Thankful

We started our Thanksgiving day by running the 5k or 10k at the Bountiful Rec Turkey trot.  We had a lot of fun and both John's took third place in their division in the 10k.  They each won a pie.  The rest of us ran the 5k together. 

Ryan planned it so we ran with their family, Jolie's family, and Sean's brother's family.  It really was a fun way to start the day.

My mom went to our house to put the turkey in the oven and kept Leah.  By the time I got to the end of the race, she was there.  It was cute.  I put Leah in the empty stroller I was pushing (because Sam decided to run the whole thing) and she finished the race with me.

Little John running in.  He is in the gold shorts on the right.

Big John running in.

All the kids.

All of us!!

Just us.

Thanksgiving was then celebrated at our house.  Matt and Maureen and their family joined us.  It was fun to have them with us.  Matt said we just wanted a real Thanksgiving with Indians.  My family loved having them over.

Some of the kids at the kid table.

And little John.  he spent the entire day in front of the tv.  He even took his Thanksgiving dinner down there.  I was NOT happy with him on this day. 

I had fun making party favors and put them on each plate.

Someone scooped potatoes and never ate them.  They were stuck to this plate and the gravy wasn't going anywhere.

Until someone decided to make thanksgiving dinner on John's head.  It was pretty funny. 

We had a nice day.  After dinner, the boys watched sports and the girls sat around the table chatting and looking at the ads.  My family loved having Matt and his family with us.

i don't know how to differentiate between anything. 
yes.  it's part just the stress of christmas.
i KNOW every year that i NEED lights up, gifts bought and wrapped and the house decorated BEFORE dec. 1. 
before chrismtas even started, i was complaining about the need i have to NOT procrastinate.  i can't handle it.
and i come by it honestly.  my mom has everything wrapped by october and jolie is the same way.  it's just the way i am and i don't think there is anything wrong with it. 
it seems the more i try to simplify life, the more out of control it gets.  i can not believe how busy we are all the time and that is only with two kids playing jr. jazz and on the same night.
PIANO!!  GUITAR!! what do we do about those.  our kids will not focus themselves.
maybe i need to just flat out say we are done.  to all of them.  that is REALLY hard for me because i so desperately want my kids to play.  I LOVE to listen to them practice.  I LOVE IT.  but no matter how hard i encourage, try, or yell, they don't care. 
even with jack, i feel like he is missing something.  every week i think he needs to be in some sort of music lessons.  i have felt many times that thomas doing piano is going to help him learn to focus.  i see such benefits from it and I love it.  I want to own a baby grand one day and have my kids be able to sit down and play.  i want emily to reach her potential with guitar but she doesn't seem to care to reach that potential.  same with john.  i really feel he has a talent for it but he doesn't put forth the effort or the time.
having said all that, i think the right thing to do is STOP lessons for all of them and tell them if they are serious about playing, they can let us know and then put forth the effort needed.
if they quit, emily said gaylene won't be taking new students anymore and i know brenda would not teach or would fill in their slots.  so if they quit they lose out on those teachers.
but it's got to be done.  it has to be their choice to play.  not mine. 
the no tv or video games before homework, clean rooms, and jobs rule is GREAT and it needs to be the rule.  but once again, my mothering skills prevent me from just having rules and following through with them.
why did jolie and ryan get the skills we were taught growing up and i didn't.  my mom made us work.  we did our homework without a big issue and i played the piano and practiced because I WANTED IT not because i was forced. 
things have got to be different but i don't know how we are going to do it.
we've tried for years and nothing works.
even with reading scriptures.
we can't get up early because nobody can get to bed early and our kids don't care.

life is good.
mothering is hard.
BUT the best thing ever too.

"Shes my sister"

When I was in high school, I wanted to go somewhere with my friends.  I don't remember where.  A trip?  I don't know.  What I do remember is my dad asking Jolie if she thought I should get to go.  I expected the worst but instead her answer was "yes.  She should get to go."  My dad asked her why and she said "because I didn't get to and wish I had."
Wow.  How's that for a sister.  She didn't want revenge or to feel fairness.  She wanted me to have what she didn't get.
Thank you Jolie. 
This is handy tonight to teach my own kids who I can hear downstairs squabbling about fairness.
I love you!!!!

simplify
love more
quietly and with love
laugh
have more fun

Stuff and stuff

John had an English project due today.  He's known about it for weeks but the last two weeks has said every day that he has no homework.  Every day I have asked about projects coming up and his ongoing vocabulary words for his AP Geography class.  I encourage like crazy to get stuff done early.

