Family pics by Vanessa Kay (see links)

Our family: Landen, Caleb, Halle, and Me
Me and my hubby

Me and my little girl

walking with the kids

Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good, His love endures forever!

Our family hopes you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a great time in Spokane! We left for Spokane Tuesday night and stayed till Sunday. For Thanksgiving we went to the Well's house (they are good friends from church). Caleb got to play with Emma and it was so cute because she just loved Caleb and followed him everywhere saying "Caleb" "Caleb"- he got a little annoyed, but it was so funny! We had a wonderful dinner, great pies, played Mad Gab, and talked and hung out- Oh and Landen won a trivia game!

On Friday, we didn't purposefully plan on going shopping for "black Friday" but a certain someone was up earlier enough to go shopping (hint: his name starts with a "c"). So Landen took him to Sears so we could all sleep. Later that day, Landen and I went to Red Robin for lunch with gift card he got for his birthday and we ended up getting on the News. KREM 2 filmed us eating- it was pretty funny!

On Saturday we went up to my good friend, Amy's parent's house in Idaho. They have a lot of land and it is tradition to get our Christmas trees there. We had such a great time! We had a wonderful lunch of chili, stew, and cornbread. We then went to get our trees while the babies slept and then played a fun game of "nouns in a bucket".

Sunday we went to church and then took off for another trek across the Pass!

Getting our Christmas Tree!

Our beautiful, and pretty big Christmas tree!
Landen and Caleb
The three of us out to hunt for the perfect tree!
(Halle stayed back and took a nap)

Willow, Lexi, Amy, and me all heading out to

get Christmas trees

Caleb and his tree- he picked it out himself

Hayden and Caleb eating their yummy stew

and cornbread
The three girls: Hallory, Halle, and Olivia
they are too cute!

Me and Amy!

Halle giving Olivia a headrub after Olivia had

just woken up from her nap

The boys hiding on Mr. Scott's lap

At "Grandpa Ed's home"

Caleb reading with Grandpa and Grandma
Halle eating a "pre-Thanksgiving snack"

Caleb and Grandma making gingerbread cookies

Playing with playdough

Halle playing in the sink (one of her favorite things!)

Thanksgiving Day

Me and my hubby :) Can you see my little bump?

Reading with Caleb and Emma
Landen and Halle (her little belly is sticking out :)
The three moms: Jen, me, and Colleen (with baby Carter)

Caleb giving Emma a hug

Caleb and Emma playing the piano

Update from our date!

(heading out for our date)
So on October 19th Landen and I went to an improv theatre that I had picked out- it didn't turn out quite so well. I thought the show was for all audiences, but apparently it was for "mature" audiences only, and Landen and I are not mature enough, so we decided to leave after about 15 minutes because it was too crude! Bummer! I sure set the bar high for the first date! Oh well, we ended up getting something to eat and getting my favorite chai, so it wasn't a complete waste :). Hopefully are next date is a little better...

Date nights!!!

The other night Landen and I were talking and he asked me what I needed from him. I couldn't really think of an answer right then because I was tired and a little irritable (all you have-been pregnant moms can relate). But as we continued to talk he told me how ever since we found out I was pregnant with our third that I have been a little with-drawn and not real affectionate. When he told me this, I knew he was right, and I kind of realized what it is that I need from him. I realized that I was beginning to feel like an old maid in some ways, or kind of losing my identity as "Carli" and was now a mom to three kids! With running a house, making dinners, changing diapers, grocery shopping, reading books, etc, etc.... I was kind of getting in a rut. Now, I absolutely love being a mom and Caleb and Halle mean so much to me, but I told Landen that I need a little "spice" or something different to break up the norm. I need breaks and I need to spend time with Landen just the two of us (especially when the third comes).

We go out every once in awhile, but it is always to dinner and we always end up talking about when we move, or money, or the kids. I told him that I want to go on dates and do things that involve no talking (or maybe a little), but mainly things we can do to have fun together like when we were dating and I don't have to think about the kids, or what I am going to make for dinner the next night. Some ideas I had were swing dancing, plays, the Nutcracker, getting hot chocolates and going to the lights of Christmas display, going to movies, I mean, we live in Seattle there are tons of great things to do with the person you love! We decided that we would go on two dates a month and I would plan one and he would plan one and they would be a surprise (I know that over half of his will be Husky basketball games- but that's alright I love basketball). I am going to plan the first date and I am really excited because I already have an idea in mind...

I think that what we are doing is so important because I want our marriage to be our first priority. I want our kids to see that Landen and I love to be together, so they can be secure knowing we love each other. You will all have to hold us accountable on this because it is easy to be too busy and not make time for eachother. I will keep you updated on our dates and put some pictures up of my hot husband when we go out!