Great Weekend!

We celebrated Carson's birthday this past week.  We kicked off the celebrations with a Harry Potter party here at Hogwarts.  Laura, Ashley, and Eric helped me pull if off.  We sent out acceptance letters to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Some of the kids came dressed up in robes.  We the teachers all dressed up for a day of wizarding instructions.  We had a history of magic class (HP trivia), divinations (predicting flavors of Betty Botts Every Flavor Beans), potions class were they made a freezing potion (ice cream), and defense against the dark arts (dementor pinata).  Then we had a closing feast and announced the winners of the house cup.  It was a fun day.  Here are some pictures....

 The freezing potion...

 I think Harry just got busted by Snape!

Expecto Patrono!


Then we headed up to my mom's house in Mountain Green.  We hung out with the family.  It was fun to visit with my brother Tanner who just got home from his mission.  We had a great Thanksgiving dinner.  Maranda made fun little turkeys and pilgrim hats with the kids.

 Tanner

 Emery is almost as big as Audrey who is three months older!

I think Sophie is worried that Carson is going to eat her turkey.


Then we headed back down to our house were we decorated for Christmas and visited with my Dad and Louise.  Later that night we had a birthday dinner down the street.  Carson was feeling sick that night...

 Shortly (10 min) after this tree was all decorated it fell over.  This little lady might have had something to do with it.  Every year when we get out the Christmas decorations I think to my self, what will she brake this year?  It's turning into a family joke.  She is our toucher.  She has to touch everything.  She reminds me so much of young me.

Then on Saturday Carson went to Boondocks with Dad.  This is our family birthday tradition.  Later that night my family came over for another birthday dinner.  We spent the night building his Harry Potter legos.

Sunday we headed back up to Mountain Green for Tanner's homecoming talk in Sacrament Meeting.  He did a great job reporting his mission.  He has changed a lot.  I'm very proud of my little brother.  I hope Carson remembers all the fun from this weekend and the experiences he had with Uncle Tanner.  In ten short years Carson will be going on his mission.  Time is flying by.  This weekend has made me ponder on how precious the younger years are with our children.

 This is our second tree.  We cut it down from my mom's back yard.  It has character.  I hope our kids remember how much fun we had last night.