A Kansas Thanksgiving

So I know this is totally picture overload! I have been terrible at updating the blog, but I finally have time today, and so this is what you get! Forgive me everyone for the bad pictures and pictures that might make your children look gay, crazed, and possibly a little bit handicapped. Hey, they are your children, not mine. But I love them nonetheless and won't hold it against you.

We were able to do so many things that I didn't get pictures of. For example, my sisters and I looked like Zombies while we shopped at Walmart and Target on black Friday. I really did feel like it was a bad dream. However, we all found a couple good deals. Nick and I also got to go to my Dad's work and get a tour of all the jets there. We were able to relax a ton and have a movie night with too much junk food. I haven't felt that sick in awhile.

Also, I uploaded these backwards but I refuse to redo them. So you are looking at our Thanksgiving trip in reverse.

I think this state is the prettiest state there is. This is why I miss it so much!

And this too!

We were able to have a successful family lunch out at a restaurant. It was so fun to go to some of the places I miss and to spend so much time with family. I was not ready to come back to Utah.

The following are of a few of the kids trying on mine and Nick's shoes.

Exhibit A: Ava with my shoes on. Not so weird.

Exhibit B: Alex has Nick's manly shoes on. Could have picked a cuter pair of mine, but ok.

Exhibit C: Landon stole these from Ava because he insisted that they were the best pair for him. Not so ordinary.

Landon successfully took a good picture of me.

The kids and all their cheesy smiles.

This is us playing a pretty funny game called "Curses". I laughed so hard that I was crying a few times.

Cute little Alex

My handsome man on Thanksgiving.

Most of the Coates family

This is Ava taking our picture on Thanksgiving.

This girl really needs to learn what a real smile is. She is so funny.

Thanksgiving day...

continued

continued

continued. There ended up being well over 30 people at my Dad's house for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun to see all our family there. Nick got to meet tons of family he probably didn't even know existed on my side.

The lake behind my Dad's house. This is the other reason I miss Kansas. Nowhere else has so many lakes. Almost every single neighborhood has one.

Nick, Matt and Landon fishing.

So we just had to go see twilight while we were together. Shenna and Andrea ended up having some friends come along too, so we had a whole row of people there. It was fun, except for the fact that we went to the late showing and I missed half of the movie. From what I hear I didn't miss much though. The parts I saw were totally lame. And ridiculously cheesy. Andrea, I now see where Ava gets her face to smile for the camera.

Everyone in the theater.

Driving to the theater.

My Dad teaching the girls all the cool things there are to know about the bass guitar. (Are there any?) Just kidding Dad.

We were also all able to make it to the Zoo. I never realized what a good zoo we have there until I went back. I loved the zoo! Here is Nick with his favorite animal.

Landon with the Lions.

Alex and I with the Tiger.

My sweet husband offered to carry my purse around half the time. I love him!

Ashley and Michael. You would think we were in Alaska the way Michael is dressed. He was scared of the outdoors there.

Part of our group.

Goofy Landon.

We had so much fun going to Kansas for Thanksgiving. I loved showing Nick around the town. I drove him by my first house there and the High School and showed him everywhere there is to show. (Not really much) But I think he liked it enough that we will go back and visit when we can. I loved seeing all my family and a couple old friends. All in all, we had a great Thanksgiving. Thanks for the fun times everyone! We miss you already.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This is a little late for the Thanksgiving post, so it will be a combined Christmas/Thanksgiving one. I have a lot of pictures to post from various things throughout the month, but we are again without internet so this is a short post until I find time to do all that I am wanting to.

I am so blessed.

The blessings I recognize and that I am thankful for are the following:

• I have a wonderful, loving husband who means the world to me
• I have the best family imaginable (inlaws included!)
• Nick is finished with his graduate school applications (HUGE relief)
• We have nice new discounted 600 thread count sheets on our bed
• I no longer have to try to cut meat with a knife equivalent to a butter knife now that i have new ones
• I only almost hit the car in front of me yesterday while driving on the ice, keeping this year free of accidents thus far (minus the deer incident)
• Nick got a phone where the battery lasts more than 3 hours
• We were able to go to Kansas over Thanksgiving to be with family and friends
• Our neighbors got rid of one of their loud barking dogs
• We have a real Christmas tree, and all the decorations are put up for the Holidays
• We are able to live so close to family and spend time with them
• I have a job. Not just one, but two, when some don't even have one
• Nick is able to go to school and work
• Nick is patient with me
• It didn't snow for real until yesterday (now I am no longer happy to step outside the front door)
• I have sisters who will laugh with me about almost anything
• I have an electric blanket on my side of the bed
• Neither of us have gained all of the weight we have lost back yet
• Christmas time is finally here!
• David and Carolyn for giving us their couch so we don't have to be scared to sit on ours any longer
• I have a husband who will forever make my heart melt everytime he smiles at me
• I am able to live so close to temples
• LeBron James
• A nephew who can always make me laugh (see Andrea's blog about Landon's writing)
• I have a husband who will eat whatever I cook even if we both know it is not very good
• Winco foods for their really cheap groceries
• I have a Savior who loves me and died for me
• I have this time of year to especially remember him and be greatful for everything I have and all that I have been blessed with

