Happy Thanksgiving

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving.  We started the day off by just hanging out and playing with the kids at home.  It was nice to get some house work done and let the kids hang out.
We started our celebrating by going to my parents house first.  The boys were so excited to go for rides on the four-wheelers.  They were also excited that their were lots of cousins to play with.

Tyler drove the small four-wheeler for the first time all by himself.  He was nervous at first when it was just me and Uncle Gabe helping to teach him, but once Daddy came out to teach him he did much better.  He was able to drive around yard all by himself.  He only wanted to do it once, but he did it.  So with more practice he will be a pro in no time.
Josh couldn't get enough of the four-wheelers and would hitch a ride any chance he could, no matter who was driving.  Even Megan got in on the action and went for a ride for a while.  It was pretty cold, so she got tired of it pretty quickly.
During all the playing and riding of the kids, Tony and I got to enjoy the company of cousins and family.  It is always fun to relax and bond with the family. 
After we were done visiting we headed over to Tony's parents house where we enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner.
It was really nice visiting with Tony's family and helping get dinner things ready.  Holiday's are so great because you get to spend so much time with family and see extended family that we don't see very often.
The boys had so much fun playing with more cousins and the kids of Tony's cousins.  Not as many people came as they usually do, but it was kind of nice to just be more low key.  Their were lots of good conversations and yummy food.
The boys are still at grandma's house having a sleep over with their cousins.  They love sleep overs and were so happy to be able to have lots of play time with their cousins.  Josh was super cute when we were leaving because he wanted Megan to stay and have a sleepover too.  I thought that was nice of him to want Megan to stay too.  I have such sweet kids.  
I will end my thankful posts with this...I am very thankful for my family, all of them!!!

#20 - Hand-me-downs

Today we got Tony's parents old fridge because they bought a new one.  We bought our fridge right after we were married and it is just a very basic one.  We have wanted a bigger one with an automatic ice maker and water in the door, so we are happy for the upgrade.  Tony and I are never too good for hand-me-downs.

#18 & #19

#18 - Testimonies - I am very thankful for the testimony that I have of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the one and only true church on earth.  I know that The Book of Mormon is a true book.  I know that Jesus died on the cross for you and me.  I am VERY thankful for this testimony, it means the world to me.

#19 - Ice cream.  I asked Tony what we were thankful for today and he said ice cream.  We got back a couple hours a go from Leatherby's.  We went with my sisters, Julie and Wendy, and their families and grandma.  The boys loved going to get ice cream with their cousins and had a super good time.  Megan did really good and enjoyed eating fries and ice cream.  It was a good time for everyone...yum we love Leatherby's.

#17 - Sisters

My sister, Wendy, came into town today with her sweet husband and cute boys.  So Megan and I headed to my parents where they are staying to spend some quality family time.  Tony and our boys went to the movies with Grandma Margie and cousins so they met us at my parents after the show.  I figured Megan wouldn't do so good at the movie, so we stayed back so Tony and the boys could enjoy the show.

Julie, Wendy, my mom and I all went to the fabric store so Wendy, who is pregnant with boy #3, could pick out fabric for my mom to make her some blankets.  Then Julie made all of us Taco Soup and we all ate and hung out at her house.  Sherri came right before dinner and it was so nice to just hang out with all the girls (except Teagan - she was missed).  Don't get me wrong I love my brother, but their is a special bond that a girl has with her sister.

The kids all played so well together and it was so nice to just sit and chat and let all the cousins play.  Megan got fussy and was ready for bed so Tony took her home while the boys and I stayed behind for a little bit longer.  The boys loved playing longer and I enjoyed the company.  

One of the many good things about Thanksgiving...it brings families together!

#16 - Treats

I am grateful to be able to enjoy treats.  I try not to go too wild, but it is nice to enjoy some sugary treat every now and then.  I really enjoy baking treats and trying new recipes.  I think my family likes me baking treats too.  Tis the season for treats and splurging - so bring on the goodies!

#15 - Active Kids

Today I am grateful for my active children.  I don't always think so positively about all their energy and crazy ideas, but I know (deep down) that it is a good thing.  I wouldn't want them any other way.  They always have a good time and they love being physical.  I could really learn a lot from my boys on being active.  Some day I will be as cool as they are.

