Now I am ready!

The Christmas tree is up, the decorations are out, the lights are ready to hang. We had a great Thanksgiving and now I am ready for Christmas!

Thanksgiving

The kids were so excited for Chad and his family to arrive. We had a fun day with them. A good meal that Skyler said was, "not too bad" which I think is a compliment for a teenage boy. Paige and Savannah had a great time together. After dinner, we took a drive. We wanted to go see the alligators, but the trail was closed because of hurricane damage. So, we continued on to the beach. The kids had a great time wading and collecting shells and running with Chad's dog. It has been really nice to have family here!

Blessing #24

I am thankful for visitors. We don't get visitors very often, so we love it when we get the chance. In the 13+ years we have lived here our visitors have been: Dave's parents, my mom, my sister Amy, Dave's sister Robin, and our friend Eli. So, having my brother Chad come for Thanksgiving is very exciting. And to make it even better he is bringing 2 of his kids! The first cousins to come to our house. We can't wait for them to get here!

Brett quote of the day

Yesterday Ty and Paige had friends over. At one point they got out the ice cream, but didn't save any for Brett. He came to me all teary eyed and said, " Sometimes I cry when I'm not even trying. I don't know why." So, so sad!

Last night he was talking silly and I asked, "Where do you think you are from?" He said, "I am american...and I speak english...with an accent!" How can you not love that, where he came up with that, I have no idea!

Blessing #23

I am thankful for temples. Bryce just left for his first temple trip. I wish I was going with him. But, I am so glad he will get so many opportunities to go. Dave never got to go as a youth, it was too far. So, he has never done baptisms at the temple. I am so grateful to be sealed to Dave and our children.

Blessing #22

I am thankful for laughter. I am thankful for time with my friends, which always involves laughter. I am thankful for the funny things my kids say and do. A recent example: I overheard Paige ask Brett, "What is a fun fact about Presidents?" Brett said, "You get them for Christmas and your Birthday!"

Blessing #21

I am thankful for Sundays. I am thankful for the spiritual renewal, for the reminders of what I need to do and the happiness it will bring. I am thankful for a day of worship and a day of rest. It is so nice to have a quite afternoon with no "to do" list. And I am thankful for Sunday afternoon naps.

Blessing #20

I am thankful for talents. We spent the morning at the primary talent show. This has been an annual event and is always so cute. I love to see the kids share their varied talents. This year Ty played his saxophone, his first time "performing", he played "If you're happy and you know it," and did a great job. Paige displayed a scrapbook and some cute felt animal purses she made. Brett did flips and tricks (which was so cute, he wouldn't show me beforehand what he was going to do, I just laughed!) and he read the poem "Sick" from Where the sidewalk ends.

Blessing #19

I am thankful for "Girls Night Out." And after this week I really need it! It is great to get the occasional chance to spend time with my friends, to laugh and have fun, and of course see a movie (at least this time).

Blessing #18

I am thankful for Dave's job. Dave has worked for the same company since he graduated from BYU. Before we moved here, he did have to travel pretty regularly, but now it is rare. His schedule is predictable and the benefits they provide are pretty good. Most of the time he really likes his job and he provides for us well.

Blessing #17

I am thankful for my kids teachers. They have almost always had good, patient and kind teachers. They have loved my kids despite their weaknesses. They have given advice and worked well with us and the kids. I am especially thankful for the wonderful teachers Paige has had and how much they have all loved her.

Blessing #16

I am thankful for scrapbooking. It is one of my favorite things. I love to cut and glue. I also love that it documents our lives and I think it helps us remember things we wouldn't normally remember. Just looking at old pictures keeps memories fresh. It is a great creative outlet, it is a great activity to do with the kids and all my "stuff" comes in really handy for school projects!

Blessing #15

I am thankful for my home. I am so thankful for all of the projects Dave has done and continues to do to make our home work for us. I am thankful that Brett now has his own room, that I have a great scrapbooking space, and for all the improvements in the kitchen.

The picture is Bryce in Brett's new room. We took a very small office and moved the wall out far enough to make this space for a loft bed with toys and storage underneath.

Blessing #14

I am thankful for my friends. I am thankful for the many ways I have to meet friends and keep in contact with them: Church, my kids, online, etc... I am thankful for the kindness and support they show me and the laughter and fun. I am thankful to have friends that I can call at a moments notice and those who I only hear from at Christmas. I have some really great friends!

Paige Explains...

I just heard Paige explaining to Brett that nerds are smart. Dorks look the same as nerds, but they are not smart.

Blessing #13

I am thankful to be a mom. There was a time I wondered if I would be. I am also thankful to be a mom whose job it is to raise her children and take care of our home. I don't have to worry about making money. If there is a dentist appointment to get to, I don't have to make arrangements. If a child gets sick, I go get them and we come home. If there is a field trip or a program at school, I attend it. When help is needed with homework, I provide it. I saw them take their first steps and heard them say their first words. I don't have to worry about missing anything, because that is my job...to be there.

