It's Thanksgiving Time!

We got a "fump-start" (Garrett term for "jump-start") and helped Sparky start hanging Christmas lights a few days before Thanksgiving. He has always been morally opposed to decorating before Thanksgiving, but the weather was so nice that we talked him into it. As you can imagine, the kids loved it and were really great helpers!

Ella loved watching the happenings from the window. Don't you just love that sweet little face?

My mom figured she might as well put up her Christmas tree while we were at it. Again, the kids were really big helpers. Seriously, I don't even know how we ever could have done it without them.

Abby has a minor (or major) obsession with all things involving the Disney Princesses. It is both charming and nauseating, but we decided to use it to our advantage when she wanted to potty train. With the help of a Princess potty, Princess panties, and Princess stickers, she got it down in just a couple of days. She still has an occasional accident, but has done awesome overall. I was tired of having another little potty to clean, so we traded in her Princess potty for a new Princess dress and life is good.

The Aggies beat LA Tech to win the WAC Championship and it was a happy day in the Petersen household. I went with my parents and sisters to welcome the team home at the airport at midnight. We're crazy, I know. These pictures stink, but they're the best I have.

Nice picture of Gary Anderson, huh? Rumor has it he's staying in Logan for a few more years and Cache Valley couldn't be happier.

Like the rest of America, we were all sad to hear about the closing of Hostess. Greg introduced Garrett to Ding-Dongs at Deer Camp this year and his little life has never been the same. He found this one last Ding-Dong in the fridge and we realized it was a historic moment as we watched him eat one for the last time.

Thanksgiving Day was fantastic. It was our year to spend it with my family and we had a lovely dinner at our house. It was a pretty basic turkey dinner--super delicious, but nothing photoworthy, so sorry for the lack of food pictures.

Jan had foot surgery the week before and we were so happy she was able to come. Abby loved snuggling with her on the couch.

Brett and Chelsea were able to join us via iPhone.

Ric was pretty excited about eating the awesome pies Marijka made. They were fantastic!!!

Brian, the oldest kid I know, kept us all entertained with his antics on Jan's scooter.

We were so happy Kathy was able to join us for the day. She is such a treasure to our family and always makes the party complete with her beautiful smile and kind words.

Kami and Kyle were supposed to be in Arizona for Thanksgiving, but their trip fell through and they ended up spending the day with us. I told them I was sorry for them, but happy for us! Abby loved climbing all over  Kami and Marlee and playing with their phones.

The extraordinary pie-maker herself!

Once Garrett had the formality of Thanksgiving dinner over with, he pulled out his notebook and got started on his letter to Santa. He is more than a little excited for Christmas.

Back to Brian and the scooter...

...and more of that killer pie!!!

Greg saddled up a horse and took the kids for a ride.

Sher even hopped on the horse--a moment almost as historic as Garrett eating the last Ding-Dong.

Garrett and Abby's little buddy, Kaden, even came down for a ride.

Brian just couldn't leave the scooter alone and even recruited Garrett to join the fun. 

The kids were so worn out after such a big day. They sat down on the couch and poor Abby was out in no time.

Greg got tickets for the Jazz game from somebody he works with and we were able to go the day after Thanksgiving. Garrett and Abby were so excited to stay with Grandma Jan and Grandpa Willy and we were so happy to go out. It was great to have a night out together and even an added bonus that the Jazz were playing the Kings and we got to see Jimmer. He played well, but the Jazz won in the end--a perfect night! Greg was so embarrassed when I wanted to get a picture of us. This was the best he could do.  

We returned home in time for the grand lighting ceremony Sunday night.

TA-DA!!!

Happy Halloween!

We have had a wonderful Halloween week! We started out with the annual Witches' Story Time at the library. The witches were fantastic and the kids loved it. 

I had to help with the event and Greg was helping my dad take down deer camp, so my awesome aunt and cousins brought Garrett and Abby. Doesn't Kami look great all dressed up?

We headed to Paula's after for the annual Halloween party. They held it on Saturday this year so Kami and Kyle could come. My pictures aren't great, but the kids loved the treats, games, fish pond, and homemade root beer. The chili and cinnamon twists weren't bad, either. 

Garrett was helping serve root beer and asked, "Would you like some clouds in it?" We all got a good chuckle at that one.

We met our friends Lisa and Camden at Gardner Village on Monday to check out the witches. We went last year and had such a great time we decided to make it an annual event. Garrett was so proud of himself when he was able to ring the big bell all by himself.

I took pictures of all the witches last year, but this is the only one I got this year. I was too busy chasing the kids to get any decent photos, but oh well.

Grandma Jan, Gini, and Owen joined us in the afternoon. We attempted to get a picture with Grandma Jan and the kids.

We had an early trick-or-treating night at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We love the McRae's across the street and visited them first. Willy was worried we were going to embarrass him by taking the kids around the entire neighborhood, but we managed to contain it to just the two houses. He was quite relieved.

Halloween Day was great! We had lunch at the BK Lounge (Wellsville Burger King) with the crew and then I took the kids into town. We saw the fire truck and trick-or-treated with the firemen at the mall and then headed over to Kelly Services. I am employed as a substitute teacher through them and they were having a Halloween party for employees and their families. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was awesome! They had games, prizes, treats, and a really fun spook alley. The kids loved it! We went to Em's and changed into our costumes and then headed to Lee's Marketplace for more fun and another spook alley. Greg was home from work by then, so we came home and hit the town! The kids loved trick-or-treating and insisted on walking and did not want to ride in the car. We finished up the night with the Jazz game and Jack-o-lantern pizzas at Grandma and Grandpa's house and then came home to put some very sleepy kids to bed. Their little buckets were spilling over by the end of the night and they went to bed with full tummies, so I would say it was a smashing success!

Garrett saw this pirate hat at Gardner Village and decided he wanted to be a pirate skeleton. We added a few cheap accessories to his skeleton costume and it worked out great. He was so thrilled with it and the highlight was the clip-on earring he borrowed from Gracie and insisted on wearing. "Boy pirates wear earrings, Mom. They have to." How could I argue with that?

You may notice this is Abby's fourth costume this Halloween season. She has been a pumpkin, fairy, princess, and a ladybug. My sister bought this costume for $3 off a facebook friend and Abby fell in love! It didn't fit any of Em's girls this year, so Em told Abby to have at it and she was quite smitten with herself. The pirate sword is nice touch, don't you think?

We wanted a cousin picture with Ella included and this is the best we could get.

Happy Halloween to all and to all a good night!