Turkey Day

This year it was a Snyder thanksgiving at Grammie and Grandfathers. The weather was beautiful so I went for a jog around the lake before the festivities began. My contributions to the dinner this year were a Greek pasta salad and pumpkin torte. There was a big group of 25 at the Snyder's this year including my sister-n-laws family from Russia. The food was wonderful and Heathers 10 pies were delicious. I particularly loved the chocolate/carmel pie that tasted just like a french truffle...yum! After eating with the Snyders we went and ate a second round of dessert with my Family. I am always so grateful for having so much family close by and always too much to eat. I hope I can always help others who are less fortunate and teach my children to do the same. And now with our day of thanks coming to a close, Christmas will be alive and well at our house. (I have been listening to Christmas music in the car for a month now....)

My Family of Turkeys

I am thankful for family night full of pure chaos and a little learning. Tonight we went through a really cool Thanksgiving multi-media educational tool that I found on the web. It is quite handy and brings to life the first Thanksgiving. Stella was quite excited to recognize many of the facts because they have been discussing them at school. Miles thought is was cool that there was a captain Miles Standish. Brighton loved all the big boats. After we made our annual thankful turkey. Each day we will add something we are thankful for. Today Stella was thankful for family, Miles for eating turkey, and Brighton for his blankeys. We finished things off with "turkey" no bake cookies. Easy for the kiddos to make and easy to enjoy in their peanut butter-chocolaty goodness. While the first Thanksgiving lasted a week I am looking forward to the one day we have dedicated to being thankful for our many blessings. Because the blessings are plentiful.

Nothing Bundt Talent

I have worked in the Young Women's Program for about 9 years now (with a few short breaks when we switch wards). So this is about the 9th Young Women in Excellence that I have been in charge of. I really love working with the youth and there are some amazing, strong and talented young women out there. Especially right here in my neighborhood. This year we had the really cool opportunity to be apart of a church wide temple celebration at the downtown conference center because of the temple opening up just down the street. The young women put hours and hours into this production of song and dance. The outcome was amazing. So we focused on the temple and their talents this Young Women in Excellence night. Our official theme was "By Example We Can Climb to the Mountain of the Lord". They were able to sing some songs from the temple celebration performance and share their talents and personal projects in many ways. We used the general theme scripture to outline our spiritual showcase of talents as we made our journey to the mountain of the lord (or the temple). The girls displayed sketches, baked cakes, sang, danced, played an instrument, etc.... After the show we had a rose ceremony honoring each young woman for all their accomplishments in personal progress. We topped the night off with fantastic bundt cakes and wassail while families enjoyed a year end slide show and wandered through the girls displays. The young women were a big part of the success and we were so proud of them!

Gum Drop Buttons

Run, run as fast as you can.... It was a blizzard last Saturday and we felt like we were running for cover every time we stepped outside. So we decided to stay inside and attend the Gingerbread Festival at Thanksgiving Pointe. There were some pretty amazing gingerbread creations. For example, the Salt Lake Temple, a victorian mansion, a Harley Davidson shop and fairy land. The kids enjoyed wandering around looking at the hundreds of houses. We also decorated our own gingerbread man and drank some watery hot chocolate. Miles was mesmerized by all the electric trains and Stella was entertained by the talented pianist. We also jumped in line for a little face painting and story time. There is nothing like a jump start to our Christmas celebration. But not to worry we are not forgetting Thanksgiving and the Christmas decor will not be up until the turkey bird has been consumed (or at least on the brink of being put in the oven)

I Am Thankful post #1

Because I have so much to be thankful for, I will jump on the bandwagon of sharing my thoughts of gratitude on my blog in November. And today it is being a mom, plain and simple. I remember the day I looked in my cupboards and all I saw were adult size glasses. I knew it was time to start multiplying our family. I was in the depth of a career I loved and didn't know how I would melt into the culture of a stay home mom. So after a few years of working on making a family Stella arrived and I worked part time. And then just two years later a wonderful red head surprise showed up and we called him Miles. It was then that I made the full plunge into staying home with my kids. I would go to the park without snacks, forget jackets, feel frazzled but eventually I got the hang of it. Finally while hiking around snowbird Mr. Brighton made his debut. Some days are hard but it is a wild ride that I cherish and am grateful to have. I once had someone ask me if it was difficult for me to let go of my career after working so hard in school. I could honestly answer it was hard for me to make the decision but once I did it was like I could fly. I also said very matter of fact, "I will go back when the time is right." I still teach college courses one night a week to keep my life balanced. But these three people are a part of me and I can't imagine how gray and linear my life would be without them. They are my rollercoaster and I am enjoying the colorful ride.

A Happy Haunted End

I LOVE holidays and all of their festivities. But I am also glad to move on to the next. This is how we wrapped up Halloween this busy and fun weekend.

Stella had her costume parade at school Friday afternoon. She is marching around with her friend Aubrie.

Then Friday Evening we were off to the big Snyder barn party. Nate and Anya didn't get the memo and were the only ones dressed up! But they were looking quite festive.

Who knew bobbing for apples was really swimming for apples. Good thing I brought their PJs.

I got one....by the stem!

A little Halloween Twister in the office of the barn. The warmest place.

Saturday morning the carving began. Spencer takes this very seriously and they turn into vegetable works of art. Stella punched the tiny holes to outline the picture and they all helped clean them out. But we left the big knife procedures to Dad.

The artist.

The finished work.

I would rather not run into a tree such as this in the forest.

Saturday afternoon we spent at the Cornbelly Pumpkin Fest at Thanksgiving Point. Where the kids jumped, rode in trains, played in sandboxes full of corn, dressed up, found their way through a corn maze, went through a giant dinosaur, tunneled through hay bales, and ate a great big mass of curly fries.

