series of november: numeros tres

(clearly you can tell, i'm working on my es spañol, don't mind me). 

During the Thanksgiving break, it was so fun to have the Caudles and Vances constantly coming to visit us. How fun to have children running everywhere. I forgot how much I missed that. 

cute memories: 

--Little Julia and I stayed home after the Thanksgiving feast while the rest of the family went to take a walk. I thought it would be fun to watch Garfields Thanksgiving with her on YouTube, and while she was waiting for me to pull it up, she began copying everything that I said and did. As soon as she stopped, and I began copying her. After a while she said, "well, can you say, 'gahrannkallakiymakahfyr." I tried and failed. But we both ended up laughing heartily. 

--Christian can say 'ipad' better than he can say his own name. 

 Isaac knows how to use the ipad in style. Diaper and all.

 That awkward moment when you dress the same as your sister for church. we're flip-flopped.

 The kid table on Thanksgiving. I don't have a picture of the adult table, so do your best to imagine a large table with copious amounts of delicious food.

Took the Williams family pictures in the neighbors backyard...

more to come!

series of November: numero dos

November 17, 2012

After arriving in Gresham Friday evening, Saturday was a very special day. As a child growing up I always sang, "I love to the Temple," and for the past 20 years (hey, in a week, I can say that officially), I have been preparing to go to the Temple. I remember talking to my mom one night at the kitchen table back in August and she told me as much as she could about the Temple, and feeling a lump in my throat for how badly I wanted to and be apart of the temple work. Ever since October 6th, 2012, that possibility of attending the Temple, came sooner than anticipated, and you should know, very welcomed.

The Portland Temple was the first temple I went to for baptisms for the dead, and now for my endowments. And....it could potentially be the Temple I get married in too.

The time I spent with my mom the hours before I went to the temple was very special. My mom was suffering intense pain in her legs from the polio, but the acts of service she rendered me that day was a glimpse into her eternal love for me. I told her I was sorry, and that I should have asked one of my sisters to escort me and she said "oh no. I wouldn't ever miss this day." thanks mom for being the best escort!

The first time going through the temple was great, truly. But to be honest, the second time was even better, and I know it will get better and better each time. I went again last night for the second time, and I didn't want to leave. I want to go to the Temple more and more. It really is the best place.

I'm so grateful for my family and friends who showed their support. They took time out of their day. And a sweet babysitter who babysat 7 kids, for free, because she knew our family was at the temple for me. Seriously. People are the best. And I know that the happiness I felt was because it was shared with others. Especially, my eternal family.

series of events: November

November is remembered in my book as special for two reasons:
1. no shave November
2. last full month of school (and Thanksgiving, of course!)

Here are a few details of life that can't go unnoticed:

November 13, 2012: Lynette got her mission call.


Lynette and I have been best friends since well, birth. Thanks to our shared blood, we get to call each other cousins and its the best. All growing up we played pretend 'college', and little did we know that we would randomly be roommates our first term of college and now we live 3 block away. Its the best.
I see her more often through the library window (such as last night), then I do in person. Or today we both skipped a class because we got talking on the phone for so long. That is true friendship. :)


Lynette was surrounded by so many family and friends when she opened her mission call to Curituba, Brazil. The same mission as my friend from back home, Conner House. And the professor I work for, also served there.

 

November 16, 2012:

I drove home to Oregon! I drove with the Williams family. So these next few pictures are dedicated to their cute kids.


The morning of the Drive... I have the cutest nieces and these are just 2 of them!

Sunday morning...this picture will get 10x cuter when you realize what they're watching

 Look who I found crawling in my suitcase....

And yes in fact, C-boy has a mohawk as his hair style for church. 

November 19, 2012: I did shopping and more shopping for the mission. I was at JCPenny trying on shoes and this boy felt inclined too....

 Later that evening we had a nice skateboard debut by C-boy. His father has never been more proud.
Christian was a little ninja. He went into Evelyn's room with the light off, and took it from her room and carried it up.

More Thanksgiving highlights to come!