Thanksgiving Extravaganza

Happy Thanksgiving from the Kings. It was a wonderful lazy, fun, family day filled with games, yummy food, football, and gratitude for all the above.

And then there was Black Friday.....and I went with my crazy friends at 4:30am to the stores. Us and a few other people. And I just have one thing to say: If YOU too were out shopping and you left your cart unattended for a few minutes and when you returned your stuff was missing, I might know who rifled through your treasures and took what they needed. All's fair in love and shopping.

And then there was Saturday......and we put up the tree...

and then BYU won....

and we all lived happily ever after.

R + K 4EVER

R,

Even after a decade, THIS EVERYDAY LOVE between us is like one LONG SLOW BEAUTIFUL DANCE. I just really LOVE WHO YOU ARE  and after 12 years of marriage IT STILL FEELS GOOD. ONCE, I asked myself why I was so lucky to be married to someone who is so smart, handsome, and technologically capable. Please know that you are MY WISH come true.

IT FEELS LIKE TODAY that we first fell in love, and I MELT still each time you walk through that door (especially when you bring home dinner). THESE DAYS  I realize the COOL THING is always being WHERE YOU ARE, whether on the OKLAHOMA-TEXAS LINE or BACKWARDS in MAYBERRY. (Is Mayberry a real place? It's probably near Delta)

SO HERE'S TO YOU, Rich. I know you will always be there to SEE ME THROUGH, ME AND MY GANG (B,C, G, and S). There are WORDS I COULDN'T SAY ( because I've chosen to write using mostly Rascal Flatts titles, which seriously limits my means of expression) but what I can say is this: I love you more than FAST CARS AND FREEDOM, (neither of which I have a lot of right now). I've been WAITING ALL MY LIFE for you, and I'm so glad that LIFE IS A HIGHWAY and you work for UDOT right now.

GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD THAT LEAD ME STRAIGHT TO YOU!

Happy 12th anniversary, Rich.

K

Do the Hoe-down....that's how we roll! (or, "Cassidy's 8th Birthday Party")

Boom clap.

One little two little....EIGHT little girlfriends over to celebrate (Thanks to Jillian, Kendra, Lauren, Aleece, Bailee, Margaret, Adilynn, and Olivia)

Boom d'clap d'clap.

Hannah Montana karaoke is way fun, especially on a sparkly pink stage (not pictured, but built by Mom and Dad and VERY cute) when you get to hold your very own microphone.

Boom clap.

These 4 are in the same second grade class. I'm sure they NEVER talk in class.....

Boom boom clap.

Twisting the night away.

Boom d'clap d'clap.

Presents are the best!

Do the Hoe-down and then the Throw-down

There were 10 females in the house, and 1 Ben. Evidently second grade girls really enjoy chasing and torturing boys. He loved every minute of it (except for the fact that he couldn't get enough microphone time to sing with Hannah).

Throw it all together-that's how we roll!

For you my friend, it was all worth it!

Every mother should have one of these........a Cassidy

Happy Birthday, Cassidy.

Congratulations on 8 wonderful years!

You should have a Cassidy if you enjoy being around people who are smart, funny, and kind. Cassidys are highly observant and are always concerned with making others feel loved and included. Cassidys are naturally beautiful and have a special talent for coordinating sparkling outfits and fancy jewelry. They enjoy writing and illustrating, singing songs and playing the piano, and reading about Annes of Green Gables. Their special talents include making friends, jump-roping, and helping around the house. But the best part about Cassidys is that they always give hugs just when you need one most. We are so lucky and blessed to have a Cassidy at our house.

Happy Birthday darling daughter! We love you!

Photo Shoot Out-Takes

We did a family photo shoot on Saturday, with the operative word being SHOOT, as in SHOOT me now, SHOOT the kids now, etc etc. It was good times, let me tell you. It all started with the 14 trips to and from the stores, trying to find coordinating outfits that the children (and husband) would actually consider wearing. Pretty much the boys all  think they should wear the t-shirts they wore last night to bed, except for Garrett who thinks he should be dressed like a  Power Ranger.I'm telling you, I'm surrounded by total fashionistas. Now for the out-takes.....

Some people actually jump for joy whenever I bring out the camera....

and some people do this and

this.

Some people have a serious drooling problem (look real closely to see how I used my finely-tuned photography skills to capture, mid-air, a perfect droplet of slobber), and some people

thrive on tormenting younger siblings. (This was supposed to be the "Cassidy, give a Garrett a hug picture").

Some people would rather go to the dentist then participate in family pictures. One guess as to who.

Some people consistently avoid looking at the camera because your eyeballs might get vaporized by a giant laser beam. These same people are much too busy

jumping,

running, and

climbing trees to take anything seriously.

(Treehugger.) I suppose now you'll want to vote Democratic.

But if you want to see some seriously cute photos that just might make the Christmas card, click here

The Lion, the Witch, and the Rubik's Cube (and the Power Ranger)

The Lion....

the Witch...

the Rubik's Cube...

and the Power Ranger.

 

The frightful festivities started Friday night, when we carved our seven pumpkins. It's a tradition at our house to carve one pumpkin that says KINGS on it. From far away you can't even tell that I accidentally sliced through the I and the K and we are using toothpicks to hold it together. I guess it's better than accidentally slicing through my fingers. Although I've done that, too.

Here is our little Power Ranger. Notice his fully awesome moves.(Think Rhino). I wonder if our friends in Montana remember when K and B were so into Power Rangers? Those pictures could serve as blackmail someday. Hmm, I might have to post one.....

Ben, 2004. It must be a 5 year old thing.

And who could resist this KING  of the jungle? I thought it was the cutest costume until my neighbor thought I had dressed him up as a flower.( Thanks for ruining it, Larry.) Special thanks to Holly for letting us borrow the costume! And extra special thanks to Ilene for the Rubik's Cube. It was the best costume ever.

But alas, all things must come to an end. Even thumb-sucking flower-lions must go to bed...