Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas Tree!

Random

An old friend from High School came to visit over the Thanksgiving holiday. Carissa looks fabulous and is so happy. It was great to see her and know she is doing well.

Whenever I lay down on the couch Hailey gets a book and lays on me, wanting me to read to her. I love it!

Katie's House

We went to my dear friend Katie's house to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with her. She gave the girls Christmas presents which they absolutely adored! I also learned while being there that I am a terrible wii player!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Paul's Dad and brother. We enjoyed their company and the food was delicious! It was a good day and is always a wonderful time of the year to reflect on what we are grateful for. I am so grateful for my family, my sweet sweet husband and two beautiful daughters. Along with the gospel of Jesus Christ, my family makes my life complete. I am so blessed, the Lord has been so gracious to me. I cannot count the blessing and miracles that are so abundant in my life. I have been blessed!

Birthday Cake

We made Paul's mom her birthday cake. (Thank you Abby and "Hello cupcake" for the great ideas!) Her birthday is the beginning of November so we made a fall wreath to go on top of a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. The leaves are made out of chocolate, hand painted by Paul and I. The acorns are made out of caramels dipped in chocolate and sprinkles. It was a lot of work but was really fun to make!

Halloween!

We went to a ward Halloween party which was a lot of fun. It was raining outside so, instead of trunk or treating in the parking lot, the adults lined the hallways of the church and the kids went around collecting candy. This was by far the best trick or treating experience of my life! We dressed up with a Winnie the Pooh theme. I was Eeyore, Hailey was Piglet, Paul was Christopher Robin, and Aubrey was a chick. (We didn't have another Pooh costume for Aubrey). And, like the wonderful parent I am, I forgot to take pictures! So, about a week after Halloween we all put back on our costumes for some pictures. Nice! (Aubrey took the picture of Paul and I. She did a great job. We have a budding photographer on our hands!)

I went to Boise in November and got to see one of my dearest friends, Abby! We were next door neighbors in Iowa City and I practically lived at her apartment, especially in the evenings when the girls were in bed and Paul was studying. Thank heaven for wonderful friends. It was so great to see Abby and cute little Paige! (Hailey really was happy about the visit. She was unhappy about being confined for a picture.)

While we were in Boise my sister spoiled the girls rotten! Here they are with their new pillow pets and toys! Bliss!

This is my first cake using ganache frosting, (thank you once again to "Hello Cupcake". Thanks Abby!) It was unbelievably easy...OK OK, it wasn't real ganache. It was the fake stuff (that's probably why it was so easy) but worked like a charm. I decorated the cake with orange peels. I should have waited until the cake was more dry because the orange peels sunk into the frosting. Oh well, it tasted delicious! Yum!