Turkey Day 2010

We made a quick trip down to Twin Falls and back on Thanksgiving to spend it with the Longs and some of the other extended family on Jefferson's side. It was a fun, fast day with lots of good food and good company. We forgot to pull our camera out until the end, so we didn't get any pics of the festivities. Everybody pitched in with the food and we feasted. Afterward the menfolk watched some football while all the ladies crafted some bracelets. Then we feasted again on desserts. It was all rather delicious, and I'm wishing we had some leftovers right about now to make some turkey sandwiches!
The five, almost to be six of us. (We're almost down to double digits people!)

These were most of the ladies who were in attendance. Andi and Tay were already buckled up in the car, a few had already left, and there were a few stragglers still inside.
We have so much to be thankful for this year (like every year), but it truly has been a blessed year in the Harmon household.

A very merry birthday to me!

I can't even begin to explain how wonderful my birthday was this year. It all started when I found out I didn't have to work that weekend! What a great birthday present from the family I work for. Then, my husband, being the super excited over surprises man that he is, could not wait to give me my birthday present until Sunday (my birthday), so he surprised me at lunch on Friday and came home and gave me a new digital camera. A Canon Rebel. It is so nice and fancy and fun to play with. I was so surprised.
That night some of my girlfriends took me out to dinner. I wish I had a picture of all of us! (remember how I just got that nice, new camera? Where was it?!) We sat in the restaurant from 7-11, literally, just chatting. It wasn't super busy or else we would never be that inconsiderate to waiting customers. It was so fun just to catch up kidless.
Saturday I went out Christmas shopping with Andi and Jefferson's Aunt Di. We hit up a number of stores and then she treated us to lunch. Again, it was so fun to shop without kids. Andi doesn't count because she was just so thrilled to be out with the ladies that she behaved perfectly and we didn't even know she was there half the time. She was just taking it all in. After lunch I went to a home decor boutique that Jefferson's cousin was throwing. I may have bought a few things for the girls room. The whole day Jefferson just took care of the house and kids. It was so nice!
That night Jefferson took me out to Tacano's with our friends Casey and Kacey. It was DIVINE. Yum and yum. Here we are at the restaurant:
And the joyous birthday singing. They make you stand up and shake a tambourine. I made the most of it...
After dinner, a movie. We went and saw "Morning Glory." It was cute and predictable. There was a little bit of language, definitely a rent it if you're going to see it. But it was still super fun and it made me laugh out loud a number of times.
It was a grand evening out. Then, finally, it was my actual birthday! It was a pretty typical Sunday. I was sung to in primary and we just had a relaxing day at home. Jefferson cooked me a most delicious tri-tip and the kids helped me make a cake.
Isn't it lovely?
Then with the help of the kiddos, I blew out the candles and it was the end of a very perfect birthday weekend.

Recently

We visited a local fish hatchery with some friends. We got a private tour of the different buildings and got to see all the fish at their different stages.
Fish lips.
Touching a sockeye.
We spent a late night out at a local football playoff game. The kids LOVED it.
I took the kids to the Discovery Center and they had a blast. It was pretty empty so they got to run around as much as they wanted.
We had a picnic at the park afterwards. Taytum finally loves the swings!
On the way home Taytum fell asleep with her hand in her cup of marshmallows. If you look closely you can see her little hand fingering some mallows.
Other than that it's just been the usual around here... which is good.

Halloween Marathon

Our Halloween celebrations literally lasted a week! It started last Friday night with an adult only costume party at our good friend's house. These were the treats I made to take to the party. The ghosts were a marshmallow fondant so they tasted much better than regular fondant (though I still don't love the taste, but my kids did!)

Our costumes made a comeback from a couple years ago. Total cost: free.
Wednesday the kids' had their school Halloween parties. (No school Friday) We did Andi's hair in sponge rollers the night before and she thought she was so grown up. It was pretty cute.
Here is Andi as Sleeping Beauty. I should dedicate a whole post to Andi's dress. I sewed it based off of a tutorial for a Belle dress, which I was originally going to make, but Andi insisted on pink and then decided she wanted to be Sleeping Beauty. I wanted to make the dress primarily for their dress up tub because it was made out of knit, so it would be comfy and withstand their playing. So, it's not the fanciest, but it's going to be around for a while. Andi's reaction when she saw it finished for the first time was priceless. She LOVED it to say the least.
Her joyschool party was a blast. They made huge skeletons, colored pictures, frosted cookies, and had plenty of candy. (Andi is about a foot taller than everybody in her joyschool).
Carter got all decked out for his preschool Halloween party. He had a great time too and came home with bag fulls of treats, literally.
Friday was the trunk or treat. The kids had a blast at it.
I just love Taytum's little round face in this duck costume.



On Saturday we finally carved pumpkins. Our kids were so funny about putting their hands in the guts at first. It was a little too messy for their comfort zone. Carter finally got into it a bit, but Andi never did warm up to the idea.
Andi has her hair in curlers if you were wondering what look we were going for with the bandanna.
Carter tried his hand at carving and did a pretty good job with a little help from mom.

Andi's final pumpkin.
Carter's...
And Jefferson's pumpkin. Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas.
That night a couple of Jefferson's patients wanted us to stop by with the kids.Yes, his patients love him. It was an older couple and they just ate our kids up and had special treats for them. Plus they have a little dog named Bob and that was treat enough in and of itself!
Sunday we had a few of our favorite families over for chili and scones with honey butter. Then the kids played and frosted sugar cookies.
Unfortunately, after they frosted their one cookie they were done frosting and us ladies had to finish the job.
After a Halloween movie and a few more treats, we sent our kids off to bed and then handed out candy to trick-or-treaters (one of my favorite parts). It was a happy Halloween!