Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving--a relaxing morning spent cooking a little, then in the afternoon we went to Matt's cousin's for dinner. We feasted, watched a movie, and feasted some more!

That night I braved the Pre-Black Friday craziness and hit up Toys R Us. I'm not sure it was worth it, but thanks to that trip and a couple online purchases I am done with the Christmas shopping for the girls in this family. 

{Last year I asked friends how they decided what to get their kids for Christmas. One friend said simply, "I take them to the store, and they show me what they like best." (Brilliantly simple, I think.) Another friend mentioned that they have a budget and a list of presents they'd like to get their kids, and they trim the list as needed.  I tried those two tactics this year, and I think it'll pan out well.}

These two pictures of Skylie and her second cousin were the only pictures I snapped on Thanksgiving!

*****

Our second annual trip to get a Christmas tree was a hit! Skylie has been excited to get a tree for weeks, and Friday Matt and I fulfilled her wish. On the way to the tree farm she seemed certain that it was was Christmas Day and Santa was bringing her lots of presents pronto. We're still working on helping her realize that Christmas is still a month away!

*****

Matt and I celebrate our seventh anniversary on Monday. Two great friends agreed to watch our kids Friday so we could spend the evening on Mass Ave.

First stop, Yats, a casual Cajun eatery that I fell in love with. Next,  The Flying Cupcake where we got--you guessed it--cupcakes. ComedySportz, a family-friendly improv comedy joint, was our final destination. It's rare that Matt and I get a night out like this, and it was absolutely a blast!

At dinner I pulled up "45 Questions to Ask During Speed Dating" on my phone. We laughed as we answered some of the questions.

"What are you most proud of?" Matt asked, and in jest I answered, "My whole life!" It didn't take me long to realize that I'm not proud of my entire life. That's the wrong word. On a slightly more serious note, I am truly humbled and thankful that I've had such a happy life. It's never been carefree or anywhere close to perfect, but in retrospect I cannot think of a time in my life that I haven't been blessed beyond measure.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Visiting Notre Dame for the BYU Game

Months ago a friend approached Matt with the suggestion of going with a few guys to the BYU vs. Notre Dame football game. Matt jumped at the idea and explained to me how being at Notre Dame for a football game is pretty much the coolest thing ever.

Soon it became a family affair, and on October 20 two of my girlfriends, their spouses, and Matt and myself were listening to the Rudy soundtrack and eating Anne's famous cookies on our three hour drive north to catch the  game.

David and Jenny, Matt's cousins, watched Skylie and Kaitlyn all day long. Bless them. Spending an entire day carefree with Matt seemed nothing short of wonderful.

First stop--an authentic Mexican place for lunch. Next we made our way to the campus, checked out  cool buildings, and listened to the Irish trumpets under the Golden Dome--an annual tradition at the school.

Here we are with Touchdown Jesus (or so it's called, I'm told) in the background.

The Rygg's, Ownby's, and Matt and I made our way to the stadium to find our seats--on the very back two rows! My brother, Lee, happened to be going to the game as well, and he sat only two rows in front of us! It was great to spend some time with him.

The game did indeed disappoint, but I'm glad it wasn't an embarrassing blowout for BYU.

We lucked out on the drive home and happened to stop at the best pizza place in town, according to locals.

Thanks Rygg's for hooking us up with alumni tickets, Ownby's for driving, and David and Jenny for watching our kids! Who's up for going next year?

Canada Vacation

Pitcher Family Reunion

August 9-13, 2012

Payne Lake Lodge

Cardston, Alberta, Canada

In August, Matt's family went back to their roots--Cardston, Alberta, Canada--for a family reunion. Me and Matt and our kids flew into Salt Lake late Wednesday night and caravaned with his parents and sister up to northern Montana on Thursday. We met up with Layne, Ginny, and their families on Friday morning and began the reunion. The entire gang stayed at Payne Lake Lodge, and we spent most of our time at Glacier and Waterton National Parks.

Kaitlyn

Skylie on the car ride to Canada

Sky, Matt, and Kaitlyn at breakfast

Kaitlyn's Great-Grandpa Cahoon

Kaitlyn's Great-Grandma Cahoon
I am kicking myself for not getting pictures of Skylie with her grandparents and great-grandparents

Great-Grandma Pitcher

Papa, Braylie, and Skylie hiking Bear's Hump in Waterton National Park. Skylie hiked nearly every step of it all by herself.

Our gang atop Bear's Hump

Matt and Skylie on Bear's Hump overlooking Waterton

Sky, Addy, Ben, and Brayden during the picnic before hiking at Grinnell

Skylie and Braylie

Our family on the boat ride before hiking to Grinnell Lake in Glacier National Park

Matt with a a mustache? Maybe?

Perhaps the entire family could pull it off.

Skylie and Braylie at Grinnell Lake. These two became fast friends, and Sky still talks about her cousin often.

At Grinnell Lake--one of the prettiest places I've seen.

Our family with Grandma and Grandpa Cahoon at Grinnell Lake Lodge. Despite their age they hiked right along with us.

Matt's cousin, Kenny, graciously agreed to take the entire family boating Monday evening. Nana stayed home with Kaitlyn, so we got to spend some one-on-one time with Sky.

