friendsgiving 2012

we just celebrated our second annual friendsgiving. this year, the moultons' offered up their amazing cabin up in the mountains. it was perfect.

when we got up to the pass it started to snow. i was only freaking out a little seeing as how we were in our rear wheel drive car. luckily, the snow didnt stick (no thanks to andrew's prayer!) and we got back home safe and sound.

there is nothing quite like the feeling of successfully preparing a turkey. it makes you feel like a real mom!

amy and me, adding the finishing touches to our food assignments.

each adult got their own little mayflower.

andrew and emily. my favorite hosts.

after dinner, the boys (and some brave girls) went for a ride on the four wheelers. my boys were in heaven.

then it was time for my idea of an after dinner activity..... scarfing down desserts. 

before we left, we made all the kiddies (minus the two littlest babies) pose on the stairs for a group shot. SIXTEEN children in all. but honestly, they were pretty well behaved and we still had a wonderful dinner. although the idea of an adults only friendsgiving has come up more than once..... :)

the big group shot. during dinner, we went around and said what we were thankful for (ingenious idea, i know). when it was my turn i said, "i'm thankful for my friends." and then i got a little choked up. because really, i dont know how craig and i got so lucky to have such a amazing group of people as friends. it literally makes our life better.

so this happened on halloween.....

i had emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. i had known i was pregnant but the day before halloween was told that it probably wasnt going to be viable. but at 12.30am, on halloween eve, i knew something was really wrong (something more intense than just a normal miscarriage) so i woke craig up and had him take me to the ER. and i am so glad i did. because (randomly. as in, i had no risk factors) something was really wrong. my right fallopian tube had started to rupture due to an ectopic pregnancy. at 4am i went under (for my first time!) and they removed my fallopian tube and fixed me all up. the entire ordeal was quite scary but i am glad it is over and VERY grateful my the doctors, my friends and my amazing family who helped me through it all.

our halloween

we had a pretty low key halloween this year but still managed to make some great memories. we had fun drawing out different faces and then picking our favorite to carve into our pumpkins. tagg and sully were so proud. my boys in skeleton pajamas never gets old. 

please dont ask me why i put a mini cupcake in the picture with our donut party invitations.... i had just made them that day and thought they looked cute together. :)

the monday before halloween (per tradition) we hosted our annual donut party at my parents' house. 

i had my mom start frying up some donuts before people arrived so i would actually have a picture of a full cake stand!

sully, my mom, tagg and me. another wonderful donut party.

for halloween, my boys requested teenage mutant ninja turtle costumes. honestly, i have NO idea where they (tagg) came up with the idea..... werent ninja turtles like 20 years ago?! but i do what im told and made up their little costumes.

pizza candy bag and all! cowabunga, dude. 

happy halloween, 2012!

nightmare at beaverlake

the weekend before halloween a group of us went to a local haunted house (really a haunted woods). craig and i had never been before but it was SO much fun. craig might have a few bruises on his arms to prove how scared i was!

kaitlin, me and amy. the weather actually behaved and it was the perfect fall night.

cowabunga, dude.

tagg went to mia's (jasmine) birthday party yesterday. it was the first time he got to officially wear his teenage mutant ninja turtle costume i made him. seriously, i know we are a bit biased, but the other moms and i were freaking out about how cute these four are. i could eat them!

pumpkin whoopie pies

when we were brooklyn i stumbled upon a bakery that had amazing whoopie pies.  they were sooooo delicious that craig and i ate the first two we bought and then went right back into line to buy four more. so when i got back home i decided to try and recreate the situation. i used the recipe from annie's eats (she never disappoints). they were very easy to make and even better to eat.

the perfect autumn treat.

pumpkins 2012

craig was off today and the weather was amazing so it was the perfect day to get our pumpkins for the season. because of the dry autumn we have had ALL the pumpkins looked like something from a cover of a magazine. my boys were loving life.

my mom met up with us to get some pumpkins too. she found the cutest one! :)

sully's face makes me want to eat him. he is such a nut!

speaking of nuts..... 

my boys might be a little nuts but they are the perfect mix of crazy and sweet. 

craig, and his dang "C" hat. when i told him to take it off so it wouldnt be ANOTHER picture with him wearing it he said, "people wear their same hair in pictures." touche, craig. touche.