Julie & Brady: Thanksgiving with the Duncans!

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year. We spent it with the Duncans. We arrived in Utah late Tuesday night with an intention of surprising Helen the next morning. She thought we were going to drive to Utah and the plan was to call her Wednesday morning (from her home) and tell her we couldn't make it because of heavy snow in the passes and then surprise her as we walked upstairs (since we would sleep in the downstairs room where she wouldn't see us) . I actually encouraged Brady to call her on Tuesday night so the sadness would really sink in, but he didn't like the idea of making his mom sad. So that was the plan, but it didn't work out that way. Helen burst into the room we were sleeping in early Wednesday morning because she wanted to change the sheets! Dang it! She was still excited to see us and she gave us hugs and then left us to sleep some more :)
We went to Trafalga on Wednesday night to play glow in the dark mini golf. That course was really sweet, but also SUPER long! I think I was done after about 9 holes and there were 18 total. It was cute to see all the kids play. I'm pretty sure all of them beat me :)

Brady is a pro mini-golfer... I need to learn his ways

Thanksgiving at the Duncan home was exciting and a full house. There were 30 plus people there and missing Clint and Jordan and their kids. On Thanksgiving morning, we played our own version of a turkey bowl. We played soccer instead with a few of our nieces and nephews. We decided to split up with boys vs. girls. Sydney and Becca were on my team and Jake and McKay were on Brady's team. The girls were victorious obviously :) I really miss playing soccer and I can't wait to play for real again after the baby comes. I've been craving it especially lately. I told Brady that I'm going to pursue my professional soccer career and make millions... hehe, if only!
My sisters-in-law threw me a sweet baby shower on Friday. I felt pretty loved and a little overwhelmed at the fact that I'm going to have a baby soon! Heather Jones knows how to host a party... I should have been better about taking pics of the cute treats and activities we did. The best game was guessing the types of candy bars that are melted in a diaper. It was really funny to look around and see everyone putting their faces close to the diapers and smelling the diapers to figure out the candy type. Brady actually played the game afterward and he got all of them correct except one! I think he should be in charge of changing diapers since he's so good at that sort of thing ;)
Three of my sisters made it to the shower. Ann lives in Salt Lake City, Corinne drove up from Las Vegas, and Tish was staying in Park City for Thanksgiving and drove down to Spanish Fork for the shower. It was nice to have my sisters there! That night, we had dinner with Ann and Adam and Corinne and Nathan in Lehi, Utah at a restaurant called "Porter's Place" that was themed after Porter Rockwell. There was a meal called "The Apostle's Choice" and others that were similar. It was kind of funny and also a little sacrilegious :) Corinne's kids are so sweet and I'm so glad I got to see them. Brenden was really excited about some snow gloves he had gotten that day at the store and toward the end of our meal, he kept asking me if I wanted to "see his glubs" (that's kind of how he pronounced it). He's such a cutie pie! They also came to Brady's home ward with us on Sunday and I was glad to hold them on my lap during sacrament meeting. I'm so glad they are a part of our family! Simon is as cute as ever. He has such a sweet smile. I'm really glad Ann and Adam live in Utah because I can see them more often!

It was great spending time with Brady's family as always. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving we hiked the Y in Provo, UT with Heather and her three oldest kids. Being 29 weeks pregnant, it proved to be a little difficult... mainly on the way down actually. I'd have to stop every five feet or so because of sharp pains in my sides. It was a beautiful day though and I enjoyed the view. The Adams' dog, Rosie came along for the adventure and actually jumped out of the truck we were driving on the way to the hike. Crazy dog! We were going 30 miles an hour on the main street in Springville. She was fine though and makes for a good story, right? After the hike, we went to the BYU Creamery and had some really yummy ice cream!

That night, we took the tracks to Salt Lake city to have dinner with some of the family and to watch Brooke sing in an interfaith Christmas concert at the Tabernacle. It was an awesome concert, and Brady and I really enjoyed it. Our favorites were the Vocal Point group. They're an a capella group from BYU and they were funny and super talented. On our way back to the tracks, we grabbed some hot cocoa with Brooke from Mavericks which was perfect because it was freezing outside!