22

Most 1st graders are losing teeth. My son on the other hand is gaining them. He now has 22 teeth. A second permanent one came in right next to the other one (behind that perfectly straight row of baby teeth.) I'm taking Rooster in for her 2nd consultation on Wednesday. I'm really thinking it would be great for the Dentist to look at Austin too.

Black Friday Survival???

Black Friday has always been somewhat of a phenomenon to me. Growing up overseas they definitely did not have such events. Ever since I have moved to Vale I have gone shopping on the mecca day of all shopping sales. But in a reasonable, manageable way. I would get to the stores at 6:30 - 7 am and by that time all the super crazies had left and shopping was even more quiet (and therefore more blissful) than any other day of the year. I can handle that kind of Black Friday shopping!

This year Marti and I planned to go together. She spent Thanksgiving with Jeff's family and on their way home they decided to stay in Boise and hit the sales early. I decided to be spontaneous and join them. I left Vale at 11pm, got to Boise at midnight and we started the all night shopping experience. CRAZY!!! I have never seen such madness. I did get some deals but it came with a price (like standing in long lines.) I'm pretty sure that I'll be returning to my former method of shopping next year!

I did find some UBER cute boots for Rooster. Emma Lynn has been a boot lover since she could walk. Her boots this winter are very cute and Rooster has been loving them. She was constantly putting them on and tromping around the house. So I was determined to find a pair for Rooster during the Black Friday madness. They weren't even a killer deal but I love them. Just look at her, adorable! I could just eat her up! What's what's even more fun Brooke has a pair too!







One experience that I do want to record. I had taken out my debit cards and put everything in the pocket of my coat so I wouldn't have to deal with a purse in the crazy stores. Around 6 am I got back on the freeway to head home when I received a phone call from my Progressive agent. A man had found my wallet and was trying to get a hold of me. Long story short I got his cell number and called him. He was at K-Mart and wanted me to come and pick it up from him. So I turned around and headed back to Boise to meet him. The closer I got to Boise the more uneasy I got about the situation. I had never been to K-Mart that morning. He was about 2 miles away from the last store I had been at. My stomach was in knots and I was about ready to pull over so I could throw up. I could not go meet this stranger and get my wallet. I called Kurt and filled him in. I told him I could not go. I did not feel good about it. I was physically ill. Of course he was understanding and supportive. I turned the car around headed home. Almost immediately I felt better and the sick feeling was gone. I called the guy back and asked him to leave my wallet at the customer service desk. I have no idea what would have happened if I had met him and I don't need to know! All I do know is that the spirit gave me a very strong impression that it was not a good situation. I'm grateful to have a member of the Godhead with me at all times if I so choose by my actions. I know that his power and witness is real.

Thankful Day 09

I LOVE thanksgiving.

I love that we have a holiday to stop and take a moment from our too busy lives to just give thanks for all that we have. And we have a lot. Life is so good. My cup runneth o're.


The brisk sunrise Thanksgiving morning.

Austin, Emma Lynn and I spent the morning making turkey table name cards. We had fun and they turned out so cute! I think it will become a new tradition (to make name card for the turkey table.) There are just so many ideas....





At noon we went over to Bill and Cindy's for Thanksgiving lunch. Jeff, Julie, Mollie, Grandparents Miles and Romans were also in attendance. A total of 15 - pretty small group compared to years past. It was nice and cozy. The food was excellent and the company was perfect. Thanks Cindy for hosting yet another fabulous Thanksgiving!


I'm thankful for beautiful daughters who love to dress up as much as I like dressing them up! :)


I'm thankful for my family (and of course this applies to all the other wonderful members not pictured! I HEART You!)


I'm thankful for delicious food, a perfect roof over my head, clothes to wear and food storage in my basement.


I'm thankful for help, surprises, work and the ability to teach. Austin came into the kitchen and asked if he could wash the dishes for me. What a great surprise! I love the help and the opportunity to teach him the importance of work.


I'm thankful for a wonderfully supportive, devoted and handsome husband.


