Gardner Village Elf Hunt

A few weeks ago we made our way back to Gardner Village to see their elf scavenger hunt.  It was cold (Utah + December, go figure), so we didn't stay long but we had a good time.  They have fun toy stores and lots of cute elf displays.  Next time I will bring hot chocolate and a real coat.

Thanksgiving in Texas

This year I decided I would not like to travel at Christmas time, which meant we booked our Foley family visit to Texas for Thanksgiving.  It was a really great decision on my part.  Apart from losing my drivers license on the airplane (still pending resolution there), we had the best trip!  It was probably my favorite trip we've ever taken to Texas.

Ivy was promised two of her most prized (and normally deprived) life experiences on the airplane, and she was in sucker-eating, video-watching heaven. 

We stayed with Scott's mom and just had a traditional Thanksgiving (complete with toddler sunglasses of course) and spent our time relaxing and enjoying a break from the daily grind. 

We went to the Fort Worth Zoo.  We shopped a little.  We ate a lot of pie.  We played a few games.  I taught Cindy the ways of the instant pot (and of course the first thing we cook gives me the "burn" signal).

I think my favorite part of the entire trip was probably going to 9 AM church.  Haha.  We have had afternoon church for like 3 years going strong, so this was a major highlight for me.  Cindy, Ivy, and I got to do a Christmas puzzle with homemade apple cider and Christmas music after enjoying a full non-interrupted nap time after church.  What more could a mother ask for?  Nothing I say.

I am thinking this may be a Thanksgiving tradition worth holding on to.

The Fall Bucket List Part II

We recently came home from Texas to find snow.  The kind that isn't melting within a day.  (Insert deep breaths and muffled sobs here.)  It's time to come up with some fun plans because winter is here and plans are the way to survive.  I need to recap the rest of our Fall though!

The rest of my Fall Bucket List did not go according to plan exactly...  Here's what we had on there.

6. Make homemade donuts.  Not a chance.  Haha.  I did, however, decide that every year our family would have a "Christmas time is here" day where we decorate, stay in our PJ's, and have donuts.  So I did buy some at least, which is still a big deal since I've bought donuts maybe twice now.

7. Go to a corn maze or pumpkin patch. I already posted photos but we did this and had a great time!

8. Paint pumpkins. I already posted this as well.  Major hit.

9. Make a thankful tree. I had plans to do this but alas, no.  Maybe next year we will actually do something Thanksgiving related.  Ok, ok.  We did color some Thanksgiving coloring book pages.  #festive

10. Host a soup night. I hosted a pot pie night instead.  I say it counts. 

Also...I feel I should say something about Halloween!  It was great.  Ivy is a big fan of trick-or-treating and I really loved making her costume.  Family costumes rule the world.