Thanksgiving

It has been ten years since my last Thanksgiving in California. (As a child I remember hearing that phrase "its been 10 years" and thinking jeez you must be old, I guess I am) I am so excited that this year the whole family are flying out on Saturday to spend a week with grandparents, aunts, uncles and lots of cousins. I've missed my Mother's cooking, my Father's tending and enjoying the company of my brothers and sister, I can't wait! Did you know that Thanksgiving (as a kid) used to be one of my favorite holidays? Taylor was surprised to find out that it wasn't anymore. I will give you one guess as to why it is not now that I have my own family..... It is a ton of work!! For the one doing the cooking you don't sit down until you eat and if you are hosting a lot of people you are often up and down throughout your whole meal and unless you have big kids or other families with you, you spend a whole bunch more time cleaning up after all that cooking. I don't have much to complain about being that Taylor does half the cooking and half the cleaning but still Thanksgiving has fallen to second or third in my book of favorites. I think a change in my list may occur after being able to share it again with my family. And no it is not all about the food that makes this holiday in my top three, although I don love the food, I really do love the idea of being thankful and having a holiday where you are all together, there are very few places open, so you just stay at home talking and playing games, and there isn't any let down if you or someone else got this gift or didn't get that one, it just the same for everyone. There is a great sense of love and peace that comes with gratitude. I am so thankful to be going home for Thanksgiving.

On the Wall

I haven't decided what exact pictures are going on the wall, but here are some of my favorites.

We have been studying different things during our family nights that we can do over a period of weeks like the Proclamation to the Family. Most recently it was honesty, we had seven weeks of learning about the different aspects of honesty. It has gone so well we decide to keep it going. So for the next thirteen weeks it will be the Articles of Faith. Last night was the first and as we were talking about the things we can learn from that Article: "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." We were talking about God and Jesus having a body. Then Taylor talked about the Holy Ghost and his roll and said that he doesn't have a body. Dale started snickering so we all looked at him and he said/asked, "you mean he is just a floating head?". We all had a good laugh, kids are so great. P.S. Happy Birthday Taylor!!!!!

I'm Trendy!

Its true I am trendy, I never thought I would be able to say that about myself. I just read that purple is a "totally hot color" for home decorating. Remember my wall? Which by the way the color isn't so bright anymore, just like the Home Depot guy said it would take a couple weeks for its true color to show, it was a little scary for a while. Anyway I have never been one of the first to do something and I will admit I was just being stubborn because I really like purple so I lucked out! Which has taught me even as awkward as we all may feel sometime with our style, it will come around to you eventually.

74 degrees today

I told you this is the place with ever changing weather, you really can not predict what the weather will be like unless you predict that it will be unpredictable. It has been in or close to the 70's all week with today the high of 74, cool isn't it?!

Snow Day!!

The kids got the day off today because of the mass amount of snow received yesterday and through the night. So yes of course they had to play, play, play, snow clothes on and off four kids 3 times already, its a wonder I ever got out of my pj's. I have to laugh though after being in New York this just seems a normal everyday amount (it equaled about a foot). Although in New York it would never melt which is why it is so much fun living here because with in just a couple of days it will be gone and it could be 70 degrees again.

Super Saturday

Supper Saturday's are so much fun! Isn't this cute, we also made necklaces and hair bows and of course Christmas decorations. Taylor is off for another week in New Mexico he'll be back for Halloween and then on Sunday I think the kids and I will drive down for his last few days while they pack up the laser. We will enjoy Santa Fe and other places around Albuquerque, I love that area and my kids have never been so I am pretty excited, I hope it works out. I guess its bed time, I get to do another Sunday with no hubby, oh joy! I never have him for the pre-church struggle, but he takes over through meetings, I will miss that.

paint color

The paint color looks much brighter then it is. It actually resembles the first picture with just one spot done then the others. I got a satin finish so it just picks up the light from my flash and I don't know how to turn my flash off. Taylor really doesn't like the color from the pictures. Hopefully he will like it when he gets back.

Paint with a touch of Pain

Taylor is out of town and I decided to paint, we have been in our house for almost two years and with the exception of a few pictures, emphasis on a few, some grimy hand prints and a couple wholes and a dent or two, the walls look about the same.. Boring! Well I had Taylor move the piano before he left so the final pictures will have to wait tell he gets home. These pictures with the flash make the color look brighter than it really is. Anyway we have a plastic office mat that we keep under our piano so that the bench will slide easily and the carpet wont wear by the pedal. Well I had it in the center of the floor away from the wall with the prongs side up, and I can't tell you how many times I accidentally stepped on it with bare feet. But the last straw before I finally turned it over (I know the first time I should have done it) I was hurrying to get the phone and jumped off the ladder with enough forward motion I couldn't jump off to the side I had to take the two extra steps to get off it. Honestly it has been about 2 hours since that happened and my feet are still tingling. Yes I know I don't sound very bright oh well.

