Finale and Festivities!

     We finished up our Oregon trip with some fun activities. We took the kids to the local bowling alley but it was a bit busy so we opted for the attached arcade center and they all had a great time playing games and earning tickets for some fun, if not simple, prizes.

The younger boys blew through their $7 pretty quick, hence the sad face on Brock.

    The swimming at the Running Y resort, courtesy of Ann and David, was definitely the best finish to our visit. All of my kids are lovers of swimming/water activities and what could be better then swimming with your cousins!?

Such a fun time!

     Isaac's personal highlights from our trip were the opportunities his parents/dad gave him to drive. We heard no complaining from him nearly all week as long as he got a chance to drive, even if he didn't get to drive 'far'.

Two weeks with a learners permit have added a few white hairs to my head!

    Carter was just mildly excited to get back to school so he could receive these awesome Beats headphones that he won at school the week before our trip. Lucky!

He earned 'pawsitives', which got him in a drawing and his name was drawn for these headphones.

     And to finish off our week we/I celebrated my 43rd birthday! I got a nice gift from my friend and primary president, dinner at Chili's with my most favorite, White Queso spinach dip, YUM! (Oh yeah, Greg was at Chili's too, so two of my favorites. ha ha) Cheesecake for dessert and BEST OF ALL a new cordless Dyson vacuum!!!! Greg, Mark, Kayli and Tanner all generously chipped in and bought this vacuum that I've been dreaming of for quite awhile now. It may have come a day late but it's worth the wait!! Definitely a memorable birthday!

    People!! It's DECEMBER!!! I'm at a loss for how quick time is going lately. We came home from our Thanksgiving trip to a Christmas decorated home thanks to Kayli. We still have a tree to put up and decorate, which will be happening tonight. All the kids are excited and the count down to Christmas has officially begun. It's a good thing our Christmas is mostly about traveling this year because I'm nowhere near ready or prepared to do gift shopping. Time needs to slow down just a little!