November

Our Thankful Tree.... we each put a new leaf up every night. Except for the week I was sick, that week the kitchen didn't get used at all unless Ashlyn was helping herself to graham crackers!

A wreath I was in charge of for our Super Saturday (thanks to Cheryl & Chandra for the idea in the first place!). This particular one I made is for my Mom in Law--for a Christmas gift. Good thing she doesn't look at this blog!

I helped out at the Sonatina-Sonata Festival here. It was the same day as the one in Boise that I half-organized this year, before I found out we were moving. I was kind of sad and feeling left out from that one the whole day. It was nice and also sad and weird to go help at a new one where I don't know anyone very well. It's hard to be the new person.

We went on a real date! To a yummy place I found here called Slice. Now a date consists of "going into town." Sigh.

Oh this guy. He was cooking dinner for me and did reps in between stirring. He would be mad to see that I posted this on here. Good thing he doesn't read it either!

Auntie somehow was allowed to drive herself over here and visit us during 2 school days! What?! We loved having her here.

See that picture there on the table? Ashlyn got really obsessed with that little picture of her cousin Grace for a couple of weeks. She took that picture almost everywhere, especially if she was sitting at the table, Grace was always there with her. So funny. It was really cute. I hope she gets to see Grace again sometime soon! (hint hint, Megan and Sam! ;) )

Love this. snuggling and watching a movie.

We had a bunch of snow and freezing cold temperatures one week! There was even a snow day. Collin lucked out because he came down with some sort of flu the night before the snow day (which was on a Friday), so he got a freebie 3-day weekend while he was pretty sick. Of course it would have been a lot more fun to have him up and cheerful during that weekend, but at least he didn't have to miss work. He did feel well enough to go play outside with Ashlyn for a little bit one day. (and of course there's Lucy lurking in her little pink sweater....)

It was SO cold the day it snowed the most. There was no way I was going outside with Ash but she was dying to go check it out. We got her all bundled and she stayed out there for like 5 minutes, just like I suspected she would! That's ok though, I didn't mind.

That first snowy day was a day we got new tires on the Explorer. Ash and I got to spend a couple of hours hanging out in Walmart. Which as you know is one of my favorite places for sure. Actually it wasn't too bad. She was fascinated by all the Christmas stuff, and then we only made it through like half the toy section before it was time to go. It's nice to have a kid old enough that that wasn't 2 hours of pure torture!

Our little turkey craft we kept ourselves busy with while Daddy was sick. Notice the one with the crazy eyes on the left....guess who *purposely* did that one. She thought it was hilarious. Really, I actually laughed outloud myself.

I put these on here to show you what I've been showing Ashlyn for her hairstyle choices. All of a sudden lately she actually has an opinion about how I do her hair. I've always made a big deal about it being so pretty no matter what style it's in and pointing out why that style is so cute. But she has decided that she must have puffs like, every time. Puffs are NOT fun or easy to maintain! Even though yes they're super cute. So I have been making collages of hairstyles that are possibilities and showing her and letting her pick. It's funny to see what she chooses, because in the end even though she was demanding puffs one time, I showed her the collage below, and she ended up picking the top left one. 

Oh and also, she thinks the girl in all these pictures is her. It's not. But every little chocolate girl she sees in pictures she calls Ashlyn. Cute. And also, do white kids do this? I'm guessing they sort of do, right? Like, if they see a picture of a kid with the same hair color and close to the same features? It's probably because she doesn't see a lot of chocolate girls in pictures of like, family and stuff that she thinks that. 

Jerome library.....so so sad compared to any Boise library. But she did build this tower there one day and was very proud of how tall it was. We go every couple of weeks but it's a quick trip....not much to do. 

Nana is so awesome. She does gingerbread houses with the grandkids every year. This year Ashlyn was old enough to get to do one for the first time! It turned out her goal was to use every single piece of candy that Nana had given her. She did it!

We actually went to Temple Square the day after Thanksgiving! Every time we drive to Nana's house I say, "let's go to temple square while we're here." and do we? Like, never. The last time we went Collin's dad was still alive so it has been at least 3 years. And we go down there at least 3 times a year. So yeah, it's great that we really made it this time! It was P-A-C-K-E-D. But still so fun. Ashlyn loved the lights and it was still worth it to see it.

I thought this was so funny for some reason. Probably because it was like midnight. I had left my kindle on the couch and when I came back Lucy was sitting just like this! What! My dog has a secret reading habit!

One more Temple Square pic. Lucky me to be this girl's mom.

I was sick the whole week before Thanksgiving with some sort of flu (caught what Collin had), it was awful. I feel like I lost a week of my life. I was layed out flat, so sick and terrible. It took me about a week to get over it, and then we were leaving for Thanksgiving! Ever since we got back from Utah I have been playing catch up on everything. I don't know why I'm explaining this... I guess because these tree decorating pictures remind me that it was like, crazy and busy getting the tree and decorations and lights and everything else up this year and I think that's why. I felt pretty stressed about everything but tried to keep that to myself so we could still have the great experience together and all. Hopefully I succeeded.... BUT the fun thing is that Ashlyn LOVED decorating the tree this year! She actually helped--for real--and she was jumping up and down squealing when it was all decorated and we turned off the lights. How fun.