Thanksgiving

We decided to spend Thanksgiving at our own home this year. We were so blessed with several invitations, one from my parents only a few hours away, and another from Evan's brother who lives minutes away. Both places were going to be crowded with family and so I decided I wasn't up for crowds and just wanted to stay in the comfort of my own home. I felt bad declining both invitations. I don't know what my deal is. I guess just plain overwhelmed these days.

We invited some close friends to spend the day and feast with us. The nice part about the company we were having is they are a lot like me. Jana even offered to bring the paper plates. We did use glass dishes but it was nice to not have the expectations of a fancy dinner. I do what I can these days and am barely getting by. You put any kind of expectation on me and I think I will crack. Jana brought the potatoes, rolls, and some pies and I cooked a turkey, made stove top stuffing, some more pies, deviled eggs, and a few other things. It was so nice and relaxing and I got to keep the left-overs. I sent some home with Jana, I wasn't totally selfish.

We did some Thanksgiving crafts with the kids and then played games afterwards. We enjoyed our new porch with the lights while the kids were able to play outside even after dark. It was really nice, very relaxing, and some very good food. Jana is an amazing cook. And I'm getting enough practice that I surprise myself sometimes about how tasty my cooking turns out.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thankful #24 Rules

I am thankful for rules. I never cheat on my taxes. I always try to observe the speed limit. I like to play games and follow the rules and I can't stand a cheater. I like math because it follows rules. I try to follow the 10 commandments and more. But I don't like being told what to do. So why do I like rules? They make life easier and safer. They give me freedom. Being told what to do takes my freedom away. I guess it is all about agency. Maybe I really don't know what I am talking about. But I like rules and I am thankful for them.

Thankful #23 Sisters

I come from a big family, I have 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Okay, my family really isn't very big when you bring up Evan's family. He has 11 brothers and 4 sisters. But we aren't talking about his HUGE family.

I am thankful for my sisters. I have two of the best sisters. My little sister, Bonnie moved here from Vegas about 2 months ago and lives about 45 minutes from me. She has visited me numerous times and I have had so much fun hanging out with her. She even likes hanging out with my kids. My family adores her and looks forward to every time we get to see her. Yesterday we went to see her new place and because her place isn't accustomed to 6 intruders under the age of 10, we headed to a park. We played chase at the park and it was so much fun to play. I loved chasing my kids and having them chase me. And I must say, Danielle is amazing. That girl was so sneaky and quick and tagged my numerous times. I tried as hard as I could and she almost always managed to tag me. I could outrun everyone else. It is fun to have Bonnie around because she seem to bring out the playfulness in me.

My other sister, Dorias, is three years older then me and lives a few hours away. She had children before I had children. And then when I had children and didn't know what the heck I was doing, she helped me figure it out. She also started calling me often as soon as I started being a stay-at-home mom. I guess I was more interesting once I was doing the same things she was doing - taking care of little ones. It is so nice to have her calls, she is so good at keeping up with me because I am not good at making those calls. It is fun to talk with her, learn from her, bounce ideas off of her, and just have a good chat. She has so many ideas and has helped me become a lot of the involved parent that I am.

Yah, I'm pretty lucky. I didn't always think so growing up as I used to tie Dorias to the bed with my belts and ribbons while she slept. Or sprinkle baking soda on Bonnie's tongue. Wipe deodorant across her tongue, too. Or have to use tape to draw a line down the middle of the bed to keep Dorias on her side. But as we grew up, we began to enjoy each other. Dorias was there as I was maturing. I was there for Bonnie, but I think I did more damage as I freaked her out by my exaggerated stories. I always loved you, Bonnie, and always will. I was just a teenager having fun.

I am very thankful for my sisters.

