Thanksgiving

Took a pie to our ward party. Katana helped make it.  Gave her a little ball to play with. She rolled and patted and played with it all afternoon.  When we went to leave the house she started yelling "pie pie" we had to go back for it. She was so proud to carry in her little whip cream pie and put in on the dessert table. I'll admit I was beaming too. 

This year we volunteered to host Thanksgiving. What were we thinking?   Well we were thinking it would be a hilariously-hectic-family-fun-filled-food-fest. AND it was.  People started arriving on Wednesday. Finally got to meet Holden. He's so tiny.  I can't believe my Axe-Man was ever that little.  We had lots of great food. We ate on leftovers for 3 days. For Thanksgiving Dinner we had 23 1/2 Calvin AMY's, 3 Loretta Amys, Grandma Afton and Grandpa Jake plus BreAnn. We were blessed to have a table full of love.  

(BreAnn came a few days early to help me set up. She was Katana's new BFF.  The only problem was Katana couldn't remember her name.  She came to me all upset 'Mom say butt'   BUTT   'No say buuuttttt' BUUUUTTTTTT. then she points at Breann 'ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY BREANN? ' oh ya BreAnn.) 

 With so many people it became all about Poise and Balance.  Thankfully it was warmer during the day so the kids could play outside. And they had a blast.  Mom and Dad brought 3 Corn Hole Games and we had a tournament. Charlotte and I took 2nd.  Yeah.  

  Preston Someone took Denali and put his hair in pigtails to prove to his mother that the poor kid is in desperate need of a hair cut.  Funniest thing ever.

Poor Katana didn't know what to think of all the people. She's two, She got kicked out of her room, and was forced to share all her toys.  I was really proud of how well she did.  Only had a few melt downs.  Day two she starts telling people  "My house, Bye".   All in all the cousins played and had fun. Everyone got along and there wasn't any major dramas.  

The Hatfields were awesome enough to bring their homemade bowling-ball-canon down for us to see. We set it off 4-5 times.  It was flip'n AWESOME!!!!!! It must have gone 500 feet up and 1/4 mile. Made a 6in crater when it hit.  

 At night we brought out the games, cards and poker chips. Blazen was learning how to bet and as beginners luck would have it--cleaned house.  Timber brought an art project for the kids.  A cup and paper made to look like a pilgrim hat filled with popcorn.  Wow what a weekend.  Games, food, fun, and Finally everyone goes home and we just sit and recover for the next few day. Katana was the funniest. Came home from church and she asks where everyone went.  I thought she was going to be sad but when I explained they had to go to their own homes she rans and grabs a handful of toys. "My toys... My room...My house"  Yup we love to see them come and we love to see them leave. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. 

New In November

Two by two I'll tell ya whats new.   Axel can smile and laugh.  He's so happy and chill.  He never cries. It's awesome. We moved him into his crib and he slept just fine. He's on a perfect schedule for us.  10 pm feeding just before bed.  4:30 Am feeding just after I get Preston up and gone for work. And 7:30 or just after Katana wakes him up. Yup I love my Baby. 

We love the sunsets at our house.  Now the corn fields are gone we can see to the horizon and it's beautiful.  Every day has hot pinks. blues and purples.  I love it. I also love when Katana wants her Dad to help.  He's actually getting quite good at pony tails.   

Katana's kitties "got lost" ( with all the dairy mice around here the Barn Owls and Hawks are very aggressive in this area. )  So We got new kittens that get to stay in the garage for now.  Caught Katana drinking out of the milk carton in her underwear.  Is the saying "like father like daughter"?   Did Chalk drawings for FHE Super fun and easy and fast cuz it's getting cold. 

2 New babies. #1 Timber and Ace had baby number 4. Holden Awn McPhaul. Oct 29th 6 lbs. 12 oz 19.5in.
#2 Jusitin and Natalie Searle had a baby boy. Nov. 2nd. Casen Joel Searle- 6 lbs 11 oz We are so happy for them because they have been working on this little miracle for about 5 years.

Katana is a super big helper.  She loves her brother and loves helping me with him.  She wants to help get him dressed and bath him. She tries to pack him around even though he is almost her size. 'him heavy'  He's 3 months old and weights 14 Lbs.  He's in 6-9 month clothes.  Big healthy strong kids is the best kind.  Here they look dashing in their Sunday getup.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Brooke and I got together a few days before the annual Amy Girl Get-together to make some apple sauce. Earlier in the season Pam, Malena and Echo got together and canned 115 jars.  Brooke and I wanted in on some of that action. We did an even dozen and decided that was enough fun for us.  It really was fun.

Girl party held in Boise--Hosted by Loretta.  We joined the caravan as it passed. McCarty came this year. Me, Katana, Axel, and McCarty drove together.  Katana and Kylin were so excited to see each other. They spent the rest of the day playing and chasing Lexis and Addy's 5 cats, 2 dogs, and 1 eerily realistic looking lizard.  We  got caught up on everyones lives as people arrived and got settled.  Later that night we watched Hunger games and ate Brookes homemade wheat bread.  YUM!

Day 2 we took an hour to decide it was too cold for the zoo and another hour making our way 20 min. to the YMCA to go swimming.  There was a slide, cliff drop and kiddy pool.  Katana loved it. I was worried about the chlorine and Axel so I tried to keep him out of the water.  We had a tailgate picnic in the rain--hit a few outlet stores then headed back to the house for pedicures.  Cart wanted to surprise her in-laws and go to church with them but I woke up Sunday morning sick sick sick.   As we drove home it started to snow.  Probably better we left early cuz she still had to drive home through Logan pass.  I'm so glad Cart was able to come with me. She was a big help with the kids and as moral support. Sure Do Love-Ya!