So Monday he finally decided to get to work on it.  This morning his comment to me was "it took 10 hours to put together a 7 minute video".  I asked if he thought it would take 7 minutes to put together a 7 minute video.  It makes me want to cry.  Cry because I've warned him for two weeks that he can't put it off until the last minute and cry because it took all the time I didn't have the last two days to work with him to get it done.  He needed his siblings help which made them up until 11 last night and another reason I'm ready to burst into tears.....I was up until 2.  Then Leah came into our room and rolled all over the place and kept crying.  Finally at 4:30, I took her into her room and rocked her for a while.  Then I got to sleep until 6 something at which point, I kept asking everyone to wake me up "in 5 minutes".  Finally after I heard a loud thud in the kitchen (last nights dinner fell out of the fridge), I jumped up and have been up since, running kids to school, to the store to finish up the project, and now with Leah.  My eyes are starting to hurt and my head is starting to hurt.  HA!  I just answered the phone and forgot to say Hello.

Anyway, the project is done and posted above.  He presents it today and I am so glad it's done.  I hope and pray he has learned his lesson in NOT putting things off.  Life is so much better and relaxing when we just get things done.  I need all of my kids to learn this.

Emily tried out for the jr. high basketball team.  She made first cuts and felt good about it but didn't make the team.  John emailed the coach to ask what she needs to work on and the coach sent back a great letter.  John and I want to read the letter to our kids and have them think about what they want to do most then encourage them to put forth the effort needed on their part and our part.  You know, during all the time having babies, I was not able to do things for my kids like I needed to and wanted to.  It's amazing now how so many things I use to be able to do, are now coming back to me and it feels good.  For so many years, I felt like I lost so much of who I was/am.  Turns out it was just shelved for a while and is slowly and naturally making it's way back into my life.  I'm thankful for that.

Back to Emily.....she tried out for Volleyball, then two solos in choir, then Basketball.  She made first cuts/call backs each time but never made it completely.  She kept moving forward with a good attitude and wasn't giving up but last night for the first time, we saw that it took a little out of her.  It breaks our hearts but we'll continue to encourage her to keep trying.  One day, in some way, her ability to not give up and keep trying will pay off.

Why is it that December is so busy?  With school, work, parties, projects, recitals, etc. etc. etc. the month fills up so quickly.  I was hoping for more down time but am amazed at how our days fill up so quickly.  Tonight we have 5 places to be at 7:00.  Emily guitar, Jack a game, the cannery, little John a college night at the Jr. High and me a primary meeting.  We have somehow figured out how to make it work.  I just hope it really does.  Then MAYBE we can all get to bed at a decent time.  That would be wonderful.

John and I also had our temple recommend interviews with the Stake President and one of his counselors.  Pres. Alder (the counselor) asked me to tell him about myself.  I said "we've lived here for 4 years and I have 6 kids".  That's it!!  Nothing else to tell because my entire life revolves around my husband and those six kids.(and I wouldn't have it any other way).  I had the interview and at the end he said that he has never been a mother and never will be a mother but he knows it is hard and takes it's toll.  He proceeded with "one day you will see the good results of all your mothering and teaching.  They are learning, even though at times it doesn't feel that way, they are, and you will eventually see that.  So keep up the good work" etc. etc. etc.  I, of course, began crying as he was talking and said "you knew what I needed".  He said that he felt inspired to say what he did.  I knew he was inspired when he started because the interview was over and suddenly he leaned forward and started talking in a way that I knew he was saying things he was inspired to say.  

I try to remind myself all the time that just because I don't see results right now doesn't mean they aren't learning.  I assume I was just like them as a kid (but not as great as them:) and I find it interesting how much I do things and say things that my parents did and how I am so much like my parents.  I am different in a lot of ways too but I do see how my parents efforts eventually got through to me.

This post was going to just be about little John's project but has turned into much more.  I'm grateful to be a mother and grateful that every day I am trying to learn more and do better.  Even though I seem to fall backwards WAY too often, I hope and pray I'm still moving steps forward.

i want i want i want

I'm blessed and I know I'm being a baby with my wants at the moment.

