Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving was simply perfect this year. We had initially planned on camping on the coast Thanksgiving weekend. Because of that, we decided to have our Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday, because, why not? So I woke up Tuesday morning, I streamed my specially curated autumn playlist and set the table for our dinner:

Then I got to work in the kitchen. Slowly, kids joined me and soon the kitchen was bustling with busy hands preparing a delicious meal. 

I never enlisted the help from my kids before, but quickly I realized this was a new tradition. I prepped myself the night before, recognizing if I included the kids, it would be a very different level of productivity and damage control, meaning I'd have to let go a little bit and be flexible. What I did not anticipate was how much fun we would have, and how much we would laugh together. Every dish we made, a child was involved in the preparation. This changed my entire outlook on the day, and I found what I used to enjoy as my "me-time" in the kitchen was easily surpassed by the value of the "us-time."

William and Matthew helped make the pumpkin cheesecake, the sweet potato casserole, and helped with the mashed potatoes.

Cate made the apple pie and the dinner rolls.

Johnny made the Jello, helped prep the turkey, make the green bean casserole, peel the mashed potatoes and make the stuffing.

We played Thanksgiving Bingo, Don't Eat Pete the Turkey, and watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving for the 20th time.

We we finally sat down to eat together, there was such a beautiful feeling in the house. My heart swelled with gratitude for the season of life I am in. We went around the table and shared what we were grateful for. I think something I love in particular about my growing family is the laughter. The kids are all developing such unique senses of humor, and it isn't uncommon for us all to crack up around the table.

Here is our gratitude board this year, some of the writing by Johnny is hard to see, but him and Cate got really into this year!

Right as we were taking out the turkey, we realized we needed to make a trip to Rexburg for John's charity. This shifted our plans significantly. As soon as dinner was through and we had our "Thanksgiving Moment." It as a mad rush as we excitedly prepped for our trip. Cate was on kitchen duty, Johnny helped me gather all the Thanksgiving decor so we could pack it up. I'm sure William and Matthew were being helpful somewhere, haha. John was prepping other things for the trip. Long story short, we cleaned up Thanksgiving, packed up fall, loaded a car for our trip, and decorated the house for Christmas in one swift night. John, who was our main driver the next day, went to bed early, as did Matthew. The kids were excited to get their Christmas teddy bears out of storage, and were quite invested in turning our home into a mini North Pole. We were mighty proud of ourselves. We finished at midnight and Cate, Johnny, William and I finally brought out the pies. We sat around the table complimenting each other on our baking skills. Then I read a few lingering Thanksgiving books to the kids as they literally fell asleep. It was a magical day. I am so grateful we were able to have this little celebration as a family before we took off to be with friends and family. I will cherish it always.

We started at the Hellmann's house, where we celebrated Thanksgiving. We also watched "The Forgotten Carols" (A tradition from John's family.) We also made nativities for families who lost their homes in the Almeda fire. 

Next, we swung by John's parents' house. This is always a pleasure.

Everyone opened their Christmas presents.

We stopped by and saw Brit and Adam (and Shay, Kevin, and Spencer) for a bit. John took Adam's bike for a spin.

We stayed the night at my mom's house. I love her home at any holiday, there are so many details and when I walk in, it feels like being embraced by everything I cherish in my memories growing up.

We played some Christmas games.

We headed back home early the next day. It was a great drive and we worked hard to make a dent in our finish-the-Book-of-Mormon-by-the-end-of-the-year-goal. It was so nice to come home to CHRISTMAS. We wasted no time and Tuesday morning found us opening advent calendars, reading Christmas books, making candy cane hot cocoa, and playing Christmas music.

And this was a random picture William drew of me making cookies for William and Luke.

Playtime, Anne, and Three Boys

Caity and Johnny's current playtime favorites:

Handball, Nerf wars, Pokémon, and basketball.

Cate and Johnny have been playing often with Hadyn and Connolly. It is always a happy night when they spend the afternoon together.  Yesterday I walked to pick them up from a neighborhood handball game, and it was so cute seeing about ten neighborhood kids part ways promising to meet again the next day. It was very reminiscent of Sandlot. Our walk home from the park was beautiful and very autumn feeling.

I watched my two oldest walk together and my heart was overflowing.

Cate and Hadyn made a Nerf gun shooting range. It was so cute.

Cate had wrangled Johnny into watching Anne of Green Gables with her. He is such a sweet and faithful brother. It is cute walking past them, and Johnny mouthing "I'm bored" but then smiling at Cate while she summarizes what is happening to him.

Speaking of Anne Shirley, a couple nights ago, I climbed up to Cate's bunk bed and she read a chapter from Anne of Windy Poplar to me. I love when she reads outloud to me! (Especially since her and I share a love for beautifully crafted sentences. L.M. Montgomery always hits it out of the park.)

Yesterday after I twisted my ankle pretty badly, Johnny came and did his homework next to me. I helped him with his Oregon slideshow, and then he decided to do a King Cobra slideshow just for fun. I found it disgusting (not a reptile person.) Johnny found my disgust quite delightful. When he gor bored of thay research, he started to author a story. It was just so fun to sit with him and learn together.