Thankful #22 No School

I am thankful for no school. No school means my kids are home. We don't have to get up on schedule, we can all go for a bike ride or walk around the neighborhood together, and we can do whatever we want, whenever we want. With the exception of the store. We still go but it is altogether crazy. We have this whole week off from school for Thanksgiving Break, and it has been wonderful. Monday we went to the zoo together, Tuesday we went and saw my sister, and today we did most of the cooking for Thanksgiving (can you tell I am back-dating this post?). It has been so much fun. We haven't had to go to bed at bedtime. If course I still didn't get to sleep in, but I didn't have to hurry and get up and get ready and get everyone ready, hurry and make sure all had food in their bellies. It is so much more relaxed. Plus, we are having wonderful weather, 80 degrees! The kids have been playing outside. I even kicked them outside while I shampooed the carpets today. Oh, wait. This post is about being together and having the kids at home, not kicking them outside while I stay inside. Well, you get the jist if it. I love having my kids around, even if they are outside playing while I'm inside playing/working.

Thankful #21 Porch

A few weeks ago we added a porch onto the back of our home. It has been so enjoyed. The kids get a few more hours of shade in the afternoons. They can play outside when it is raining. Turn the ceiling fans on and it keeps the flies away. We've had dinners out there and really enjoyed having lighting outside. When the kids are able to stay up late, we can turn the flood lights on and they can stay playing outside. So nice to have. I am thankful for my back porch!

My baby hasn't been so happy, so I didn't get a chance to clean-up from yesterday's play. Yes, it is a mess, but the kids sure had fun making the mess!

Thankful #20 Playset

I am very thankful for the great play set I have in my backyard. It was a Christmas present from my parent three years ago. It has been played with on a nearly daily basis. It has kept my kids active, kept them outside when I needed a little quiet time, and been so much fun.

Here is a video when they kids opened the blinds that Christmas morning and saw the play set outside. I love watching Camie's reaction!

Thankful #19 Quilts

Quilts have become a part of my children's lives. They each have their own quilt, made by someone special.

It started with Taneal's baby quilt made by Evan's sisters, Reyna and Trina. Taneal loved that quilt until it started fraying around the edges and getting holes in it. I finally talked her into putting it away in my cedar chest.

I would have gotten a picture of Camie's quilt, made by Aunt Diane, but she is wrapped up in it. She loves that quilt and sleeps with it every night.

Evan and I made Danielle's quilt. It is a simple tied quilt. But I was impressed that Evan was willing to stay up late one night with me when we lived in St George, and tie it. Danielle doesn't care much about that quilt, but that could be said about anything that Danielle has.

Amie in St George made Spencer's quilt. It is the best quilt, so cozy and comfortable.

Kate in St George made Nathan's quilt, except she made if for Spencer. She was going to embroiderer Spencer's name on it, but we couldn't decide what we were going to name him so she left that part off. I'm glad she did because Spencer took to the quilt made by Amie and Nathan loves the quilt that Kate made him. So thankful for their generosity.

And now to Gavin's quilt. I received two. One that the 10 and 11 year-old girls from church made me. They spent their service hours making this beautiful quilt. I am so thankful for their leaders who helped and encouraged them. I love that they learned to serve (Service is one of my thankfuls coming in a few days).

And then the quilt that my sister made for me. She is really good at quilting. Click on the picture and take a close-up at the squares she embroidered. WOW! It is beautiful and hours of time went into this creation. Thank you!

Quilts are a big part of my life. I have the afghans from my Granny and Gramps who are now passed on, that they gave me as a child. I was fortunate to get two (the only one of the 21 grand kids to get two) because they gave me a smaller version of the "goy goy" because I wet the bed. They wanted me to have one, just not a nice one that I pee on every night. After I outgrew my bed wetting problem, they gave me a nicer one that I have and use today. And my little bed wetter gets to use the other one.

My mom made Evan and I a quilt that we used on our bed for probably a good 8 years until Evan's heels rubbed a hole in it (sorry Mom, it was well used). We also have the quilt we received as a wedding gift from Evan's sister Reyna's mother-in-law. We used that for several years and still pull it out when company comes.

I am thankful for quilts. All the memories they hold. All the warmth they bring. And all the comfort they will give in years to come.