My want for a clean house.

My want for a moment of quiet in my house.

My want for a decent camera.

My want for my children to not need to be yelled at or begged to do the simple things they know they need to do EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 

My want for just one meal to turn out good and everyone enjoy it.  (lost that when I had Leah and never came back).

My want to have little kids in bed at 8.  Bigger kids in bed at 9.  ME in bed at 10.  Sounds lovely.

My want to just be happy and not want so many things. 

Guess I'll leave my pity party and get to work.  That's the cure for the wants, right?

We took our own family pictures in front of our tree.  Right where I wanted our family picture.  In our home in front of our tree.  We looked great.  All 8 of us.  But the color wasn't right.  So we went to my mom's to have her take a picture in front of our tree.  There ended up being ONE decent picture but it happened to be taken on John's cell phone and wasn't very good quality.  So I turned on the camera today to get the one good picture to send to Leslie to see if she could fix the color.  ALL THE PICTURES ARE GONE.  All the pictures from the last couple years.  We haven't really used the camera in over a year.  We just take all pictures on the phones and I guess it ran out of space so someone deleted everything.  Awesome.  Think I can bite my tongue and not worry about it?  We'll see.  I often tell myself to bite my tongue then I say stupid things anyway.

My worry is that Leah's birth, etc. may even have been on that camera.  My own fault for not downloading the pictures, I know.  We just haven't used it in so long that I just didn't think about it.

On another note, I LOVE getting Christmas cards in the mail.  I LOVE IT!!!  It makes me happy and makes me want to do a Christmas card.  I also have a new found love this year:  GETTING PACKAGES!  I've never done online shopping before this year and wow, it's fun!  It's fun to have the packages show up every day and it's fun to check off my list while sitting in my own home.  I LOVE IT!!!

Now as soon as I can get things wrapped, I'll be sittin pretty.  I love getting things done early and I am a lot less stressed when I know I am done with something and can enjoy the moments of every day more.  

Like getting visiting teaching done early in the month.  That's a good feeling.  That's the feeling I want with everything.  Get it done quick so I don't have it hanging over my head anymore.  

HA!  

I'm trying but it doesn't work as well as it could when I am the only one out of 8 in my home who have the desire.

Now I want to shush and stop wanting things.

focus on the good

Thankful 17

I am thankful for life.  My life.  For the trials, the non stop learning, the hard things that I don't know how to fix, for the people in my life who have and do teach me so much.  And for the knowledge of a higher power that knows exactly what He is doing and that I can have confidence in knowing no matter what happens, IN THE END, EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.  More than that, it will be perfect.  Just the way Heavenly Father intends.
Went to church today, taught my 7 year old primary class on Jesus Christ.  It went well and I felt a spirit as I studied for this lesson.  It was  a good feeling that I am grateful for.  When I picked up Leah from nursery, I was asked what my consequences are for Leah when she hurts others.  I guess she's continually hurting others.  Nice. 

Sam has struggled a few times in kindergarten and Leah in nursery.  With hurting others.  They both are so competitive.  Sam wants to be the first and the fastest in everything.  Leah is told "no" and she tries even harder to do something she knows she shouldn't do.  She thinks she's in charge and I was drained when I heard she's struggling. 

As I asked questions and got more information: the nursery leader put Leah in time out.  Leah wouldn't stay and freaked out so she held her.  Leah continued to freak out.  Hence, what are her consequences?  Sadly, there are none.  Sam and Leah get at each other but I guess I don't take care of it like I need to be and now it's happening other places. I don't want her hurting people and I don't want it to be hard on the teachers.  Sam's or Leah's.

Six kids.  I was more physical with my older kids and I've chilled so much that it is amazing to me that my four oldest haven't had this kind of problem and now my two youngest both struggle with it.  It makes me sad and it doesn't feel good.  I don't know what to do.

I just know I feel overwhelmed.  I continually struggle to know how to raise my kids.  I wouldn't trade them for anything or have ever done anything different.  I am SO glad I have each of them. 

I know I need to go to the temple.  I've needed to go for a long time.  I need to go to feel peace and get strength to continue on with life.  With all there is to do continually for the kids, the temple keeps getting pushed back.  Three times now, recently, I've been ready to go....mentally and dressed for it....then I waited for John.  I like to go with John but had I just gone those times that I was ready to go, I'd feel so much better right now.

