regretfully coming to an end

 I try to be happy and grateful in every circumstance.  I feel like that is the best way to live my life.  I also try to enjoy the people I am with and not just miss the ones that are away.  This really is a satisfactory course of action for me and most of the time I feel happy and content. 

I have really enjoyed having the Johnson's here these last two weeks and am feeling sad that today is our last day.  School started back this week and I'm back to work so we get to spend tonight together and then they will leave while I am at work on Wednesday.  In a perfect world I would live right by everyone I love the most and we'd spend time together each week!

Last night, after work, we went to DS. We had made reservations for Raglan Road thinking the girls would like the Irish Step Dancers and we were right! They loved it! The place itself is nice, very pub like and the food is good.  It's noisy and crowded with live music.  Ruby and Cora enjoyed themselves very much.  After we walked around a bit, watched the fireworks in the distance over the Magic Kingdom, ate churros and took exactly one picture.  Me and my Jenna girl.  Side by side I see similarities between us.  We both have a dimple in our chin, our noses are similarly shaped, her hair is lighter than mine and my skin is older now but I think it's the same color.  She has nicer eyebrows for sure, and darker eyes but I am a little taller:).  We also have a lot in common personality wise.  Although she is more outgoing, athletic and careful we both like people, like the same books, and are easy going and love our families and our God.  We both like helping people and studied psychology in college, we both love the beach (she is an amazing swimmer and I can't put my face underwater but still!)  I feel very grateful to have a wonderful daughter who has always been a joy to me and who now is my friend as well  and can't wait for her birthday so I can write the best birthday post ever!!

Hanukkah

 We sort of celebrated Hanukkah today. We talked about the story of the miracle of lights. The most interesting part, from a Christian perspective, is how the Jews fought to regain the temple and then they cleansed it and worshiped again with a renewed dedication.  We, too, can rededicate ourselves, we too can fight to worship the way our conscience dictates. 

So we made latkes, lit a menorah, had brisket and applesauce and played dreidel.

Makayla got gimel more than anyone! She was happy. All the girls were happy to eat the geld.

We had a fun night and now our thanksgiving break is drawing to a close. I got out my work computer tonight and made sure I was ready for tomorrow. 

Ruby’s sweet bedtime prayer tonight:

Dear Heavenly Father

Thank you that I can sleep in the flamingo room.

Thank you for (I can’t remember what she said although I told myself to make a mental note of it but we think it was stuffed animal related)

Thank for that the kitty can sleep on my belly. 

Thank you for the flamingo room at Mimi’s.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Children’s prayers are so sweet. 

Wintering

 In my minds eye it looks like this.

In Florida it means Jenna and Clayton could go to discovery cove and spend the day swimming with dolphins, floating in lazy rivers and enjoying an all you can eat all day buffet!

I got to spend the day with my favorite twins! We had planned to meet Jess and Makayla et al at the zoo. Ruby had a rough night, she was coughing and cold and sniffly. So we decided to stay home.

I was bummed as I love a good zoo day. Rob went to Tom’s to watch the game with the men. 

Grace took Lincoln to a training session.

So I was carless anyway. 

We watched Vampirina, put up Christmas decorations, did some crafts, went to Target, got milk shakes at Chick-fil-A, did more crafts, watched Tangled, played with our winter dressed animals, read some books and did a little laundry.

I can’t believe how fast this week has gone. Tomorrow is Sunday, and then I’m back to work, and then everyone goes home. Sad. 

Black Friday

We went to the movies today. But we didn’t actually see a movie because it was “loud and scary”. It’s fine though. When you are only three a lot of things can seem scary and overwhelming.  I am confident they will one day love going to the movies:)

Our day mostly involved cleaning, visiting, making turkey sandwiches, reading books, and other random things.

 We went to Gators this evening for dinner. The 3 little girls had a great time together!

Poor Clayton had been sick. That hasn’t stopped him from helping us reorganize our pantry and garage but he hadn’t been 100%.

Grace’s face is randomly swollen again. Luckily our ministering brother is a dentist and she was able to get antibiotics. She is not a good healer.

Thanksgiving

We got up bright and early and headed over to keenes point for the Turkey Trot. There were a lot of runners and it was festive and a nice way to start our day.

Jenna and I walked. And then we actually stopped at a playground and let the girls play:) then turned around and walked back. Ironically of all our days this was the one that we took the least amount of steps!

 Clayton got 3rd place in his age category and Cora took first in hers during the kids run! She was excited, as were we.

Jenna and I then spent all day cooking. Rob smoked the Turkey so I didn’t have to worry about that but we did the rest and it was delicious!

Our happy bunch of pilgrims!

In the evening we went to Tom and Diana’s for desserts. We had a lot of pies and a lot of people. The girls and Makayla played really nicely and had a great time being 4 together:)! They were super cute. 

We have a lot to be thankful for. 

Sea World

 

We went to see world en mass! Michael and Jessica Yee are here from Seattle, Jess & Mac live here (Isaiah and Mav weren’t with us today), T&D live here, Nana, Abba and UB are here from Ohio, Clayna and the twins are here from UT, and of course me and R and Lu and Lincoln. It was quite the group!

We had a really good day. The weather was once again perfect. Florida really shines in November. The crowds were moderate but we were able to do what we wanted to.

The girls love the carousel and got to ride it twice!

We fed sea lions and watched shows and bought stuffed dolphins!

Ruby had a bit of a tummy ache on the morning but soon felt better and was able to enjoy the day. 

Really we are very blessed! And ever so grateful for time with family and fun things to do with them.

Day at home..mostly

Jenna and I went to Walmart to get thanksgiving supplies. When we got home we took the girls to the Tibet Butler preserve to see the tortoise and to take a little hike. We packed peanut butter sandwiches. 

After our inspiring visit to the Grand Floridian Gingerbread House we decided to make our own. 

More candy was eaten than made it on the little houses.  (As it should be)

It was a messy, sticky, fun time!

Ethan helped decorate the mission a Christmas tree. 

The finished product!

 Gingerbread artist at work💕

10 miles (more or less)

Magic Kingdom day!! Yay!! We had so much fun!!!

Jenna is 30 weeks pregnant with baby girl! Soon they will be a family of 5💕

After a long day we walked back to the car via the Grand Floridian so we could see this beautiful gingerbread house. It was so pretty! The lobby at the Floridian is gorgeous!

The girls were so good and had so much fun. They did tell us a couple of times that they were tired and wanted to go back to Mimi’s house but we’d say we are staying all day and they happily agreed!

It rained in the morning. We were prepared. “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear!” -Mark Henderson

The girls took a two hour stroller nap. I did laps and Jenna and Clayton went on some too-scary-for-little-girls rides.