Thanksgiving at the Lake

The lake house is the perfect getaway. It's just a two-hour drive away. With no TV, Internet, or computers it makes for a very relaxing long weekend. The weather was perfect. We ate great food and enjoyed each others company.











I love the picture of Leah sleeping on David's chest. She never falls asleep like that so I was very surprised when I found them.

I guess all the Thanksgiving excitement combined with running outside and riding bikes took it all out of her.

Auntie Em

Or Lemily as Leah calls her. Emily is the perfect aunt, sister, and friend. She is so selfless and caring and willing to help. She is also sooo much fun! If there is a party, Emily is there. More often than not she is the one hosting it and getting everyone together. She has an infectious laugh, and is always up for an adventure. Naturally, the girls just love her.



We started planning our trip to Utah before Sarah was even born, and Emily offered to fly back with me so I could stay longer with the girls. We are so grateful for her help. She took time off work to stay with us, and I couldn't have asked for a better flying buddy.

Flying with kids is never fun, and I was especially nervous about our late flight back. Leah had been going to bed around 5:45 or 6 pm in Utah, which was the exact time that our flight took off.

Now, I was smart enough to know that she wouldn't sleep, and she didn't. We were lucky to have two empty seats next to us, but unfortunately we were sitting about 10 rows apart. Knowing that Leah would be extremely tired and as a result very emotional, I decided I would stay with her. Emily would hold Sarah.

We prepared as much as we could before the flight. We put on pajamas, changed diapers, and handed out snacks. We boarded the plane last so Leah could run around as much as possible, and we could try to get Sarah to go to sleep. We boarded. I held my breath.

Leah settled in pretty easily and made an immediate friend with the person sitting next to us. I could see the back of Emily's head, and she seemed to be doing well.

As soon as the fasten seat belt went on and the plane started to prepare for take off, I heard Sarah start to cry. Oh no, I thought. I shouldn't have even worried, because less than two minutes later Emily had her fast asleep with a little rocking and her binky. Emily is a natural at taking charge of situations like this where other people might panic or worry.

Overall, the flight went really well. At one point, when Emily came back to say hi to us with sweet Sarah sleeping in her arms, she kindly told me I had a raisin stuck to my forehead. Great. I also managed to sit in silly putty. I guess it must have looked pretty bad, because a lady behind me on the escalator politely tapped me on my shoulder to tell me I sat in something nasty.

Sunday Morning

My parents have church at 1pm, which means the girls are dressed in their Sunday clothes by 9am. I wanted to get a picture of the two of them together.

Sarah was up for it.


Leah wanted to take the picture. Here she is saying "Smile Sarah."


Of course once Sophie joined us, she turned her attention on her.


We leave tomorrow, and I'm not looking forward to the flight. My sister, Emily, is coming with us. Thank goodness!

Our flight here was great. The flight wasn't full so David and I both had aisle seats next to each other with empty middle seats next to us. Sarah sprawled out on one middle seat and slept, while Leah sat on the other one admiring the jewerly and painted nails of the sixteen-year-old girl sitting by the window.

Lots of Visits with Family

Papa and Gama Carrier

Newly retired and loving life!

Fries, Hot Chocolate, Naps, and Legos

I think Leah had fries for lunch three days in a row.


She also tried hot chocolate for the first time and loved it.


Sarah loved the swing.


She spent lots of time building stuff with legos.

Halfway Mark

It hit me, as we were planning out our activities for the rest of the week, that our trip is almost over. The time has gone by so quickly...

When we return to our normal lives, I'll post lots of great pictures. In the meantime, here are a couple of the girls enjoying Grandma and Grandpa's bean bag chairs in the nice warm house. It snowed yesterday, and there is more snow predicted for tomorrow.

Leah is upset, because she wanted Sarah to sit in it all by herself.





After Leah was satisfied with seeing Sarah pose for a picture in the bean bag chair, she let Grandpa get her situated. He put in the Disney movie Ratatouille. She didn't make it past the opening credits, but he ended up watching the entire movie.