Tyler has gotten really into jumping off the arm of the couch and bouncing once and then doing a front flip.  He has been doing this every day for a week or so now  I tried to get him to just do the flip from the arm of the chair, but for some reason he thinks he needs to bounce first.
I think he got this idea from his cousin, Landon, when he was at grandma's.  Landon had gotten out the small trampoline and did front flips off the tramp onto a pile of billows and blankets.  

A couple days ago Josh decided that Tyler looked like he was having a good time and joined in the fun.  Lucky for me he decided somersaults were more his style.  Josh does a really good somersault too.  Josh started on the floor but quickly moved to the couch like Tyler.  My boys have some mad skills.

Let's not leave Megan out.  She is super active and busy. She loves exploring the house and finding new things to put into her mouth.  I really have to be active about making sure the house is clean of small things on the floor - and the dogs food and water, that's her favorite.  She is so proud of her self when she crawls from one room to the next.  She just giggles with delight when Tony "chases" her while crawling behind her.  It is super cute.  

Today Megan discovered the dog door.  I think she is totally missing playing outside.  We used to go outside everyday and Megan would crawl all over the grass (trying to eat leaves).  I would put out a big blanket, but she would always just crawl right off and go for those yummy leaves.
She is getting really good at pulling her self up. 
She can now balance with just one hand holding onto things.  She is even trying to go from the fireplace to the chair - but doesn't quite understand that she has to move her feet to do so.  She has started cruising around the fireplace, it is just the right height for her.  It is fun to see her learning so many new things.  My kids are awesome!

#13 & #14

#13 - Neighborhood friends.  This is kind of like my ward, but different.  I have a few ladies that I walk to or from school with, with our kids and then we meet up with another friend who drops of her preschooler.  It is so nice to have ladies to talk to about our kids, husbands, poop, anything really.  I have been able to go out to dinner with a couple of these ladies (Marissa and Bronny) and it was so much fun.  It is so nice to be able to be my self and say what ever I want to say and they will still be my friend and like me for me.  I am so blessed to have such a good friends so close to me. 

#14 - Good food.  I am a big fan of good food.  It makes me happy.  I am pretty sure it makes everyone happy.  I just wish it didn't come with the calories. 

On a side note:  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Tony and I!!!!  9 years today!!!!!  That was such a fun day and we had such a amazing honeymoon.  It was so nice just being together and learning more about each other.  It has been a great nine years and I look forward to many many more to come.  I love you Tony.

#12 - Laptop

It is so nice having the convenience of a laptop.  When I lost my job I had to give up my work laptop and it was super sad.  Then my dad let us borrow his old one, then it broke.  So we decided to spend the money and find us our own laptop.  Tony found a good refurbished one on-line that was a good deal.  It came super fast and we have enjoyed it ever since.  We all just love it.

Anniversary Weekend

Tony and I were super lucky to be able to spend this past weekend celebrating our 9 year wedding anniversary.  It started on Friday afternoon when we dropped all the kids off at Tony's parents where they were to spend the night on Friday and Saturday.
Our first stop was Costco (because that's just how cool we are) where we did some shopping.  It is always nice to go shopping without the kids.  After buying our goods we took them back home.  We did some cleaning and other stuff before we got ready to go out for the evening.  We decided to stop at Walmart to look for a couple things before going to dinner.  We found some snow boots for me and a couple other things.  With all the snow that we got this weekend it made me realize that I needed some boots for when we take Tyler to school in the snow.
Then we headed to Texas Roadhouse where we met up with some friends, Mike and Jackie.  It was fun getting together and seeing them.  We hadn't seen them since last Christmas and they just got engaged.  The food was good (as always) and the company was even better.  After dinner Tony and I went back home and watched a movie that we got from Red Box.
On Saturday we went out for a late breakfast and then headed to the mall to do a little shopping.  We wanted to look for some clothes for the family for family pictures.  We found a sweater for Tyler that we liked and then we got some hand soaps from Bath and Body Works.  Then it was off to The Desert Star Playhouse where we saw a show called, "Wicked-er."  It was kind of lame.  We were pretty disappointed that it wasn't better then it was.  Not sure when we'll go back there again.  But we still had fun doing something that we don't do very often.  After the show we went to Sam's Club (yep, still super cool).  We found a couple things and then decided to go back home for a while.  When we returned the last movie we got a new one, so we decided to watch it.  It was kind of weird being home with no kids for so long.  It was quiet.  I enjoyed the break from the kids, but I am glad that we have them.  They really do complete our lives and we love them a lot.
We decided to go to eat some dinner and ended up at Sizzler.  I really like their salad bar and we had a coupon for steak and salad bar for $10.  So we just ate the salad bar stuff and then took the stakes home to eat another day.  It was pretty good food and it was fun getting out.  Then it was back home for relaxation and another movie.
This morning Tony went to his meeting and then we went to Tony's parents ward to go to church with the kids.  They were very excited to see us and liked to snuggle us all through sacrament meeting.  We all just hung out at Tony's parents house after church until dinner.  Now we are home.  Our three awesome kids are in their beds sleeping and Tony and I our hanging out.  We have a pretty awesome life!

