thanks to be given.

First off-- Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! We have a lot to be thankful for this year and we were so glad to have friends and family in our home to celebrate this holiday. We were joined by Callie (Todd's sister), the Fife's + Joe, the Downs', and four elders. If you were counting... that's 14 people. And before today we hadn't exactly hosted Thanksgiving dinner before. A.k.a. there was a lot of room for messing up. Fortunately (and probably very luckily on our end), everyone brought some amazing food, Todd cooked up a superb turkey, and we feasted until we couldn't feast no mo'! 

And because I'm into the details... I also had a lot of fun decorating when I wasn't baking up a storm. (:

Believe it or not... this guy loved Thanksgiving! He ate and ate and ate! Then the pies came out and he ate some more! Hey, you don't get into the 90th percentile for weight by doing nothing!

And here's the crowd... a full house! And we loved it!

The two kiddos and the lovely Maren post-food. As always, Peter looks like a 3 year-old sitting next to the dainty Lisi.

So thankful for this goofball... he brings joy into all of my days. Must get it from his daddy. (: 

I hope your Thanksgiving has been lovely and full of things that you are grateful for. Like friends, family, and pie.

Hello there my dear, dear Ms. Pre-Baby Weight,

It has been far too long since we last met. Two years to be exact. I've been busy growing and birthing a child amongst other important child-rearing things. But two years? That's no way to treat a good friend, don't you think?? I think so, that's why I'm terribly sorry it took me so long to come around. You see, besides all of that child-making/birthing/rearing stuff, I pretty much just really like cake and other delicious things a lot. But I have changed my ways, rearranged my priorities, and now you and your healthy self are more important to me than that selfish Mr. Second-Helping of who-knows-what that always stayed way past his welcome and in the worst of places... like my thighs. In the words of someone from some movie, "Company are like fish, after three days, they stink." That's you, Mr. Second-Helping-Thighs! Blast those darned thighs. Down with thighs! Okay maybe not, they are important for other things... down with unnecessarily large thighs! Yeah... so seconds, that was something I gave up to have you back into my life. I also cut back on my beloved treat intake. I know, crazy right? You'd be surprised to see what kind of self control I have now! Heck, you may not even recognize me without my cheeks stuffed with chocolate chips, cake in my hair, and cookies orbiting around my head! I should also mention that I've made some new friends since you left. Their names are Tony and Shaun-T. We work out 6 days a week and if I'm lucky and the weather is nice they take the day off and I go for a run. By the way, now that you're back you're going to like running so much more, I promise! I know beforehand you would get upset and cramp up and yell at me for lugging you around... but now that we've lost Mr. Second-Helping-Thighs (well, kinda) and Mr. Ten-Too-Many-Pounds we will be able to run with ease. And with zero mocking too... ya know, when the thighs get a clapping and cheering us on. Doesn't it sound great!? It will be, don't worry. Well, now that you know the effort that I put into having you around I think it's only fair that you get comfy and stick around for a while, ya? I'll feed you healthy foods, introduce you to my new friends, dress you in well-fitted clothes, and heck, we'll even pay a visit to the Chocolate House now and then... because I 100% believe in moderation. And what's moderation without a little Chocolate House?? For reals though.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know that I missed you and it's so good to have you back. 

Your biggest fan,

Katelyn

p.s. do you think our good friend Ms. Pre-College Weight would be down with paying us a visit? That would also be lovely. Too bad Ms. Pre-Baby Body is gone for good... long live Ms. Pre-Baby Body! May you rest in peace.

19. Stroll through the Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

I've got a lot of to-do's from the last few months to catch up with! On a day like today... fall coming to it's end and the chilly wind finding it's way through the cracks and crannies of your house and into your slippers to numb your toes... it would be nice to reminisce on a much warmer event. Like the time we went to the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. Yes, the memory of that event will warm my toes... that and maybe another pair of socks.

So one day last July we had a dinner date with the friends that we knew back in Provo that had moved to Madison for a new job. Prior to dinner we had an hour or so to spare so we drove into town early to see what the Olbrich Botanical Gardens had to offer. Being late-ish summer a lot of the flowers were past their prime but the landscaping and Thai pavilion were still very neat. We'll definitely have to go back this coming spring to see everything in full bloom. Here are some highlights from our afternoon...

That is a pond behind us completely covered in green mystery fluff.

A cute boy and some huge leaves.

The Thai pavilion! This thing was boss!

Gold leafing everywhere...

built in Thailand, taken apart, shipped to Madison, and rebuilt again...

pretty sweet stuff!

Here we are on the rose garden tower. Not a ton of roses in bloom but the tower was fun.

Colors, colors, colors...

and two bears having a picnic! (the shrubbery ones, not Todd'n'Peter)

Well, we really had a lovely time. I am already looking forward to that warm spring day next year when we go back to see even more! For now... we'll just make the most of the blustery 42* with a chance of rain. Hey, at least it hasn't snowed yet, right?