Last summer, little John worked for Bangerter Farms.  He made close to nothing each hour but worked hard for six weeks and saved enough money to buy an xbox from ksl.  The rest of the summer went downhill with no one wanting to do anything but play xbox.  All day, every day.  Little John already is susceptible to depression and feeling down and the xbox has magnified that in him.  Big Time!!  We've threatened, we've taken it away, on and on and on but it was such an addiction, that there was a lot of disobedience and ornriness going on because of the influence of the obsession and the games the kids play on it.  Finally on Friday, we took the xbox to my mom's house and told the kids it is staying there until after Christmas.  Little John would never admit it but the change in our home has already been amazing.  There isn't a dark cloud hanging over him or our home like there has been for so long.  We still allow the Wii but they don't care as much about the Wii as much so it doesn't cause problems.  They have played together more and there has been more love.  My mom called this morning and asked if there has been a difference and I said "Yes!  There has!  It's been so much better."  I think she was amazed to hear how it has made a difference to not have it in our home.

On that note...hahaha...tonight after church and dinner, we went to visit at Richard and Kara's house with any family that could make it.  Karey, Richard, us, Lisa, Leslie, and Mark and their families came.  It was a nice visit sharing the news of our families and finding out that Richard Kay and Haley (oldest grandson and only married grandchild) are expecting a baby due in June.  We are so excited for them and for Richard and Kara to become grandparents.  All the men and boys sang a song at the end of the visit then Richard and Lisa sang a song and as more sang for a bit, our family went over to Richard and Haleys (right next door) to see their cute little house that they bought from Richard and Kara.  They are so cute together and I hope they have a full and happy life together.

On the way home, arguments and tears were happening all around.  I said nothing but turned on FM 100 (soft sunday sounds :).   A beautiful rendition of "I know that my Redeemer Lives" was on.  I turned it up really loud and the crying and sadness continued for a bit then suddenly everyone was quiet.  Leah started to get ornery but "I am a child of God" came on.  Her favorite.  (she LOVES to watch the mormon message called I am a child of God).  We again sat in silence and listened and looked at the Christmas lights on our way home.  Next the bagpipes began playing "Amazing Grace".  (This song was played at my dad's funeral on a bagpipe and at my grandpas funeral a distance away from the gravesite at his service.  It's beautiful and so full of emotion.) I think the MoTab choir began to sing and it was beautiful.  Suddenly my dad was on my mind, he has been often recently, and my heart was sad.  We pulled into the garage and everyone got out of the car, except me.  I sat in the car and finished listening to the beautiful song.  I shouldn't go where my mind went next, often, but every once in a while, it does.  It has for many, many years.  I started thinking about how things could have been different.   I don't like that my dad died or that he changed into such a different person over the years.  I don't like that we lost him so many years ago.  I wish he had made different choices and was around and was so much of the man and the dad and the grandpa that I know he would have been. I think about how my mom and dad could be grandma and grandpa together.  That they would live in the home in Bountiful that we loved and grew up in.  That they had 12 grandkids together and we would all get together, TOGETHER.  I don't go much further than that.  It makes my heart ache. And I've learned a lot.  I know my mom, Jolie, Ryan, and I have been strengthened in so many ways and understand things that a lot of people don't.  I know that our path in life still has purpose and we are who we are and will be because of the trials we have had and will have.  I also know that dwelling on "the way things could have been", isn't a good thing.  That is why when I go there, it doesn't last long and in the end, I thank my Heavenly Father for my life. I went through A LOT of years feeling anger for my dad but still continuing to have a relationship with him.  I prayed for YEARS to forgive him and only feel love for him.  Then one day, it happened.  The anger was gone.  I felt sad for him and more love for him.  It doesn't mean that I don't have these thoughts at times of how things could have been.  It just means I can have those thoughts without feeling anger.  I can feel love for my dad and remember all the good in him.  That's the Atonement.  I used it in my life.  I'm grateful to understand sometimes how it really works and know that because Jesus Christ already suffered for my sins and sadness and heartache, I don't have to.  I can forgive others and feel true love for others.  I took advantage of the sacrifice made by a loving Savior, that knew that through Him, we can be saved and have JOY in life.
As usual, when I think of "what could have been", I then think about how badly I want my mom to find a husband.  A dad for us and a grandpa for the 12 grandkids.  But mostly, a husband and a companion for my mom to go through life with.  I don't like her to be alone, I don't like leaving her alone at home when we leave, and I don't like her leaving our home or anywhere else we may be, alone.  I've (we've, including my kids), have prayed and fasted and pleaded and searched and set her up and on and on for many years.  It was just recently that for the first time ever, I was pierced with the yucky feeling of she just might be alone for the rest of this life.  I think it was her who said it and every time I've heard it before, I've said "no!"  She wouldn't be alone.  She WAS going to find someone.  Someone IS going to find her.  And now, I don't want to have that feeling of what could be.  I'm holding out hope!  And now my heart aches for Kate.  I want her to be happy and have companionship as well. I don't like people being alone.  It makes me sad. 

