The Hectic Life

Why does time always speed up around the holidays? These are the times when I would love each day to last a life time. We make so many memories around the holidays and I feel like we rush through them. It really bothers me. Here is a quick recap to catch us all up. Catherine started attending Eagle Ridge, which is a school for homeschooled children, I know...it sounds redundant. She is able to take different extra curricular classes during the day and brings me all sorts of fabulous projects that she has made. For example, this month's theme was Eric Carle (the kids author), they read books by him, sang songs about his books, made pictures like his on the computer using a paint program, and made art that looks like his artwork. It was amazing how many things they integrated centered around that theme. This month is snow fun. Cat loves going to school and it is amazing how independent she has become in only 3 short weeks. Sarah, has also turned into a different little girl when we are alone, she turns back into herself when we pick Cat up.
We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year. It was nice to have a couple of Brady's siblings over. Anna, Rick, Caleb and Emma came, along with Amanda and her three munchkins. The other Phoenix families had other plans this year, which was just fine. We ate and ate and ate. I made 4 desserts that I was very proud of. I made a Meyer Lemon and Cranberry bundt cake; a chocolate cherry loaf; cheesecake filled, pumpkin cupcakes with brown sugar frosting; and Reese's Peanut Butter cookies. Delicious! I also prepared the turkey and I spatchcocked it this year. Spatchcocked, I hear you ask? It is when you cut the backbone out of the turkey and then butterfly the breast and appendeges. You cook it on a huge cookie sheet so it cooks really fast. I cooked my 24 pound turkey in 2 hours at 450 and it registered above temp when I used the thermometer. Quick and efficient, my kind of bird. Brady did the surgery, but any butcher would do it for you. Try it, you'll never go back. Other than that, I am still plugging away with my half marathon training. I ran my first 5 mile run this last Saturday and I didn't die, so there is hope. Hope that everyone is having a great almost December. Don't expect my Christmas cards tomorrow, they are not done yet...I know, I ALWAYS have my cards out on Dec. 1st, this year has just done me in! I am losing my touch!

Crazy!

It has been a little while since I posted, but so much has happened! I will post about it later because things are still crazy and I am out of time!

Makeup, Movies, Smores, and Barbie...What a Night!

Catherine and Sarah invited their cousin Kate over for a makeup and movie sleepover. They were so excited and asked me for two weeks if it was time yet! Another testament to why planning ahead makes you crazy if you have kids! Kate arrived and the girls jumped right into playing. They played Barbie's and American girl dolls before it was time for dinner. We ate chili and then made smores in our new fire pit. They were delicious! The girl's then got in their jammies and put on makeup for about an hour and a half before it was time to wash it off and go to bed. They stayed up late watching "Barbie and the Three Musketeers". When it was time for bed they all had little red faces from being scrubbed clean and happy little attitudes. This morning we cleaned up from last night and then made waffles. The girl's were so excited because they got to eat bacon, eggs AND chocolate chip waffles! It was the perfect end to the perfect slumber party! Now I get to drive to Mesa to drop Kate of and go on my first 4-mile run! I am hoping that I make it!

We made delicious smores

The girls putting on their makeup

Sarah powdering

Kate's RED lipstick!

Cat striking a pose

The three girl's makeup station! They were able to watch the movie at the same time.

Outside while Daddy helps roast marshmellows in our new fire pit that he built.

The girl's this morning eating breakfast!

Christmas is Coming!! AAHHHH!

Does anyone else feel like Christmas sneaks up on them? I totally always feel like I barely get through September and it is Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas in like one week! It makes me crazy! I like to have my Christmas cards done by Halloween so that I am not stressed at all during the Holidays. However, this year I am just starting and don't know when they will be done. I really like to have them out on December 1st for the stress reasons again. We had our Christmas pics taken by Michelle again this year and I am so excited to see them! We totally got kicked out of a neighborhood we were taking pics in. There were no signs and we walked in without scaling any fences or having to cut through any walls. The lady threatened to call the Sheriff on us, but with some smart talking from yours truly, we were able to just leave....very quickly! Ruined the mood a bit. Anyway, just went through all of my decorations and cleaned everything out, plus organized them in their containers for easier access. I am totally excited to decorate for Christmas! Love Hobby Lobby!

Halloween 2009

SNOW!

We barely survived Raton Pass going into Colorado, but we made it! After dinner that
first night all of the kids went out into the snow and played. I am glad they did
because it heated up the rest of our trip and all the snow melted away!

Family Fall Festival

Every year, Grandma Thomason throws a Thomason Family Fall Festival for Family Home
Evening. Whoa! That's a lot of alliteration! We each plan a game or activity and the
kids rotate booths. Dinner was great as always, thanks Grams!

Brady with Tessa Knopp


Me with Tessa


Katelyn Todd, Cat and Sarah dancing in the moonlight


My beautiful daughter


My other beautiful daughter


Sarah getting ready to go out and get some treats


Cat posing pretty


The girls in their costumes

Andrew's Visit

Our nephew Andrew came to visit the week before Halloween. It was so nice to get to
see him. Since Angela and Jason's family have moved to South Carolina, we don't get
to see them as much! We miss them a lot and really enjoyed having the kids come
visit this summer and Andrew just recently. He is a great cousin to have around!

Andrew with our family


Andrew with Tessa and Alyssa