O Thank You, Ohio!

The Holidays are a special time of year, and this year has been no exception. I think I appreciate the opportunities to see family and friends a little more since our move across the country, and this Thanksgiving I was very thankful that our family could drive a short 10 hours (yes that is short when most everyone you know lives about 4 days away from you) to see some of our good friends, The Palmers, in Dublin, Ohio. Taryn and I have been scheming to have Thanksgiving together from the moment Brian and I found out we were moving to Connecticut and it is crazy to think that it just came and went in a flash!

We arrived late Wednesday afternoon after a 2-hour traffic delay, so as you can imagine Thad was more than excited to see Ms. Stella and lounge with her:

and play with her toys...

regardless of the age or size limit;-)

Taryn and I were able to run some errands that night and had the opportunity of sitting in some nice rainy/holiday/rush hour traffic that allowed us to get caught up on each other (the kiddos were w/ daddy so we really weren't stressed in the slightest;-) Tar was able to pick up a brand new, shiny, red Kitchen Aid Professional that I will envy until there is one sitting on my counter, so we could get a head start on the feast for the following day. So we cooked until all hours of the night (jk, just until 11) and got things rolling the next morning. 

The gals finished cooking while the guys took care of the babes and watched some Turkey Day football:)

Taryn has such a cute house and we pulled out her fine china and fall decor and our mouthes were watering for some of that yumminess! 

VOILA! The food (all made from scratch) was ready for the taking!

It was so fun to sit down to dinner together and eat this delicious meal together!

The rest of the day was spent lounging around and enjoying one another's company.

Such a fun day we were able to have and also able to reflect on the things we are grateful for. We are truly grateful for friends and being with these friends also helped us realize how grateful we are for our families too.

 Taryn lost her Dad just 4 months ago to cancer and although it was hard to see her miss him as she talked to her mom about his absence, it was so sweet to hear her reassure her mom that she was surrounded with so many people that could give her a hug. I was just so glad that they were able to share their feelings about missing him and that they allow people to be apart and support them as they still grieve. It reminded me how precious family is and how thankful I am to have an eternal one.

On the same topic, this Thanksgiving weekend I thought a lot about the Grover family, some good friends from Logan, as this last month marked a year since the passing of their little boy, Jaren. They have shown the same grace as the Hansen/Palmer family and been such great examples to our family as they have dealt with the passing of a family member. As both of these situations have reminded me how grateful I am for the knowledge of eternal families, it has also made me feel much gratitude to both families for allowing others to be apart of something so sacred and special to them by sharing their feelings and memories. We are truly blessed to be surrounded with such wonderful people and examples.

Friday night after some Black Friday shopping (don't worry, Taryn and I were totally satisfied w/ the leftovers) we headed to Zoo lights and it was a blast! Thad totally loved all the animals and although it was very, very, very, very, very cold we had a blast!

Saturday was the highlight for the guys as they headed one of the most renown college rivalries in the country. It was a chilly day, but they enjoyed it to the fullest!

Taryn and I were able to do a little shopping while the guys were gone and found these cute little numbers!

Sunday was the big ride home (we did it all in one day) and Thad was such an angel!!

I don't know why I was so stressed...? Thad read all his books and played with all his toys like any big boy would!

He also got very creative by making anything and everything into a hat. It was so cute! He would say, "Mommy, look!" and I would look and he would say "Hat!" Brian and I laughed pretty hard the first time it happened...what a sweetie!

Last stop: Scranton, Pennsylvania, home of The Office! We saw signs on our way to OH and decided we wanted to stop for dinner there on the way home. It was fun to drive through the cute little town and the fire fighter even let Thad sit in the truck! Yay for Scranton!

As you can tell, we had a very delightful weekend. We are again, very grateful for all of the blessings in our life and the wonderful people in it. Thad is such a joy and the holidays are just a blast with him around...he makes everything better! Thad and I are heading to Utah tomorrow to spend 2 whole weeks there before Christmas and the excitement is building up! I hope all of your holidays are as enjoyable as ours.

