Day 17 November Gratitudes

I am thankful for Hot Chocotlate. The nights are cold now and nothing tastes better than my hot chocolate with whipped cream and a candy cane!! It's the small things;)

Day 16 November Gratitude

I am grateful today that my children have their own personalities and interests. I am grateful that they can entertain themselves and have great imaginations. I am grateful that they can be alone and don't need friends around all the time. I grateful that they like talking to and being with me. This is how Tanner spent his Sunday a week ago. It was a beautiful day out and he just camped out by the pool reading for about an hour or so after church.

Cynjyn has quite the imagination. She has taken an interest lately in drawing designs of clothing and coloring them and even pricing them. This is how she spent that same Sunday. Just this morning on the way to school we were talking about the snow day we had last year here in Vegas. It has become quite cold these last few days and everyone was guessing whether we'd have another snow day and I said the last one we had before this last year was 30 years ago and we probably won't have another one for another 30 years. To which Cynjyn replied: "I'll be 38 then and I'll be an adult and won't enjoy it because I'm not a kid anymore." That made me kind of sad that she recognized that. It made me think I need to play more and enjoy spontaeous moments more like children do.

Talon usually comes home for lunch between 2 and 3. Today, he came home at noon. I asked him why he was home so early and he said that he wanted to have me all to himself and when he comes home late, we never get to talk because his brothers are home. So, we made lunch and just sat there and talked about nothing inparticular for his hour break.

Taz did the dishes for me this afternoon while I was doing piano lessons. I did ask him to, but he did an awesome job and didn't complain. I am grateful for all my children and all their personalities. They make my life interesting and complete.

Day 15 November Gratitudes

Today, I am grateful for these two cutie patooties!! They have been practicing for over a month now to be in the primary children's choir for Stake Conference. They both wanted to participate and have been going to the church Sunday evenings for practices. They looked so cute as they got ready for church this morning and they really learned a lot from the stake lady who directed them. She even told them what to eat and not eat/drink before their performance. The choir sounded awesome and these two looked so beautiful up there!!

Day 14 November Gratitude

I am grateful for High School sports. Garry and I just returned from watching Silverado Girls Volleyball take the state championship. I loved watching Talon play and I can't wait to watch Tanner this spring. Growing up in a small town, HS sports was a very prominant part of our lives. LV is so big and it's hard to feel part of a community, but being involved and watching the local HS sports teams really brings that sense of community. I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight!!

Day 13 November Gratitudes

I am grateful for the ability to learn. I have been dabbling in digital scrapbooking for awhile. I have really wanted to take a photoshop class and learn more about manipulating photos. I signed up for one online this summer and just got around to doing it these past couple of weeks. I have loved it and have enjoyed playing with the photos. These are my photos from each of my lessons:

Day 12 November Gratitude

Today I am grateful my husband has a job. I am grateful that I don't have to worry about him being layed off, or his company shutting down. As I sat in ward council Sunday, it was just depressing to hear about all the people in our ward who are jobless and or way underpaid and who are really struggling right now. The bishop said it had been the worst week for welfare orders and he just seemed so depressed and down trodden with worry about all the people affected by our economy. So, I am truly blessed to have a husband in a secure and well paid work place. I am grateful that he can provide for our family. I am also grateful Talon has a job and is going back to school in January. I hope the economy recovers by the time he finishes college and is ready for a "real job" in the "real world".

Day 11 November Gratitude

I am grateful for school holidays. I like having my kids in school, the peace and quiet is nice. But I also really enjoy a day off. Especially during the week. Today we had off for Veteran's Day. It was nice not to have to get everyone up and going. It was nice to take the kids to the park and let them hang out with their friends while I talked to the other mothers. It was nice that it was 70 degrees, it is nice that they are all at a friends now and I just have my blog to catch up, and then a hot date with a basket of laundry and a DVR'd Oprah.

Day 10 November Gratitued

I am grateful for the temple. Today was our wards fill the temple day. Garry and I were there by 8 am. We did three sessions and then an hour of sealings. I am grateful for the covenants I made there and the promises that I will receive if I keep them. I am grateful for the sealing ordinance that binds me to my family for all eternity. I am grateful for the whisperings of the spirit felt during any given moment in the temple. I am grateful for the peace that comes into my soul when I am there.

