HAPPY stuff yourself til you can't walk...and then eat some pie DAY!

(Back row left-right: Kim (Darren's stepdad), Aunt Althea, Grandpa Steadman, Uncle Tres, and Tyson (my bro). Front row left-right: Grandma Steadman, Juanita (Darren's mom), Johnny(Darren's bro), Alyssa (Johnny's girl), Me, Darren, Aiden, and Levi (Alyssa's bro).

For Thanksgiving day this year we went to Darren's grandma and grandpa's out in Payette. It was great because we thought we wouldn't get to see any distant family this year. But, in the week before Thanksgiving things fell into place for everyone. We all just spent time together and ate and ate and ate. And I was so excited that my gluten/dairy free pumpkin pie worked out and tasted good! Let me tell you how hard it is when you have half of your family that can't eat gluten. But, through trial and error it has gotten easier and easier. I have found many great recipes, and found the best brands to buy. So, if you know anyone who is struggling with a gluten free diet I would love to help with recipes and advice.This is Aiden and Kyler's Nonie and Papa. They have so many grandmas and grandpas and great grandmas and great grandpas that Aiden decided that he would call Darren's mom and stepdad Nonie and Papa.

This is what Kyler did during picture time.

Me and my honey

I love Thanksgiving because it really helps me remember all the things that I have to be grateful for. Things have been really tight lately but instead of thinking of all the things I don't have I try

remember all the things we do have. I was told that if you can pay your rent, gas for your car, food, and have clothes to wear you are in the 1% of the whole population of the world. Whether it is true or not it helps put things into perspective for me. I am so grateful for my warm home, that my hubby and I each have a running car, for my wonderful suportive husband, two fun little boys, good suportive family, we are employed, my friends and the people that inspire me, and the programs and people I have been blessed to be apart of that has help me be a stronger mother and woman. Thank you all so much for being apart of my life! Love and blessings to you all!

Happy Birthday Aiden!

Aiden turned 3 years old last Thursday! That day he helped me make cookies that we took to babysteps. Then on Friday we went swimming and had a birthday party. It was a simple party with just family. His uncles Levi, Tyson, and Johnny were there. So were his aunties Alyssa and Chandie. We just had cake and ice cream and watched Aiden and Kyler open presents. He got some clothes from his Nonie and Papa, Cars movie, hot wheels cars and track, and some soft balls. It was simple but lots of fun. It was nice just to have everyone there to spend time with Aiden.

Having Fun at the Party

Aiden's favorite present was from Uncle Levi, a case of apple juice boxes!

Aiden and Kyler got new jammies from Nonie and Papa. And Aiden is looking good in his new clothes and hat and hot wheel cars!

Aiden and Kyler loved their gluten/dairy free cake and vanilla rice ice cream. Kyler gave up on having a spoon and went straight to shoving handfuls in his mouth!

Our Weekend Project and Solution to Cold Winter Days

We have descovered that our boys have a literal need to climb, jump, and slide. And because it is now going into the cold wintery season there will be a lot fewer days to let them run wild outside and release some energy. So, because they haven't gone outside as much, they have made our living room couches trampolines and jungle gyms. And now with Aiden's birthday around the corner we came up with a wonderful idea! We decided to make them a play gym to jump, climb, slide, and crawl through. With my husband's mad skills and the help of our friends Jackie and Amy, who very generously donated carpet and some wood we were able to make our play gym. (Thank you Amy & Jackie!)

The bottom is a tunnel and they use their little picnic table to climb on top. Where they jump and play with their cars. They also use the slide as a car ramp. It is a little simpler than we originally planned but I think it still works great!

So, there you have it, our weekend project, solution to cold wintery days and Aiden's birthday present. And as you can see the boys love it! It was a long weekend and a lot of hard work because we didn't have enough tools to make it an easy job, but it was worth it!