Thanksgiving

Emm and Colin
Drew playing peek-a-boo with baby Colin

Al being difficult

Emm and Maecy

This was our first time in probably 10 years that all of my siblings and families were together for Thanksgiving. We had great food and a really good time.

So glad my kids have cousins most of the time!!

#28 Girl Scouts

We had our Christmas party for GS, and instead of bringing gifts for each other we decided to have the girls' focus on others. So they wrote letters to soliders in Afghanistan, donated items to the community food bank and took cookies to a local care center. It was such a great day!

getting ready to take their cookies inside the care center

Katie and friend writing letters to the soldiers

their uncles group so even more special to them!!

Emm was very excited to write to Uncle Chris!!

I am so thankful for all of the wonderful opportunities my girls' have because of GS.

It is truly helping them become better people! and I'm also thankful to be a GS leader and get to work with such great girls.

Emm #27

I am determined to finish --

This little girl . . .is such a joy (when she wants to be, not sure where the determination comes from :) She keeps us on our toes for sure! Emm loves to be doing something. Today she dressed us as Rudolph, with homemade nose and antlers, and then talked Drew into dressing up as Santa. What a hoot!! They had a sled (box) and a bag of toys (walmart bag filled with stuffed animals) and ran around the yard to deliver everything. They had such a great time until . . . . Emm realized the reindeer have a lot of work pulling santa, so THEY decided to trade :)

# 26 Marriage

I know Dave has already made my list but . . . . 14 years of marriage and still going strong!!

#25 Sisters

So thankful for sisters, and love it when they come visit for a week and bring their cutie baby :)and so grateful my girls' have each other, I especially love the days they are best of friends. . .

#24 Katie

I am soo thankful for this sweet girl....she is so helpful, kind and loving to others.

What a wonderful gift to have such a great daughter!!

#23

I am so thankful for our house, it's not just shelter

from the storm it's our own little bit of heaven.

I love to be here working in the yard or playing

games upstairs or just laying on the couch

watching movies with my favorite people.

It can't get much better than that!

(well maybe it can. . . . 10 more house payments,

what shall we buy the first month??

oh poor dave he has no idea what he's in for!!)

slacker

I keep thinking life is going to slow down, so wrong ...I am determined to follow through, soo hold on here we go. . .

#11

Vacuums

(can you imagine life without one?)

#12

my crockpot

nothing quite like coming home to a yummy meal

after a day of running like crazy :)

#13

Health insurance

without this our fall would have REALLY REALLY REALLY been expensive

#14

my calling

primary is the best place to be!!

#15

movies

nothing quite like getting away from reality for a few minutes,

and a little popcorn can't hurt either :)

#16

the dishwasher

duh!!

#17

The temple

my favorite place to visit.

#18

anti-bacterial gel

has been a serious staple at our house, in the car, in my pocket. . . . you get the idea.

#19

great friends

I am truly blessed to have some fantastic friends,

they are uplifting and inspiring to me. I would be lost without them.

#20

Snow

gives the world that crisp, clean feeling. . . . love it

#21

Volleyball

I get to play every week with some great ladies,

and it truly keeps me sane and burns off some of

the goodies I have tasted during the week.

And we took 2nd in Region (for church) this past weekend YEAH!!

#22

Dave's Job

. . . without it life would change dramatically

8 more to go. . . I think I can, I think I can

#10 Muffin Tops

I made muffins the other morning for breakfast and this is what I found....

somebody loves just the tops.

So thankful for this little guy..love my little muffin!!

I might actually be bored without this one around :)

#9 Business Trips

This week Dave went to Atlanta. I can't lie I enjoy the break a little
It makes me appreciate having him home
I get recharged to cook (we usually eat out while he's gone)
I remember why I am not meant to be a single mom
I get the whole bed to myself :)
I can stay up really late... which means wake up really late
Sooo glad he's back...I think the kids are too, poor things!

Pets...

I love having pets. I know it sounds strange but I am definitely an animal lover. All my kids have to do is ask and (for the most part) I totally cave! Once Alex asked for a snake or reptile of some sort, now that I could say no too. I am married to Mr. Anti animals. I am so glad and grateful that he loves me enough to let our family have these experiences. He isn't happy about the pets and if he could they would go for a long drive, but because he loves us all we get to keep the dog and cat and hamster! YEAH!!

We even had chickens this year!! (I have to admit we got rid of them because of me...a really bad week, way too much stress and the smelly birds had to go)

I am not a cat lover, but this kitty will let Emm do just about anything to her. I found Emm one day perfoming surgery on the cat ...removing the kitty's brain. That cat just laid there and took it. Putting up with the kids and killing the mice in the neighborhood so they don't get in my house...a good thing!

#7 Brothers

What is is about boys? They can find just about anything to entertain them.....

They spent 30 minutes jumping on the basketball standard

and getting sprayed with nasty old water...

and loved every minute of it!!

So thankful for brothers, they can wrestle and fight and be

the best of friends 2 minutes later.

What a blessing...what would I have done with only one?

30 days of Thanks #6

There is beauty all around!!

I just can't get enough of the fall colors... they're not going to last much longer,

but they are so beautiful!

30 Days of Thanks #5

Love those afternoons with a toy catalog and a comfortable pillow . . . .

they'll put you right to sleep!!

Thanks #4

Everyone is back at school!! YEAH!!

Having them home for a few days makes

me very grateful for wonderful teachers

and staff at an AWESOME school.

They really go the extra mile so that

my kids get a great education.

I so appreciate all of their hard work.

Love my kids, but glad it's not all up to me!!

Germs

After spending the last 5 days with 4 sick kids

I am sooo thankful for the wonderfully awesome

SANITIZE button on my washing machine and

dishwasher. I keep invisioning all those little germs

dying, die germs die!!

Hopefully all 4 little darlings will return to school tomorrow....

(crossing my fingers :)

30 days of Thanks #2

I love Fall..... the colors, the weather, the holidays-- everything about it.

I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place.

30 days of Thanks

Today I am very thankful for this guy--

and answered prayers oh and modern medicine. Man do I LOVE him!!

(even when he drives me crazy)

Halloween

What a wild weekend, after spending many late nights up sewing costumes the big day arrived with 4 sick kids :( It's pretty sad when you have to force your kids to go trick or treating!! Alex had a great costume, Michael Jackson, and he didn't even get to try it on. Luckily they felt good during the week for all of the activities at school and church.

Drew and his bud from preschool, both caped crusaders


Maleficent and Batman

the 1 and only shot I took of everyone

Ariel and her prize


The dumb blonde and the Geisha girl

Glad the night is over!! Now on to the candy!!

Fall

In between taking care of the wild things (dave included) and life- I found a little time to do some canning. Salsa, applesauce, apple pie filling, peaches, chicken, green beans, spaghetti sauce stewed tomatoes and tons of jam. Old man winter bring it on!!

1st day of preschool

Drew's was so excited (almost as much as I was)

He asks every morning if he has school- there are tears the days he doesn't. That either means he loves school or can't wait to get away from me!

School days

First day of school for the 'big' kids- Katie 6th, Alex 3rd, Emma 1st.

That means this is all I saw on the walk home. . . .

all day school isn't it great!

What a softy!

This is what happens when your six year-old saves all her birthday money AND promises to clean the cage every week. . .

What a softy I am for pets and a really cute girl!!

(if you can't tell we acquired a hamster,

and yes she really does clean the cage every week without even being asked!!)

Beach House

So we spent a week at the beach - and did a little of this...

and a little of this.....

and a lot of this....

Sand, Sun, Surf and great company-- what more can you ask for!