Thanksgiving Break

Today Danny went back to school and work after having a week off with us. We love it when he's home with us. I think Addie was a little confused when she couldn't find him this morning. Now it's crunch time for him as he studies for eight finals in the next three weeks. 

To celebrate Danny's first day of his break last week we went and saw the Christmas lights at the Provo Riverwoods. It was super cold so we didn't last long. We did see Santa though, it's safe to say that Addie hated him. She's never been a fan of anyone with a beard so I knew Santa wouldn't be any different. She'll probably have two or three more chances to meet him again but I'm not sure she'll accept him this year. 

Danny's best friend Dallen was in town for thanksgiving with his wife and son so we all got together. I did something that night that would shock my father . . . we went to a BYU game . . . and it was fun. Really it was fun. It was both mine and Addie's first time. Now I just need to take her and Danny to a U of U game but it was nice to hang out with Danny's best friend. Their son Emerson is about a month younger and we joke that an arranged marriage might be in the future for them.

Thanksgiving this year was spent with Danny's side of the family. It was a little bittersweet for me just because next year my parents will still be in Europe so I'm not sure if my family will even get together and next year is the in laws year for everybody else on the Ferguson side. I told Danny we should go out of town next year but that's me thinking too much ahead again. I have a problem with doing that. Even though I said this holiday was bittersweet for me it was still more on the sweet side. I absolutely love the Ferguson family and we always have a great time. We ended the night doing my most favorite activity - family game night. 

I guess it's not fair for me to say I didn't see my siblings for thanksgiving this year because my mom and her new husband did throw together an early thanksgiving dinner for us last Sunday. All in all I have a pretty amazing family from all sides. 

I have a lot of things to be grateful for but my biggest blessing will always be Danny. Sometimes we can drive each other crazy but I couldn't live without him. Danny might not want everyone to know this but sometimes Danny can be a real softy. We were in the car this last week and he looked at me and said "I pray I'll never lose you. If I lost you I'd lose everything." Awww right? How could I not love this man? 

Danny is one of the few people who reads my blog so Daniel George this is for you - I sure do love you! 

Every night for the past twenty days Danny and I have been writing down things that we appreciate about each other and last night we read our little notes to each other.

A few of those notes.

We decided to continue this but instead of writing notes to each other we'll focus our blessings on our Savior. We plan on sharing them with each other on Christmas Eve. We figure this stage of life that we're in is the best time to start traditions focused on Christ. Life isn't perfect but some days it feels pretty darn close to it. 

1 Peter 3:15

Yesterday I came across this verse during my personal scripture reading and it has been stuck in my head all day. Social media has been so full of negativity lately that this scripture seems so fitting. We must keep Christ as the center of our hearts so that when one asks if there's reason for hope we won't need to hesitate to answer. 

I thought it was interesting that one of the first words that Danny spoke during Addisyn's baby blessing was that she was being born into both a wicked and beautiful world. These days it's so easy to see the wicked over the beautiful. The truth is we don't really need to look that hard for the beautiful no matter how strong and suffocating the opposite might seem. I'm glad I have the gospel and my family to keep me grounded. I'd be lost without it. 

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."

Snapchat Fun

 

This morning Addie woke up a little earlier than usual because of our super loud doorbell. I brought her into bed with me so we could cuddle and then I decided to send a little snapchat video to Danny since he was already at school. That one little video turned into five videos.
1. Hi Daddy!

2. Addie faking an owie.

3. Baby kisses

4. What does a puppy say?

5. Her latest obsession. Bouncing.

Fall Fun

Since this blog has turned into my journal/scrapbook I wanted to post some pictures of what our Fall has been looking like so far. 

We kicked it off by going to my family's Halloween party. Baby Olivia was Wonder Woman and I couldn't help but snap these pictures of them. I wish I had taken better pictures because Addie was loving her little cousin.

That same day we went to the Witch Fest at Gardner's Village. I was so sad when we didn't go last year. It was just too cold and Addie was a month old but we went this year for both her and Danny's first time. Hopefully the Witch Fest is a start to a new family tradition because I love it there.

My in-laws introduced me to Jaker's Jack-O-Lantern's in Springville.  It's a cool pumpkin patch with a corn maze, corn pit, hay rides and a petting zoo. Danny was at work and Ty and Marie were still on their honeymoon but the rest of the Ferguson family were all there. Addie HATED the corn pit. Within a second of her even being put in it a random kid threw handfuls of corn in the air and unfortunately they landed on Addie's head. Needless to say she didn't last very long in there. She loved the animals though. You wouldn't expect to see a kangaroo in a small town country pumpkin patch but this place had one. It was a friendly little guy and when he got up on his back legs he was probably over four feet tall.

I was so impressed with the place that when Pollyanna and Aria came to visit our new home that same week I had to take them there. It was colder the second time and less crowded. I tried the corn pit again with Addie but she must have remembered her first experience because she still hated it. Aria on the other hand loved it. Maybe next year Addie might like it and maybe next year we'll go when Danny can too. We took some pictures on a bench right in front of the corn pit which is why you can see that Addie still wasn't done crying. 

This past weekend my sweet niece Mckenzie Jo was baptized. Danny and I were literally pulling into the parking lot as she was coming up from the water so sadly we missed it. We at least made it for her confirmation though. Beckie and Jason threw together a nice brunch at their house afterwards. Pollyanna and I couldn't get enough of baby Olivia. She sure is super cute.

Addie with five of her girl cousins.

Her eyes are gorgeous!

Opening her late birthday present from Grandpa and Grandma.

Danny and I went to the temple after the brunch to do sealings with Kari, Beckie, Jason, Giovanna, Leo and my parents who are in town. Pollyanna watched Addie so we could go. I hate to say this but Danny and I have been slacking on temple attendance. We used to go all the time but now we've made a goal to go at least once a month. So far we've been good for October and November. With a set goal between Danny and I it should be a lot easier now to stay diligent. Oh yeah, yesterday was our second Sunday in our new ward and we already have a calling. We're the new nursery teachers. Our ward has 48 nursery kids not counting Addie who will be tagging along with us, and that's also not counting the five or six more kids who will be nursery age soon.  This calling should be interesting. 

Anyway I'm excited for the rest of this Fall season and what it could bring. 

So Quietly You Lay

I watch you as you're sleeping

so quietly you lay

and think of how I love you 

more than words can say

I gently brush the hair 

from your little face

and quietly say a prayer

thanking God for you today

As I tuck you in 

sure to cover your tiny toes

I blink back a tear or two

and kiss your little nose

Quietly I whisper in your ear 

goodnight my little one,

you're so precious and so dear

I love you bigger than the sun

Author unknown