Thankful #18 Pictures

How could I remember anything without pictures? My mom bought me my first camera when I was 12. I have been taking pictures ever since. I started real scrapbooking about the time I got married. I have pictures all over my house. I love pictures because of the stories they tell. And I love blogging and sharing pictures because eventually I have my blog made into a book and it tells my story. It is my new form of scrapbooking since I no longer have time to do the cutsie scrapbooks that are so much fun. I love pictures and am so thankful for them.

These are some of the pictures I have around my house, or projects with pictures that I am working on.

I take bath pictures of my kids around the age of 6 months and hang them in the bathroom. So fun to remember how they looked at the young age.

Caramel Apples

No, Nathan doesn't wear glasses. Evan brought home a box full of glasses with no prescription in the lenses. Nathan has had so much fun wearing them. I am surprised at how long he keeps them on.

I have never made caramel apples before. Bonnie said it was a tradition of hers and offered to come make them with us. At least that is how I remember it. Hopefully I didn't seize an opportunity to have Bonnie come hang out with us and make her share a sticky, messy, yummy tradition with us. We had a lot of fun. I dipped my apple in Skor pieces and it was so yummy! I think I want to copy this tradition and make it one of my own.

Nathan decided to eat his apple before it was dipped in anything. It was a plain 'ol apple on a stick and he ate nearly the whole thing. I wish I could follow his example.

I know I went a little crazy with the pictures, but I thought they were all so good! Maybe it is because they deal with the yummiest dessert ever.

Thankful #17 My Car

I am thankful for my car. I will not call it the truck that Evan insists that it is. I swore I would never drive a Suburban. But what have I always said? Children make you eat your words. And eating them I am.

When we found out we were expecting Gavin, we knew we needed to do something about our car situation. The minivan I was driving would only seat 7 (and the a/c had gone out and would cost thousands to fix) and we were going to be 8. I loved my minivan. It was good to me. It was easy to load and unload little children. But it just wasn't big enough. And, the older kids were starting to fight in the back becuase they were getting a little squished. Their bodies were getting big and not fitting quite as nicely.

We decided a minivan was no longer appropriate for our family. We needed something bigger. We searched and searched and finally found the Suburban that I am driving. I have loved having the extra space. It seats 9. I can take extra kids with me places, my children aren't so packed in that they can't help but fight. It has a ton of cargo space in the back. It is so nice.

Now here's the complaining. It is so dang BIG! I have learned to park it and other cars pretty much move out of my way. But it is so tall that I have to lift the baby carrier chest level to put Gavin in. I'm a wimp! That is one heavy carrier. And Nathan climbs all the way to the trunk while I am lifting Gavin in. He hides in the back and refuses to come out until I put the seat down and climb back there and trap him. Then I have to get him back to the middle and strap him in. It is no small job. And Spencer so sweetly gets in his seat and does exactly what he is supposed to do. But when the kids go to get out of the car in a parking lot, they swing open those doors and luckily we haven't whacked the car parked next to us. The Suburban is just not small kid friendly. It is wonderful for my older kids, just not for the little, dependant, carefree ones.

I really am thankful for my car. It carries my family, has A/C, a great radio, and makes me feel big on the road. It will be even better as my little ones grow and can get themselves buckled.

Thankful #16 Traditions

Traditions are what makes a family special. It is what we remember when we are adults. It is what we miss when we are away from home. And I love traditions. We have several traditions in our family: Christmas pajamas. Gingerbread houses at Christmas. Halloween cookies and decorations. 4th of July flag dessert. 4th of July nails painted as flags. Birthday balloons. Birthday dinners. Christmas Advent calendars. Father's blessing for back-to-school. And my mind is drawing a blank as to other traditions.

Traditions are what keep the children wanting to come home. They are fun. They create memories. And as long as they traditions are enjoyed, keep 'em coming!

