What We have Been Up to.....

Time somehow escapes from me every day. Does anyone else always feel like that?  And before I even realize it, December slipped right through my fingers.  We have been crazy busy, as usual. 

I wish I could say that all of December has been sitting by the fire with this view....

I did happen to find a few minutes one afternoon a few days ago where my taxi wasn't needed, homework was done, games weren't on the calander, instruments were practiced, and the laundry wasn't waiting for me.  And so I sat on the couch and just enjoyed myself.  (And who cares if we had pancakes for dinner that night after my momentery bliss, right?) 

I wouldn't change anything about our crazy busy schedule.  (After all, I am the one who books the calander!) However, I must say that those brief peaceful moments sure are appreciated.

And hopefully while on our 11 day Christmas Vacation, I will have a few more of those moments where I can sit and catch up on my blog (seeing as at this very moment I have 2 lods of laundry waiting to be folded, packing lists to make, bathrooms to be cleaned, a broken ornament to be cleaned up, dishes in the sink........I think you get the idea :)!)

Celebrating Nevada Day

In Nevada, we celebrate Nevada Day on the last Friday of October every year.  This year the kiddos got 2 days off of school.  Ane you know what that means in the Elliott family.  Yep, it was time to figure out where we were escaping to for the weekend.  

We originally decided on San Diego so that we could take the kids to Sea World.  Our plan changed the moment we found out that kids were free at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park the month of October.  That is right, FREE!  

(Sorry for the picture overload.)  

The first day we went to the zoo. 

Quick interjection here about the above photo.  So, the boys had brought their wallets.  The only thing worth shelling out their money for?  Stuffed animals of course!  And what might their names be you are wondering? 

Those of you who have ever met any of my boys' furry friends can have a pretty good guess.  

Well, we have the snow leaperd, so obviously he is "Snowy".  E got a fox, so clearly his name is "Foxy".   

So proud of how original my boys are.  

The second day, we went to the Wild Animal Park. None of us had ever been there.   We had mixed review on this one from others.  So, I wasn't sure what I was going to think. 

I am proud to report, it was all of our FAVORITE! It was so beautiful, and we really loved it. 

We had such a wonderful weekend together as a family.  I love traveling! Love love love it! And I am so pleased that my family loves it as much as I do.  It is so fun to see other places and experience new things.
(Don't worry, I took LOTS more pictures.  this is not all! I will post more pictures of some of the other parts of the trip later.)

Lion King

Caleb and I went on a little outing together to see the Lion King before it left Vegas (since both Ernie's had seen it.)  Caleb was so darling.  He loved every minute of it.  It really was very well done.  The costuming was fabulous. 

My parents, Nat, Mark, Layne, and Micah met us there.  (And I am not lying.  I promise. Caleb just doesn't like to get his pictures taken somtimes.  Well, a lot of the time :).) 

'Tis a Gift To Be Simple

A month?  It's been a month since my last blog post?  I can't even believe it is almost Halloween, oh wait, that is what my last post would have said if I had been on top of things.  And now it is near my favorite holiday:

 Thanksgiving.  

No typo.  

(I  know, some of you may be thinking, "blasphemy.....what about Christmas?")  

I LOVE Thanksgiving!

I adore Christmas.  However it has turned in to such a BIG holiday. It requires SO much work, and it is a lot of stress.  There are a gazillion things to buy for people; a million places to be; endless hours of wrapping.  And I do love all of that.  

(And I still love Christmas.  This doesn't get anyone out of buying me gifts! :0) 

But Thanksgiving.   

Thanksgiving is simple. 

 It's remembering the things you have to be grateful for and spending time with loved ones. 

It's taking the time to reflect on what you have been blessed with, and how you are able to share those gifts with everyone around you.  

It's a holiday that requires little effort in way of preparation in comparison with the holiday that 

precedes it.  

I love the words of this little song:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

    Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

  'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,

  To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,

  Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

I am so grateful for this time of year.  And I am very grateful for my new (even though it was already, it was re-confirmed) department store.

Hopefully you are all enjoying the stress free preparations for Thanksgiving as I am.  (Although picking out our Thanksgiving movie this year may prove to add a little stress...)

Halloween Carnival

We decided to have a first annual Wixom Halloween Carnival this year.  We did all of the usual carnival things.  We had a chili cook off.  Then we got into the fun activities. 

Pumpkin carving:

 Bobbing for apples:

 And we even had a donut eating contest!

Definitely a must every year!