After the pumpkin fest we decorated cookies and had an early chili dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Carters. And finally the big grand finale that all the kids have been waiting for....to go Trick or Treating. So we headed home and got into character.

Our enchanting Mermaid.

"Hotwheels Guy"

Sweet little Sharky.

I seem to be able to coordinate at least two kids costumes, but I am a firm believer in letting them choose their costumes. If you want them to wear them of course.

And the candy collecting begins. I chased them around for a minute to get some photos but then I was the candy distributor. I did sneak some pretzels and glow sticks in with the candy to hand out.

The neighborhood was alive with all sorts of fun characters.

The loot. Maybe I will buy their candy so they can buy something really great, make it magically disappear, or let them eat to their hearts content.

And this is what our house looked like the next Halloween hangover day. We laughed when we opened the paper Sunday morning.

And that is the end of our Happy Halloween holiday!

I Don't Think We are in Kansas Anymore

Wicked, Central Park, The Met....oh my! There truly is nothing like a little New York City trip in the fall. My sister-n-law is a very talented seamstress and creates great curtain ideas that she markets in New York City to the big companies. You can see some of her work in JC Penny and soon Bed Bath and Beyond. She invites friends and family to come along, so this trip my sister, my niece, and I tagged along for some pure New York fun! We took the red eye flight in and hit the yellow brick road running. We did get a little sleep and eating in but mostly ran from one fantastic event to the next. We were delirious at points and I am convinced that the cashier at the deli where we were buying our midnight herbal tea thought we had lost our minds because of the incessant laughing. Mostly it was a great break from our daily routine to get some adult playing time in one of the great cities. I always come home rejuvenated and so grateful to be the mom of three very lovely munchkins. Because we know there is no place like home Toto.
A 6:30 am run to one of the many tasty bakeries/delis in the city that never sleeps. We were taking this quite literally and waiting to sleep when we got home.
The New York City temple...a refuge surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city. We attended a meeting here where it was the primary program. All 16 kids were adorable and full of New York character. I can't imagine what it would be like to raise children in Manhattan or to be raised there.
One of our strolls through Central Park. We were asked many times if we were sisters. And the answer is YES. I love this lady and I loved sharing this experience with her. I have been to New York before but this was her first trip to NYC and she was so HAPPY that I drug her there.
The talented Ms. Danelle and her daughter (my niece) Brittany. I think that Brittany really enjoyed her trip to the big Apple. She loved the big toy stores and Natural History Museum where Night at the Museum was filmed.
Ice-skating even when it is 60 degrees.
Central park is enchanting with its musicians, bridges, ponds, and all the people sucking in a little nature in a such a place.
One of many bridges in Central park...I just wish I could truly capture its beauty.
The tour bus system is great. You get to ride an open air bus and find out interesting facts like where John Lennon was shot, or where Audrey Hepburn lived. Just short of the "I heart NYC" tee shirt we were the ultimate tourists.
For me there are no words to describe attending a Broadway Play especially one like Wicked. I found myself getting a little choked up at the end, one because it is a moving song, two because I was so excited to be there, and three I was a little sad it was over. I found myself jumping from my seat and clapping in a very enthusiastic standing ovation with the rest of the crowd.
The famous Gershwin theatre.
Anyone that knows me...knows that all these pictures of me is really difficult. I LOVE photography but I like to be behind the camera!! I didn't have my kids or hubby to photograph and my sister wouldn't model so here I am smiling again and again for the camera. I did manage to get a few good shots of the city without me in it! Our hotel was right in Time Square.
A self portrait of me and my sis riding the big red bus.
Since this was my sister's first visit we made the trek to the top of the Empire State Building. And here I gaze across the very impressive city.
I loved the charm of Greenwich Village. I felt like a local walking in the park and eating at a deli with all the NYU students.
At the famous arch and fountain of Washington Square in Greenwich village.
The ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty.

It looks like someone photo shopped me in here.
We did try to experience every mode of transportation including the plunge down to the subway, the ferry to Staten Island, and of course a taxi cab ride.
I know Phantom is old news but for some reason I have never attended this Broadway Musical. I have wanted to see it ever since I was 10 years old. I played the music on the piano. I read the book. I watched the movie over and over. And finally this can be marked of my life's list. I gave this ticket to my sister for her birthday and it is something we will always remember.
Our last day it rained and we were glad! It scared off all the people at the Today Show so we were right behind the cast and on TV. Did you see us??
St. Patrick's cathedral is majestic and amazing to see. My niece sad it was weird and smelt funny. Or in other words...different and educational to a child.
If you have a daughter and get the chance to experience a three level American Girl Doll store I would highly recommend it. It was fully equipped with a doll hospital, salon, cafe, and clothes design center. I bought Stella a mini doll (because she is asking Santa for a full size one). I was wishing she would have been with me. Maybe we will visit the one in LA.
The movie "Night at the Museum" was filmed at this really large and historical Natural History Museum.
Brittany made about 10 trips in to Toys R Us. We rode in a Barbie car round and round on the Ferris wheel inside the store.
The rain maid the fall colors even more brilliant and the walk to the Metropolitan Museum was unbelievable. The pond was surrounded by bright beautiful leaves. All the photographers were out!
So many wonderful art pieces to experience at the Met. Like the Sunflowers painted by some guy named Vincent van Gogh. On special exhibit was Vermeer's painting "The Milk Maid"
Coming out of the Met and getting ready to hale a cab back to the hotel just in time to catch our ride back to the airport! And so I got my I "heart" New York t-shirt, gained courage to navigate through a big city even late at night, and exercised my brain with all the information and museums. I clicked my heels together and happily made my way home. There is no place like home, there is no place like home...