We've been going to bed really late recently.  Like 1 and 2 am or even later.  I don't like it.  I don't feel good and I don't get much done.  Nothing worthwhile happens that late.  If I were cleaning or working on a project or doing something worthwhile, maybe it would feel a little better but it's not what's happening.  So it's 11:30 and I didn't want to turn on the computer but I had way too many thoughts swirling around in my mind so here I am.

Biggest thoughts always:  GO TO THE TEMPLE.  LOVE MY KIDS MORE. 

All that matters is family.  More love.  More kindness.  More happiness.  More togetherness.  Have more fun.  Be happy.  Enjoy life.  Teach my kids well so they will be strong enough to withstand the hard times ahead and be strong enough to teach their own children what's right. 

I love this time of year.  More than ever, I want Jesus Christ to be the center of this season for our family.  And the center of our lives always.
It's just short of midnight.  I'll shut this down and go to sleep and hope for a miracle tomorrow....that I can get up and feel more happiness and more love and more kindness and be more productive in the right ways.  haha.  :)
Good night.

Thankful 16

I am thankful for good friends and good family and good people who understand me.  And even if they don't, they love me anyway.
Lisa sent this to me yesterday.  Funny she found it on such a day.  We had a great conversation about sanity and what we can and can not handle and how often we feel like we're failing.  We talked about some people having it come so natural to keep things clean and in order, then people like us, who struggle.  

Saturday, John and the kids and I cleaned our house ALL DAY.  John worked the hardest.  The cleaner the house got, the more I saw that needed done.  I'm not sure what I like better.  The clutter all over the place because then I can't see the other things that need done.  Or clutter free and seeing how dirty all my walls and cabinets and doors and baseboards and floors are.  Okay Okay.  I choose clutter free.  But I choose the ability to STAY clutter free so I can focus more on the grime instead of constantly working to keep things clean then going crazy because I have dirt on top of that.

So. I ALWAYS CHOOSE KIDS (not necessarily pets but we have a dog and two birds right now and they're not going anywhere). The other two?  Well, for me, sometimes I choose a clean house and that brings some sort of sanity but other times, I choose sanity because I know that trying to keep a clean house will put me over the edge.

And now she sent this.  Isn't that just the way it is!

Thankful 15

I did not get a picture of my kids on Halloween.  I was at our neighborhood soup dinner before trick or treating with my phone to take a picture.  Little John came down and took my phone.  I told him that I needed it and not to take it.  A few minutes later, I was looking for John so I could get a picture of my kids.  He was no where to be found.  I ran home and he was there, playing on my phone.  I was MAD.  By the time I got back, my kids had scattered.  Luckily my mom asked the kids to dress up for her Halloween dinner so they wouldn't have to come back on Halloween.  I'm thankful for my mom's Halloween dinners.  She's never liked Halloween so decades ago she started the tradition of having a Halloween dinner.  She makes cute and creepy food, decorates the table, and we play Bingo.  It is a lot of fun and something the kids look forward to every year.  I AM THANKFUL THAT HALLOWEEN IS OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR! Oh wait.  I think I was thankful for that on day one.  I AM THANKFUL FOR MY MOM!!  SHE IS THE MOST CHARITABLE AND KIND WOMAN I KNOW AND I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR HER AMAZING EXAMPLE AS A WOMAN AND A MOTHER!  OUR KIDS ADORE HER AND SHE ADORES THEM.  SHE'S BEAUTIFUL AND FUN AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH.  SHE MAKES ME WANT TO BE A BETTER PERSON AND SHE ALWAYS SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT I NEED AND WHEN I NEED IT.  SHE BUILDS ME UP AND ENCOURAGES ME TO BE THANKFUL AND HAPPY WITH WHO I AM AND MY LIFE.  I AM A LUCKY GIRL TO HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE RAISED BY HER.  NOW LET'S FIND HER A MAN!!

