Thanksgiving

Taylor and I went to Trolley Square to celebrate winter-time.  They always decorate so nice for Christmas (even before Thanksgiving.)

 We had to try out the Old Spaghetti Factory.  It reminded us of our High School Prom date getting Italian dinner before the formal dance.

But this time, I did three things different: 1) I held his hand; 2) I gave him kisses; and 3) I ate my ravioli.  

And since my parents were out of town for Thanksgiving, we celebrated early with them by eating Cafe Rio, and visiting Modern Display.

Also, I got a steroid injection in my knee since it's still been painful after 3.5 months.

 On Thanksgiving day, Taylor worked in the morning, and afterwards we went to the Zoo.

We visited the African Savanna...where it had snowed!

And Taylor loves to hug the seals.

It was the only one willing to stay still for a hug.

All the animals got a pumpkin for "Feast with the Beast"

Cute little hyrax. Which, FYI, is a small, furry elephant. Seriously, look it up.

This little porcupine was going to town on his pumpkin!

Even a tortoise needs a pumpkin!

The elephants liked digging into the large pumpkins with their tusks.

We came home after two hours at the Zoo, and Taylor made a whole wheat crust rhubarb pie!

Nice lattice work!

 He made the recipe up himself.  It turned out really delicious!  It became a rhubarb-strawberry-blueberry-lemon pie!

He even added two pumpkins and a turkey on the top!

I had to hold it in my lap on the way to Drake parents.  I was so tempted to keep it for myself!

 Turkey dinner at the Drake parents.

The heavenly pie of heaven.

Justice Family Time in November

It's finally becoming winter-time.

Luckily, Carlie was able to fly into town Thursday while Seth was in DC for work.

We had a blast having Carlie show us the stuff she's been selling with Younique, and have her do make-overs on me and my Mom.

Wearing the Younique mascara and lip stain!

And we had fun meeting up with my Dad for lunch.

Always time for Dickies!

It started snowing a little after lunch while Carlie was eating her ice-cream.  Luckily, I was all bundled up in my winter coat!

Carlie was cold and shivering...Arizona girls.

Friday night, Carlie came over for a craft night.

Wood carving.

Gluing leaves in place before putting epoxy on the wood.

November door hanger.

Carlie's finished piece.

Saturday, we all went to the new Bond movie, had Cafe Rio for dinner, and played games.

We always have to play our favorite family game of Dominos!

The third game we played, everyone kept trying to beat me because I was winning.  However, it turned out badly for them because we all had to end up drawing dominos until there were none left.  Luckily, I got rid of all mine but one, while everyone still had a few dominoes left.  

You win by having the least amount of numbers, so I still won, because my very last domino was double blank!

Ha Ha!

Lately around here...

We had a nice time having Carlie and Seth visit from Texas in mid-October.  We took Carlie and my Mom to Gardner Village to see the witches.

We also enjoyed a visit from Grandma Yvette, Grandpa Jack, Grandpa Paul, and Grandma Carlie.

We counted it as our big Justice family Thanksgiving since my parents will be in Texas visiting Carlie and Seth for Thanksgiving.

Family picture time!

Whenever we can all get together, it means a picture.

We all went to see "Star Wards" at the Deseret Star Theater.

Taylor and I also decided to go to the new Church History Museum in downtown SLC since they've renovated it.  We really like how they made it more interactive and had props that made you feel like you were visiting Kirtland, Missouri, etc.

And we had to take a picture of Taylor next a mural that depicts one of his favorite stories about the Leonid Meteor Shower.  (UnFortunately, Taylor is such a history nerd he had to point out a discrepancy about the date...)

Also, he states there should've been more meteors...

I love when Taylor makes me sandwiches for work.

I've been doing physical therapy for my knees.  They also put on a steroid patch that is ionically charged.  You can see the positive and negative parts of the bandage.  It's pretty interesting how it works and I'm glad it's helped.

Also, once I took these off, I had a huge red rash around my knees in the shape of snowmen.

Sideways snowmen...Everybody in the club gettin' tipsy...

It's always nice to go to lunch with my parents!

I recently had to undergo a thyroid ultrasound.

I was a little upset about it all, so Taylor cheered me up with this funny saying:

Yes I am!

The Drake family Taylor decided we needed to open the time capsule they made in 2000 as a family.

Taylor even started decorating with the ribbon his Mom bought in 2000.

 Here's Michelle sharing some family snippets from 2000.

 Also, please note the snickers bar, this was a nod to Snickers the Beloved Dog.

And Taylor was the one who put it there...That says it all.

Michelle also grew some pumpkins that we all got to decorate.

And I sprayed Taylor's hair pink.

Taylor did a witch pumpkin and I tried to do a glow-in-the-dark Starry Night.

And of course I had to make some Pumpkin sugar cookies with my Mom!

These all belong in my belly.

We had fun teaching the Webelos how to use green screen technology to make a movie.

Also, they are hilarious actors and directors.

I thought this little moment was super funny.

I got a thyroid biopsy a week after the thyroid ultrasound was completed.  They also do the biopsy via ultrasound.  I had to lay on my back with my head over the table so my neck was extended.

Here I am after the procedure holding some ice to my neck.

You can see a little of the orange sterilizing liquid leftover on my neck.  Also, the muscle pain in your neck afterwards for 24 hour is pretty painful.  I could barely turn my head to the side.  Sidenote, why didn't they give me some anti-anxiety or something when they stuck 6 huge needles into my neck and jumped up and down with them?!?. ...For reals though...

And I got a big red rash from the bandage after only 3 hours of wearing it.  I'm thinking I'm now allergic to tape?

It was right in time for Halloween too.  So it was like a vampire bit me.  But I'm pretty sure most people thought Taylor gave me a hickey....

To celebrate Halloween, we went to Garden after Dark at Red Butte which was Camelot themed.

Cool glow-in-the-dark bubbles!

When the bubbles popped on your hand, it looked like this.

We also got some witch's brew to guide our journey through Camelot.

Notice how it is mostly children doing the crafts in the background...I love my baby Taylor!

And before Millcreek Canyon closed, we had to go explore!

There was even snow!

And there's the hickey hidden by my scarf!

Also, I picked up a box for DeMarie's b-day and Taylor stained, painted, and wood burned it.

 Grandpa Bob got a moose when he went hunting in Canada, so Taylor enjoyed making it for us for dinner.

And now it's Thanksgiving decoration time!

There's also a gel turkey on Tannin's cage.