(I also take alot more pictures than I am in, so this is an old one that I like of me and Paige)

Blessing #12

I am thankful for school buses! My kids have always ridden the bus in the mornings, but I used to pick them up after school, because their bus got home so late. But, then they switched buses and the new bus got them home much earlier. So, I haven't been in school traffic for awhile. This morning I had to be at the elementary school at the beginning of the school day and that traffic was terrible! It took me almost 30 minutes from my house to the school. So, thank you Mr. Kevin for taking my kids to school!

Blessing #11

I am thankful for good books and reading. I love to read and I am so glad that my kids love to read and are so good at it. A book can get me through a longer work out than I thought I could manage. It can get me out of doing needed housework :). It just makes me happy to read!

Blessing #10

I am thankful for a living prophet. This week for fhe, I passed out recent copies of church magazines. Paige and Brett got the "Friend", Bryce and Ty the "New Era", and Dave and I the "Ensign". We all started with an article by President Monson and highlighted every time he asked us to "do" something. Paige and Brett had questions at the end of their article that they answered. We learned that to follow the prophet we should...pray always, seek after anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, and find joy in the journey.

Blessing #9

I am thankful for my freedom. I am thankful for those that made it possible and continue to do so. I feel so blessed that I can believe what I believe and basically live my life in comfort and peace.

Brett quote of the day

Brett started to fall asleep on the couch during fhe. I asked him if he wanted a treat or if he was going to sleep. He popped up and said,"I was just blinking for a long time!"

Blessing #8

I am thankful for Bryce. I am not ready for him to be a teenager, but all the signs are there...it is coming. I am glad he is making good choices. He is a good example to his brothers and sister. He helps them when they need help and even plays with them once in a while. He puts up with Brett's pestering-which is not easy. He doesn't give me too much to worry about...and that is something to be thankful for.

Blessing #7

I am thankful for Brett. He is my baby(but don't call him that). I have had so much time with him alone and just loved it. He is so sweet and funny and smart. He gives me something to smile and laugh about everyday!

Blessing #6

I am thankful for weekends! I need a day to sleep in and then work on those things that just never get done during the busy week.

Blessing #5

I am thankful for modern medicine. Dave is now five years cancer free, which means the cancer is no more likely to return than in the normal population. It was a tough few months but gave me a totally new outlook on life! This is one of the few digital pictures I have of him during that time. It is actually at Christmas (when we got our first digital camera) when his hair was growing back.

Brett quote of the day

"Why do you say words that embarrass me?"

Blessing #4

I am thankful for Paige. She has (for maybe the first time in her life) made my life easier lately. She comes home from school and does her homework, with out me nagging. She is doing much better at keeping her room clean. She enjoys playing with her little brother. She has always loved to spend time with me and is often my shadow. And of course, she is just all around sweet!

Blessing #3

I am thankful for eternal families. I can't imagine losing any of them ever and I am glad that I know we can be reunited in the next life.

First election memory

This is a picture of me sitting under the voting booths at my grandma's. I think the lady is a friend of hers, not sure. As I voted this morning I remembered this picture and the vague memories of the voting booths in grandma's living room.

Blessing #2

I am thankful for Ty. He is always willing to give help when it is needed and is my only kid who will ask to help. He also is always ready to give a hug.

Blessing #1

I am thankful for my wonderful husband Dave, who believes that nothing is impossible.

Don't forget Thanksgiving

I ran a few errands this morning and I couldn't believe it when not only were all of the Christmas things being put out, but one store was already playing Christmas music. Now I LOVE Christmas, but I am not ready for the retail bombardment just yet. I want to look forward to Thanksgiving. I just found our yesterday that my brother Chad, his girlfriend and two of his kids will be coming to our house for Thanksgiving. We have never had family here for Thanksgiving and we are very excited. Anyway, I want to spend some time being grateful, before all the holiday excitement. So, everyday from now until Thanksgiving I will post one thing I am thankful for. Just one. I will post here on my blog and on my facebook page, so join me. What are you thankful for?

Halloween

We didn't get our pumpkins carved all in one night this year, but we did get them done. I carved with Paige and Brett on Wednesday night while Dad and the big boys were at scouts. Bryce and Ty carved theirs on Thursday. Paige did most of hers on her own. Brett designed his own and I did all the cleaning and cutting (he would not put his hand in the pumpkin for anything). Bryce's pattern looked much better lit up. It is kind of hard to tell what it is in the day time. Ty freehanded his jack o' lantern. We used them for our decorations for the Trunk or Treat, since we weren't home for trick or treaters this year.

Brett could not decide which costume to wear. For the last couple of weeks he has talked about wearing the following costumes: Superman, Spiderman, Soccer player, cowboy, Harry Potter, and a Space Man. He settled on Harry Potter for school and a space man for the Trunk or Treat.

Paige knew all along she wanted to be a cowgirl. She wanted me to get her a shirt, hat, vest, boots and holster with guns. She settled on the shirt and hat. Bryce, again did not dress up, but he did help out with the "Haunted Barn". I didn't get a picture of Ty and his friend Zac. They dressed up like nerds, but told everyone that they were pirates, such silly boys!