Full of Thanks: Week 3

I fell behind, so I'll be a little more brief.

November 13 - November 19

13) Pictures: I love taking and looking at pictures. I'm grateful that we have the technology to capture special moments and are able to look back on them later. It's also neat to see pictures of ancestors I have never met and put a face to the name and stories I hear about.

14) Chocolate: Do I really need to explain myself? It's delicious. It makes me happy. It's the best medicine. (Yes, the picture below is me.)

15) Music: I love music. It can bring peace, happiness, and just plain fun to your life. It has such an emotional pull and life would be silent and boring without it. I am grateful to have been able to learn the piano and clarinet. I also enjoyed learning to play the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone, and other "pit" instruments while in high school. And although I'm far from a soloist, I am thankful to have been blessed with a voice that knows how to sing in tune.

16) Games: I grew up in a family who always came together to play games - both card and board games as well as sports. We always have such a great time laughing and being competitive. I love how games bring out some people's "true" personalities. (Don't you love my badminton action shot?)

17) Internet: There are so many reasons to be thankful for the internet. There is so much information as the disposal of our fingertips. It's also a quick, easy way to send a letter (although nothing ever beats getting something in the mail) and communicate. I also love how we can easily share things with others. It can be a scary thing, but I hope that people learn to use it for the good that it can do.

18) Skype: This somewhat goes along with the internet, but I feel that it deserves its own category. Skype is so amazing. Even though I'm hundreds of miles away from family, we can still talk AND see each other whenever we want. I know this especially makes Olivia's grandparents happy to be able to see her growing and moving and talking.

19) Technology: This encompasses the first and last two things I said in this post, but it also includes much, much more. I am grateful for the brilliant minds out there who continue to invent and figure out how to make things work to make our lives easier. It's amazing to see what has come out just in the last 5-10 years. I'm not a very tech savvy person, but I give a huge thanks to those who are.

Dancing Queen

Olivia LOVES music. She loves to dance when she hears music. When a song comes on, she flips her head around to me, gives a huge grin, and starts to boogie. Paul and I will snap our fingers when we dance with her and she tries her hardest to do it as well.

A few days ago, we were sitting at the table eating dinner and decided to play some music in the background. Olivia loved it and danced like crazy in her booster seat. I had to capture this on camera, but Olivia thought I was taking a picture of her instead of a video so she posed with a cheesy grin for me. This video cracks me up every single time I watch it.

Paul had to use his phone to video her dancing and trying to snap since she doesn't know to pose for that camera.

And here's a video I took of her dancing to "The Elmo Slide" back in September that I never posted.

Full of Thanks: Week 2

November 6 - November 12

6) Eternal Families: I feel blessed to have been able to be married and sealed to Paul for time and all eternity and to know that my children are born into that covenant. I am so grateful to know that I will be able to be with my family in the eternities. It wouldn't make sense to take away such great love at death. I am thankful our Father in Heaven has provided a way for us to be reunited in the next life. It gives me great comfort to know this truth.

7) Temples: This one kind of goes along with my previous one. Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are such beautiful and sacred places. There is always a sense of love and peace on the temple grounds. The work that goes on within the walls of the temple is a great and marvelous work that teaches us how to return to Heavenly Father's presence. Being in the temple helps me feel closer to Him and I have received answers to questions I have had in my life just by being there and feeling closer to His spirit.

Columbia, SC Temple with parents & siblings: November 3, 2007

Atlanta, GA Temple with Jayne (MIL) & Olivia: April 16, 2011

Salt Lake City, UT Temple with Olivia: May 13, 2011

8) Friends: I have had many friends in my life. Some have come and gone and others are still in my life. Whether they are still in my life or not, I am grateful for them and the role they have played in my life. I have had many good and crazy times. I have also had sad and other not-so-great times. Each friend has left a footprint on my heart and I will never forget them. Friends are so uplifting and it is a special feeling to know that a friend is willing to help you in any way they can. Thank you friends!!! (Disclaimer: Just because you didn't make it in one of the pictures below doesn't mean you aren't an important friend...I just grabbed the first few good ones I came across. Otherwise, it would've taken me forever to look for and upload pictures.)

Best Friend from High School

St. Patty's Day with one of my college roomies and friends from home

I miss having this big group together. We had great times!

College Best Friends & Roomies

Some of the Atlanta Ladies

Picnic with the Scherers

The Bartons...LOVE them!

9) Education: I have been very fortunate in the education I have received. It is so important to strengthen your mind. I am thankful to have been able to receive a college education. I am grateful to my parents for helping to make that happen by supporting and encouraging me all the way through. I try to continue my education in my own ways even though I am no longer in school. It has kind of been put on hold now that I'm a full-time mother, but I guess you can say I'm still learning tons on how to be a good wife and mother and raise a child.