#11 - Friends

Today I am grateful for friends.  My friend list has changed many different times over the years.  I am lucky to still be friends with a great group of friends from high school, but we don't get to see each other very often.  I have some pretty good friends in my ward right now.  It is so nice when your close friends also live close...which is probably why they become close friends.  I am a very social person and love having lots of friends.  I have learned over the years that the amount of friends doesn't matter, it is the quality of the friends that is most important.  It wasn't until I had some really amazing friends that I realized that the friends that I had weren't really very good friends to me.  I feel very blessed to have had so many amazing friends in my life who have taught me what being a true friend is all about.

#8, #9, #10

#8 - Our ward.  I was not a big fan of our ward when we first moved into our house.  It took a couple of years for Tony and I to find our place here.  But now, after almost 9 years, we really love our ward.  We know most the members and have served in many different callings.  We have many friends who have come and gone from the ward and we have felt blessed to know them.  We just had our annual Tasters Table activity and it was so much fun.  It is my most favorite activity of the year.  Good times, go 4th ward.

#9 - Snow - It started snowing yesterday morning and pretty much continued all day long.  It was so pretty.  My boys love to play in the snow and I love it too.  I wish it would snow every day in the winter time.  It is so beautiful and it makes it feel like the holidays.  Tyler asked if it was Christmas yesterday because it snowed.  I love that Utah has all the seasons and I am glad that it is winter now.  I love snow!

#10 - Anniversary - Tony and I have our 9th wedding anniversary on the 14th of this month.  We are celebrating this weekend.  We have been SO SO lucky and blessed to have Tony's parents take our kids for a couple nights each anniversary so that Tony and I can enjoy a couple kid free days.  I look forward to this weekend every year.  I love my kids so much, but it is so nice to have Tony all to myself for a couple days and to just have us time.  We get to go out to eat and take in a show.  We normally stay in a hotel for a couple nights...it is just good fun.  Love our anniversary...love Tony...love Tony's parents for taking good care of our kids while we celebrate.  Here's to 9 years!!!

#7 - Home

Right now as I sit in my nice comfy chair and watch silly television in my nicely warm house it makes me very grateful for my home.  It isn't super big or super fancy, but it works just fine for us.  A lot of our house, like the kitchen, was the original 1958 house.  We're talking pink and green tiled bathroom.  Tony has put in a lot of time (and money) into making our house a place that is updated and pleasing to live in.  Their are things that I wish that I had (like a master bath) but for now this house works out just fine for our little family.  The yard is nice and big for the kids to play and we have plenty of room for all of us.  Almost 9 years ago Tony and I felt that we should put an offer in on this house and we figured that if they accepted it then we were meant to have this house.  So here we are...almost 9 years later...wasn't sure we would stay here this long...but sure feel blessed to have a nice home that we enjoy.

#6 - Independence

Today I am especially grateful for my freedoms and independence.  It was election day today.  Obama vs Romney.  We all got our chance to make our voices heard.  We are able to do many things here in America that others can not do.  I am grateful that with all these freedoms it includes freedom of religion (which will be another post).  I am thankful for the men and women who have risked or given their lives for us to enjoy these freedoms.  I am a firm believer of the free enterprise system and all the blessings that come from that type of economy.  No matter what happens tonight I know that it'll all work out how it's suppose to.  Obama or Romney...it'll all work out.  I love my country!

Day #5 - Gratitude

#5 - Health.  Being healthy is definitely something that I take for granted when we are all healthy.  It is not until one or more of us is sick that I realize how nice it is when we are healthy.  Being healthy is one of the things that I pray for (probably) the most.  Josh has had a tummy ache for the past couple of days and it was the worst today with him throwing up three times.  He still had a good attitude most of the day.  Megan is doing a little bit better, but still has some bad diapers.  I just want my babies to be healthy and happy.  We are all a lot happier when everyone is healthy.  The worst is when I am sick and then kids are sick because then I just have no patience what so ever.
I am also very thankful for modern medicine.  I am so thankful for my doctor and the kids pediatrician.  I love that when we are sick we can go to the doctor and get us medicine that makes us feel better.  I can only hope and pray that we will all be healthy and strong soon...very soon.   

