Thanksgiving 2011 - CO Springs~

Happy Thanksgiving. 2011

We went down to Brandon and Em's house in

Colorado Springs for Thanksgiving.

We had such a fabulous time with them.

My kids couldn't wait to be with their cousins.

Nothing beats that!

Emily is amazing. Her turkey and stuffing were so divine.

She used fresh Rosemary to flavor her turkey and gravy.

Goodness! It was some of the best I have ever had! Look at that spread!

My boys. love them.

After dinner, my brother drove us around the Army Base.

It was really neat to be able to see what a base looks like.

It was fun to listen to my bro and hear all his stories. Just amazing.

I am so grateful for all the honorable soldiers, officers..etc who serve our country.

We can't thank them enough.

(Brandon is a General Surgeon :)

We then drove to the Garden of the Gods

wow!

Look at this pic I took. It is stunning.

It toook my breath away when we pulled into the Canyon.

Just amazing!

(my brother, Brandon lives about 8-10 minutes away. SO lucky)

It was simply amazing-

These rock structures coming out of the earth.

In the middle of a mountain range, the glowing red rocks soar above the skyline.

Just beautiful.

(Claire, Ashlyn, Austin, Mace, Jake)

Me and my cute bro, Brandon. He is such a great guy.

I am so lucky to have him for a bro!
Yes! A bear! A big brown bear.. on someone's porch

eating a pumpkin!

I was so surprised! My bro said it's 'normal' to see bear around the neigborhood!

(what??! so crazy :)

Do you see my fingers? we were super close to the bear! yikes
We had such a great Thanksgiving with my brother Brandon and Em!

We loved it our time together.

One more fabulous memory for the Stott's !

We were so grateful to be able to spend the day with family.

It makes it so special. We won't forget 2011. All the great times we have had.

Love our cousins. Thanks Bran and Em!

Now Christmas is right round the corner!

xo!

Reflection

I am always reminded by my kids.

About life.

and the real reason we are here:

It's about

The simple things.

When all the noise goes away, the craziness clears and the sun goes down,

we remember

what life is about:

(my kids responses)

Jesus, God, Families, Brothers, Pictures, Music, the Earth, Trials and the Sunshine...etc.

and in the end: the simple moments. and being together as a family.

My kids love love the Thankful Tree. They write and write...

I need this tradition in my home as much as my kids do.

I let myself get overwhelmed and worry about so many things

that just don't. simply. matter.

This Thanksgiving season, I am most grateful for my 4 kids,

Austin, Ashlyn, Jake and Mason.

They are my all.

Along with Ryan, the Stott family is healthy, happy, and thriving.

I couldn't feel more blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving week.

xo!

Silverthorne Colorado

Boys out sledding and the girls out relaxing.

It was beautiful up in those CO mountains!!

(Girls in the hot tub amidst the snowy hills :)

We had a fabulous weekend.

More pics to come :)

Rocky Mountain High

The mountains are calling our name.

Keystone, Breckenridge, and Silverthorne.

Stott's love our adventures.

We are joining 5 families in our ventures :)

12,000 sq. foot cabin in the

(hopefully snowy,) green pines of Colorado.

Mace had all his winter gear on.

(with his bare feet)

Even though it was 61 degrees today.

More pics to come!

p.s thanks to Dad for coming home on his lunch break

and playing hoops with the boys.

It's our faaavorite past time!

Love ya~

Love the fall sun.

It's a dimmer light..

Cheers

to the fresh Rocky Mountain CO Air!

xo~

p.s Do you love my song??

I am in love with Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez.

Their music makes my heart happy!

moments.

Moments.

sweet moments like these.

They are so precious to me.

I had my parents come for a day.

I miss them so much sometimes my heart aches.

I love my Utah family.

My Dad made my boys breakfast and my mom went outside and helped me garden.

It was a moment in time for me.

They may seem like simple acts: making breakfast, and gardening,

but those are precious moments to me.

Our soccer canceled, we had a Saturday morning free and clear.

A gift. A memory. One I will keep.

I lived 32 years with my family,

now I am away.

Last week, my good friend lost her Father.

I think I cried an entire day.

I couldn't imagine.

We are too young to lose a parent.

I feel so grateful for mine.

I can't even express.

The knowledge, the wisdom, all the lessons my parents

taught us 10 kids...

a gift.

One I hold so dear.

I love you Mom and Dad.

I want you to always know that.

How grateful I am for you both.

and how much I truly love you.

xo.

Happy Halloween 2011

Halloween was a blast.

I invited 5 families over for a pre-halloween dinner get together.

Holidays are so fun to me.

Without my UT fam, I try to create the magic here...xo!

Look at all these B O Y S!

Ashlyn and Madi. Best little friends.

Ashlyn is a punk rocker.

A pretty one.

My killer coyotes.

(which we have had a problem with coyotes biting kids in our neighborhood)

Mace with his best buddy shamus!

(I had to include this one.)

Our favorite: pumpkin patch.

hanging out as a fam.

but my camera died. I got 2 pics. sad :)

beautiful evening.

Life is moving fast. I am trying to soak up all the days

and remember all these good moments!

AND....I love the Holidays..it is the best time of year.

It's all beginning. Love it.