Day 9 November Gratitude

I am grateful for carpools. With three kids at three different schools going at three different times, I would be driving all morning and all afternoon if it weren't for carpools. Tanner is in seminary now and luckily, Garry takes him and Hunter and Cora on his way to wok in the mornings. My wonderwoman friend Cathy brings him and Chris and Mikey and Natalie home in the afternoon. (We offered to take Chris to seminary, but he was already going with Mikey). Every other week, I drive the middle school morning carpool. We pick up Lawson and MaKenna and Alexis and the week we don't pick up, Linda drives. Taz comes home in the afternoons with either Jen Hill(M, W, F) or Jeanne Holland (T, Th). I take Cynjyn to school in the mornings and she rides home with Syndney in the afternoons(I offered to take Syd in the mornings, but Lea wanted to drive her). Lea volunteered to do this because three afternoons a week, I have piano and it really helps me out, I appreciate all the moms who help drive our kids each week. Carpools rock!!

Day 8 November Gratitude

I'm grateful for my calling. I love being primary president and I'm going to enjoy it while I can because I realize that it is going to end all to soon. I'm heading into 3 years now. I love teaching the children. I love the look on their faces as they listen and soak in the things I teach.

Day 7 November Gratitude

I am grateful for cool evenings, being dark by 5:00pm and homemade soup. Even though yesterday was exceptionally warm, I had been craving homemade soup. The fact that it was dark by 5 helped set the mood. So, here's to a yummy recipe, a good dinner, and great leftovers.

Creamy mushroom chicken soup:
6 Tbs butter
1 medium onion chopped
3 Tbs. flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
6 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds mushrooms sliced
3/4 c celery chopped
3/4 c carrots chopped
2 cups baby red potatoes chopped
2 zuccini or yellow squash (I used both and I used three) chopped
2 cups light cream (couldn't find light, I used heavy)
3/4 c grated Parmesan
2 cups chopped cooked chicken ( I used a can of chicken)

In large pot melt butter over med heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 6 min.
Stir in the flour, salt and pepper and mix until smooth. Gradually add the broth, then turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Add the vegetables. reduce the heat and simmer the soup, covered, until the veg. are tender, about 30 min.
Add the cream, Parmesan, and chicken. Heat the soup for an additional 10 min, but do not let it boil.

I served with fresh homemade rolls and it was a hit.

Enjoy!

Day 6 November Gratitude

I am grateful for jounals, scrapbooks and blogs. They all tell my story. I started my own journal when I was 8 and was pretty regular until I started having kids. Then, life got busy and I always wanted an easy way to journal. Then, when Talon was a baby, I discovered scrapbooking. Below are my three places in the house where I keep my scrapbooks. I have a lot, but haven't really scrapbooked for a couple of years. It does make me so happy though when I see one of my children sitting on the couch with a stack of scrapbooks next to them! Then came the wonderful world of blogging. It combines both journaling and scrapbooking and what could be more fun and easy. I love blogging and looking at other peoples blogs. I am grateful for this fun, easy way of chronicling my life.

Day 5 November Gratitude

I am so grateful for books. They can really take you places you normally wouldn't go. I have always liked to read, but after college, I was kind of stuck in a rut. I would read the same authors: John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson and LaVyrle Spencer. That was o.k., but I never ventured out. Then...I joined a book club and that was the best thing for me. I was forced to read new authors and new books and because of that, I have read all of these exciting and wonderful books that I probably wouldn't have discovered without the help of book club. Now there are so many books I want to read, and that list is a lot longer than my time I have to read. I wish I was a fast reader, but I 'm not. Garry can pop out about 3 books a week. I am reading a book right now, and granted it is over 600 pages, but I have been reading it for 4 weeks! Anyway, these are my favorite books we've read in book club over the past 7 years:

Now I am confidant in my reading ability that if I were to quit book club, I would still have plenty to read!! So, if you're looking for a good book, any of the above come with a 5 star rating from me! Here's to a good book.

