Thanksgiving/Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We spent the weekend with the in-laws having lots of fun and staying up way too late!

I can't believe it's only 26 days to Christmas, can you?  Every year this month passes so fast and I get sad thinking that I didn't do as much as I had wanted with the kids, especially memory making adventures, so this year I decided that things needed to change.  I have all my Christmas shopping done (okay except my dad and my sister, but I know exactly what I am going to get them, it's just out of stock at every store I have gone to, anyway...) and I am trying to have our Ward Christmas Party totally organized so we can have lots of fun memory sessions.

So this is what I decided to do.  Each day until Christmas, we have an advent calendar that has pieces of paper for each day.  On each is written one thing to do that day (ie: growing a crystal tree, making sugar cookies, taking things to our neighbors, visit Santa, cut a tree in the mountains, have hot chocolate and sing Christmas songs, etc.).  I hope the kids love it and this time of year will slow down a little bit :)!!

Today is our first day,  we are going to drive around and see the Christmas Lights, wish us luck.

Thankful #17

I am thankful for the laughter of children.  They laugh without reservation, can change their moods instantly and the silliest things are the best.  Last night these two things set them off, static electricity (can you see the girls hair?) and bunny ears.

Thankful #16

Today I am thankful for exercise.  Sam and I have recently started exercising again and playing volleyball and basketball.  It feels so good to get moving again.  What a blessing our bodies are!  I'm so glad that they still move and that it makes me feels so mch better.

These pictures are of Sarah's basketball season this year.  It went okay.  She had some bad "ball hogs" on her team and a coach that didn't make sure all had a turn so she maybe touched the ball once a game (even though I do have to say she is the best dribbler on her team).  By the end of the season she didn't want to play anymore because of this but hopefully she will try again next year.

Thankful #15

I am so thankful for my parents!  Where would we be without them?  I am so thankful they have raised me in the gospel, have given me so many oppurtunities and have stood beside me and supported me in my decisions.  I was reading this talk by Elder Oaks and it made so appreciate me parents for teaching me obedience.  So thank you Mom and Dad, I love you!

Thankful #13

I am thankful for games and the fun they bring.  This is Sam's current favorite and anytime someone comes over he asks them if they want to play Monopoly with him, silly guy.

And this is my favorite.  We love games at our house and so do the kids.  It is so fun to play together.  It is also the way we have gotten to know some of our best friends.

Thankful #12

Today I am thankful for my education.  I am so thankful for the things it has taught me.  I am thankful for the years it kept us at BYU for both of us to finish.  I am thankful that I can continue to learn more and can get more education (hopefully within in the next 10 years I can have my Masters, just don't ask what it will be in...) and I am so thankful that my kids can learn.  It is wonderful to see them come alive with knowledge.

Thankful #11

Today I am thankful for sleep.  Oh how I love to sleep!!!  I am not a big napper but I love to go to bed and have since I was a little girl.  I get so excited to crawl into my bed at night and get comfortable and just relax and go to sleep.  Weird, I know, but today I am sleep deprived and I realize once again why I like to go to bed and sleep.  Last night my friend Tara and I went to the midnight showing of New Moon.  I actually got to bed by 2:37am but when you have to get up in the morning and function, 5 hours is pushing it.  The movie was really good (I might say that it was awesome if I didn't stay up so late, but...) and we had lots of fun, so I think it was worth it.  Ask me tonight and I might change my mind :)

Thankful #10

I am so thankful for these girls.  Aren't they so cute?  Anyway, I am so thankful that they are part of our family.  I have really enjoyed having Kathryn at home for school.  It is so fun to see her learn and start to read.  She loves to write me notes and hide them under my pillow.  She is our sunshine and our emotional

one, which means she feels intensely but she brings so much to our family.  Sarah is also a joy to have in our family.  She is our princess and our calm, but intense child.  She loves to read us stories and sing us songs, very silly ones sometimes.  She loves to be so silly and can roll her eyes like any teenager.  What a blessing to have these girls!

Thankful #9

Okay so you might be wondering why I am thankful for this but hey it's so good.  I usually love pumpkin in the fall, but lately I have craved it and have made so much pumpkin stuff: pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin oatmeal cookies, pumpkin bars, pumpkin pie, pumpkin meringue pie, pumpkin dessert and soon to try pumpkin brownies.  I love good food and lately that means anything with pumpkin!!!

Thankful #8

I don't know if any of you are having the same problem but I can't get any pictures to upload.  So anyway, today I am thankful for modern revelation.  I have started reading a talk everyday from last conference and I have loved it.  It has given me such insight and things to think about and I feel like it has made my days better.  I am so grateful for our Prophet and Apostles and we have their words to read. 

Thankful #7

Today I am thankful for music. My dream for many years has been to take violin lessons but I feel like my kids need that more than I do so Seth has been taking lessons for a year now. He gets to play in church tomorrow and I recorded him tonight while he was practicing and it was so nice to hear him and hear the beautiful music. What a difference good music makes in our lives.
**side-note: This was the fourth time he went through it tonight so he was getting sloppy with his notes because he wanted to finish and play ghost in the graveyard. Silly kid.**

Thankful #6

Today I am thankful for Luke, who else will help me at ALL times in the kitchen.  He sure keeps my life interesting and exciting.  He is so full of spunk and he loves to keep us laughing.  He is such a joy to have around and completely adores his older brother and sisters.  We love you Luke!

Thankful #5

Today I am thankful for fires.  We had our first fire in our fireplace and I absolutely loved it.  I love the smell and the warmth and especially how homey it makes everything feel.  I know I am weird, but ever since I found out this house has a firplace I couldn't wait to have a fire, especially on Christmas Eve.  Yeah!

Thankful #4

Today I am thankful for books.  They have always been a part of my life and I can't imagine my life without them.  I love a good story and can't ever pull myself out of one when in the last hundred pages.  If I haven't read a book for a week I go into withdrawals (atleast that is what Sam calls them), but truly I think they have made my life better and taught me so much.  So thanks for all those authors who can write, because I sure can't do that part but I can read and hopefully my children will continue to have this passion as I do.  Nothing is better than a good book!

Thankful #3

Today I am thankful for HEALTH.  Sam has been sick with strep throat (which by the way he gets every year in November) and it is amazing how much you miss it until you are not well.  We have been having very unusual mild weather and so far all the kids have stayed well, I am so grateful for no flu (yet and hopefully not this year).  This also marks the 1 year anniversary of my molar pregnancy, which has had me reflecting on health also.  Heres to good health and happy lives!

Thankful #2

Today I am thankful for friends.  Where would we be without them.  I am so thankful for their ears (you know how much I like to visit) and their time.  My life is better because of them, so to all of you, my friends, thanks for everything and to my best friend, I love you forever and always!

Thankful #1

I am thankful for Sam today.  He was home most of the day because he had his annual strep throat.  It was so nice to have him with us even though he didn't feel that great.

I am so thankful for the man and father he is, that he loves me and the kids and takes care of us so well.  By the way, can you tell what is different?