December already???

I cannot believe that Christmas is only 24 days away or that there is only 4.5 more weeks left in 2008.

I think that because this year has been so difficult, it made me feel more grateful than usual this Thanksgiving. I have really been feeling so blessed. We have a great life and I am feeling overwhelmed with all the love that I have in my life. I could easily make a list of all the great things in my life but I would forget someone or the post would be enormous. So instead I will just try to share my love and gratitude by the way I live my life.

Thanksgiving was great! Steve got up early and played football while the kids and I slept in! We had dinner with Steve's family this year. The food and the company were both great. It was nice to visit and relax though it was tough to have our first Thanksgiving without Steve's mom. I took along my camera and then didn't take a single picture-and to make that even worse I then left my camera there and didn't have it with me for the entire weekend! Oh well you will all just have to imagine it.

On Friday morning I got up at 4:30 and made it to my first shopping stop by 4:50 (YES that is AM). I got a lot of good deals and a huge jump start on my holiday shopping. I also did witness, for the first time, an actual fight at Walmart. It was so crazy! I also saw a man on an ambulance stretcher holding an ice pack on his head. All of my other stops were pretty mild in comparision. People were friendly and helpful as we all tried to find the stuff on our lists. I was back home and in bed by the time Steve got up to leave for work at 7am.

That afternoon we loaded up the car and drove over the river and through the woods to my parents house. It was nice to see everyone for a few days. Jen and her family were there, and ofcourse Rick and Tara are just a few minutes away. The kids all got to help milk the cows and feed calves. On Saturday Koby, Rick and Papa went into the mountains to get a Christmas tree for Rick and Tara. They had a great time together. We got to spend quite a bit of time together and as always it's so fun to be with family-we did miss Matt and Mindy and Peyton! (funny story-Morgan was telling Jen about Peyton and she said, "Peyton is our baby but we will share her with Matt and Mindy.")

Last week Koby, Morgan and I got into the spirit of sharing by passing around a cold. We are all still coughing and sniffing-can't wait for that to be over! We have stocked our shelves with Nyquil, dayquil and cough drops.

We are getting ready for the holidays by having our first Christmas party tonight and another one at the end of the week. We hope to put up our tree and decorations this week. Morgan loves to point out all of the Christmas lights-I think she will love going to temple square this year. Koby helped Morgan make a wish list for Santa-so I think we are all set. Steve ofcourse will wait until the week of Christmas to get his shopping done but he would hate to ruin tradition by starting early...just kidding honey! I love that you are so different from me-what a great balance we make.

Peyton is here!

On Monday morning I became an aunt-again. I have a new adorable niece! I can't wait to spoil her. The kids and I got to visit her at the hospital yesterday and we took several pictures. Morgan asked me if we could keep her-I told her Matt and Mindy wouldn't like that. She also asked if we could get out our baby toys so Peyton would have something to play with. Morgan loved that everything was so tiny-especially her toes. Poor Koby had to stay back since he has a cold-the doctor did say he could visit her but only if he wore gloves and a mask and did not hold the baby. I should have taken a picture of him too! Oh well.
Peyton is so beautiful and tiny. Matt and Mindy are so cute with her-I think Matt will be the very protective father. Congrats to you both!

Shhhh don't tell

I have a confession. I am frugal-AKA-thrifty, penny pincher, tight-wad, CHEAP! Honestly I didn't really have much of a choice, this trait was thrust upon me by life. While I was putting myself through college, I was a single parent (not just physically but also financially), worked part time and somehow we made it with grants, scholarships and student loans. WOW-somehow I really went way off base there.

So anyway, I am one of those crazy women who actually love to go shopping on "black Friday". On Thanksgiving morning before Steve heads out to play football I make him get me a newspaper. I pore over the ads, make lists and begin the strategy. I have to basically map out my day and figure out which store takes the number one priority. And then on the big crazy day, I wake up between 3:30-4:30 depending on when the sales I want begin. Often my mom, aunt, and sister go with me, which makes things easier as we can split up and help each other on different sides of the store-kind of like a zone defense. Sometimes I get pushed or bumped by carts, sometimes there are rude people who butt in line or snatch things from right underneath you and sometimes what I most wanted is sold out by the time I get my chance. I often end up with sore feet-but at the end of the day I feel like Santa with a trunk full of gifts. I am going this year-rain or shine or freezing temperatures and I do it because I love to get a great deal. And maybe because of the excitement of the hunt. I would much rather be out shopping the day after Thanksgiving rather than the week before Christmas-that is what I think is crazy!

Anyway, I came across a website that other "money-smart" people might be interested in. www.blackfriday.info - Good luck to all of you that dare to be adventurous enough to wake up early and find a great deal!

Dance recital

Last night we got to watch Morgan's dance recital. She was so cute but also kind of sad because class was over for awhile-no worries-I will sign her up again in January. I have to apologize for the quality of my posting-the pictures turned out dark-we were in a small room, with bad lighting, a wall of windows and a wall of mirrors. It has nothing to do with the photographer!=)Steve used our camcorder so if you really want to see the whole thing you can come on over.(I can't convert it-we aren't that high tech-we bought the camcorder 5 years ago!) After the first few pictures turned out bad I used my camera to video so you get a glimpse of the last few seconds. Which is sideways by the way and I can't figure out how to fix that.
Don't you think Koby looks so happy to be there? Really though he gave Morgan plenty of suggestions before the show. I think the look of boredom is really just to show off his total coolness! By the way Morgan got to keep the boa and she wears it quite frequently. Tara next time we come to visit we will bring the video for you to see-since you share a love of dance with Morgan.

My cuties

These are my cute kids on Sunday morning. Koby and Morgan usually get up around eight, put on a church video and get some breakfast-Steve and I often sleep in until 9ish. I know the kids totally spoil us! Don't you just love Morgan's hair?




I took the photos below after we got dressed and ready for church. Steve didn't feel too good but he tried to smile for me anyway-what a sweetheart! In the picture where Morgan is alone does't she look like she is in pain? Sorry that the pics are a little blurry-not sure what the problem is.

Halloween pics

What a thought!

One of my favorite talks during the last LDS general conference was by Joseph B. Wirthlin called 'Come What May, and Love It'. I think it really meant a lot to me because as a family we have had a difficult year and I often found myself thinking that life is just too hard. Anyway I read the talk today online and it really helped me so I want to share a few of his quotes.

*The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable. (the story of his daughter's blind date really had me laughing!)

*Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others.

*The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to Him.

Wow! I think this talk was meant just for me.