Van Natter NOVEMBER 2014

Thanksgiving has new meaning now that we know we had ancestors on the Mayflower! It still boggles my mind, and makes me sad that I spent 6 decades without this knowledge. I would have had a different appreciation of Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims. Oh well! Here's to Edward Doty and Faith Clark! I got these pilgrims to represent our Pilgrim heritage.

The year has flown by! We will soon say goodbye to this amazing group of kids. There are 5 others not shown. On the left is Lydia who kept us on our toes with all her questions! Next to her is Heidi, as perfect as her name would suggest! And then Mackey - the youngest with a birthday on Christmas! But so smart and a bit of a gospel scholar. At least I will get to keep my favorite co-teacher!

What a thrill to receive Zoey from Linda! As well as the parts of this hiking outfit we hadn't had time to finish when we sewed at Annette's. I still need to do some stitching on the sweater, but isn't she adorable!

I was unprepared to turn around and see this:

It was part of his Christmas card. He dressed as characters from 4 favorite Christmas movies. Most people would be hard-pressed to believe the strong-and-silent Ian has such a sense of silly.

Thanksgiving was held at Emily's this year, so Annette got a break!

Besides our family (including Ian!), Jess & Annette, Bryce & Amy and kids, Stephanie & Rob and kids made the day perfect. Everyone brought food, and we ended up at 3 tables this year: a kids' table, a younger people table, and the oldster table! Fun times, great food!

The Kids' Table: Emily made sure they had crafty things to occupy them while they waited for their food. (I could not get a good angle for all the kids.)

Then it was off to Heidi's (3 minutes away) for PIE! I think there were at least 10 different pies and desserts. And most of us had to have a taste of all of them!

Our family went back to Heidi's again the next night because there was SO MUCH PIE leftover, even after Moultons took their leftovers! But it was a fun (and yummy) excuse to get together again.

So very much to be thankful for. Family is The Best!

And the Christmas Season was ushered in just like that!

October 2014- Picture overload

We enjoyed picking up apples at our friends house the Applegarths.

Lindsey was able to spend the day at pumpkin patch with Isaac on a field trip.

The first thing on our list to do in California was to take some family pictures on the beach. Even though it was cloudy they turned out pretty cute.

After pictures on the beach we took the opportunity to take the kids to see the San Diego Temple.

Then it was back to Mission Beach for some fun.  The kids enjoyed boogie boarding, making sand castles, jumping waves, and burying Grandpa.

The next day we went Legoland.

Off to California Adventure Park where we enjoyed many of our favorite rides  and attractions like: Soarin’ over California , Grizzly River Rapids , Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Little Mermaid, Radiator Springs Racers, Bugs Land,

Animation Academy  and Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular .

The next two days we spent at Disneyland. Highlights are: Sarah and Aurora walking hand in hand;  Hearing Isaac laughing on Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain; Watching Adam  master Buzz Lighter Astros Blasters and becoming a natural driver on Autopia; Having our own personal character experience with Elsa and Anna;

Watching my children walk the streets of Disney hand in hand with their Grandparents; Storybook Canal; It’s a Small World; Pirates of the Carbinaan; Winnie the Pooh, Mr. Toads Wild Ride, Peter Pan, and many more.

 

The last day we headed to Newport Beach for more fun.

Oct 24 was Isaac’s 7th Birthday!!! He a had some friends over after school, went camping, and to the zoo. He thought was the coolest thing to open his birthday presents in the tent.

 

Greg and kids also did some fishing. This a 24 inch, 3 pound, catfish.

Enjoying the Skyfri at the zoo

We wrapped up with all the Halloween festivies. This year the kids were an army man, Lego brick, and 50’s girl.

Ward Trunk or Treat.

School Fall Parade and Parties

Halloween night Mom, Dad, and Julie and Family came over for dinner and trick or treating. Adam went trick or treating with his good friend Ethan this year, and Sarah’s friend Lexie joined us.
After the 4 days of Halloween festivies we throw all the candy into one box this year it weighed 22 pounds.  That’s a big haul.