Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated Thanksgiving a day early this year, due to Pat's work schedule. Although he did have to work yesterday, he was off in the late afternoon, compared to today where he won't be off until the kid's are in bed. I cooked my first turkey, and we had a wonderful evening with our little family which helped me not miss my BIG family too much--although I do still wish we were there today.

The semester is very close to being over, and I am one happy girl about that! While all online classes have allowed me to be home with my kids more often, they have been a nightmare in just about every other way. Throughout a normal semester, there are holidays, ill teachers and other reasons for class to be cancelled or for a little less homework one week but online classes haven't given me any of those small perks. I received this e-mail from my American History instructor today: "Just wanted to say that I will not be getting on my computer or checking e-mails for the rest of the week, but just wanted to remind you all to get this week's material finished and turned in even though it is a holiday weekend. Have a nice weekend." LUCKY!  >:-(

We have been slowly getting our christmas decorations up around the house, and although we don't have a fireplace to hang our stockings from, we have a wall shelf that is near our christmas tree. I started hunting for stocking hangers about a month ago and was really disappointed by the selection I found, and the idea of spending over $40 to buy four. So, my creative juices started flowing. $2 worth of wood and hooks later plus a little paint, wrapping paper scraps and ribbon--we now have these!

Happy holidays!

Polar Express!

A few months ago, Pat and I decided we wanted to do something a little different for Landon and Zoe's "BIG" Christmas gift this year, and bought tickets for The Polar Express, in northern Arizona. Zoe has been in love with the movie for a few years, and we wanted to get away from Thatcher for a few days and check out NAU (that's a story for another time...). Can I just say that I am sooo glad we got the chance to take this little vacation!? It was just what we needed!

Both kids had been very ill about a week before our trip was planned, and I was actually dreading our few days away from home. I imagined the 5+ hour car ride to be full of screaming, coughing, puking and... more screaming. It was actually the complete opposite. Somehow, the 5 hours in the car were more peaceful than the 2 hour trip we make to Tucson often.

We had originally booked a hotel room in Williams, but later found out that my SIL's grandfather owns a cabin that was vacant for the winter, and were told we could use it. Best thing ever! Instead of all being crammed into a hotel room, and trying to tiptoe around while Landon naps, and all the other not-so-fun things that go along with hotels, we were able to enjoy a snow filled yard, a warm, cozy fireplace, had a LOT of space, appliances to cook our own meals. Heaven!

We slept in the first morning we were there, and then played in the snow while Pat went to the grocery store. Both kids were exhausted from the snow playing, and decided they would take nice, loooong naps.

After exploring the cute little town of Williams,

we then headed back to the cabin to change into our PJs and off to the Polar Express we went!

Zoe was on cloud 9. Not only were we waiting to board a train (which she has wanted to do her "WHOLE LIFE!!"), but there was a really fun gift shop to walk around, an area were you could go get pictures taken with Mrs. Clause and write letters to Santa.

Finally it was time to board the train! We were served cookies and hot chocolate, went through a "magic tunnel", were read the story of the polar express, and then pulled up to the North Pole!

Santa boarded the train, and we passed the time waiting for him to go through all the other cars by singing Christmas songs.

And then Santa came! It was so cute to see all the kids faces light up as he stopped to chat with each of them and give them their bells. 

We had such a good time, and can't wait to go again! And what a perfect way to kick off the Christmas season (even though it is a bit early), after coming home from our little vacation, we couldn't help but put the Christmas tree and some decorations up. :)

A few random pictures:

I did not want to leave...

As promised!

After being hassled ( ;P ) by my sister, I am finally going to take a few minutes to sit down and write a quick update. And what better time to do it than when I am sitting at home, as worried as can be and trying to pass the time. Pat came home early from work this evening to take Landon to the Emergency Room. Weren't they just there!? I guess it has been a few months. It hasn't been confirmed yet, but I am 99% sure that my sweet little guy has croup. 

While I know we are promised no more than we can handle, I seriously feel I'm just about at my limit. Please oh please can this be it for awhile? I know I have needed to learn to be thankful for what we DO have and not harbor on all the bad things, but I think I've learned my lesson. 

Both kids have been sick, sleepless and uncomfortable on and off for the last few weeks, ranging from teething pain to full on throwing up, high fever, coughing. Taking care of them has filled up my days and nights very well, pushing me farther and farther behind in school. Throw a heap of financial stress on top of that, and that turns me into a not very fun person to be around. BUT! I am so grateful for the fact that things could be much worse, but aren't. I'm grateful for our amazing families, and all the love and support they give us. I could go on and on. I won't though.

Now, a few quick pictures.

I sadly didn't get very many pictures from Halloween night. Zoe wanted to dress up as Tinkerbell, so we went around that theme with Landon being Peter Pan and Pat and I were pirates. 

Really don't like this one, but the only picture I got of Pat.

Could they get any cuter!?

I have such a hard time getting Zoe to do a "normal" smile when the camera comes out.

My horrible attempt at a pirate face. ;)

A good shot of the beautiful, fairy wings.