November 2016

December 04, 2016

November 2016

The beginning of November started with a birthday for me! Jake had to go out of town, so he planned a surprise birthday date for the week after. He surprised me with brunch and a massage! It was so fun! I'd never had one before and was having major anxiety about it (DO YOU WEAR CLOTHES OR NOT!?!?!?!) Luckily, it all turned out so great and we now have inside jokes for the next 4 years, thank you. May your Chakra be aligned forever.

We have some great friends that offered to play with Gwen so we could get dinner and we love them and all saw owls in the neighborhood on the night of my birthday. It's a sign that I'm meant to go to Hogwarts, but I'm just too old to be taught now. It would be indecent for me to go and leave everyone.

We took advantage of the incredible November weather and played outside as much as possible!

My sister, Sarah, had to be in Phoenix for a school thing, and we got to play with her youngest daughter and son all day! Marshall and Melanie were a fantastic addition to our day! I learned early on that everyone needed to touch their own blanket or else someone would be upset. It was more a game than true sadness, but it was great! We made forts, and played outside at the park. Someone asked me if all the kids were mine--I said yes. It was great.

We got family pictures, and I'm so happy with them! I met Kylie in Flagstaff, but we both grew up in Mesa! She went to Mesa High and she introduced us to her sister, our nanny Kyndra! Full circle! Anyway, Kylie took Jake's graduation announcement pictures and took these family pictures! We love her and she is excellent. Like. . . Gwen didn't sit still once and she still got great images! HALLELUJAH!

We got to see Mike, Kendle, and Emery Webster again! We met them in Flagstaff, too, and we love and miss them almost daily! Their sweet daughter is a little bit older than Emily, and I have great plans of a deep friendship for Emily and Emery!

Thanksgiving was great! We started the day off being treated to Moana (thanks GramE and Papa!) and popcorn, and I loved it! We bought the soundtrack while walking out of the theater, and we have it on repeat all day, every day! After the movie, we went to pick up our fruit salad for the Uchytil feast! Emily was a LOT fussy because she was getting over being sick, plus she got four vaccinations and had no nap because we were at the movies, so that homegirl was so sad! Grandma Vonnie is so sweet and would just take her when she cried! So sweet. We didn't last long there, and went back home to get Emily in bed. When she woke up, it was time for the Ellsworth feast! The Binghams came down from New Mexico and they did ALL the food! It was so fancy! I wish I had pictures because food was EVERYWHERE and I ate all of it and weigh 3,000 pounds. After dinner, Caroline set up Minute to Win It games, and we had a great time!

On Black Friday, I took my oldest nieces out for Black Friday shopping. Cordelia and Cassidy are both so funny and beautiful and smart! It's almost intimidating to see how strong and independent they are spiritually and mentally, but I love it and I want my daughters to have those qualities! After finishing up, they offered to babysit, so Jake and I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. J.K. Rowling is my best friend, and I now need her to write up the screenplays for Ilvermorny. Do yourself a favor and go read about the US school for magic and just swoon in its glory.

Random Gwen fact. Gwen loves Sofia the First. Sofia has a sister named Amber, and lately Gwen will call Emily Amber! It is hilarious and so cute and I tell her, "No, this is Emily. Say Emily!" So she'll say "Emy!" Then I'll say, "Gwen, what is your baby's name?" and she immediately responds, "Ammer!" HA! I love it.

I have to add a thought. We have the best family. My daughters have the best aunts, uncles, cousins, grandpas and grandmas. I feel so much love and support on both sides. Jake and I constantly talk about how we got SO lucky to have the in-laws we have, respectively. I'm so thankful that Gwen and Emily will have so much love and support throughout their entire lives! We love you, family!