Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving because I always feel so thankful for those around me. Our little family started out the day with a run that a friend put on for the food bank in our area. I ran a 5K and then our family did the family mile. It was so fun! It was chilly an we had to keep moving but I love running and wish I could do it more outside.
We had a great day with Nate's parents and siblings. We ate like crazy and the boys played some basketball, started a 30' bon fire on the mountain and watched football. I chatted and enjoyed watching the kids running around playing with cousins. We girls got in a movie while the boys were playing. You won't see any pics of all this because my camera has been misplaced. Ellie and Wells love taking my camera and photographing each other so I loose my camera on a regular basis. Buy a new one for just me you say...what a good idea.




I missed being with my family on Thanksgiving and we have a tradition of going around the table and telling things we are thankful for with no repeats so this is my short list:

Hattie!!!! it has been a year since she was really sick and I love having her here. I don't take her for granted. We call her Happy Hattie and she is. She is so much fun.

Harrison, Wells, and Ells -love these cute little buggers






Puppies -we have had the biggest blast watching and playing with them.
We started out with eight and now we have 3 left one of which we are keeping. I am dragging my feet trying at all to get rid of them. If I had my camera there have been the cutest photo moments with the kids playing with them.




Clorox sani wipes. I thank the Lord for them often because with 3 do-it-yourself-ers you can never be assured of clean toilet to sit on. Not to mention my daily "obedience practice jobs" that get the little cleaning jobs done -door knobs, fridge etc. Just puts my mind a little more at ease. Although after living with Harrison I should be completely cured of any germaphobic tendencies.

Living where there is store 3 minutes away. I could cry and share my testimony over this one. It is a beautiful thing for someone like me who hasn't got the knack to organize life several weeks ahead.

I thank God for putting Nathan in my path. I consider Nathan one of my greatest blessings. He is amazing! I am so whopped over him.



The list is endless and I truly have been blessed.

p.s. Does it ever just amaze you that the Lord lets you have such special people in your life? I am amazed as my children grow and become so capable and amazing that they are our little people. They are such beautiful little individual people. I think I could have 20 kids...if I had a nanny, cook, house cleaner and tutor. Would that be nice or what? I enjoy hanging out with the kids and it would be amazing to not have to bother with the other.... The statement "Money isn't everything but it sure calms the nerves." comes to mind.

Halloween pics for grandma.

Remember cat in the Hat with little cats A through Z. Well we are at D so far! This cat is looking for his little cats.


I didn't get any great shots of Nathan the two nights of costuming but our neighbor got a picture with the whole famn-damily. (dad you are responsible for that little saying...mad magazines I suppose.) If I can get it I'll post it for you.




...of course I didn't get more than this shot of me because I am the one behind the camera mostly by choice. When I get fit and fab you may see a whole lay out of just me. p.s.s. I am getting there!

The closing of a chapter.

Last night marked the end of a challenging chapter of my life. I am blogging to give it some finality. This past year and a bit have been the most challenging of my life. I won't even bother to tell you why because you have your own details to worry about no doubt. We completed our last real deadline last night and it ended well. We were asked to do the standards night for the second time in a new ward. The first time I was left wishing I had done things a little different and last night I felt totally blessed to have it all come together. It felt very much like an end of a long marathon of deadlines and emotional hardships. Through this time of trial Nathan and I have been really happy together and we are whooped over our kids.

They are so much fun. I really enjoy being a stay at home mom. Having said that I have learned the value of taking time out of the craziness to do things that fill your "reservoir" as a mom so you are a full functioning mom at full speed ahead. I have been running faster than my ability to emotionally handle things what has been thrown my way.(some of the throwing my way was done by me. I just sat there with a shovel piling it on my head saying "Hit me one more time." My thought was "I can do it, I can do it, I can do it." And I did everything thrown my way but my schedule was always controlling me and not me controlling my schedule. That could drive a person crazy..... at least I am not made to reach full capacity while feeling overwhelmed all the time.
I need a girls night out!!!! Where are all of you when I need you!!!! ps Jen, Malina, Sophia and Eme you have done your duty!!! Thanks a bijillion for the visit. It was short but super fun to see you. Next summer we will be prepared to host a party and your all invited. I am hoping the economy gives a few more great trips and parties...:)

p.s. I'll be blogging a little more often. I might post few pics of past events but I won't bother with the rest.

overwhelmed and tired

Together that spells internet break. I thought I would post so that if anyone is still out there and subconsciously annoyed at this pink stagnant blog...I can help you!



This is what I am looking at today, and we have already absorbed about this much in this kitchen. (this is a picture of just one section of the house!) I look forward to the day when I post a picture of the finished "after." We moved in despite not being fully finished. I am happy. (Walmart and Target are so very near I could cry with joy.) We moved in for Halloween! it was a little scary camping out without many of our things.

PS a big shout out...thanks to one of our neighbors whose internet we are snagging until ours is worked out!!!!! I haven't had internet in our place of residence since we moved in May...or was it June? I can't even remember.