Day 4, November Gratitude

I'm grateful for my talent. I took a tole painting class when I was in college at BYU and just took off from there. Luckily, Garry took an interest and purchased "tools" so he could cut and sand my wood for me thus making my hobby less expensive. When I was a young mother with little kids, I would paint as a way to relax and rid my frustrations that sometimes come with raising children. I always figured that once my kids were a little older, and I had more time on my hands, that I would paint and paint and paint. Well, that isn't happening. I have time, but not a lot of energy. Also, my house is full to the brim with my past decorations. At my peak as I painted a couple new things every year, I always said I'd have a bigger house someday and thus everything would fit. Well, that isn't happening either. So, I just take out my old stuff every year and am grateful for the time I was able to put into developing my talent.

National Blog Posting Month

My friend Carol informed me that it is NBPM. I took that as a challenge to post something everyday this month. So, I figured, why not?? It is November 3, 2009. I decided to post some gratitude's. So, for November 1, I am grateful for Holidays. I love this time of year where we have three fun holidays right in a row. For November 2, I am grateful for the missionaries. Last night we had the Elders in our home for dinner and I just love the spirit they bring into the home. It was a fun meal and a fun dinner conversation. For November 3, I am grateful for Autumn. I love this season more than any other season. Having survived a hot Vegas summer, it is so pleasurable when the temperatures drop and the sun is shining but it's only 80 or less. I just love the cool crispness in the air day and night.

Halloween has come and gone!

I love Halloween. I love the change in the weather, I love decorating, I love the process of coming up with costumes, I love it all. Cynjyn wanted to be a vampire from the beginning. They got to dress up for school on Thursday (no school Friday due to Nevada day). So by the time trunk or treat came, they were ready and had perfected their costumes. Cynjyn and Rebecca were both vampires.

Tanner was a goth. He wore it to school on Thursday and his first period teacher was freaked out. She was obsessed and made all her department friends come in and see him. She said it was one of the best costumes she'd seen. He got a lot of comments all day! At trunk or treat, he freaked everyone out too. They were all obsessed with his piercings and how he got his look. It was a fun weekend for him!


Taz was Edward. He originally wanted to be Deadpool from the Wolverine movie, but that was just too difficult, so we went with Edward. We got him the layed clothing look and glitter spray and made him super glittery. Luckily, his hair was long enough to style and curl like Edward.

Only one girl at school knew who he was~everyone else thought he was Jack Frost??? But when we got to Thriller EVERYONE knew who he was and random girls were asking to get their pictures taken with him. He had about 4 groups of teen and older girls ask for a picture with him, so he was thrilled with that. At Trunk or Treat a lot of people thought he was Michael Jackson, go figure that??

I had been wanting to "theme" Garry and I for a couple of years now, but Garry always puts so much into the kids, that he just relys on the costume box for his at the last minute. So in September, I told him what we were going to be and found stuff for the costume and made it happen. He tweeked my dress and sewed it up for me and we ended up buying the hair wig, since that is a big part of her look. He had time to get his look together and waalaa, here were are! Everyone loved it at trunk or treat, and the funny thing was is that the bishop was Frankenstein and his wife was supposed to be his bride, but she wasn't like me, more like a vampire. Anyway, when we got up bishops comment was "not only did you copy us, but you look way better than us!!" (That's his wife on the far right of the above picture). They had a costume contest and Garry won best overall adult costume. The activities chairman said they should have given a best couples costume...but they didn't. Way to go Garry!

Some random before shots.

We have no idea how to get our self-timer to work on our camera, so we had one of Taz's friends take a family shot at trunk or treat. Course we didn't notice the glare on Tanner until we got home that night, oh well.


Our friend Lea got a picture of the trunk all decked out and the kids waiting to play our game.

Taz's group of friends all went to a neighborhood afterwards to trick or treat together. They are such a good group and really enjoy being together!

Sydney, Rebecca and Cynjyn hung out together all night, then Cynjyn went with Rebecca to her Grandpa's neighborhood to trick or treat, so Garry, Tanner and I went home and relaxed and didn't have to take anyone trick or treating!! Garry and I watched Grand Torino and Tanner watched his traditional Buffy scary episodes!




Taz brought Josh and Hansen back home with him and they all had a candy trading session after they were done. Everyone went home happy! Lest you think this post is a little lacking in the Talon department, it's because he and Tiffany went to California for the weekend for Tiffany's birthday. So they weren't even here. They left right after Thriller!