The Big Apple

For Thanksgiving we took a trip with Brad's parents to New York City. Some of the highlights were:

A twilight cruise around Manhattan
Waiting for our boat ride to begin



Time Square at night


Seeing the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall


Going to Macy's, The Rockefeller Center, Fifth avenue, and FAO Swartz


Riding the subway (The girls LOVE it)

Going up the Empire State building


Macy's Day parade / Central Park
Parade watching in Central Park


We loved the big balloons

Having more fun playing in the leaves than watching the parade



Seeing the Temple


Dinner with Brad's Uncle Steve, Aunt Dona, and their family

Camille with her second cousin and new friend, Emmaline.


We're truly blessed in our lives and so thankful for all the wonderful opportunities and adventures we have!

Time for a trimming

Camille got her first haircut today. The straggly unevenness of her hair was really starting to bug me. Every time I've mentioned cutting her hair Brad would say, "I like it long, don't cut it." So, while he was at work today I didn't cut it, I just trimmed it. It was just a little trim about an inch off the bottom. I doubt anyone will be able to tell.

BEFORE


AFTER


See not much!


P.S. Don't you love her outfit? Camille says it looks good because, "The dress and the shirt both have pink and purple on them so they match."

You were made to make a difference

You were made to make a difference
By Max Lucado & Jenna Lucado Bishop



This book was definitely written more for tweens and young teens. The message is good and applicable to all people however, the format and voice of the book is directed at a younger audience. If I were twelve I'd probably think it was awesome, if I were sixteen I'd think the format was a little on the "babyish" side. That being said 12 or 16 the message is great for tweens, teens, and adults. I especially like the chapter "No dropped calls". All about communication with God and prayers. That we need to stay connected to him. On page 42 I loved this paragraph,
"When you remember to take God everywhere you go, you will change--in a good way. He will help you be kinder to classmates who bug you. Obedient to the parents who get on your case. Enthusiastic about giving up your time or your money to help. God's love softens your heart. Changes your attitude. Makes you a new-and-improved version of your old self." This chapter seems to go hand in hand with the chapter "Unplug and tune in." My personal soapbox, we're all too plugged in and don't take time to enjoy the world or people around us. This chapter talks about how Satan doesn't need to get us to sin just to be plugged in and tune out God/people and then he is successful.
All in all a decent book, a worthy read if the format doesn't bother you.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

but of course....a Halloween post!

So when you keep carved pumpkins inside a warm hotel room as opposed to on a cool Idaho porch they rot and start to smell quickly! (Our pumpkins only made it until Saturday night before I threw them out!)



The girls may just look like a Wizard and her cat but in actuality they were Gargamel and Azrael. To complete the ensemble I went as a Smurf. However, Brad wasn't here to take pictures of all of us together. The pictures I took of all of us with the camera's timer turned out a little too scary to share with the world. (Even for a Halloween post!The Smurf in them looked possessed or stoned.Yikes!)

"Azrael" (Yes, black instead of brown.)

"Gargamel" (She wore pink shoes instead of red, close enough)

"Gargamel and Azrael"

Being nice to the cat.

Out to get the Smurfs!

We attended the ward's chili cook-off and trunk-or-treat. Both girls got really into it and could LOUDLY say "Trick or Treat!" More then half the time they remember to say thank-you without any prompting. Besides the buckets of candy from the party, one of our maids brought them little Halloween bags full of goodies, and the front desk also had a goody bag for them on Halloween morning. Needless, to say we've been running on sugar around here for the last 2 days! (I've got to find a place to hide the loot!)
Diggin' in!