I'm Thankful * Weekend Catchup

*Day Five - Bedtime*

I love bedtime. Mine for sure, but totally the girls'. Especially when they are so good about it. We brush teeth, we read stories, and we say prayers. The girls give Jason and I kisses and then he zooms them into bed. It's the bedtime routine I love. ((Much better than those "other nights" when it's a big fight.)) I think what I love most of all is hearing the girls talk to each other when we leave the room. Sometimes they tell stories. They talk about Dora or playing house. They sing songs, and say extra prayers. It's super cute!

*Day Six - Primary*

I am the secretary in the primary in our ward. I love it, most of the time. The kids are super fun and always surprising me with comments that remind me how close they are to the spirit. I love how eager they each are to answer questions or hold up posters. I'm grateful for their examples of kindness and love. They love their teachers. They love to learn. I'm grateful for the music and the spirit it brings.

*Day Seven - Family Home Evening*

I'm so thankful for Family Home Evening. I love how simple it can be. The girls listen, and learn. And Jason and I learn from them. We're not that good at it, but we're trying. One week at a time we're inviting the Spirit into our home to help us learn a little bit more about our Heavenly Father and the plan He has for each of us.

*Day Eight - Friends*

I'm a pretty lucky girl to have such great friends in my life. They listen to me. They let me complain about stupid things. They are good examples to me. I'm lucky to be able to listen to them, even though most of the time I feel like I'm not as good at it as they are. I learn from them, about life, challenges, mistakes, lessons learned.

I'm Thankful * Day Four

Clean Sheets

I am a freak of the sheets. I love clean ones. I love new ones. I love soft ones. Jason tells me that I wash our sheets too much. One set we had has holes in it now because it got washed so many times. What can I say? I love getting in bed at night when the sheets are clean and the bed is just made. It's great.

I guess that means I'm thankful for the washing machine that helps me keep my sheets smelling so nice. When I was on my mission I washed everything by hand, except in the winter when it was too cold for things to dry on the line. Which also means I'm thankful for my dryer.

Oh the luxuries we have.

I'm Thankful * Day Three

Changing Leaves

I'm not big on change. It is hard for me. New furniture arrangements. New church callings. New food. New schedules....Or not new things. Like, diets or budgets or bad habits. But in the fall, the leaves change. Like it's easy or something. I love driving in the car, seeing the beautiful leaves. It gives me hope, that maybe, I can change. I can do hard things (and easy ones).

The best part about those changing leaves is that they all grow back in the spring. The trees and plants are bigger and stronger. They are ready for a new year.

So some times, maybe most of the time, change is good.

I'm Thankful * Day Two

My Children

Jordyn makes me laugh. Her imagination takes her places that leave her telling stories only a four year old could dream up. She loves people and is kind, like her Daddy. She loves to learn and is constantly teaching her sister what she learned at church and preschool. Her spirit is strong and she challenges me to be better.

Tessa loves to play. She cuddles and often asks me to hold her hand. She is constantly telling us that she is "cared" (scared) and that she needs us. She loves books and stories and songs. Tessa teaches me patience and love. She loves to play house. She talks to my belly. She is quick to forgive and easily shares.

My sweet baby boy. I love his strong kicks. Being pregnant reminds me daily of miracles and teaches me about my Heavenly Father's love. This baby growing inside me reminds me how simple and wonderful life is.

Halloween 2011

We started the holiday fun off with a party at my parent's house on the Saturday before Halloween. Julie did an awesome job with the food and prizes. Jordyn won best costume and as her crazy, pregnant mother I was in the corner bawling as she kept saying, "I'm so proud I winded." ((She was a Musketeer.))

Tessa was a cute cupcake. She was going to be a bee, but Jason bought this costume at Old Navy on clearance 5 days before Halloween and she fell in love with it.The pumpkin carving was fun. And gross. I scooped out a pumpkin all by myself, for the first time ever.

My Mom and Dad even dressed up!

I stole this picture from Julie's blog. I didn't have a picture of Houston from the party. What a cute little bat!

Jaxon was a cow. Look at those cheeks!And Heber was the best looking dog around.

I was a bun in the over and Jason was the bun maker.

**Trick-O-Treat**

This year the weather was awesome. No rain. No wind. It was a little cold, but really great. The girls had so much fun! We stopped at Grandpa Day and Grandma Sue Sue's.We walked to a few houses in our neighborhood.We went to Gammy and Papa T's.We had chili that Gammy made and then we went to the ward "Trunk or Treat." The girls got so much candy. I think, by the time they got in bed, it only took about 2 minutes for them to fall asleep. As the girls grow and learn new things it is so much to watch them.

Hair

A few weeks ago the girls said they wanted curly hair. I spent the next 3 hours braiding small braids all over. They sat sso still. Probably because we watched 6 episodes of Dora. Yuck! The next morning we took out the braids and they had the best looking hair in town.

Girls are so fun!

I'm Thankful * Day One

Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday.

I love the weather.

I love the calm before Christmas.

I love the yummy food.

This year I wanted to take time each day to write about something I'm thankful for. Hard, yes. I'm sure of it. But oh so completely worth it. President Gordon B. Hinkley said, "Be grateful. How thankful we ought to be. How comfortably we live. How very easy is life compared to what it once was. . . . We have it so easy, so pleasant, so delightful. . . . I hope you walk with gratitude in your hearts, really. Grateful people are courteous people. Grateful people are kindly people. Be grateful."

*Day One*

Jason. Where would I be without my best friend? In all honesty, marriage is hard. We have fights and disagreements. We are both stubborn. But, things always work out, and I'm so grateful for that, and for him. I'm thankful for his kind heart, for his willingness to serve, and for his dreamer-like attitude. I'm thankful for the sweet Daddy he is to our little girls. I love watching him with them. Story time. Bed time. Bath time. Toys. He is a good Dad. I'm thankful that he loves me, and I know it. He is my favorite person to be with.