Bowling

Yes, we are all still alive! We've just been busy enjoying our little baby and when he is sleeping, we are either giving Rian tons of attention or spending time together just Matt and me.....oh yeah, or sleeping too!!

But everyone has been begging me to update the blog. I'll start with our fun night out last night. And go backwards from there. Matt is the Scout Master and 1st Counselor in Young Mens at our Church. For the mutual activity this week, they planned a bowling night. Matt invited us to go with! Rian was so excited, if you can't tell from the picture! And Miles was such a good boy!

I loved watching Matt and Rian bowl together! It warmed my heart!

She is my little model! I love her!

Yep, they got a STRIKE!!!

Miles did wake up, but was content in his carseat. Matt scored a 194. Not an all time high, but pretty impressive none-the-less! I think bowling might be our new popular FHE!

I.Heart.Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I love all the food! I love being around family and friends! I love that it's the official start of the holiday season! And it means our anniversary is right around the corner!

Since we always spend this holiday with family, Matt and I have never our very own Thanksgiving. This year was our very first attempt and I think it's safe to say...it was a total success! We decided that in order to free up our oven, that we would rotisserie our turkey breast outside on the grill. It was the juiciest, yummiest turkey we have ever had! I totally recommend this cooking style to everyone! Matt was in charge of the turkey, which turned out fab. And I took care of the rest of the spread. I made apple pie, pumpkin pie, and parker house rolls completely from scratch! I also made stuffing (my mother-in-law's recipe), mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. My mom made the yummy yams! She let me take charge, since she knows how much I love to cook. This Thanksgiving was awesome!


While I was busy in the kitchen, my mom had all sorts of goodies to entertain Rian. They colored placemats for all 4 of us. And they made these apple and candy turkeys. When I was younger, those turkeys were always my job, so it was fun to have Rian take on that tradition. Aren't they cute!

Rian tried on of the turkey feathers (candy fruit slice). She took one bit and said "it's too sweet", and then spit it out :) What a good kid, huh?!

Rian loves to hold her baby brother! And she loves to play computer games with Bama Lois!

Miles turned one week old today. We bought him the cute little "First Thanksgiving" outfit hoping he would be here in time! So glad that he is! I love how the feet say little turkey!

I love this time of year and the way it gets me thinking about all of my many blessings. I truly am blessed and i am so grateful for all that i have. I'm going to attempt to make a list, but honestly it could go on and on.....so just to name a few in no particular order.....that our prayers have been answered and that miles arrived here happy and healthy. my loving, hard-working, caring, supportive husband whom I just adore! the opportunity Heavenly Father has given me to bear children and witness the miracle of delivery. my smart, beautiful, out-going daughter and my new baby boy who is so good. all my friends and family back home. the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints. all the friends we have made here on guam. my calling as first counselor in relief society and the opportunity I have to serve the sisters here. matt's job and the fact that it gives me the chance to stay at home with my little ones. the priesthood and it's presence in our home. our health and happiness. the Spirit and my Savior Jesus Christ. our home. my parents who would do anything for me and constantly do. the temple and our sealing. skype. the power of fast and prayer. for my freedom. the holidays and the time it allows us to reflect and remember our many blessings and the birth of our Redeemer...these are just a few :)

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

RIAV

This is a great story! Those of you who know Rian well, know that she is absolutely obsessed with the color PINK! About six weeks ago, she was playing with these magnets and she was trying to spell out her name. We have been practicing her letters and numbers a lot lately, so I was excited to see what she was going to come up with.

So, there she starts picking out the letters for her name. She gets the R-I-A and then starts searching for the last letter. She moves the N closer to the other 3 letters, but then continues searching. Intrigued, I keep watching. She picks up the pink V. I simply explain that her name is not RIAV. She starts throwing a fit. She throws herself onto the floor and starts crying really loud....did I mention she is quite the actress?! :)

Then the phone rings, it's my mom. She immediately asks why Rian is crying. I said, "I don't know, let's ask her". Even though I did know why, I like Rian to explain her feelings to me. Rian explained that she wanted the pink letter in her name. I told her that we didn't have a pink R-I-A or N, but she was not happy with my explanation. So my mom and I continue to talk and a few minutes later, Rian comes running over to me with the biggest smile on her face. "Mommy," she says, "I spelled RIAN!!!" I walk over to the kitchen and find this (look up at picture). She says "See Mommy, I do have a pink A". I was in complete shock. I was so proud of my little girl! She never seizes to amaze me!

Pee Pee on the Pot-tee!

Yay, Rian went pee on the potty for the first time tonight! We have been putting her on the potty before each time we give her a bath for the last month or so. But tonight was a little different. It wasn't bath time yet, but we were in the bathroom cleaning up. She grabbed her little seat and kept saying 'pee pee, pee pee', so I decided to put her on it. I knew the first time she would actually go, it would just be a good timing thing, and I guess tonight was the night! Too bad Matt is at the priesthood session and missed this momentous occasion. The best part was the look on her face while she was peeing. She was so proud of herself! So of course afterwards we had to do the "pee pee on the pot-tee" dance (for those of you who know what I am talking about)! Kudos to Rian!!!

PS Sorry if this was a little too much info for some of you....it's just a big thing for us :)