted him up to immortalize K+C 

Almost time for Wedding Day!

Another One Bites the Dust

This summer was Sheri's turn to reach the 50 year mark!  Holy Cow, how are we all getting so old?  We (as sisters) had plans to do something "beachy" at White Rock beach ,since Sheri LOVES the sun.  Then Paul called with plans to surprise Sheri with brunch at White Rock, so we combined forces and had the most perfect day in White Rock celebrating how much we love Sheri.

We went to Boathouse in White Rock.  It had the most beautiful view of the ocean...and I had the best quiche of my life!  Paul was so sweet to plan this for Sheri...and she was genuinely surprised (no makeup and all)

I was so excited to make a collage of Sheri over the years.  This is my favorite thing and is always a big hit.  Luckily there was room to display it at the restaurant.

We even got to meet Paul's parents!

After brunch we headed over to the park that used to be "the camp" where we lived when we lived in White Rock.  It's magical to be there as adults.  The perfect place to celebrate Sheri's birthday.  Tina brought leis for us all (and I brought a real one for Sheri) to go along with our beach theme.  Lisa created a trivia game to play about Sheri.  My team won...by a lot...probably because it was stacked with Me, Tina and Paul...and I get a little competitive haha.  But it was so fun.

We finished the afternoon at the lookout.  We rarely get a photo of all us together with our husbands so this was a gem.  Its always hard to leave when we are all get together.  Next year it's Tina's turn...

I am so grateful to have Sheri as my sister.  She is so fun and funny and brings so much energy and happiness everywhere she goes.  She is so caring and quirky and so talented.  I look up to her so much.  

Happy 50th Sheri!!!!