A little Thank you!

I just have to say that I ADORE the Christmas cards that we have been receiving!  It is so fun to see the pictures and hear a little about each of your lives! ....so thank you!

School Delay = SNOW Play!

There was a 2 hour school delay today because of a little bit of snow.  We had a couple of friends over and they had way TOO much fun on the bus stop waiting for the bus to finally come!  (Addie refused to put on her shoes...so she was stuck just watching from the window.)

Inspiration!!

This woman is an inspiration...she is a woman who LOVES life and her roles in life.  I used to read her blog because she adored being a wife, mother, sister, friend...and just had a love for life that was contagous.  She and her husband were in a small plane crash where 83% of her body was in 3rd and 4th degree burns...

You must read the rest of her story yourself if you haven't.  I loved this article that was written about her.  I also loved the audio slide shows up on the right side where you hear her telling about the experience firsthand. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/stephanie-nielson-intro-120609.html

This is her blog...and it is amazing.  It was before her tragic accident, and it still is!  http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

Tennis Champ!

This weekend Aana played in a little tennis tournament and just found out today that she won her age bracket for the girls.  She was pretty excited!!!  Man I wish I would have started at her age...

Savoring sunsets!

Our newest digital camera quit working a couple of months back and we just got a replacement from the warranty.  I am so excited to be able to take pictures again!! I was using my "OLD" camera and it just wasn't working for me! We were driving home from church Addie said there was a beautiful rainbow out her window.  It was just an amazing sunset which doesn't appear well in these pictures, but it is something I love about where we live.  It truly looked as though our generous Heavenly Father had grabbed a brush and painted it!

Thanksgiving 2009

A couple of attempts at a quick family picture.

I am NOT sure where Addie got this...I barely even eat meat and she just grabbed a fork and started on the carcass.  She kept at it for quite some time, too.  It was pretty funny!

We enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house where we had a full table with family and friends, great company, way too much food, and we were able to share some of the many things we were grateful for.  It was a wonderful day!

BYU Victory!!! Go Cougars!

Today was the big rival game and our family is grateful that our team won.  A BYU victory means a "happy" dad... and the girls were all ready when Larry got home from work.  I was decked out in team attire, Addie had her jersey on, and Aana had made homemade signs for the team.  Addie was changing "B~Y~U COUGARS!!!!"  We have trained them well already!

SO Much to Be THANKFUL For...

Our hearts are full as we have been thinking about how blessed we are...

This morning we have had a wonderful discussion of what we are truly thankful for, but here were some of the first responses:

Addie~ Our House, Animals, our Family, and Trees (especially Christmas trees:), Dora, and Toys.

Aana~ Food, Having a sister, School, Flowers, and our Church, and her Mom and Dad, and Clothes.

Shanda~ Health, My Family, My Savior, Jesus Christ, Opportunities, Laughter, Children, and Safety.

Larry~ Family, the Gospel, My Wife and Daughters, my Job, Health, and Friends.
As we were each talking...we were just overwhelmed by things that we were thankful for.  Those large things that affect our lives so greatly, but also those simple things that make life easier and more enjoyable. 
We are truly blessed and are grateful to our Heavenly Father for ALL that we have been given!!

Uum...yeah

My kids are talkers...just like their momma. And sometimes we like to just talk to Addie (who is two) and ask her basic questions to keep her thinking. We often pick two things she likes and say something like...what do you like better, pancakes or macaroni and cheese. Or something like...what do you like better Dora or Curious george?

She decided to ask the questions tonight and I heard her ask Aana about two things she liked...
"What do you like better, Jesus or Mommy?" and when she got no answer...she said "fine, what do you like better, Jesus or cupcakes?"

You might have needed to be there, but it made me laugh!

Indoor waterparks are the BEST when it's cold!

Larry had Monday off, so we headed to the Great Wolf Lodge to stay a night and have a little family trip. We have been there before and even used to go in Cleveland, but it is great to get out of the cold and enjoy water fun!

The kids had their own little cabin in our room with a tv, bunkbeds, and sitting area...so they loved it! (thanks to a complimentary upgrade that I nicely asked for and was shocked when they did it!)

Snowstorm to the End of the Rainbow...

We started in rain, went through some heavy show, and ended up driving through the real "END" of a rainbown on our little trip this weekend. Amazing weather!!

(And the pot of "GOLD" at the end of our rainbow was the golden autumn leaves!)

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
- Dr. Seuss

Halloween Fun!

It has been an insanely busy day...but a great one! The whole family had a blast! Happy Halloween to everyone!

Carving Pumpkins

Blogging has been delayed to a broken camera, but we found the charger for our old one...and we are back to being digital! This week for Family Home Evening, we carved pumpkins, ate dinner to the candlelight of our Jack-o-lanters, and had pumpkin spice cake. We love fall!!

Goodbye Beautiful Weather...

I swear that we had NO fall here. I guess it could have been when I was sick or in the hospital, but it went from HOT to freezing. My tomatoes have frozen over...the fireplace has become an eternal flame...and Aana's teacher is requiring mittens for the kids to play at recess.

Today it warmed up a bit, so we were actually able to go out and snap few last pics of outdoor fun! (with no coats!) As much as I was ready for the heat to end...I wasn't read for freezing! Oh beloved Fall..where are you?

Eating to Live vs. Living to Eat

I have thought about this alot...and I know they often say, we are what we eat, but I am just in this delimma where I can't commit to either side. For example...I start the day with an amazing green smootie power packed with amazing fresh fruits, flax, wheat germ, and tons of KALE, but

I can't even wait until lunch before I am scooping out Nutella by the spoonful. Notice this container is gone. This isnt' my everyday habit, but if it isn't that...it is something else. (My dearest Nutella...you are gone, but will not be forgotten!)

Training for a Marathon...

Don't be too impressed...

Aana is the one training, not Larry or myself. But that doesn't diminish her hard work! She did it last year and is training again this year. It is a fun kids marathon program where kids run at least a mile 5 times a week for to total at least 25 miles...and next weekend they finish the last 1.2 miles to complete their "marathon." They get to run across a nice timed finish line, get a big medal, and a t-shirt. Aana is devout in her training...and will even run the treadmill if the weather isn't nice, or we forget to run with her. (And addie likes to take a few steps with her "running" shoes on when Aana is done...)

I am sorry....this has been a BORING month!

I must apologize...I have NOTHING to post, because I have done nothing this month! I am feeling better and getting stronger...so we will be back to doing fun things as a family that I can report. Thanks for your patience!

Aana's First Grade Open House

While I was sick, my parents took Aana to her First Grade open house. I felt bad missing out on something that was so important to Aana, so they took pictures for me.

I LOVE the phoenetic spellings on Aana's poster that she made about herself. That is one of my absolute favorite parts of when children learn to read! She was also asked what she wanted to be when she grows up...and she said "A MOM!" I adore motherhood and am glad that she sees that as something to look forward to!

Aana and Grandma