IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS...THAT MATTER

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Silly Face

They are putting on a "show". This is their stage.  In the first picture Leah wanted to do silly faces. That's her thing lately. Funny that ruby ended up pullin the same silly face. 

Then I asked for a smile and I got pure sweetness. Love my girls. 
I'm glad they have each other and sometimes wish emily could be little with them. 
But she's pretty awesome the way she is. 




They get to be twins every once in a while. I'm working on making emily twins with them. 

Throwing a fit?  No!  Not Leah!
#twodogsarebetterthanone
No need to sweep with a dog and a baby around. 
(Just kidding mom). 😉
Only people to show up at a high priest group (and spouse and single sisters) meeting, with a baby. She was loved on by a neighbor for a while but kept dropping keys and wanted to play with the chair in front of her and started making noise so we spent the rest of the meeting in the foyer on the couch. It was fun.  Really. Comfortable an relaxing and a good meetin. Even better in the hall. 
Turns out our other six kids went to the white grandmas house while we were gone. Ruby fell asleep on the way home and we walked in to a silent house. It was so weird. Really. So weird. I don't even remember the last time the two of us together have been in our home with it quiet. By the time we get the last to bed every night, we are exhausted and NEVER get to enjoy silence. So we had about 45 minutes or an hour. We turned on our favorite Christmas cd, George Winston December, and cleaned. It was lovely. 
We mentioned how awesome it would be to have enough time to clean the house, then our room, THEN watch a movie. Another thing we say a few times a week "let's watch a movie tonight" and NEVER do. It has become a joke now because we know it won't happen.  Sigh. One day. 
Until then, we sure enjoy our kids and their noise. (Usually). 
The last primary president texted me these. Cute. 

Friday, November 21, 2014

Jack Jack (aka: Gack)

Jack often writes himself reminder notes.

I've done that since I was little. Still do. 
One time my dad looked at my list and got bugged with me and said "why would you write wake up on your list?  You're already awake". 

But then I get to check it off. 

I love Gack!!!


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

I'm Thankful (but could do much better)


"The more we express our gratitude to God for our blessings, the more He will bring to our mind other blessings.  The more we are aware to be grateful for, the happier we become." 
 -Ezra Taft Benson
 
I LOVE November.  I started blogging in early 2007.  I probably have several years with a post that says this same thing. 
October is beautiful with the changing leaves and the comfortable weather but I love when Halloween is over.  It's the start of two of my favorite months. 
I LOVE that in November we focus on be thankful and showing gratitude.  I love to gather with family on Thanksgiving.  Good food and family and relaxing and being thankful is a wonderful combination. 
Then we move right into Christmas.  Our gratitude sets it up perfectly for us to remember our Savior.  His birth and His life.  And again, good food and family. 
I love to plan activities with my family.  We like to go to Christmas Street in Salt Lake then drive around the avenues.  We like to go to Temple Square.  We like family parties.  We like hot chocolate and putting lights on the house and decorating the tree.  We like a two week break from school.  We like to watch Christmas movies together.  We like to make crafts and buy Christmas presents.  We like to wrap presents.  We like to make yummy treats and give them to neighbors.  We like to do the 12 days of Christmas for people.  We like to watch the snow fall.  John and I like to sneak away and shop alone, together.  And probably eat out too.  :)
 
I've been thinking about gratitude.  I heard recently that
gratitude is a learned trait
So we talked about this in our family and decided it's something we should probably focus on more. 
 
Lisa posted this on facebook.....
“Gratitude is a quality I have found in every
happy person I know”    
-Joseph B. Wirthlin
 
Don't we all want to be happy?  I believe it IS that simple.  I choose to be happy.  I choose to be more grateful.  If you see me and I'm not happy or grateful, feel free to remind me.  I'll need it often I'm sure.  (okay John?!)
I've heard it said before something about waking up and only having what you were grateful for in your prayer the night before.  I feel lucky that I would have the following as they are regular parts of my prayers. 
 
JOHN
LITTLE JOHN
EMILY
THOMAS
JACK
SAMUEL
LEAH
RUBY
MY MOM
JOHN'S PARENTS
MY FAMILY
JOHN'S FAMILY
OUR WARD
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
OUR HOME
OUR CARS
THE KIDS SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS
CERTAIN MISSIONARIES
 
It looks like I should step it up on the gratitude.  Looks like I'm missing our church leaders among other things.
 
I'm thankful to be thankful.  It feels good.  I should do it more.
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
 
I'm excited to celebrate early with John's family and again in my own home with my side of the family on Thanksgiving day.
 

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