Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving with two families we have become very close with this year the Steinhafel's and the Henries, at the Henries home. The food was amazing and the company even better. I hate that I didn't get more pictures but at least I have one right?

This is Brian and the three babies Luke, Little Ethan, and Andrew!

Happy Thanksgiving

I woke up this morning to Luke in my bed kissing my cheek. I rolled over and smiled at him, heard the rain poring down, checked the time, and snuggled him up. Brian was already gone to the Turkey Bowl and I assumed that the children did not accompany him as originally planned because of the rain. As I laid there in my room with my sweet Luke in my arms we heard laughing downstairs. Luke immediately ditched me and hurried down to be with them, calling out their names.

This month we have talked more about the Pilgrims, the New World, and Squanto then ever before. The children's prayers have been focused on thanking instead of asking. In fact Ethan might hold the World Record for longest prayer of thanks since the Pilgrims came over. Gratitude Journals are back into full swing, and it is so wonderful to end our day talking about what we are grateful for.

Each year I usually think the children really need the reminder to be thankful for everything, but this year I think it was me who needed the reminder.

What a blessing it is to live in this free country, I don't I acknowledge it enough. I have so much gratitude for the military and their families all over the world. I am so grateful to Brian for making the sacrifices that he did to serve our country. I don't thank him enough or acknowledge him enough for that, but I am so, so grateful.

I am so grateful for the gospel in our lives. My love for the gospel seems to just get bigger and bigger every year. I cannot even express my gratitude for the Atonement and how it has changed my life. I am so grateful for the children's primary teachers, and all the preparations they make in their behalf. I am grateful for my calling as the Primary Chorister, I just love it. I am so grateful for the temple, and being sealed together as a family. This year however, I think I am most grateful for the missionaries serving around the world. If it wasn't for the missionaries who taught Brian the gospel our lives would be so very different.

Girls Weekend Kentucky - Day 1

A month or so ago my friend Shellie wrote on Facebook about the awesome project her daughter Carlie did on Lexington, KY, and how much she wished she could go. As I read it I was excited for a fun excuse to head down that way and visit my friend Jenn. I wrote back saying lets go, she said lets go, then I called Jenn and asked if we could come. Obviously she said yes and I am so glad she did!

We arrived at Jenn's around 7pm last night. It was so great to see her, I have no idea how we let a whole year pass without seeing each other, but I am so happy she lives closer to us now. We had a fun night of chatting while the girls played. We finally got the girls to sleep around 11 and we stayed up talking until about 3am. I was totally planning on going to bed early but I just wanted to play catch up with Jenn!

This morning we woke up, had breakfast, and patiently waited for 9am to roll around. Jenn had called THE CASTLE earlier in the week and they said they don't usually do tours but the might make an exception and to call when we got there. She called Thursday and they told her to call Friday morning to set up a time! To say I was excited would be a major understatement. She called at 9 they said be there at 10:30 so it was race to get ready!

The story of the castle is that in the mid 1960's Rex Martin and his wife traveled around Europe, and it was during this time that his wife fell in love with all the European Castles. When they returned to Kentucky he bought the land to build her, her dream home. Plans for the Castle were drawn in 1968 and they broke ground the next year. In 1975, the castle was still under construction, the Martin's divorced. Rumors have it that she left him because he was so obsessed with the project and it consumed every part of his life.

When finished, the castle was supposed to have 7 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, an Italian fountain in the driveway, and tennis courts in the yard. The castle was never finished.

It was eventually put on the market and Rex Martin moved to Florida. Over the years he received many phone calls and offers on the property. Most calls went unanswered and no offer was ever accepted. Further rumors say he was too heartbroken to part with it.

Rex Martin passed away in 2003 and in 2004 the castle was purchased by Thomas Post with plans to turn it into a bed and breakfast. A few short months after construction had begun an electrical fire got started between the walls that are now the music and ball rooms. Mr. Post decided to rebuild and on November 22, 2008 a celebratory ball was held to celebrate its completion.

As a child we would go Kentucky every summer to visit my mom's family, and I have been in love with the castle for most my life. It has always been something of a Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. You could see it on the outside but the inside and the real story behind it was always a mystery. Being inside was a childhood dream realized and the best part was it exceeded all expectations.

When we first arrived Olivia had no idea what to expect. You can see the castle as you are driving down Versailles Rd and she was totally blown away when she saw it. When we turned to go up the road towards it, it was like deja vu. I have been up that road, but you really couldn't see over the 12ft walls. As we drove through the gates all the girls were screaming.

Here is Olivia and Carlie right after we got out of the car.

Olivia, Autumn, and Carlie walking hand in hand together up to the castle doors.

The girls right outside the door.

Inside the Foyer. To the left is the library and to the right is the music room. The entry ways shown in the picture are the dinning room on the left and a hallway to the ball room on the right.

The girls got to lay on the bed in one of the rooms

These two pictures were taken on the balcony off one of the rooms. Can I say AWESOME!

From the balcony we headed straight up to the roof top!

The girls playing

We were giving a wonderful tour full of history and we all loved every minute of it. We took our final pictures, thanked the wonderful man who graciously showed us around, looked around trying to take it all in, and then it was over.

We spent a few more minutes walking the grounds and talking about our favorite parts.

It was truly a magical experience and one that I loved having with my sweet Olivia!

P.S. Brian, it is for sale.....

Kai's Preschool Performance

Kai's preschool had the cutest Thanksgiving program ever. They were dressed up as indians or pilgrims and they sang songs that told a little story. Then afterwards there was pie and whipped cream! YUM!

While we were waiting for the show to start the kids were taking pictures of one another.

Kai did a great job. He sang all the songs and did all the motions. I was cracking up because we could hear his voice over all the other kids. He is such a riot! I am so glad we got it on video!

Business Dinosaur

Lately Luke has been very interested in having a say in his clothes. Often he will go into the closet, and bring me the clothes he wants to wear while I am getting the older kids ready for school in the morning. When Olivia and I were in Kentucky this is an outfit that Luke picked all by himself. Brian and the kids named it his "Business Dinosaur" outfit!

Bubble Boys

When the weather is cold and we can't go play outside we head to the bathroom for an INSANE bubbles bath! While they were busy playing I cleaned the bathroom. Win-Win!