New Pictures!

We went and had our family pictures taken here are some of my favorite in no particular order

today I am thankful that...

Today I am thankful for a good laugh. Is that shallow? I don't know. Today, when we got home from church, for some reason my kids we on the war path. They would not stop going at each other. I was on the phone with my sister, I called her because I was feeling a little lonely. Ty left for St. George and maybe for California today (he hasn't decided yet), just knowing he's not coming home tonight makes me feel really lonely. Anyway I knew talking to my sister would put me in a better mood... So here I am on the phone with her and the kids just WILL NOT STOP GOING AT EACH OTHER. I was on the phone with her for almost 40 minutes (I was getting dinner ready) and I had to mediate I think 5 different episodes. I was actually able to keep my cool. I did not yell, I did not even get truly irritated, I didn't even hand out time outs. So finally dinner is done and I get off the phone. Candra comes to the table and I see that she has collected a small box of toys, when I asked her why she said "to sell". "Why?" I asked, "Because!!" she said "Because Why?" I asked... She wouldn't tell me. I think she was trying to get me to go and comfort her, tell her that those were her favorite toys and I just wasn't going to do it. I gave up being patient and said "maybe we should just give them to DI." (my tone very matter-of-fact and not sympathetic AT ALL) she did not like that one. She said "Maybe I should just get my things and go away!!" Okay, maybe I shouldn't have, but I am determined to not buy into her drama if I don't have to- so I asked her "Where are you going to go? Do you want me to pack for you?" (matter-of-fact tone again) It really called her bluff, the look she gave me, I think I actually snickered as I went back to dishing out dinner. It's so frosty here today that had she actually done it i would have had to take pictures- lol!
I am also thankful for a husband who says nice things (well, lies actually- but he always sounds like he believes them) to me.
Friday Ty watched the kids so I could go to a Relief Society thing (super Saturday but we had to have it on Friday). It was GREAT! I went to a hair cutting class, and a photography class. Both classes were exceptional! I learned so much. Ty cancelled what he had going on (he had forgotten about the activity) to watch the kids for me, he was even on time! After the Relief Society activity I went a saw a movie with Hollie and Amy, it was really fun! Thanks Girls!! I'm thankful to have girls to do stuff with!

Thankful!!

Today I am thankful for the love of my children! Is there anything quite like the way a child sees you? Like you can do anything! They come to you with every problem, why? Because YOU can do it! And is there anything like the way they are over-joyed just because you showed up? They run to you and jump into your arms, as if the most wonderful thing they ever imagined just came into their life. Is there anything like the way they cling to you when they are asleep? I was holding my sleeping baby the other day as I realized this. Even in his sleep he clings to me with such innocence, trust, love, dependence... that list could probably go on FOREVER {I really don't have that much time, LOL}! Yes, I am thankful for the love of my children, they make me feel, well, I can't actually describe it, but they sure make us feel like we already have every beautiful and wonderful thing in the world, like we can be every beautiful and wonderful thing in the world, how lucky are we?! To be able to hold something so special in our lives, in our arms even. Yes we are blessed!

Guess I better do two today, right?! I am also thankful for inspiration. Of course, I believe all {good} inspiration comes from our Heavenly Father. However I am thankful for the inspiration that comes to me from him through other people! I am sure that so many of the people I know have no idea how they have helped to lift me, to encourage and to inspire me! I am thankful for their goodness and that they are open to that inspiration and that they share it with me!

Random Thoughts, Moments and Thanks too!

{Ever been in an "Ok, so...." mood? I am today- just a random thought ;) }
okay, so at the beginning of this post I have to admit something:
Yes! It is completely true! I Bribe my children! So glad I got that one off my chest! {LOL}
Okay, so ya, I bribe my children. "You can have Friends over after you clean your room"; "If everyone can be good and help mom, we can go to the library"; and "if you go potty on the toilet, I'll give you a candy".

Many of you already know but this year I potty trained Malachi. Oh my goodness! It took FOREVER! And I learned that I am completely lacking in patience. Anyway, because he still has very occasional accidents, and because we still have tons of Halloween candy, about once a week I give him candy for good potty behavior, for example if he verbally tells me he has to go {as opposed to the "potty dance"}, gets himself on the potty, pulls up and down his own pants; hopefully you get the idea... Anyway today was a "good" potty day. As Malachi was getting off the toilet he informed me that he had 3 poops and that he got three whoppers {yes, I realize the irony here}, when he tells me things like this, he is actually asking me to confirm it. I of course, dutifully and enthusiastically replied "YES! But after lunch, okay." That worked for him as he walked down the hall holding and recounting several times his three fingers.

Okay, so, as if that isn't funny enough, right? {So not to the punch line yet!}

He eats his lunch and I forgot to give him his whoppers. I was downstairs feeding Ethan, when Malachi said "Mom, can I have whoppers?". Now unfortunately I cannot properly convey his tone, so funny; sort of a mixture of indulgence, and reminding with his head cocked to the side and a smirk on his face- seriously comical! I said "OH! YA! Sorry!" "I get three!" he says, once again holding and counting his fingers. "And what do I get?" I ask, expecting the usual hug or kiss. Instead he replies {as though it was some rehearsed answer} "Poop in the toilet!" I about died laughing, to which he nodded his head knowingly and said "yep!"
I am so thankful for this boy, and his wonderful sense of humor! He is so very fun!