I have so many things I have in my life that I am greatful for and that I am sure I don't deserve. I would write them all if I had time. Now, when I have a day where I think all is wrong in my life, I will be able to look at this list and realize how perfect it really is.

The eyes of my husband

Through the eyes of my husband I am important. I am worth it to him to spend the whole Sunday cooking his famous lasagna that I love, to have my family over for dinner and cake. He did everything! He wouldn't let me touch a single thing or dish.

Through his eyes he is aware enough to see how much family means to me.

Through his eyes, it is important to have the perfect birthday cake for me. He wanted me to pick which dessert I wanted. He went through me changing my mind 15 times until I settled with a chocolate fudge cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting and sprinkles. He made it perfectly.

Through his eyes I am beautiful. He tells me this everyday. I rudely roll my eyes because I think he is just trying to flatter me, but he tells me that he hopes with each time he says it I will believe it a little more. I know he believes it.

Through his eyes I am worth him taking a day off of school and work on Tuesday to spend the day with me since I had to work on my birthday. Through his eyes I am good enough to be lazy all morning while he cooks me breakfast. Then we could lounge around all day and enjoy the time we had together. I am special enough to him that he will go with me to spend the gift card his parents got me at Layers clothing store. (THANK YOU Dave and Carol) He sat the whole time and watched me try on different things without a hint of annoyance. He gave input and was honest and patient.

Through his eyes it is important to get me the two most perfect gifts.

These are cowboy boot slippers. When we went to look for boots with his mom, they had these slippers that I fell in love with. So, apparently he sneaked back and got them. He knows I love the group REM. So he got me a great "best of" C.D. of theirs. I love it.

Through his eyes it is important that I smile. Little does he know that he doesn't even have to do a single thing to get me to smile. Knowing I have him as my husband forever is enough to keep a permanent smile on my face. Sitting with him on our couch watching a movie puts a smile on my face. Having him come home everyday to me puts a smile on my face.

Not only is it important to make me smile, but through his eyes it is very important that I laugh. Maybe I am wrong in that it is important to him to make me laugh, but he just does it. He does it without even meaning to. Now just look at that cute face. I was laughing while taking this picture. He is always making me laugh. But he sure does look good huh?

Through his eyes it is important that I get sung to. So along with two waiters, and the ladies at the next table over, he sang Happy Birthday to me. Through his eyes it is important that I try and like new things. So he took me to The Cheesecake Factory. Now there isn't really anything new that I haven't tried, but I ate guacamole. I don't ever eat it. And I did. He gets me to try new things. Just like how I have tried his cottage cheese and chip thing and never liked it, but when we were at his parents on Halloween, I ate some. I don't know why, but I did like it. He says its just a matter of time before I am eating beans. I don't know about that but I had a great time at dinner!

And most importantly, through both of our eyes, it is necessary to have a happy family. Luckily, we have that! I love you, Nick! Thank you and thank you all of our family and friends for making my birthday the best ever!

**tune in in late January (around the 21) to see through my eyes**

Halloween Continued.

I am on the activities committee for our ward which of course consisted of the Halloween Party. We decided to dress up to make it a little more fun for the both of us. (Or maybe just for me) So I dressed up as a 50's housewife and Nick played the part as my adoring 50's husband! He was such a huge help with the party. We set up, served the food, washed the dishes, cleaned up, and it was over! Just like that! But I had fun with him. Thanks for going with me, babe!

The wife. It looked better without my sweater on, but it was cold.

The husband

The wife and husband

The Cottage

My ceramic pumpkin. I have a few more of these and I love them! They add just the right touch to our small home.

I made these and I really like how they turned out. They are scrap wood from IKEA that were once cabinet doors. They sell each piece for like $1.

I have a project I am working on to redo this glass coffee table. I am going to spray pain the bottom black and put black and white pictures underneath the glass in a collage. I am excited to finish it! I will post pictures when I finally get to it.

Thanks to Jared and Erica, we have a T.V. that we can now watch movies on. We don't have cable or anything but it is nice not to have to watch the little computer screen anymore!

We LOVE the rug Andrea. I told you it would go perfect! Thanks!