Thanksgiving

 We have had a stellar Thanksgiving week.  It was nice to spend some extra time with Jeff.  He makes going places about a hundred times easier.  We went to see the deer on the peninsula's wildlife reserve, we saw some rutting with antlers locked.  We also threw rocks and walked around with sticks, you know, as you do when you are 3.  Maybelle just ate rocks.

 I know this looks like a small Thanksgiving feast, our table is small and it is best to keep the food, utensils, and drinks out of reach.  But we roasted a 15 lb turkey, potatoes, beans, stuffing, rolls, and a can of cranberry sauce (which cut my finger).  Our best effort was in an assortment of 3 pies.  Jeff and I cooked for a couple of hours and ate within 15 minutes of our estimated time!  There wasn't a toy left in the toy box after the kids were finished entertaining themselves.

 The pies were the best part of the meal, glad we focus our efforts there.  We have been enjoying pie for breakfast each morning since.  At our house it is a breakfast food.

 Jeff at Garfield Bay, I must have said something funny to get such a genuine smile out of him.  I am sure it was my sense of humor :)

 Porter sitting on a stump, he like to make me make everything talk to him, so the trees, rocks, even his food has a voice through me.  It is kinda funny the things he shares with a nice tree stump.

Maybelle again eats rocks and smiles, she never stops moving, she is a bit wild.  She is some fun company.

A Photo Montage

 It rained and rained all day at our house, so we finally got smart, and drove up the hill to play outside in the snow.  We were all elated at the first snow, especially these two!

 Maybelle was a bit "put out" at her lack of dexterity, but I think she enjoyed her first time sledding. 

 It warmed right up for Halloween, and so did we.  I took Porter to the "Mall" for a trick-or-treat preview.  Sears and the Movie Theater gave out full sizers this year.  It worked, cause Porter had his game face on at the trunk-or-treat.  It only took a week for Porter to consume all his candy.  Maybelle has also helped out a bit, if she finds it she eats it.  She has Porter trained to give her a lick of his sucker each time that cute ballerina whines. (credit to my friend Candice for Porter's costume idea)

 Maybelle...... she is always so pleased.

Porter enjoys raking leaves more than anyone else in the family.  Don't think that we buy our kids quads, our neighbor gave this to us and the battery doesn't work.  I am too cheap to replace a $40 battery so Porter has to push it around.  Builds strength and character:)

 This is our documented leaf fight, also to be entered into the "Mother Boy" contest, it looks a bit like an engagement picture.

Although the lake is now gathering ice, it is still magnificent to look at.

Our Trip To Utah

 Our trip to Utah started out with a fairly smooth 12 hour road trip.  We drove through the night, I say we, but Jeff completed about 10/12 hours.  I take a crucial 2 hours, I do.  Here is Porter and Grandma Pam hiking, those 2 are good buddies, perhaps because they both prefer to play as much of the day as possible.

 We also were able to spend much of our vacation time with Jeff's sister Carrie and her cute, cute, Lincoln.  We seem to be a bit selfish with the camera and only take pictures of ourselves though.  Note to self: take pictures with all group members. The colors were so vibrant.

 Alpine Loop near Aspen Grove, with Timp. in the background.

 Hogle Zoo was a hit for a few hours, then we ate Greek...yummy Greek.

 My highlight of the trip was "Jump on it" or "Get Air" or as Jeff calls it "Get High".  Whatever the name is, we can never remember.  But Porter and Maybelle mainly loved hanging with Grandparents.  Grandpa Meyer reading to Porter and Maybelle.

 Another Zoo picture thrown in there.

And after a miserable 112 hour car trip home, that's right 112 hours is what it felt like.  We resumed life with painting pumpkins rather than carving this year for some more toddler friendly fun.