November

Feasts and Fun this month with Thanksgiving and Brennan's birthday.  Turning five has been the funnest for Brennan.  He has been planning his party for almost a year...  He wanted a "Haunted Halloween Party."  I wasn't quite sure how to pull that off, so I made it into a Carnival (though we still called it a Haunted Halloween Party...).  We had four different little games for the kids to play and earn tickets (bean bag toss, ring toss, etc).  Then with the tickets they got to go in the bounce house (just our little one--we had filled it with balloons), or do a cakewalk (where they won a cupcake), got their face painted, or got popcorn and cotton candy--oh and they got to turn in tickets for little toys or candy.  The kids absolutely loved it!  We did it in our unfinished basement and Brennan kept wanting to decorate it really scary... so for that, I put up streamers.  Scary, right?  It seems like it was a lot of work, and it was a bit of planning, but it wasn't too bad.  And it was so worth it because Brennan loved it!  Norma and Elaine saved us by coming to help, otherwise it would have been more crazy. 

That night we went out to a pizza place with Scott's parents and family and Grandma Nancy.  He opened presents--he is fun and difficult to shop for--He couldn't decide what he wanted, and he wanted everything!  He is really into Lego's right now, so he got some Lego City sets, an angry bird game and a kids cooking magazine subscription. 

Brennan is such a light in our lives.  He is extremely funny and full of energy.  He loves preschool and is making even more friends.  His teacher told me that he is winning the hearts of all the girls because he is so nice to everyone.  And he is!  He is nice, sweet, obedient, and wonderful!  And he is so funny--constantly saying things to make us laugh.  We love you Bren!

Elise is really talking, too.  She has had a bit of hard time sleeping.  She has stopped napping, unless she is in the car and falls asleep.  The problem comes when she takes any sort of nap, she won't fall asleep until 10 or later!  So she wants to come "hang out" with mom and dad.  And although we should be more diligent about putting her to bed and making her stay there, it has really been fun being just with her.  Eventually she falls asleep and we take her up to her bed.  What a love!  Her hair is growing longer and she is getting better about letting me comb it and make it all pretty.  Though usually it is pretty gross and messy after an hour or so.  She loves it when her daddy sings to her, and her favorite songs are: "bity-boo" (Bibbity-bobbity-boo), the "mermaid song" (Part of Your World), "temple" (I Love to See the Temple), "bird" (My Heavenly Father Loves Me), and "God" (I am a Child of God). 

Aidan is loving school and excelling.  His reading has exploded and is finding more books he likes to read.  But he is mostly reading the Book of Mormon.  He wants to finish it before he turns eight and he is right on target.  One of my favorite things he does is every day before he goes to school he says, "You're the best mom in the universe."  Oh I just love him! 

Weston is doing great, too.  We were able to go back to the old neighborhood for an afternoon and it was so fun for him to play with his friends!  They miss him so much and he misses them!  He has been reading the "Fudge" books, the "Unwanteds", and Grandpa and Grandma Daw's family history book.  He is so responsible and helps take care of Elise and his brothers.  I am so grateful to him!

We had more time on Saturday's to work on things in the house.  We put up a bunch of shelves in the storage rooms and really organized the basement.  Things are really coming together in the house and we really feel like we are home. 

Thanksgiving was pretty normal and good. We went to Scott's parents' house.  I made 96 rolls.  Twenty six people were at dinner.  We ate all but 16 of the rolls!!!  We are so grateful for all of our blessings, especially our families and the gospel.  Love you all!