Mikelle's play

Kel had a play in her 2nd grade class today that we got to go to-- SO cute! She and her class did a great job and Carter loved coming to the "Big school" She and her 3 other buddies and have been the best of frined for a second year now being in the same class together!

Gingerbread

Ry's work holds a "Bring your kiddos and make Gingerbread houses morning" every year -- It was this morning and they are still on a sugar high!

The Polar Express

On Friday night we were able to take the kids down to Williams to the Polar Express! We had so much fun and the kids loved every minute -- We were relieved that we were able to go -- Mikelle came down with strep this past week but was good enough (thanks to antibiotics) to go! We saw Santa and Mrs. Claus, wrote letters to Santa, rode the Polar Express, ate cookies and hot cocoa, read the story, sang Christmas carols, and of course saw the North Pole and had a visit from Santa who gave each of the kids a bell! So much fun!

Patterson Prints

Hi all! I have been selling my prints for a while now and wanted to do it an easier way so I have set up a blog with all my different prints -- from temples to fruit and more -- Feel free to let anyone know who you think would be interested! I will be posting new pictures on there weekly and sometimes daily depending on my time schedule. :)

Here is the link:
www.pattersonprints.blogspot.com

Oh Happy Day!

Need I say more?

ST. GEORGE!

Had a fun weekend with the fam in St.George! Games, swimming, hiking to the petrogliffs, flying kites, going to the Temple grounds, hiking up snow canyon, watching home movies, playing on the golf course, eating at the Club house (BEST fries EVER!), and laughing every other minute -- WE love you family!!!

A warm Thanksgiving

We traveled to be with family in Phoenix for the weekend- It was so nice and a great day! We spent time with family then all went to bed Gracia, Bria, Mom and I went out shopping at 3:30 am on black Friday! It was so much fun! Great deals and tired eyes! But so fun -- then at about 1:00 pm we left for St. George to meet the rest of the family. Well, let me just say never take the dam way! :) Hoover damn that is! We didn't get to St. George until 10:30 that night! But it was so much fun and worth the drive! The pic of Ry and the kids walking was in line getting through the Hoover dam traffic. We sat for 2 hours!!!

Just like Mom used to make!

Today I had some fun with my gals and we made our favorite Thanksgiving "MUST" My Mom's cranberry relish! I thought I'd include the recipe and a few pics to show -- I love it because it's so easy adn the girls pretty much did the whole thing! I use a grinder attachment on my Kitchenaid but you could also use a food processor. Here's the recipe:

CRANBERRY RELISH

3 c raw cranberries 1 small orange 1 small apple 1 1/2 sugar dash of cinnamon dash of nutmeg Grind all together (Everything -- rind and skins too) And sugar and spices, put in jars and freeze- thaw before and eat with turkey, sandwiches, casseroles, etc.! YUMMY!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Thanksgiving this weekend! Gobble gobble!

Our porch

Today I cleaned off our porch to get rid of the Fall and get ready for Christmas -- Fall is my favorite time of year and I'm truly going to miss it -- so before I started I had to take a quick picture-- Happy Fall Y'all!

Thanks Shirley!

We have gotten to know the sweetest friend in the past year here in Flag. Her name is Shirley and she just came into the church about 2 years ago. We started visiting her with the kids and we have gotten to be good friends. Our kids love her and she loves them -- She's almost like having a grandma away from home! She came over to have dinner with us tonight and brought quilts that she had made each of our kids with their favorite thing on it! Cars for Carter, Princess for Aubs and Tink for Kel! She is so sweet -- Thanks again Shirley -- We luv ya!

Turkey shirts!

Last night we made these turkey shirts with the kid's hands -- they loved it and could not wait to get up and put them on today!

Piano girl!

Kels has started up piano lessons again and is really loving it and so are we! She sat at the piano last night and played Away in a Manger so beautifully! I love to hear her play and Aubrey loves to sit right at her side and watch every move she makes (which normally drives Kel nuts) but it's a fun thing to hear the piano in our home with both Kels and Ry playing!

A fun birthday!

Tonight we celebrated my B-Day and went bowling with the kids -- It was so much fun and they were so into it! Then we went out for dinner, came home and played a game together in front of the fire and just loved being with each other! The kids and Ry made it a special day -- breakfast this morning, had my hair cut today, phone calls from friends and family, got a fun present treasure hunt, and then had a fun night! I was at YW the other night and came home to Mikelle excited to tell me to go look at the blog -- she had posted the cutest collage (made all by herself and a little help from Dad) Thanks for a fun B-day kiddos and Ry~

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday

We love you Mom more than anything in the world!



Love, Mikelle, Aubrey, and Carter

MISSION #2!

My wonderful in laws are 2 of the most amazing people I know and they are on their way this coming January to the Zimbabwe, Africa mission! They served in South Africa and returned home last December to a family and friends who missed them dearly! A year later now, they are on their way again and we are so excited for them. (but we are seriously going to miss them like CRAZY!) They are more than in laws or parents, they are dear friends and we love them so much! We look forward to their wonderful calls, emails, letters, and the chance to see the many blessings that will come to them by serving! We love you Mom and Dad! Above is their pic and some snaps from Africa that we use to make a Christmas cards for them.

Gobble Gobble!

Tonight the kids were playing around and since it snowed, we have had our gloves, hats, and warm stuff out. Well, all on his own, Carter went over, put gloves on his feet, and said, "Dad! I'm a chicken!" And strutted around the house -- Chicken, Turkey, whatever he is, He's pretty cute and we thought quite creative to have thought the whole thing up on his own!

What's cookin'

Today my friends Misty, Lisa, and Kelsey and I got together and did our "Don't Panic Dinner's in the Freezer" meals. We mad fajitas, roasts, flank steak, pot pie, enchiladas, pecan stuffed chicken breasts, taco soup, and a few more to total 10 meals each! We started at 9 am and went til 1. And we all had our kids who LOVED playing together! WE cooked hard and they played hard (evidenced in the last pic) I posted info. about this book before and it truly is the best! Great Christmas gift idea!!! Fun day and food is in the freezer ready to go for those crazy days when ya just don't know what to fix! Gotta love it!

Happy Voting everyone!

Halloween!

We were able to go back to Utah for Grandpa's funeral which also meant we were home for a quick Halloween! We got to tick or treat with our cute cousins Jake, Ry, and Megan and see grandparents, aunts, and uncles! It was good to be back and spend time with family! And the kids had a blast with a Halloween close to family! And so did we!!!