Happy Holidays

My Men

So I didn't think that I had much to blog about over the past couple weeks, but I really do...the 2 WONDERFUL men in my life! We have been just livin' the Connecticut life since we returned from Utah while we wait for our Thanksgiving trip to Ohio to spend with some of the best and then back to Utah for our Christmas trip. In the mean time Thad and I have been playing, playing, playing inside AND out because Connecticut has been so kind to us and blessed us with such great weather the last couple of weeks. Tender mercies for the mother of a toddler.

Our neighbors have a trampoline in our back yard that we share with them, so we took advantage of it on a nice, sunny day. 

Lots of late mornings are spent in pajamas while I clean and Thad finds what he can to stay entertained either waiting to watch Sesame Street or being done watching his show/s for the morning.

He loves anything that is mommy's or daddy's and the ear muffs are by far my favorite! He wore them for an hour that morning while he played and ate breakfast and then asked several times throughout the day to put them back on...what a funny boy!

Thad LOVES to read! There have been times when I haven't been too thrilled about it when he throws fits because we have to put the books away, but overall I know it it such a wonderful thing to encourage. As I write he is over in his stack just looking through the books on his own...what a smarty pants:)

You may think I'm a mean mom, but the other night I gave Thad his very first sucker. As you can see he LOVED it! I gave it to him because he was such a good boy at his doctors appointment. They do a 22 month check up out here to check motor skills and hearing and he passed with flying colors! He played and looked at the fish in the waiting room, was such a sweetie to the nurse and impressed/"performed" for the doctor! He also sat very still for his flu shot and only cried for a minute or two when it was done. We are so lucky to have Thad as our little man!

Thad loves playing with daddy when he gets home and he has definitely inherited his dad's love of electronics. He loves to talk on the phone and watch video of himself. In the top picture he probably watched the same 10 second video of himself 10 times and was just as excited every time it played! Brian is such a sweet dad and I think is just as excited to see Thad every night as Thad is to see him. Don't they make a great pair!?

Speaking of Dad, we are pleased to announce that he passed 2 of the 4 parts of the CPA exam!! Brian has been studying so hard since he graduated. He gets up early before work and studies after getting home and it has really paid off! He just found out this week and was so relieved. He takes the third part on Monday and will be able to take a study recess until after the first of the year before taking the fourth exam...Thad and I are both VERY excited! We are so proud of Brian and so thankful for all the sacrifices he makes for our family. Keep up the good work, babe!

Home Sweet Home

Last week Brian, Thad and I headed back to sweet Utah and boy, was it WONDERFUL to be home! Before Brian graduated, the Accounting department head at USU told him he was going to make sure that he came back to USU to present about the FASB at the Partners in Business conference held every year by the College of Business. When it was a for sure thing back in August I wasn't invited at first, which I was totally fine with...I was going to send Thad back with Brian (since he still flies free) and have 4 whole days to myself. I imagined finally finishing Thad's first year scrapbook, sleeping in, cleaning my house w/o interruption, leaving whenever and wherever I wanted, etc, etc. But the department head insisted they fly me out too...I was a little bummed at first, but then Brigitte came to visit at the end of August and I was homesick for 2 months! I couldn't wait to go home and it was totally worth not doing all of those things I only dream about;-)

Our trip didn't get off to the greatest start with our flight to Utah being delayed 2 hours, but Thad was of course a trooper, as he always is, and when we landed in SLC at 12:15 a.m. (2:15 a.m. EST) he was ecstatic to see Ma-Ga and Pa-Ga (Thad-speak) Whitehouse!

I'm sure the gift of one of his FAVORITE characters helped add to the excitement, but he really was so happy (as Brian and I were) to see some faces that we hadn't seen in far too long.

