Happy Thanksgiving

I have very much enjoyed thinking of five things to be grateful for the past eleven days. We are having a quiet Thanksgiving dinner with just us and thinking about our friends and family far away and close by. Since it is Thanksgiving I thought I'd double my gratitude list for today:

1. We are almost finished putting up the Christmas decorations
2. Old and new family traditions
3. My brother who leaves such wonderful comments on this blog
4. My sister even though she NEVER calls and has deserted us for Christmas
5. My mom who is usually not here for this holiday
6. Christmas music- it always lifts the spirit
7. Even though just about everyone in our house has a cold they are all pretty pleasant to be around
8. All three little kids were so excited to put up the tree and decorate it
9. My husband- what would I ever do without him, he is the love of my life
10. My children- I really never thought parenting would make me stretch myself so much and who could ever make me laugh and want to pull out my hair as much as them

I could go on and on but I will just say I am really focusing on all of our blessings today. It was just one short year ago that our family was in a difficult place and how grateful I am to have peace in my heart today!!

Gratitude Day Two

1. Ken stayed home from work so I could rest
2. Hayden chose to do service instead of going to Taekwondo
3. Ryker got all the Christmas stuff down and put up the tree
4. Naps
5. My mom will do most of the cooking tomorrow

Gratitude Day Three

1. My cousin Lori had her baby
2. A wonderful e-mail from a great friend
3. Ryker watched the little kids so I could rest today
4. The beautiful snow outside
5. I'm feeling slightly better

Gratitude Day Four

Can I just say how much I hate being sick!! The older I get the less tolerant I am of any kind of physical ailment. Seriously, I don't know how people who have real, life-altering diseases do it. It is not fun being sick with a one and a half year old little terrorist!! On the sunnier side of things:

1. Ryker seems to be over his little tirade and back to smiling and being helpful
2. Thanksgiving is almost here and we are putting up the tree that day
3. I am abundantly blessed with good friends and family who completely "get" me
4. All of our physical wants and needs are met 100%
5. The constant leaking of Jack's diaper is keeping my sheets cleaner that ever

I should clarify Jack does sleep in his own bed. It just so happens to be next to our bed and some nights he climbs in with us. What can I say he's my last one!!

Gratitude Day Five

1. I felt well enough to go to church today
2. Ken will be at work tomorrow!!!
3. The beautiful snow we had today
4. The wonderful young women we have at church
5. I get to serve with the best sisters ever!!

Gratitude Day Six

1. Time to put away the laundry
2. A nice hot bath
3. The ability to lose myself in a good book
4. Healthy children
5. Ken and Hayden helping out our good friends this morning

Gratitude Countdown Day Seven

1. A yummy dinner with a great friend
2. Good books that are always better than the movie
3. A giant washer and dryer
4. Watching my little kids singing and dancing around the house
5. The New Era which has great articles about how to bring youth closer to the Savior

Gratitude Day Eight

Okay, first off I have to say how my day started. That would be with Ryker chewing my a** this morning about how I've ruined his life and I am the reason that he is behind in school, has a limited resource of friends, and has a messed up sleep schedule. According to him, his life was going perfectly fine at this time last year and if we had just left him alone and listened to his parenting advice everything would have turned out just peachy. Seriously people, I have to say that even coming home from working out tonight I had a brief though about how nice it would be to have a nice cold Killian's Red (for those not familiar- my favorite beer from days long past!). I'm having major issues with all or nothing thinking and having a hard time implementing all the great parenting skills I've learned over the last year. It is really days like today that can have me a paralyzed mess on the couch just losing myself in pointless television shows- so I am grateful that:
1. I committed to having a gratitude list that is somewhat public
2. Sweat- I know it's weird but working up a good sweat feels somehow cleansing to me
3. Wonderful families who will invite us to spend time with them
4. That my girls had such a great time playing over at a friends today
5. That when I'm really ticked off I like to clean so my house is looking pretty spiffy today!!

Gratitude Countdown Day Nine

1. My little Jack no longer has a fever and is smiling
2. Ken took the day off of work
3. Free step aerobics classes courtesy of Elmendorf AFB and 18 well served years in the military
4. Hayden thanking me for making his favorite dinner
5. Having the great privilege of working with the young women at church- a true inspiration to me

I love this gratitude stuff. Truly, I don't know many other things that can either enhance an already good attitude or change a grumpy one!! Thanks to Eden and Debbie for participating- I love reading what you are both grateful for- it inspires me!

Gratitude Day Ten

My five things for the day
1. Computers to stay in touch with friends and family
2. The beautiful frosty trees that are outside today
3. The little giggles that come from my children
4. Great homeschooling programs
5. Anti-lock brakes

Eleven Days of Gratitude

Okay, so it's eleven days until Thanksgiving so I thought I would post 5 things each day that I am grateful for. Anyone who is game feel free to join me- I'm sure we'll all be better for it:)
1. Good friends
2. Ken is almost finished working nights
3. Today is almost over
4. I have a giant bathtub
5. A clean floor- which I only have because Jack dumped out the dog's water bowl

I'm sure as the days progress I can think of more meaningful things but frankly it was a bit difficult today!

Autumn's Birthday

We had a great night tonight celebrating Autumn's birthday a few days early. Sunday's seem to be the only days when we are all home in the evening!! I love the simple family party and for right now the kids don't seem to mind. Marah and Autumn always get a present on each others birthdays so both the girls are playing sweetly with the Barbie Princess doll for Marah and Snow White for Autumn. I so enjoy those little giggles coming from the other room! I love days like today- I feel like one incredibly lucky lady!!

A month in review

Here's an update on our latest happenings: Halloween was great. We used things around the house for costumes and the kids had a great time trick or treating around our neighborhood. Actually, Marah didn't want to go trick or treating so she helped hand out candy and of course we all helped eat it! Hayden had some friends spend the night and they had a great time playing Guitar Hero World Tour on the wii. I love the wii- it is something everyone in our family can use together which is not easy with big and little kids!! My favorite thing so far has been watching Hayden on drums, Ryker on guitar, and Ken singing. The best part is they all have to work together which is a great lesson for Ken and Ryker who prefer to work alone! Hayden came in second place at his taekwondo tournament. He would have been the grand champion but he decided not to participate in sparring because he just got his braces on a few days prior. He also loves school and it is so great to see him excelling in that area. Ryker is actually doing his school work online and it seems to be working for him. He is mostly a pleasure to be around which thrills us all especially when we were in such a bad place with him a year ago! The little girls are the best of friends and love to draw and make little books. Jack is a maniac and I'm so glad I can find humor most of the time with his little antics- like dumping out all our powdered milk on the floor the other day! Ken and I are embracing a healthier lifestyle with better eating habits and exercise. He has lost 15lbs and I've lost 19lbs. I love yoga and step aerobics and Ken loves his 10 minute exercise plan! I'll leave that explanation for another day!! I'm thrilled for this election to be over and cannot even describe how I felt watching Barack Obama give his acceptance speech. I though it was a defining moment in history and can't wait to see what happens next. I also thought John McCain showed so much integrity in the speech he gave. He showed true class in how to handle a situation when it doesn't turn out the way you want! That's it for now- I truly appreciate all the comments that are left on our blog so keep posting them!!