November 2015

November started off with a bang! I had a class in the valley to renew my cosmetology license and it was on my birthday! We went out to lunch at Ah-So, and it was so fun! We love going there! Not only do we love the grill and the teppanyaki, but at the location we go to, a few Korean people run the restaurant and Jake LOVES talking to them!

Since last year, I'd decided and said often that I was going to get Gwendolyn a piano for Christmas. With the help of a good friend, Rachel, we found one at a thrift shop! We went and looked at it, and immediately knew we'd be taking it home. We got it for a steal and we play it every single day. It is one of the best investments I think our family has ever made!

Gwen and her piano!

The piano!!!!! I'm still trying to figure out the decorations behind it.

Gwennie the Penny officially started going to nursery!!! She loved it the first few times, but now she will occasionally cry when we leave her, but she stops nearly immediately. It's so fun to look through the one-way glass and see what she's doing. She loves to play with others, but she also enjoys sitting in the corner and watching everyone play. It's sweet to see her personality grow!

While we were in the valley at the first of the month, we met up with our Udall cousins at Joe's Farm Grill. It was a really cool place and we loved the environment. The weather was perfect for eating outside. They have great milkshakes, and we loved their BBQ. It was beautiful and we took some pictures of Gwen in the green grass! She loved laying in it and rolling around. We don't have grass that is soft here, so it was fun watching her experience that!

This was in October, but we got to go to Happy Jack and help clean up some of Maria's grandmas belongings! It was a total blast because we celebrated Megan's birthday and played on quads and went shooting! I loved it! We often talk about doing that again because it was such a fun family day.

Nothing better than Grandpa kisses!

The cool kids on the quad.

This was so funny! The kids loved rides on the dolly.

Family picture!! Gwen's still too cool for smiling.

Our sweet birthday girl!!

Gwendolyn finally learned to like movies!!!! She binge watched Inside Out, and now we are on a Frozen and Tangled binge. It makes life a little easier to be able to get some time to do my own thing (bathroom, shower. . . those important things!).

We got an excellent snow storm and G didn't know what to think or do! She stared at the snow all morning. When it finally stopped snowing, we went and played in it, and now she's hooked on sledding and sitting in the snow.

We had a very low key Thanksgiving. I got the flu the week before, so I was on the mend for the holiday. I signed up for a turkey trot and didn't even participate because I was so weak and exhausted. Luckily, we had a great lunch and spent time with Jake's side of the family. We needed low key for me, and it was wonderful.

Gwen, post Thanksgiving celebrations!

Me being a sicko with my caretaker.

Thanksgiving!

Watching a game, I'm sure.

Gwen is such a great addition to our family. She is so peaceful, but also so energetic and fun! She is kind, and she is patient. She loves looking at helicopters. If she hears one, she runs to the front door laughing! I'll scoop her up and we'll look for the helicopter and it is one of her favorite things.

Gwennie loves taking off her shoes. We recently started removing her shoes before nursery or she'd put them on and off the entire time! She loves playing the piano. She loves to sing, and loves praying before bed and meals.

We have a great new babysitter named Becky. Gwen LOVES Miss Becky and we are so thankful to have found her!

Gwendolyn loves balloons. She gets a balloon after going with me to the grocery store, and she picks anyone she'd like. Usually it's a "Get Well Soon!" balloon, but she did pick a "It's a Boy!" one, and after explaining a few times to multiple people that we weren't expecting, I just decided to nix picking gender reveal balloons! HA!

We love our girl :)