Brian's parents are SO good to us and they lent us their car and we headed off to Logan at 1:00am. The Madsens were kind enough to put us up for the night and we had a cozy bed waiting for us when we pulled into Logan around 2:30am (4:30am EST, a 1/2 hour before Brian wakes up every morning). Bri was a little worried he wouldn't be able to sleep too good, but he was exhausted and got a solid 3 hours before he had to be on campus at 7:30. I woke up at 6:45am wide awake and no sign of the Madsens...I sent Brian off and showered before Mrs. Madsen arose from her beauty sleep;-) We were able to enjoy breakfast together before Sadie Mae woke up and got things going. We had a FUN day planned and used Heidi's house as home base for people to come visit: Aunt Kelli (such a sweetie, she teared up when she saw Thad), Niki (the bookstore gave me so many great friends), Erin & Bennet, Emily & Kate, Bre & Brielle and Sara, Kate & Ethan. Seriously! I have so many wonderful people in my life and I am so glad they made the effort to come see me...Thank you!

Erin.Sarah.Shelley.Heidi

I seriously love these moms SOOOO much!

Part of my plan for the day was to go to campus and get pictures of Brian and I on Old Main Hill. We both graduated from USU and have hardly any pictures to show it. Bre is AMAZING and said she would do it.

They turned out great and were exactly what I wanted...Thanks, Bre!!!!

I'm kinda sad I didn't get more pictures in Logan, but I was able to spend the afternoon w/ 2 of my best friends and then Heidi was a gem and made homemade Wingers chicken which was DELICIOUS! Jason stayed w/ the kids while Heidi and I got a treat, of course, and had wonderful conversation that I wish we could have more often...in person...

The rest of the week was spent down south just having F-U-N!!!

Grandma Teresa and Aunt Kelli are always fun to play with. We hit up Gardner Village, the mall and Cheesecake Factory for lunch...we just get spoiled when we go home!

(And yes, Thad is hugging Teresa in fear of the Witch behind them)

The rest of the weekend consisted of: Cafe Rio, wet Utes Football game, fabric searching, Trunk-or-Treat, movie night, church, dinner with the Monsen/Whitehouse family (which I don't have any pics of on my camera), sending Brian home and hanging with the family.

(My grandpa and grandma)

Monday through Thursday just flew by, but I was able to pack A LOT in!

Brig did my hair on Monday and Leah was being a crazy and running around playing w/ her blankie on her head...she is SOOO funny! I love this girl.

That night I headed to Ogden to hang out w/ 4 of the best girls I know:

I love that I can be w/ all 4 of these gals and we all have a blast together...love you guys!

Haley was kind enough to have us all over and destroy her house, but I think it was totally worth it for all of us! We talked, ate, let the kids run wild and had a blast doing it:)

I was able to visit this Mama and baby Ruby. It was so good to catch up w/ Hailey and it's always wonderful to see a sweet newborn!

Thad and I were able to get some lunch w/ Ma-ga Cindy and it was actually a blast...from the past! We went to Dee's restaurant on State Street and 45th-ish and I loved it. We always went there when we (the children) wanted something fancy for dinner. I LOVE the hot chocolate!

Seeing these cousins is always a pleasure! Kache was just posing for me and so I took advantage of it cuz he is just a doll.

I could go on and on about all the fun things we did. I loved spending time with all of my family and friends and I wondered several times why I live across the country. That's just life, I guess, and I'll just keep living it. I truly do love Utah and all of the people there who mean so much to me. Thank you for spoiling us and fitting us in while we are there, it really means so much. Thank you for loving Thad, he really is a great boy. We love you all and can't wait to see you December 1st...It will be here before you know it!

I almost forgot!

Happy birthday to this girl!!! We love Sadie Mae SOOO much and wish we could be in Logan to celebrate with her today, but she knows we love her and are thinking about her. Happy 2nd b-day!

The Monsen Hive

Happy Halloween!

