Gobble Gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving! We had a great day... we went up to Dave's sister's house and join other family members for an excellent Thanksgiving Dinner (Thanks Dave and Carol! It was yummy!). Anyway, I am really just using this as an excuse to post a cute picture of Ethan in his Thanksgiving headband. We received the headband from one of my aunts and I have been so excited to be able to use it!

That's a Turkey on the headband- so CUTE!

And just for fun- a cute face Ethan was making as he was playing.

Thank you...

I'm going to admit something I am terribly ashamed of.... It's taken me about 25 years to appreciate family and 27 years to realize that it is the MOST important thing that any person has.

Today I am writing to thank each of my parents, siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, and everyone else I could possibly be related to...

Over the past year, especially after the birth of my son, I have come to realize what an integral part of my life my family has been. David, Ethan and I have received so much support and assistance from everyone- from advice and baby clothes, to babysitting and people to talk to. It really does take a village to raise a child- and it's a good thing that between our families combined we have a small town! :)

I am so thankful that my eyes have finally been opened to the true value of family and I am so grateful that even though it has taken me so long to figure that out, everyone continued to give me a chance. I know that this realization isn't going to make me any better about sending out emails or birthday cards or presents (I wish it would though!) but I want you all to know that I really do think of each of you EVERY day. Every time I look at Ethan, my heart swells to think of all the people that have come together to raise me, to raise David, and to help us grow. To see us through the awkward years, to tease us and make us stronger, to encourage us, to help us through the tough spots. And to see us through the good times as well. Dave and I don't say it enough, and Ethan can't say it at all (yet), but we are extremely grateful that each of you is in our life, that we were lucky enough to get you as a family member, and that we figured it out before it was too late. We love you all. We think that you guys are the best and we wouldn't trade our places in the world for anything. Thank you for being with us through every thing, for supporting us through so much change, and for being with us as we start a new branch of family. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you and love each of you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Deborah, David, and Ethan
(Pookie too)

Ethan's Wish List

Just thought I would throw this out there.... I have been reading to Ethan a lot lately- stuff that I loved from my childhood. So I would love to hear your favorite books/stories/etc from YOUR childhood.

I have been on Shel Silverstein kick lately... been reading a lot of "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and "The Giving Tree." Most of you know how dear The Giving Tree is to me and my family. :) I knew that becoming a mommy would make me more emotional but now reading the Giving Tree actually makes me tear up a little bit.

Anyway... Ethan's Wish List...

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

Mrs Piggle Wiggle (The whole Series)

Picture books

Dr Suess

Beethoveen CD's

Today

Well today Ethan and I met up with April and her kids Mara, Asher, and Sylas. (Yeah aren't those awesome names? Dave wants me to scout out names from April for our next kid. :) )

Anyway... we met up at Temple Square. It was pretty awesome- and a little cold. It has been the first time that I have gone through the visitor's centers at Temple Square... they did a great job! It's really amazing to see the history of the building and the big Jesus statue. I know that it has an official name (Christus?) but I can't think of it. The painting surrounding it is amazing! I want to hire that guy to do my bedroom- the background (the stars/galaxies) are amazing! They have also started putting up lights in Temple square- I am so excited to see the lights this Christmas. :) I'm going to make Dave take me out.

I got my hair cut today as well... it's nice and short! I hadn't had a haircut in 2 years (no exagerating). Now Ethan can't get his fingers stuck in my hair. :)

Anyway- this weekend Dave is taking me to Rodizio for my birthday. YUM! :) I am so excited. :)

Mirror Lake

Over the weekend we all (including Pookie) drove up into the Uintas and to Mirror Lake. The Uintas are beautiful in the summer and beautiful in a different way in the winter. And COLD! For example- the Lake was frozen over with pretty thick ice. One interesting thing was that it was silent up there... really quiet in a way that people rarely hear. No animals, no people, no cars. In the faint distance there was the sound of an airplane. We could hear the wind howling. It was really interesting to experience.

And of course Dave and I couldn't leave until we spent some time throwing rocks at the ice trying to break it. We didn't.

Notice the frozen mass of ice? Mirror Lake. It was so cold we had Ethan in a jacket and a thick blanket just to be sure he was warm.

Bubble Boy. What a cutie!

Oh My Goodness... It's been that long?

I just noticed that I haven't written a blog entry since the middle of October. And it's almost the middle of November now! So much has happened around here! Ethan is almost 4 months old! Can you believe it? I can't. I am still amazed at the ability to look down at my little boy and watch him grow before my eyes... and learn before my eyes. I love it.

Let's see since I last wrote, Ethan and I flew down to California to pick up my mom and drove back up here. Ethan is an awesome traveler... just sits quietly and looks out the window or sleeps. Made the drive from CA to UT so much easier! We had snow promptly after returning- yeah snow! Halloween came and went- with Ethan dressed up as a chunky monkey. And now here we are getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

I have been trying to listen more closely to what the Spirit (Holy Ghost) tells me so that has been my daily challenge/goal. Who would have thought that just listening could be so hard? :)

Anyway, no posting would be complete without pictures....

Snow! One of our friends gave us (Ethan) this cute little snow suit.

Daddy and Son dressed alike (even if you can't tell). Some guy time.

His Concentrating Face (Daddy makes the same one when playing video games).

King Chupa the Pirate.

There's a picture of me with my older sister Molly holding me and I was wearing a turban thingy kinda like this.