Halloween Bartering

It really was fun to have Bonnie spend Halloween with us. Nathan had no interest going trick-or-treating, he wanted to stay with Evan and pass out candy. So Bonnie and Danielle went around with Nathan's Halloween bucket and collected candy for him. And then Nathan fell asleep on the way home. Bonnie sort of laid claim to Nathan's Halloween bucket. Bonnie is really wonderful, but when you wave chocolate in her face and maybe a Butterfinger, she reverts back to her childhood years when you had to fight to keep your candy. You had to be sneeky or smart. At least she was mature about it and didn't just tackle my kids and take their candy. She dipped into Nathan's candy bucket and bartered his candy for better candy. He was asleep so he couldn't protest. I think after a while she realized how funny the situation was and only ate a few pieces. I was fine with her taking the whole bucket home, but I think she felt silly. Hopefully she was able to get her candy fill and enjoyed the evening. We sure had fun having her here and the kids just can't get enough of her.

I love having her live close. And I love that my kids are having so much fun with Bonnie and Jarom here. I just hope we aren't too overwhelming for them. Six kids all at once even overwhelms me! I should probably keep the chocolate in the house to bribe her to keep coming over!

Thankful #15 Newborn Poop

Okay, I know that's weird. Very weird. And I have never admitted this to anyone but my sister Bonnie, and I did it to make her laugh. I think she just thought I was strange. But it is true. I love newborn poop. Not the kind that is from formula. Not the older stuff that stinks so bad. The stuff that means your baby is healthy. I haven't really used bottles with any of my children, so I never know how much they eat. So, I watch their diapers to make sure they are getting enough. I also can tell if something is wrong by that baby poop. And it cracks me up to watch a baby poop, I love the "poop face".  And over the years of dealing with baby poop, I love that the newborn, breastfed baby poop doesn't stink. In fact, I kind of secretly like the smell. It isn't something that I would want to buy in a perfume or even in a scented candle, that is going a bit over board. But when I smell that newborn poop, it tells me everything is okay. My baby's body is functioning properly. They are getting enough to eat. Everything is well. Go ahead and think I'm weird. I am. Never claimed to be normal. And here is another thankful, for good, healthy, newborn poop.

I can't believe I admitted it. This thankful stuff is good therapy!

Thankful #14 Communication

I am thankful for all forms of communication. I LOVE blogging and sharing my life with others. I love reading other's blogs. I like facebook with moderation. I like having a cell phone. Texting can be really nice when I don't have enough time for a conversation or when the message is simple. I like conversations with my husband. They don't happen as often as I would like, but I love when we communicate properly with each other. I like being able to communicate with my children. And I like even the non-verbal communication that often takes place. I like the way my Father in Heaven communicates to me whether it is a sweet answer to a prayer, through a prophet, with the scriptures, or through the acts of another person. Email is wonderful, especially when it comes to communicating with my children's teachers or with my church calling. Communications is wonderful (and the lack thereof is horrible) and I am very thankful for all different kinds of communication.

Halloween 2010

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time where I can sew and my basic sewing skills are appreciated. No perfection is required. We can wear make-up. The kids have so much fun.

I don't like the adult part of Halloween with the immodest costumes or the blood and gore. I don't like being scared. I don't like the dark. The kid part is where my love of Halloween is at.

I usually go all out on the costumes. The kids plan months in advance what they want to be. They even draw sketches. And then I find the fabric and similar patterns and then begin. I am not a procrastinator so it usually is ready well in advance.

This year was a little different. First, I planned to do the Halloween costumes after Gavin was born because I had no energy while I was pregnant. Plus, I had so much to do with my church calling that I didn't have time. Well, the recovery didn't go like it had with the other five and I found Halloween creeping closer and closer. My "high maintenance" baby wasn't letting me get anything done, let alone Halloween costumes.

I resigned to the fact that I would just have to buy all the costumes. Then my friend, Mandy, helped me realize I could just rob the dress-up box and make Halloween work without spending much. Plus, Halloween was on a Sunday so we wouldn't be going out that day anyway. It would just be the church party Saturday night.

And this is what we came up with:

My sister, Bonnie and her husband, Jarom, recently moved here. Bonnie came over and helped with costumes and make-up. It was so fun to have them over. Plus, they got a family group picture! So cool!

I thought Bonnie's costume was great and creative. She has such good ideas.