Just Thad

In between all of our awesome visitors and fall fun I haven't really posted pics of our adorable boy. He is the light of my life and makes every day a special one. He is growing so fast and sometimes I start to get sad about it, but then I take a step back and realize how much fun he is, all the patience and love he is teaching me every day and it just makes me grateful that I am HIS mommy and how blessed I am to be a part of his growing up. I am truly so lucky to get to wake up with this face every day:

Isn't he gorgeous!? My sis Brigitte took his 18-month pics at the beach while she was here in August and I never got them posted...I love them and have several hanging in my house:)

As you can see, he loves rocks and they definitely helped to get some great pics.

Thad at the Bronx Zoo enjoying all the sights. His eyes were always wide and just taking  it all in.
Love him.

Just batting those big blue eyes!

We went to our local zoo w/ some friends last week and he LOVED all the animals and fun stuff to do. 

Just being outside...his FAVORITE thing!

He loves his stuffed puppies lately and carries them everywhere:)

This morning I wasn't paying the best attention and I caught him playing in the laundry:

This adorable image is what prompted this post. I just looked at this boy and how awesome he is, and I just needed to let it out:) I love these moments and I love seeing this smile everyday when I play with him. 

Thad Man, I love you!

Thad and His Girls

Thad doesn't have any boy-friends his age, but he is always happy to have the company of the many wonderful girls in his life. Last week some of our besties came back to visit us and it was an absolute pleasure to have them here!

These 2 lovely ladies showed up first and we spent our first day at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT. 

We had an AWESOME time in spite of the rain, and that is only because of Breanne. She can take any situation and put a positive spin on and I seriously love that about her. I started stressing about the rain the closer we got and she just says, "Let's buy ponchos, it will still be fun!" She was absolutely right!

Brian was (and always is) an amazing husband and was more than willing to head to LaGuardia after our long day in the rain to pick up these 2 beauties:

Aren't they just 2 peas in a pod!? They are so sweet together and they were as enjoyable as they look to be around for 5 days:)

We were a little tight on space (as you can see) after they arrived...

So we stuck around town and visited the infamous Stew Leonard's (and yes, Thad is still very scared of any life-size cow)

and headed to Calf Pasture beach, of course! It was a tad chilly, but it was so fun to be by the water and the kids loved being out in the fresh air and getting their teeter-totter on!

Friday, we braved the train into NYC...another thing I was extremely nervous about w/ 3 babies and 3 gigantic strollers, but if I was going to do it, these are the gals to do it with! They are so easy going and made the trip an absolute breeze!

We made it to Grand Central as you can see...

and did some WAY fun things that I hadn't done before: checked out Dylan's Candy Bar, Serendipity (tho the wait was too long) so we went to Pinkberry which was just AMAZING, and strolled down 5th Avenue!

The second half of the day was spent:

Strolling through Central Park, browsing the MoMA (we hung around about 15 minutes...I guess we just don't appreciate/understand), checked out Rockefellar Center and hit Times Square at night which is A LOT more exciting than during the day. 

Needless to say, we had an amazing day in the Big Apple!

The next day we headed to Castle Hill Farms and took an AMAZING, GORGEOUS drive and got a great glimpse of the beautiful New England Fall season! It was so picturesque with little white churches and every color of autumn leaves you can imagine. The pictures definitely don't give the beauty of the day justice!

It was an adorable farm and we were able to check out the baby animals (the goats being the highlight), go on a hay ride, eat hot dogs and check out the pumpkin patch.

What a perfect fall day spent with the perfect people.

Bre left very early Sunday morning out of Newark, NJ cuz that's the only standby flight she could catch and we were so lucky to have Stella and Tar stay until Monday. We were pretty lazy on Sunday, but Sister Wives kept us pretty entertained and we were able to enjoy each other's company.

I am truly blessed for these women in my life and I am so grateful for the sacrifice each of them made to come back here and see us. It is so wonderful to have meaningful conversation and get to know good friends even better. I love you gals and can't wait to see all of you SO soon!