10) Baking: This may seem like a weird thing to be thankful for, but I have my reasons. I love creating yummy treats to stuff my face with; I have a huge sweet tooth. I also love sharing them with others. But the real reason I love baking is because it makes me think of the girls in my family. My mom, sister, and I have had great times baking with each other in the kitchen. We have a tradition to bake TONS of goodies 2 days before Christmas and we have so much fun doing it. We have since added daughters and sisters-in law who help in the tradition. I love jamming to music and working in the kitchen with my gals. Here are some pictures from Christmas Baking 2008. I have better pictures of us baking, but not on the computer. I need to scan those pictures on here!

Rolling peanut butter balls: Tiffany, Mom, Alexis, Courtney

Cookies: Rebecca & Ginnie

Dipping chocolate: Me & Tiff

11) Jobs: While going to work isn't the ideal way to spend time for most people and I would rather have my husband home than at work, I am grateful for jobs. I am so glad that Paul has a job that supports our family, especially when there are so many who are without employment. Because of jobs, we are able to eat, have shelter, and be clothed.

12) Calendars: This may seem silly and trivial, but I don't know what I would do without my calendar. I used to have a steel-trap memory, but that has gone away some since I've become an adult (I'm guessing it's due to the fact that I have more things to worry about than I used to: a husband, kids, bills, etc.).

Big Helper

We got a new sofa bed from Ikea last week and we love it! Because it was from Ikea, it needed a little assembling. I took Olivia to Target while Paul worked on it, but he wasn't quite finished when we returned home. It turned out Olivia loved helping Daddy work with the tools.

After everything was put together, she walked around with the screwdriver touching everything making grunting noises like she was fixing everything.

Full of Thanks: Week 1

In lieu of the Thanksgiving Holiday, I am going to list something for each day this month that I am thankful for. Instead of posting a blog every single day, I'll do it weekly. Let's hope I keep up with this!

November 1-5, 2011

1) Paul: I am so grateful to have a husband who loves me so much and is a wonderful father. He works hard to provide for our family so that I can stay home with Olivia (and soon Ethan as well). I have been very blessed to have a man who holds and honors the priesthood (if any of you don't know what that is, just ask and I'll be glad to share).

2) Olivia and Ethan: Being a mother is such an honor. The joy a child brings to your life is indescribable. I love watching Olivia grow and develop each day. She is so fun to have in our family. I also can't believe how much I already love this little boy developing inside of me. I am so excited to know that he will be joining our family in a few months. It is also a huge relief to know that both of my children are healthy and strong.

3) Parents: I seriously have the best parents in the world. I am so grateful for the close relationship I have with each of my parents individually. I feel I can talk to them about anything and know they will help me in any way they can. They have been strong, solid examples in my life and I'm so thankful they taught me the right way to live.

4) Siblings: I also have the best siblings in the world. Yes, we drive each other up the wall at times, but I love them so much. My brothers and sister aren't just my siblings, they are my best friends...they honestly are. I love the relationship I have with each one of them and their spouses.

5) In-laws: Many people have in-laws who drive them crazy. I'm not saying mine can't be crazy (we all can be), but I'm happy to be able to call them family. It feels so good to have been welcomed so warmly into a second family. We've only been family for 3.5 years, but we have an eternity to continue to get to know each other and I can't wait. (There have been 3 additions since the picture below was taken, but I don't have one of every single one of us...YET!)

October Festivities

Now for the October festivities...

My friend, Tarin, hosted a Halloween party play group and it was so fun.

Before we left for the party.

(FYI: Olivia's shirt is actually a dress that I pinned up. I couldn't find any safety pins, so I used bobbie pins and barrettes. Don't judge me! She also has spurs to put on her boots, but I accidentally broke one of them, so she's not wearing them here. I got super glue to fix it so she could wear it to the Trunk or Treat later.)

Tarin always has fun and yummy treats.

The kids made masks and were sent home with a goodie bag. Thanks to Tarin for a fun and successful play group party!

We had a Trunk or Treat at church the Saturday before Halloween. It turned out great and everyone seemed to enjoy it. There was yummy food, activities for the kids, and musical entertainment.

The kids are all gathered around a fake fire. It had this paper-type stuff that glowed and blew around like flames. I think they were more interested in that than the songs. Ha ha!

Olivia didn't quite get the concept of trick-or-treating. She loved being outside. She loved carrying her pumpkin bucket around. And she loved playing with the mulch even after we showed her that people put candy in her bucket if she goes up to them. Oh well! When she did get candy in her bucket, she wanted to carry it in her hands instead. So imagine a little cowgirl with a pumpkin bucket dangling from her arm with fists full of candy and you have Olivia. She's hilarious.

Our bishop is a dermatologist and had this as part of his trunk decoration. I thought it was great!

And a picture for Grandma Jayne wearing the shirt she gave her for Halloween.