Matt, Tyler, and Layne had a wild ride on the tube.

Eventually Kenny succeeded in sending them overboard.

Laura and I enjoyed a much more mild ride with the little girls.

See Skylie grinning ear-to-ear? She was in heaven. (I remember when I was young my friend, Heather, would invite me to go boating with her family. Heather and I would go on the tube together, and I'd always be signaling a thumbs up sign to "Go faster! Go faster!") I think we've got another little dare devil--or two--on our hands.

Braylie, Skylie, Kohen, and Kael playing in the sand while some when boating  for one last ride at dusk.

A few highlights I want to remember are:

• Swimming and dining in Montana
• Talks with Matt's mom and dad on the car ride to Canada
• Hiking--a lot. Bear's Hump in Waterton and the Grinnell Lake Trail in Glacier are a few hikes I can recall
• All the quarters Nana and Papa gave the grandkids for finding cool stuff on the hikes (or for any other reason Nana could think of)
• Playing Minute-to-Win-It
• Picking berries 
• Braylie and Skylie watching movies in Brad and Laura's van
• Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Cahoon's
• Searching for golden rocks
• The candy store in Waterton
• All the time and efforts Matt parents put into making this reunion run smoothly
• Boating with Kenny
• How loopy and funny Skylie became when she got so, so tired
• How sad I felt to leave. I had to fight back a tear or two. It is always hard leaving when I know it will probably be a year--or more--before we see family again.

Children's Museum

If I ever doubted my ability to count to seven, that skill has now been perfected.

Matt's cousin, Dave, and his family live in Indianapolis, and a few weekends ago we watched their kids overnight. They are undoubtedly the most well behaved and helpful kids I've ever known, but I'm still in no hurry whatsoever to have seven children.

Jared, Joey, Sadie, Kaitlyn, Bethany, Skylie, and Meg

We took them to the Children's Museum on Saturday and had a blast. (Have I mentioned that I finally broke down and got a family pass which also includes two guests? Who wants to go to the museum with me?!) Skylie and Kaitlyn seemed in heaven with all the attention from the other kids, and Skylie rode the carousel at least ten times. Matt and I spent our time counting heads to make sure we hadn't lost anyone. While riding the elevator I gasped, "Where's Meg?!" (Dave and Jenny's two-year-old). Matt laughed and replied, "You're holding her.." That's evidence my sanity was in question.

Here are some pictures of the weekend. The first two of Skylie are my current favorites!

A fashion show at the Barbie Fashion Exhibit

Talking on the phone there, too. Love this picture!

Meg, Erin, and Skylie

Bethany and Meg at Science Works
Bethany is a riot!

Sky and Meg pretending to take a bath at Science Works.

Kaitlyn and Sadie

Jared in the Treasures of the Earth exhibit

Joey and Jared in Science Works

Skylie digging like an archeologist in Treasures of the Earth

Meg
Isn't she so cute?!

These two videos were taken in the Barbie exhibit, and they are some of my favorites. I wish I'd been quicker and caught the kids as they first came out onto the red carpet because it couldn't have been cuter. Even though I was slow on the draw, it's still a fun video.

Good Mail Days

We love good mail days. Both sets of grandparents are super thoughtful in that arena. Skylie especially loves the mail, and she thinks that anything that arrives in a box is a present for her.

Here's a video we took way back at Halloween of Skylie opening a package from Grandpa and Grandma Zane.



I stopped by the UPS store today-- apparently the happening place this time of year. While there I overheard a young woman who was mailing a package to her family tear up as she told the sales associate that she hadn't been home for Christmas in six years. I couldn't help but shed a tear or two myself. I'm fortunate this is only the first Christmas away from our extended family. I'm a little sad but also a bit excited. The packages, emails, texts, phone calls, and webcams can never replace actually being with our families, but they do make being apart doable.

Merry Christmas!

Kaitlyn's Blessing

On Sunday, September 18 Kaitlyn was blessed by her Dad. Her Grandpa Zane, Papa Pitcher, Uncle Lee, Cousin Dave Pitcher, and Bishop Daniel Wentzel also participated in the blessing.

Kaitlyn Elise Pitcher

Back: Lee Bray, Dave Pitcher, Harry Zane, Shirley Zane, Lorry Pitcher, Skylie Pitcher
Middle: Jared, Joey, Meg, Sadie, Patti, and Jenny Pitcher
Front: Erin, Matt, Kaitlyn, and Bethany Pitcher

Skylie, Erin, Kaitlyn, and Matt Pitcher

Matt gave Kaitlyn a beautiful blessing and in it she was blessed that she'll:

• Feel the gratitude we have to have her as part of our family
• Have physical strength and a keen intellect
• Desire to serve and be a blessing to others
• Be a righteous example to those around her
• Be married in the temple and sealed to a worthy young man
• Know she's loved by her parents and sister
  

During the blessing I felt overcome with emotion and sensed that this baby girl is especially valiant and is treasured by her Heavenly Father. I'm sure that all mothers feel the same way, but that doesn't make it any less meaningful to me because Kaitlyn's my baby.