I'm thankful for all the loving grandparents my children have in their lives. For siblings who are friends, that love and play with each other. For talents my children possess that give them joy and confidence.


I'm thankful for eyes to see, a brain to learn and the ability to read. For the joy reading brings to my family. For creativity to make a fort to escape and create new worlds.


I'm thankful for my 6 nieces and 1 nephew. And for a new nephew to arrive next month!!



I'm thankful for sleep!


I'm thankful for thoughtful little love notes that brighten my day. For kids who can now write/draw them. [It says: Spencer P.S. You are my favorite buddy. Love, Austin.]

I'm thankful for SPENCER (whom I did not get a picture of by some large misfortune! And NO this does not have anything to do with the middle children syndrome which I do not believe in!!!) He is fun, easy to love, adorable, smart, and funny. I would be lost and empty without him in my life.



I'm thankful for my children who bring me so much joy.

Harvest Potlucks

So last year in preschool I did a Thanksgiving program. It went miserably. Definitely not my finest hour directing on stage. Let's leave it at that! So naturally I vowed to never again put 20 preschool kids on the stage at one time. Here is the approach I took this year: Spencer's 3 year old class met for a potluck dinner at my house on Monday the 16th.


table decor from crafts we did in class


table loaded with delicious food - so much to be thankful for!


chowing down

The 4 year olds had their potluck dinners this Tuesday the 24th down at the church. For both classes each family brought a pot of soup to share and I provided everything else. At the very end the kids perform 4 songs that we had learned and shared what they were thankful for. The program aspect went a lot smoother than last year. But I felt like it was a lot more work (food prep wise.) So now I have to decide which way I prefer or if it is even worth doing at all!

Emma Lynn got up on the stage with her class and she SANG!!! I was so PROUD of her! She has come such a long way! Way to go girl!!!

Happy 31st

Today my honey turned 31. A Sunday birthday makes celebrating a little more difficult. When asked what he wanted for his birthday he said,

"A night away with you."

Okay. I spoke with Cindy to see if she was available to watch the kids over night for us. As always, she was very sweet and supportive and made it work. The plan was to go Saturday night and be back for meetings and church Sunday (actual bday) morning.

Vale HS had a play off game Saturday that Kurt wanted to watch. I already had the kids lined up to be at grandma's during that time. So I went to the game with him. That was definitely a birthday sacrifice on my part! ;)

We ate at Kurt's most FAV "Mongolian BBQ" and then headed over to Boise. We went to the temple first and then to our hotel. The hotel was nice and trendy and most important clean. [I sure like our bed the best out of any I've ever slept on though!]

We were able to get home in time for meetings and all our other responsibilities this morning. A HUGE thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for helping us get-away. I'm deciding that it is truly an important element for any marriage.

The more I see and learn about this world and the people in it the more I realize how incredibly BLESSED I am to have married such a man. He is patient, loving, supportive, righteous, easy-going, funny, hard working, and kind. Out of all the material possession he could have asked for for his birthday the only thing he wanted was to spend time with me. How sweet. I love you so much! I am honored to spend eternity with you.

Hear's to another fabulous year in your life. Happy, Happy Birthday!

The LOVES of my eternity

Horn of Plenty

I made these cute cornucopias for my YW today. So naturally we had to make a bunch for the kids when we got home! It was fun and easy - there is still time for you to make some too.


Take a sugar ice cream cone, put a little frosting (edible glue) and stick food shaped candy there (we used fruit snacks, but runts would work or even the pretty colors of M&M's or Skittles.)

the kids chowing down on their horns of plenty.

Our cornucopia is over flowing. Some things that are topping my lists are:
~ A handsome, helpful, honoring husband
~ Four fantastic, friendly, fun children
~ The plan of salvation is for the meek, the sinner, the rejected, the lonely, and the humble. And all encompassing plan for every child of God.
~ Health & Strength and daily food.
~ Callings that give the opportunity to serve and grow and love.
~ My Savior.
~ Being able to find JOY in the journey. And mainly that is such a good journey!

First Snow

The first snow of the season has arrived. Snow is pure magic.