Thankful Sam

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast in the lunchroom at school.  I went for the last five minutes to snap a picture but instead, while I was trying to delete some pictures from my phone so I had room to take a picture, Leah flipped off the bench she was standing on and landed on the floor.  She cried for a while and my nice friend from high school that lives down the street, jumped in to save the day!  She offered to take a couple pictures for me.  Thank you Kelly!!!  I think it's time I invest in a camera.

Sam's friend Joseph was between these two but I wasn't quick enough and he left.  They were so cute sitting there together.  I LOVE kindergartners.  They are so sweet and innocent. 

Thankful 15

 

It's easy to be thankful for these people today.  It's their 50th Anniversary today and they are serving together in Canada on their second mission.

I scored when I married John (not only because he is the best husband a girl could ask for) but because when I married him, I inherited these two and a whole lot of other people whom I love and adore and are now my best friends.  I was blessed with in-laws who have been the perfect example for me in raising a family and continue to show that by their love and devotion to each other, their 11 children, 10 in-law children, and 46 grand kids.  They are devoted to their religion and to Heavenly Father and show that by continually loving and serving others. 

I am celebrating today that I have the privilege of being loved by these two and I get to benefit from the GREAT decision they made 50 years ago.

HAPPY DAY!!

And here is the product of that decision.  Minus little John who was on a Young Mens Stake Encampment, Bruce who was in Taiwan on his mission, Uncle Bruce and Uncle Aaron who both passed away, and baby Charlie B who was born soon after this.  (Mom and Dad were in Canada serving mission #2).

Thankful 9 10 11 12 13 14

Six days of Thankful missed.  How easy is that.  I am thankful for the six reasons I have missed the last six days.

John Kimball

Emily Maude

Thomas Jamison

Jack Ryan

Samuel Bruce

Leah Tawnie

Without even one of them, a piece would be missing and we knew with the birth of each child, there was still something more to be learned and someone more to be loved.

Ornery, silly, sweet, stubborn, wild, and every one of them completely adored.  They each have their own piece of perfect to add to our family.

I am continually being challenged, continually learning, and continually "trying to be a little better" because of these six personalities.  They teach me WAY MORE than I could ever teach them.

I want more days that I can go to bed peacefully, having said my prayers, and with full assurance, that I did well. (There aren't many of those days).  And I want to feel confident that each of them can go to sleep peacefully knowing how much they are loved.

I hope they know it.  I hope they feel it.

Because, wow, as any parent knows, my love for them is so powerful, it aches.

And that reminds me of a loving Heavenly Father who feels just the same about His children.

I've got work to do.

And I'm happy to do it.

Evening of Excellence with Emily.

Emily likes to pull goofy faces for the camera. Always. It's tough to get her to just smile. She is beautiful though and we like her smile no matter which one she chooses to cheese with.

All of the young women made these quilts and they were hanging around the entire room. They had a neat slide show about the temple walk they did with the young men (from the bountiful temple to the salt lake temple) and related it to their journey through life. The girls sang a pretty song "a light on a hill" and we enjoyed the evening. Especially being with our girls (Leah came with).

Thomas

I forgot to put this in John's family newsletter and if I don't jot it down right now, I'll forget because I don't have any pictures of it.

So for Thomas' sake: while John was in China, Thomas earned his Webelos badge.  Thomas and Jack have amazing leaders that work hard with all the boys.  We feel very lucky and our boys enjoy scouts.

Good Job Thomas!!!

(now if only I could get my rear in gear and get those badges on your shirt)

A Jolly Happy Soul

Taken at work by John.  Beautiful.

Couldn't get these boys to come in the first night of the snowstorm.

These cute kids walked to Smoot Park to sled. Drew, Nate, Thomas, Zach, Emily, Alexa.

They built "Delicate Arch" and forts and snowmen in the back for a couple hours.  The backyard was so white and beautiful!