Last night I got 6 or 7 hours of sleep!! Just when I was beginning to wonder if it would be months... See miracles {of large and small magnitude} happen every day. It was SSSOOOO nice to get some good sleep. Poor Ethan is still sick, but the congestion must FINALLY be breaking up enough for him to sleep. I am so thankful to live when I do. I am so grateful to have a decongestant and cough suppressant for my children, something that many have had to do without.

I am thankful for my sight, both actual and figurative. Have you ever known anyone who just doesn't seem to see something right in front of them? Me too. I am sure that I am that person often enough, but I am thankful for the things that my Heavenly Father has seen fit to show and make known to me, so very thankful.

So, I think that covers the days I missed!! yahoo, hope I at least gave you a snicker! ;)

Okay, so I missed a couple of days!!
Yesterday Ty took off work! WooHoo!!!!
We spent the whole day together as a family, we even went and saw a matinee. It was really fun! Then we went to go and see some of my family. My cousin and her husband just reached the end of their long road to adoption. In all they have adopted three children {who, by the way are stinking cute!} and were just sealed to the last two on Saturday. So we went to go celebrate with them, it was great to see them!

Anyway, back to my theme! I am thankful to have a day of fun with my husband. I am thankful for my eternal family. I am thankful to have such a truly great family {immediate and extended}. I am thankful for reasons to celebrate.

Nov 6

Thankful, some days it takes some work, right? Today I am thankful I didn't kill... no wait!! That is SSSSOOOO not what this is for!! Today I am thankful to not be sick, and that I got ANY sleep. Today I am thankful for my mom (I know you think yours is good, but, ahhemm...) she is completely awesome! And family that I can try and do favors for (it just awesome when you can do something super simple and someone else thinks your great) even though I remain unconvinced that I ever actually do them favors; so I guess instead I should be thankful that they are very good actors and really great to me! Okay, I guess I better go! I need to go be thankful for a house to clean!

Nov 5

Okay, so I'm not sure I should actually put this out there, but here goes. When I got up this morning I was great, Ethan seems to be pulling out of his sickness, Malachi is sick, but at least it wasn't two at a time! Very thankful for that!

Not long after I got up I started feeling, well, my basic thought was "people are jerks!"; I know, I know, fairly juvenile right? Anyway I was basically feeling sorry for myself, then i went "blog hopping". My friend Arianne, has decided to do the same "Thankful" thing that I am doing; and in her post she credited me! How sweet is that, especially when I am just copying the idea myself!

So then of course, I was thinking, people are great, sweet, awesome! ha! At this point I remembered a conversation I had with my cousin just LAST NIGHT. (Yes, how easily I forget) About how we each must create our own happiness. I believe that. Happiness is not something external, or something that can be given. It is something we must find within ourselves and then cultivate. There are times we must even start from scratch and actually create it.

The point? I am so thankful for the wonderful people in my life! I am thankful for the opportunity to choose to rise higher (which I suppose means I'm thankful for the less than nice things and people too). I am thankful to be Happy! I am thankful for the goodness in people and in everything that surrounds me! I am thankful to our Heavenly Father from whence all good things come! I am thankful for smiles and laughter! I am thankful to end each day by tucking in my little ones, and that even my nine year old still begs me to do it when I am busy!

Nov 4

Today I'm thankful that even though my precious baby is sick, that i have an excuse to ignore everything else and just hold him while he sleeps!

Thankful

A blog i saw today{Heidi Swapp's} is doing a "i am thankful for" type of theme each day through November - I love it!
a few things I am thankful for today:

My sweet little Malachi, and his confidence that a hug from his mom will fix almost anything.

Kleenex with lotion

to be feeling better

My Candra and how every time I drop her off at school she has a routine of blowing kisses and hugs to me that absolutely warms my heart.

Hugs from my husband and that he helped me send off the kids this morning.

pillows!

Brittney, that she is feeling better, and that she SSOOOO loves being a helper

finding a radio station I like

my sweet Ethan who I was so scared to have and enjoy so much

that I can see the floor in my girls room!

my 'lil pumpkins!

We went for a drive and saw this pumpkin patch... so fun!

Minature Parade

We had a really fun day- first we went to the museum, the kids had all kinds of fun trying on these hats! Then we went to a parade that had minature floats!! I absolutely loved the floats, the theme was: "If I could, I would:" I didn't get a picture of my favorite; "If I could I would kiss a lot of frogs to find my prince!" it was way cute!

Fireman Chi!

My littlest brother!! He is way too handsome!

If I could I would have a pet dinosaur

If I could I would live a Bug's life

I can't remember what this one was

The Horse Parade!

this is the horse Parade!! The theme was pink to support breast cancer! how great is that!

We sat by the nicest people at the Parade, she just couldn't resist buying all the kids a popcicle!

My mom's anniversary

while Grammy (my mom) was here, helping me move, her 15th anniversary rolled around. Isn't she great to come anyway? Grandpa Jeff sent her a box of her very favorite Lavendar Roses! He also sent me some minature yellow roses as a sort of house warming gift- Isn't he great?!

Silly Kids and a Wig!!

This is my brother Tony!! isn't he a little heart-breaker?! he is such a great guy! He was so over-the-top helpful while he and my mom were here(like an adult would be), and always had such a great attitude about it! Here he is with my troublemakers just goofing off!

Grammy and Ethan

more pics of our new home

Yes all these flowers are at our new home!! How cool is that?! There are also some white roses and lavendar roses too! Also in the back yard there is a gigantic butterfly bush, an apple tree, a plum tree, and I think some kind of small peach tree.