My most popular purse

I decided to post my purse on my blog since everywhere I go people stop me to ask where I got it...can you believe, OLD NAVY. I didn't even know they had purses until I went to friends and family 30% off day to get our Christmas pajamas and came upon this purse with matching shoes. If you want it you better hurry since I have seriously sent over a hundred people there to buy one.

Double the Festivities

This year we had double fun with two Thanksgiving dinners. We enjoyed our traditional dinner with the Wrights. It was extra special this year because we had Mom, Dad and Justin with us. And then Joslyn wanted to make sure we had our Traditional Thanksgiving dinner with just our family. It was amazing how much more traditions meant to Joslyn after living away from home.
The Turkey trot was a great way to start the day. Everyone ran, except Mitch who is recovering from tendinitis and Joslyn and Laurisa who had to watch the traditional Macy Day Parade.We decided to save money this year and have our very own Turkey Trot. Wade gave mom a number so she felt like a real contestant. We had a great time running together and it was the most beautiful day. Justin helped me make the traditional wheat rolls that the family loves.The night ended with our traditional black Friday shopping day. This year we changed it up a bit. The malls opened at Midnight this year so we joined the "Midnight Madness" sales. It truly is an adrenaline rush. It was so much fun but exhausting. We got some amazing "steals"! These pictures was taken at 4:00 a.m. after shopping all through the night.The girls found a place to sit while Mom Whiting and I kept shopping. After shopping instead of sleeping Mom came home and had to get her 5 miles in. She has more endurance than all of us put together!

We are Thankful for Jake

We love having Jake's birthday around Thanksgiving because it helps us to reflect on all the reasons we are thankful for him. Our family tradition is to pass around the blessing bird and tell the things we are grateful for. Everyone had many reasons to be thankful for Jake.

We are Thankful for Jake's:

Giving heart, he would give you anything he owned, even the shirt off his back, but maybe not his food.

Compassion and concern for others and their feelings, and puts others before himself

Photographic memory with lyrics to songs, scriptures, and Spanish words

Bravery, he has an amazing high tolerance to pain and has courage to take on any challenge, even 21 days in the hospital

Fun personality, he makes everything fun and is very entertaining

Amazing ability to attract friends, everyone is Jake's friend

Loyalty to friends and family, he would never speak ill of anyone

Frugality, he loves to save his money as well as others

Example, to all even his older siblings

Has amazing etiquette and loves others to have the same, especially while fine dining

Work ethic, he's always willing to do any chores even with out being asked

Sensitivity to others feelings and wishes

Integrity, you can always count on him to do what he says he will do

Responsibility, never has to be asked twice to do something

Athleticism, he has amazing athletic talent and always pushes himself to his fullest potential

Academic work ethic, he strives to keep top grades and works hard studying and achieving excellence

Forgiving nature, he never holds grudges and is a peacemaker

Spirituality, he never misses reading his scriptures or writing in his journal

Friendship with girls, Mitch says he witnesses at school what a "chick magnet" he is

Kind heart

Humility, in fact he won't like that we posted all these things about him, but we do it anyway

Affection, he gives the best hugs and loves to express his love to his family~ We love you Jake!!!

It was so wonderful having all of Jake's grandparents here for the celebration.Jake's friends brought gifts throughout the day. These darling girls brought him Krispy Kreme's along with a matching hat.

2009 Family Pictures

A sneak peak at our Christmas card photos. Laurisa's best friend Kylee took our pictures this year. She is an amazing photographer and really has the eye. She took so many good ones that it is going to be hard to choose which one goes on the Christmas card. Thanks for taking our pictures Kylee, you are so talented.

I couldn't Wait!!!

Something has happened to me. They say that you become more like your spouse with time, and I think it has happened. Wade has a very difficult time waiting for Christmas or Birthdays to give presents. So following in his footsteps I gave in...I couldn't wait for Christmas to give the girls their skirts that I made them. I rationalized it by thinking of the many times they could wear them before Christmas. I just couldn't hold back. Could you if you knew how excited they were when they saw them. I will probably be disappointed in myself when Christmas rolls around, but for now I have great satisfaction seeing them look so cute in their new skirts! And they fit them perfectly, thanks to my friend Kelly who is great with measurements, and I also have to thank Katie, who posted these on her blog in the first place and tempted me to want to make them! So, Happy New Skirts Joslyn and Laurisa!

Hoorah!!! Jossie's home!

We are so excited, Jossie's home for a visit! Right when she arrived she wanted to go to her favorite restaurant, Gecko Grill. When we arrived we were so excited to see Aunt Ginger and Tony. Laurisa was there with all her friends for a girls night. It was the perfect night having my family all together!Today we cleaned the church. I love cleaning the church as a family because it makes us appreciate our church building even more and I get the greatest satisfaction out of serving as a family. I love seeing my kids work hard. When we came home Joslyn wanted pumpkin pancakes. Wade was so happy to have his daughter home that he was flipping pancakes. I love the relationship these two have! He would do anything for her.

5K Run

My friend Rosemary and I ran the Gilbert Days 5 K. It was fun to have a running partner. She has ran a few marathon's, so she is a veteran. She kept a good pace for me the whole time. Thanks for running with me Rosemary!