Snowman attempt #1

Oops.  Little John caught his last moment on camera.  It was me.  Pushing that snow into that spot right there that sent him tumbling.  By the look on Emily's face, I'm guessing it was on it's way right then.

And he's down.

Snowman attempt #2

Add caption

 

 

And he's down.  Snowman #3 is still standing.  We recovered the next layer up and made it his head.  He's still tall and he's still awesome.  It was a great weekend.  We had Zach and Caleb for the weekend and Anna for half of it.  It snowed a lot and was awesome.  John took John, Zach, Thomas, and Jack and the rest of Jack's Jr. Jazz team to the Jazz game Saturday night and they had fun.  We had hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls and went to church Sunday.  We had a nice weekend and hope for more just like it soon.  Snow is great when you can stay home and watch it and play in it and it stays white and beautiful.  Winters aren't as depressing when there is beautiful white snow around.  Here's to hope for a winter like the winter of 90 something.  I've been waiting for one like that ever since then.  It was the winter when there was 5+ feet of snow on our lawns.  Fun!!! 

Hm.  Said by James E. Faust and Barbara Bush

Thankful 8

Thankful for a BEAUTIFUL sunny and windy day.  Love the colorful leaves floating through the air.  Love the mini tornadoes we've seen.  Love that a storm is a brewin.  Thankful that I got out today.

I DO NOT like to go to the store with my little kids.  It's not fun.  So I don't unless I have to and when I am home, I can't do anything because I always need to clean.  So today, my visiting teachers came and gave a great lesson and we had a great visit.  I then went visiting teaching and we had some more good conversation.  I went straight to the school to pick up 5 cute kindergarteners, dropped them off at home, then headed out with Sam and Leah.  I wasn't excited to go back home to a house that needed cleaned.  Sam and Leah got crisp bean burritos, their favorite.  Then I picked up a turkey and fresh avocado from Nielsen's and headed to Salt Lake to share it with John.  While we sat in the car and ate, Sam and Leah ran around in the wind and leaves.  We dropped John back off at work, headed north, went to the bank, then I remembered that my mom was home because she is watching Kailee and Ellie.  Sam was asking earlier if we could go see her and I told him she was at work.  Wish I had remembered earlier.  Although I enjoyed eating with John, I would have loved to take my sandwich to my mom's and share it with her.

Jolie and Sean and Ryan and Laura were there.  They were just leaving to Las Vegas for the weekend to run the Las Vegas Ragnar.  

We visited for a couple hours and watched the kids play and try to get along then I headed home to my four kids coming home.  Oops....John and Emily were locked out and were getting the ladder out to try to break in a window.  Good thing I got here before that happened.

John, Emily, Jack, and I went to Costco tonight for milk and to stroll for a bit.  It was nice.  We ended with an ice cream bar for John and me, soft serve for Emily, and Jack bought himself a churro and a smoothie.  

I'm thankful for my family, for this windy night, that it's 9:00 and I'm not stressing that my kids aren't in bed, and that tomorrow is Friday. 

By the way, I'm not stressing as much about our President.  My mom calmed me with her thoughts of peace and the importance of Mitt and the Mormon moment and I've enjoyed emails from John's family with encouragement.

It's nice to feel thankful.

(It would have been nice had I thought to take a picture of Sam and Leah in the leaves today.  Darn.)

"I can inspire what goes on here."

Referring to my physical home and my spiritual home.

Look at these short and inspiring posts.

Here

Here

  

Random phone pics

Emily cracks us up often with her random silliness.

Beautiful colors!!

Loves mascara!  Beautiful.

Cute kids.

I love that these three are okay with me giving them all the same clothes to wear to school sometimes.  Maybe they just don't realize I'm doing it until it's too late.

On a walk with our family and Leslie and Aaron along Bountiful Blvd. and to the cemetery.

At the cemetery.

Sam helps John wash the van before John leaves for China.

Emily practicing on my hair. 

The first or second day John was gone on a two week trip to China, Sam created his dad, wrote "dad" on him, cut him out, and taped him to the front door.  He stayed there until John got back.  In fact, John's been home almost a week and he's still on the door.

Jack's Jr. Jazz team.  First year playing and they are undefeated.  John is the coach and it is SO FUN to watch them play.  I laugh and laugh at how they carry the ball and double dribble and are learning the game.  It is so cute.