Holiday Traditions: Thanksgiving

Some friends and I met this week to share our family holiday traditions. It was fun to swap ideas and hear what other families do to celebrate. I love what my family did for each holiday when I was growing up but I also want to start traditions that will be unique to my own little family.

So now I'm opening it up to all of you! Rather than talk about all of the holidays at once, I thought I'd post about Thanksgiving first and talk about the rest as they come along.

Here's what our group came up with:

• Run in a Turkey Trot (5k/10k) or play in a Turkey Bowl to burn a few calories before the big feast
• Give kids holiday pajamas on Thanksgiving to wear through the month of December
• Bake rolls with messages/questions inside (wrapped in foil) to get the "thankful" conversation started
• Go around the table and give everyone a chance to say what they are thankful for
• Play family games after the meal (i.e. BINGO, white elephant)
• Decorate the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend
  

So what does YOUR family do to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Happy Halloween!

Our ward had a great Halloween party with a carnival and trunk-or-treat. It's fun to have Trevor old enough to understand a little of what's going on. By the end of the night he knew what was supposed to happened if he said "Trick or treat!"

Here's Trevor in his lion costume. Of course, every person asked him what a lion says and I thought he would get burned out. But by the end of the night he was still giving a great "Raar!"

Somehow Trevor went home with the "Cutest Costume" award. He really got excited when they gave him the prize: his own cupcake! (Good memories from that first birthday, right?)

Pumpkin Patch

When I imagine going to a pumpkin patch, I expect to bring a jacket and enjoy some hot chocolate or apple cider while I'm there to keep warm. As you can see, Halloween in the desert means highs in the 80's with shorts and sunglasses required. At least you get to wear your costume "as is" rather than hiding it under a thick coat while you trick-or-treat.

It was especially fun to have Birch's parents came to visit for the weekend.

I was too busy at the pumpkin patch to take a picture, so here are our beauties, soon to be carved or painted. I love the white pumpkin--it will definitely be looking like a ghost!

Trevor wasn't too sure about petting this hairy sheep.

Rocky Point

A few weeks ago we got to escape to Rocky Point with some friends from school. We had a long weekend to relax after the boys took a test and it was nice to have a little vacation. I definitely wasn't the best picture taker on the trip, so many of these are stolen from Allie and Kelly--thanks, girls!

The crew: Kelly, Roger, Birch, Trevor, Camille, Matt, Allie & Nash.

I've never stayed at a resort in Rocky Point before and it was so much fun! The best part was all these pools where we spent hours every afternoon. It had kiddie pools and a lazy river so even the kids were happy.

Trevor gets a little nervous to jump into the water. Here we made a "hoop" with mom's arms.

Trevor and his buddy Nash got along so well! It was great having a friend to play with.

Out to dinner for some yummy tacos (luckily no one got sick!)

Three friends from med school were in a triathlon while we were there and we got to cheer them on. (Thanks, Matt, for staying with the sleeping kids!)