Gratitude #3 & #4

I remembered as I was in bed trying to get to sleep that I forgot to post day 3 of my month of gratitude.  So here I am bright and early Sunday morning sharing a couple more blessings.  We ended Daylight savings this morning, but we're all still on our old schedule and up early.  We will need to work on these kids sleeping in later (especially Megan who was up at 5:30 am).

#3 - My parents and siblings.  I really do enjoy having such a big family.  We have a good time together and love being silly.  My sister Julie and I have a special "understanding" of each others sense of humor and enjoy laughing at our selves.  We have a lot of fun memories growing up since we are closest in age.  I am lucky to have four sisters and one brother.  I enjoy talking to and spending time with all my siblings and even my parents.  I used to go to my parents house at least two times a week when Tyler went to preschool in Murray and it was so nice to see my parents and hang out as friends.  Now I only see them a couple times on month and I miss seeing them more.  I know that if I need anything that my family will come and help.  I am so blessed to have most my family live close and I love when we all get together.

#4 - My in-laws.  I really do love Tony's family.  They have been pretty accepting of me from day one.  They don't always get my sense of humor, but I am used to that.  We have a good time together and my kids just LOVE their cousins.  I really love seeing them on Sundays and it is an extra special treat when everyone can get together since it doesn't happen very often.  Tony's parents have taken us on some pretty awesome vacations as a family and they have been so fun.  Tony's parents genuinely enjoy spending time with their grand kids and it is so fun to see them enjoy being grandparents.  Tony's parents are very supportive and are willing to help out when needed.  Tony's dad has come over and helped us with our house anytime Tony has asked.  I love that Tony has learned so much from his dad about building and fixing things.  Tony's mom has taught Tony to be financially frugal and to do his research before he makes purchases and that is a great skill to have.  Tony's parents really make us all feel special on our birthdays and other days of year with their thoughtfulness.  They have taught us many things and we are very grateful to them.   

The Month of Gratitude

November is the month to be thankful.  Some of my friends are doing a list of all the things they are grateful for each day this month and I think that is a good idea.  I am already a day behind.  I really have been so blessed in my life and I am excited to chart some of these blessings each day until Thanksgiving.

#1 - Tony.  Tony is a great husband and dad.  He is so good to me.  I am so needy and Tony is so good to take care of me and the kids.  I love having him home and I am pretty selfish with his time.  He really seems to enjoy being home and spending time with the family.  He doesn't go out with buddies and ditch his family to do "more fun things" - he is home with his wife and kids (and likes it).  He is willing to help me, our neighbors, our family members or anyone who is in need of help (you just have to ask).
He is a super fun dad, the kids all love him and love to play all over him.  He gets down and plays with his kids, and I love that.  He loves all kids, not just his.  He is the fun uncle who takes the time to play with all the nieces and nephews.
Tony is a hard worker.  He has goals and he will make those goals.  He gets compliments often at work about what a good worker he is and how impressed people are with him.  Tony has a real talents for machines and computers and can take a new piece of equipment and learn it faster then anyone else.  He is a good provider.
Tony has a strong testimony of the church and is a great priesthood holder.  He is always willing to give blessings when needed and knows a lot about the church and the scriptures.  If I every have a question about the scriptures or the church I know that Tony will know the answer.
Tony is also very handy.  He has made our home look so nice with all the updates he's done.  He can do pluming, painting, electrical, work on our cars, and much much more.  He is amazing!  I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband. 

#2 - My kids.  I am so blessed to have three super cute and good kids.  They drive me crazy sometimes and make me yell way too much, but I sure do love them.  Tyler is such a sweet heart.  He asks me for hugs and kisses like twenty times a day.  He is so good with Megan and can be such a good helper.  Josh is so funny.  He has started giving me more hugs and kisses just like Tyler.  He loves to ride his bike and be totally active at everything.  Megan is such a go getter.  She gets so proud of her self when she crawls around the house and pulls up on things.  I feel like I should also mention Koda Dog.  He is like one of our kids.  He really is a good dog and I am so glad that we have him in our lives.  He is such a good protector of our family and is a good companion.  They are such a great bunch of kids and I am so lucky and blessed to have them in my life.