Tuesday Tribune

My parents come home from their mission sooooo soon!  Like a week from this Friday.  I can't imagine their excitement to come HOME and sadness they are feeling saying goodbye.  Ok, I guess I can relate a little bit because I felt those feelings when we moved here.  I was sad to leave my family and my friends.  I was excited for the unknown in moving to a new place, but realized when we got here that I was going to have to put in way more effort to make friends while being at home full time with Deakon.  We have been here a bit over 5 years and I've really grown to love it.  I've made good friends, my kids have made friends, I have a job that I mostly enjoy, and honestly when I leave the house everyday I find myself taking in a deep breath and thinking about how much I love Cochrane... and Alberta.  Yes, the weather is not awesome, but my little bubble is beautiful and friendly and familiar.  I often wonder if it is an age thing.  Was I just so wrapped up in myself to open my eyes and enjoy every detail about Utah?  Even when we go back though, I find myself focusing on roads... cars... and so many people... and roads... and stores.... and pollution hiding the mountains... and my mom and dad's house- which is always the best and so I spend most of my vacation in the backyard and green leather couches and front porch that is the perfect level to sit on for hours.  I'm sure if/when we move back I will have to find the beauty that I don't remember.  The whole move back or not to move back is always on our minds.  It hurts to think about leaving my Cochrane bubble, and yet it hurts when we are on our way home from visiting Utah.  Why can't all of my people live together, in Cochrane, which has been relocated to South Jordan, Utah?  Sadly, I can't have everything I want.  There are so many things that factor into a move back to Utah.  I wish it was easy to decide.  For now I will distract myself trying to figure out how to keep the house clean, the masses fed, and Nixon and Quinn buckled up in the bus.  That last one is going to make me lose my mind.  STAY IN YOUR SEAT BELT YOU LITTLE BOOGERS!!!!!

Halloween

We love the park behind our house!

 The kids own 2 bats, but when we moved here I put them away and we just found them right before Halloween.  I was pretty impressed with Deak's skills.  I DO NOT have good hand-eye coordination so I'm glad he got it from somewhere.  We tried to play a game, but seeing as Mom took about 10 pitches to hit the ball I got kicked out quickly.

 The Achievement Day girl's in our Ward threw a Halloween party for the kids under 8.  My kids had fun.

 Trick-or-treating:

 Went to Grandma and Papa's before as per tradition:

 Quinny, Nix, Aiden, and Deakon

 The kids had fun, and we had fun making them pick 10 things and then paying them $5 for the rest of the candy.  They bought new beyblades and I didn't have to deal with all of the candy meltdowns.

The night after Halloween the young mom's in our ward did a craft night.  The girls that organized this year did a great job cutting TONS of wood and cutting the vinyl.  We just had to show up with paint and got to socialize.  It was a good night.  I only got 3 of 6 crafts done because of time.  I am also making a 6 ft. ruler, wooden christmas tree, and another board like the ones below with primary song titles.

Thanksgiving and Happenings

We missed out on the big family Thanksgiving Saturday afternoon, so we made the best of it on Sunday.   Forgot to have someone take a picture of all of us at church.. bummer.

Sunday night we headed to Ron and Doreen's for a yummy dinner:

 It was fun, but I was sad that I forgot to make everyone say what they were thankful for.  Good thing we get to have Thanksgiving again!

Monday morning, some of the guys in the ward played football.  They kids and I went and watched.  I was too busy staying warm and socializing with friends to take any pictures of them playing.

 A good friend of mine was just about to pop out her baby and Kyle is always complaining that I only make treats that I like (aka gluten free) so I made something both parties have expressed that they love.  Chocolate covered strawberries.  I forget how easy they are to make.  They kids and I had fun... wait, that is a lie.  I went all control freak on them and wouldn't let them help or touch anywhere close to them because some were being given away.  In the end, they did end of getting a few.

 Holding hands when Quinn was sad:

Our second home is the bus yard:

 They love helping me do my pre-trip, but it only happens about once a month.  It is stressful not having them confined when we are surrounded by 100 other buses.

 My bestie took our family pictures this year.  She did a GREAT job!  I can't share them all yet because I am saving some for Christmas cards, but here are some pictures of us scoping the Ranch House grounds for ideas.