The three boys in this family are so fun. In a desperate grasp for some peace and quiet while I prepped dinner, I challenged the boys to make something out of legos to display at the table during dinner time. They took the bait, and proceeded to play so well together the rest of the night and into the morning. I love how they interact!

Matthew Little Moments

 Oh Matthew. Your tender heart!

Matthew is happiest when he is surrounded by his family. I don't know if anything stresses him out more than a closed door. What is happening behind there? How could anyone be doing anything and not want him there? He often floats between school zoom sessions, popping in to see what everyone is learning. Being left out of anything is quite heartbreaking for him. He often slumps his shoulders, and crocodile tears roll down his warm rosy cheeks. He will just melt into me as he expresses how hurt he is that Cate and Johnny are going to a friend's house without him, or William wants to take a bath alone, or his little friend needs some "personal space." Everything is very emotional and personal and this has its ups and downs. On one hand, his feelings are hurt easily, on the other; he loves and forgives so effortlessly and it brings him joy.

Matthew's Pumping Heart

One week he was have a particularly rough go of it. Matthew and I were reading on my bed. I lifted him to my lap so he was facing me, and we had the following conversation:

Me: Matthew, I hope you know how much I love you. Your heart makes my heart feel so happy.

Matthew: thank you, your heart makes my whole body so happy.

Me: and someday you are going to be such a wonderful daddy and husband! (He talks about how excited his is for this all the time.)

Matthew: Except I wanted to marry you, but Dad already said you're his wife, so I'm a little sad.

Me: Well, someday you are going to meet a really nice girl, and she is going to love you so much and you two are going have so much fun being a mommy and daddy together!

Matthew: (who is glowing with adoration as I share this.) That just made my heart go whoosh-whoosh, whoosh-whoosh. (His ands pumping above where his heart is.

We give each other a big hug. And I tell him that happy feeling is what the Spirit feels like. He smiled so big and gave about ten more hugs. He loves his hugs!

Diet Advice

When I put on a shirt that didn't flatter my midsection very well with the pants I was wearing, I asked Matthew if I should change my shirt because it looked a little silly (he chose out the outfit that day.) He looked at me with such adoration, motioned me down so he could rest his hand on my cheek and he said sweetly, "If you just stop eating your meals for a few times, your tummy will get smaller." He smiled so lovingly and gave me a hug and said, "Or you can breathe in all your tummy in so nobody knows!"  He then sacked in to show me his ribs.

Book Reading

He treats the characters we read about as his dearest friends, and he is invested in their stories. We finished a story about a mouse who ends up having a pea for dinner on Thanksgiving, and Matthew shook his head incredulously, "But Sewiouswy (seriously), that is TOTALLY a feast a for mouse." There are just always similar comments in every story. When a little girl was given the that sat angel at the top of the Christmas tree, he gives me the biggest hug and says "Now, THAT is so super special." He is the only child I remember crying during sad parts of books. He becomes indignant, (which reminds me of three year old Caity who wanted to beat up the Roman soldiers that nailed Jesus "to the T" the first time she learned about the crucifixion.) He will often insert "If I was there, I'd say, "You need to say nice fings to each other now, because this is mean." Or one time, "I would give her my blanket so she wouldn't be so cold." It's just all too tender.

Cuddle

Yesterday he randomly marched in the room and said, "Alright dad! Let's cuddle now!"

Autumnal Sunday

 Sunday Morning we opted to enjoy beautiful Oregon in the fall. We first headed to Forest Park where the boys ran the trails, and John, Caity, and I lagged behind. It was fun catching up with everything going on in Cate's life. Next we headed to the historic bridge along the Applegate River. It was breathtaking and so peaceful. When we got home and went to church, I believe we were all a little more present after such a lovely morning.

Happy Halloween 2020

 Halloween 2020 was a success!

I woke up in the morning wondering how the day would go. I for one was a little burnt out after all the fun activities and treats we had been eating all month. I thought, "Did I ruin the magic of Halloween by over-killing our festive prep??" But alas, I believe I underestimated the magic of dressing up as something new and running around dark neighborhood streets after your bed time collecting candy. I mean: seriously!? What a fun holiday Halloween is.

Here is our set table for the day!

We made our traditional Jack-o-Lantern Pancakes for breakfast with green monster smoothies. Johnny and William said this was one of their favorite things we do. (Which I am glad they voiced because I aaaaalmost nixed them this year!)

Everyone helped me deliver some things for Primary. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day.

While Matthew napped, the older kids started carving pumpkins.

Now for the costumes!

Caity, age 12, MEDUSA

William, Age 7, BLACK PANTHER

Johnny, Age 9, NEWSIE

Matthew, Age 5, SPIDERMAN

He needed a picture with his Dad!

The Cummings and Hungerfords joined us for trick or treating. The kids were very excited to spend the evening with their friends.

We came home and dumped out candy to sort and trade. 

Grown ups had apple cider and stew and chatted. I am grateful for friends that feel like family.

The kids watched Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin while the Rices came over for cider and we laughed around the kitchen table. 

It was just a good night, simply put.

The day after Halloween I wanted to squeeze every last drop of the season, so I read ALL our Halloween books to the kids. It was a good couple hours, but it was the perfect way to top off a great month of October.