Inspiration

I was reading a friends blog this morning and she totally inspired me to be better. Here are some of my thought/goals. 1) Stop raising my voice even if that means I have to climb up the stairs more often to get me kids attention. 2) Read one truly educational thing a month. 3) I want to run 3 miles in 27 minutes, and swim 3000 meters in an hour. My goal is to have these things in practice by the end of the year. It will take effort but I know a little with a little work I can do it. What are your goals??

To answer Marie's question...

Heck NO! I will not go so far as saying that we can't have another child but I will say that there will have to be some heavenly influence before I will take that leap again. Two boys and two girls just feels so nice especially when I think of being pregnant again. But if anyone out there wants to be pregnant for me, I would gladly raise 3 or 4 more. :)

We now close the short but eye opening "Dog Diaries"

So yes my dog days have come to an end. We have said good bye to our little pup who has received a great home but a the name of "Fluffy" although she likes her new family she told me it will take a while to get used to that name. For all those thinking of a dog in all my research here are some things I didn't find out until we had one. A one year old a water bowl and dog food do not mix!!! I could not believe how stressed I was every time I left the house, I was constantly rushing to finish errands so we wouldn't be leaving her home to long. And dog accidents stressed me out so much, not because of cleaning up the mess but because in all the books I read said that if the dog messes in the house it is almost like starting the house training over. The other down falls is in our area, Colorado in general people are very unforgiving of any hint of dog mistreatment. So if you work you can't leave your dog outside during the day. I wasn't about to have a BIG dog in my house so that is why we opted for a small dog. Well what I didn't know until after is that you can't leave a small dog outside alone at all because of the hawks we have in our area. So anytime I had to feed a baby, change a load of laundry put dishes away or the worst one (which I forgot about everyday) was changing diapers, I would have to kennel the dog. Daily I would end up being in the middle of a yucky diaper and the dog would come try to get her nose in it. So I would have a baby with a dirty bum trying to get away from me, a diaper full of gross stuff and a dog jumping all over me trying to get to the "treasure". So for some of you that may sound like things you can handle and I will say go for it because dogs and animals in general are very fun to watch they do help with stress while playing with them. It just isn't for me right now. FYI, my 8 and 7 year old were supper responsible they walked her daily and cleaned up all the outside messes. And although they were attached they got over her in a couple of days, which was my biggest stress in getting her a new home.

Dog Diaries

We keep her, we get rid of her, we keep her, we get rid of her. Right now we are getting rid of this darling fur ball. It is unfortunate because she truly is better then I could imagine for dog temperament, but come to discover I am so not a dog person, at least at this point in my life. I'll admit I feel a little guilty about it, I didn't think I would but I guess its all the postings on craigslist that criticize people like me for doing what I'm doing. I wasn't careless at all about getting a dog I had thought a lot about it, read a lot about the responsibilities of dog ownership and I talked to a lot of dog owners. You just really don't know what it is like until you have one. So any of you who have done what I am about to do, I understand, and for those who think what I am doing is totally irresponsible, I am sorry! I wish all you dog owners good luck! I will let you know if anything changes with the Dog Diaries.

Exciting, New and Terrifying things!!!

Hair cut -Exciting! She really does love it -New! And we did it, I really never thought we would actually become a dog family -Terrifying! But the kids just love her, and she is so sweet and good. She is a designer breed called a Teddy Bear which is a mix of Pure bread Bichon Frise and Pure bread Shihtzu.

One Huge Birthday Party

We Celebrated! Jasmin turned 1, Dale turned 7 and I turned 29 for the first time. Some of our great friends, Water slide (Thanks Tuki!) Ladder Ball and a lot of relaxing on my new hammock, good thinking Taylor. Lots of Rock Band, mostly for the teenagers, he he he Ice Cream Cake Now I am happy! and Presents, Jasmin LOVES stuffed animals.

The last couple months

First time mowing the lawn. How my boys play with there sister. "I feel sick!" (notice the Tylenol she is holding) Day Camp, he had so much fun!! As you can tell dental hygene hasn't been our first priority. :) Double rainbows, (I love, love, love the weather here in CO!) Climbing trees, Playing with cousins and stealing veggie chips. Being amazed that Tuki (my mom) is actually VERY good at paddle ball. Cool guitar playing uncle Jared, Birthday parties, Pretty girls, Crazy dances, Rocking to sleep, Baptism! First day of scouts!