THANKSGIVING

I'm so sad we forgot to take pictures while we were in Utah for Thanksgiving. We had a great time with both the Harris Family and the Moon Family. My sister has pictures on her blog, so I need to find out how to take those pictures off hers and put them on mine! It was good to see everyone. Demarie had a blast with her cousins. Both the girls were so exhausted, that they slept the entire way home! It was nice, but we didn't get to watch a movie in our new mini van! It was so much fun to see Karyn and Stephanie in the Nutcracker. They did an awesome job! We look forward to seeing everyone at Christmas time.

Happy 7th Anniversary!

Aaron and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary in November. It is hard to believe that we have stuck it out this long!!! j/k As I was looking through our pictures, it struck me how much we have aged over the years! Aaron looks like such a baby and, well, I was actually skinny back then. I can't believe how much our lives have changed in the past seven years--schooling, moving to Vegas, kids, employment. It is exciting to see what is in store for the next seven!

For our anniversary, we took the kids to Grandma and Grandpa Moon's for the night. We went to the Las Vegas temple and did sealings. After that, we ended up at Ruby Tuesdays, which was appropriate since I waited tables at a Ruby Tuesdays in Logan. One night I was cleaning up the back room and a waitress came back to get me. She said, "Marlaina, there is a guy here to see you--and he is cute!" I went to the front of the restaurant and there was Aaron--in his ball clothes dripping with sweat. He claimed he was 'in town' and stopped by to see if I was free Thursday night to go to Salt Lake City to watch a baseball game. It was the only night I had off that entire week so I said 'yes' to our first date. That was the beginning... and now here we are seven years later. Aaron still comes home dripping with sweat from basketball. Some things will never change.

I do have to give Aaron credit for going to watch Twilight with me for our Anniversary as well. He looked terribly bored and in pain during the entire movie, and there wasn't much cuddling, but I appreciate the sacrifice he made. I guess I will keep him around for another seven years, even though he gave me THREAD for my romantic anniversary gift. (Don't ask!!!)

TRICK OR TREAT!

We had a lot of fun trick or treating Halloween night. Demarie and Preslyn looked great in their costumes. Halloween is about the only time of year that we get to meet our neighbors. Several of the homes in our neighborhood decorate their homes for the holiday and do really fun things with the trick-or-treaters. Demarie did not want to stop, even though she could hardly carry her bag by herself. Preslyn zonked out at the end and was excited to get back to our little bee hive!

TINKERBELL

BUMBLE BEE

Preschool Halloween Party

We had a little preschool Halloween Party at our house a few weeks ago and had a lot of fun! Demarie dressed up as Tinkerbell and Preslyn was a cute little bumble bee. All the little kids came in costumes. We played the Monster Mash Cake Walk, Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss, Drop the Ghost in the Pumpkin, Mummy Bowling, Witches Brew Relay, and decorated Halloween sugar cookies. I also decorated Demarie's little cottage like a haunted house. Lots of children came and it was fun to see Demarie have fun with her friends.

Group picture: (Left to right) Spencer Jolly, Alexis Jensen, Demarie, Preslyn, Bailey Stirling, Ainsley Braithewaite, Mohlman sibling, Braithewaite sibling, Mason Mohlman, Johnny Richardson, Colton, Savannah Dean, Riley Mecham.

Happy First Birthday Little Princess!

Preslyn turned 1 year old on October 18th! This year has flown by so fast! I can't believe my baby is already celebrating her first birthday. I made the traditional carousel cake (my mom used to make us a carousel cake on our first birthday). Grandma and Grandpa Moon came over and celebrated with us. Preslyn loved her cake and dug right in! She was also a good sport about wearing her princess crown (Demarie was excited about that). It was a beautiful day so we ate outside in the backyard. Preslyn really liked all of her presents, especially her new ride-on zebra toy.

I am so glad that Preslyn is a part of our family. I remember the night we brought her home from the hospital. It was a cold, windy night and I decided I had enough of the hospital and wanted to go home. We bundled Preslyn up so tight and warm. Aaron carried the carseat while Demarie carried the balloon out to the car. I warned her that it was very windy outside and that she needed to hold on tight to the string so it wouldn't blow away. When we got to the car, I just knew she would let go of it so I took the balloon from her while she and I climbed in. When I got in the car I let go of the string briefly so I could close my door. The wind whipped the balloon right out of the car and it flew away into the dark sky. It happened so quickly, yet it also seemed to happen in slow motion. We all cried the whole way home as Demarie wailed, "Mommy, why did you let go of my balloon?" I felt like the Mother of the Year at that moment! I remember the song, "I Believe There are Angels Among Us" was on the radio. Demarie sang it at the top of her lungs through her tears and after it was done she said, "Mommy, do you think Heavenly Father will watch over my balloon?" Lucky for me, He was watching over us that night! When we got home, there was another balloon waiting there to replace the one that Mommy had lost. It wasn't the same, but it would do. I will never forget how warm and peaceful our home felt as the wind howled outside. I watched Preslyn sleeping in her car seat and for the first time, I felt like the house we had lived in for the past 2 years was finally our home.

Preslyn has brought a special spirit with her. She is a spit-fire little girl who knows how to stand up for herself against a big sister. She loves to cuddle with her pink polka dotted blanket and gives her baby dolls lots of loves and pats. She likes to do things for herself (except for moving off her little toosh, but we're working on that!). Her favorite word and person is "Dada" and she is so cute when she says "woof" and growls. She keeps us laughing with her funny expressions and curious eyes. What would we do without her????

Picking Pumpkins at Gilcrease Orchard

For our second field trip, we went to Gilcrease Orchard and picked pumpkins. We had a really good time! Lots of families came, including a family that we met at the Lied Museum who wanted to join in on the fun! Later, we carved the pumpkins as a family. Preslyn really enjoyed eating the seeds and sucking on the rind!

My wall is finally decorated!

I have a big wall in my living room that has been empty for the past 3 years. Every time I walk by it I think to myself, "I wish I had a shelf for that wall." Well, my dad made me a shelf and I painted it to match the frame of a picture I recently bought of the Logan temple, where we got married. I finally feel like my living room is complete! In fact, it is interesting how my thoughts are more centered around the temple, just by putting a picture on the wall. Thanks, Dad, for making the shelf! I love it!