Lots to Remember

This morning while I was driving in to the office, I was thinking about what I wanted to list for my gratitude challenge.  There were so many things that came to my mind.  So many wonderful things I have in my life that I need to remember and recognize.  So, here are a few things:

3. I am super duper happy to have indoor plumbing.  You may think it's a little dramatic, but rest assured, I remember using an outhouse when I was young and visited my grandmother.  Complete with the Sears catalog.  Which reminds me, toilet paper = happiness.  You don't think so?  Try using Sears a time or two and finding out.

4. Alarm clocks.  Yes, I have a love/hate relationship with mine, but I'm glad it's faithful to me every day and tells me when I need to be up so I don't have to rush around being late.  Of course, it also reminds me how much I love the Snooze button.

5. Forgiveness.  I so appreciate forgiveness.  Those friends and family who I have wronged, sometimes without even realizing it.  Thank you for looking past my shortfalls and remembering good intentions do count.  Even when I am an idiot and my actions do not always reflect those good intentions.

6. Athletics.  I am so grateful to have the ability to challenge my body with sports.  I enjoy sports - team sports and solo sports.  I am grateful to be able to keep my body strong (notice I did not say "in shape" - not there yet) and healthy, to have a way to reduce stress, and to know that I can outrun at least the slowest person near me in case of the zombie apocalypse.

Gratitude

I know a lot of people do the November Gratitude challenge.  I actually received the challenge from sister missionaries that lived in my parents' house while I was away at college.  It was during the summer so I don't always remember to repeat the challenge except at Thanksgiving time.  Hopefully, this year, I can make something to post up at home to help my family remember the things we have to be grateful for.  As for me, with today being November 2nd, I have the following things to add to my list for the month:

1. I am grateful to have a daughter with a large heart.  She is a great big sister.  Even when Lindsay makes Laney so mad she could spit, Laney will still be there to help, to comfort, to cheer.  She is selfless and I'm so grateful for that.

2. I am overly grateful for my husband.  I know I mentioned this last year, but every year it just gets better.  We still look at each other and say, can you believe we knew each other less than a year before we were married?!  He is a great match for me and even when he drives me crazy, I can't live without him.  He's funny, kind, loving, and easy to please.  Who doesn't love that kind of man?!

Halloween

I didn't take pictures on Halloween (I know, right?), but I did take pictures on our FREEZING trunk or treat trip last week.  I don't have those with me now (again, yes, I know, bad mom!), but I do have a picture of the girls on Halloween that my friend Beth took.  So here they are in all their glory (that you can see from behind).

Laney is a go go dancer (not sure why the shawl) and Lindsay is a Fairy Barbie.  This was
the first house of the night.

Laney walked Lindsay to almost every single door.  And held her hand to keep her brave.  A couple of houses missed Lindsay because she was one of the smallest in the group and Laney gave up her candy to Lindsay because she didn't want her missed.  She is a great big sister.  She did ask if I would go with Lindsay to a few houses so she didn't have to go with Lindsay and said, "I don't want to be a bad big sister, but can you go with her mom?" I think she just wanted a break. ha ha!  I also love the face on the little boy (our friend Noah) running away from the door with his candy.  He is obviously SUPER excited to be out trick or treating.  And the arrow points to our friend Jak who is 6, but had never been trick or treating before because it had scared him.  This was his first trip ever.  Obviously, this picture comes from his mom.

Family Pictures!

Wes gots us some family pictures taken.  So far the photographer has released the following (the rest are soon to come!)  Enjoy!!

Lindsay Sayings

More things from the mouth of the babe:

1. Almost every single night when I put Lindsay to bed, I say, "Good night, love you!" and she says, "And in the morning when I wake up, I going to Monkey Bizness!" I think she has been 3 times in the past year, but her optimism has not failed once in the past 3 months!

2. While driving in the car to a friend's house, I hear:
  Lindsay: Mommy, there are monsters following us!
Me: Oh yeah?
Lindsay: Yes! Let's go in the trees. We hide from them there!
Me: Uh, okay...

Me: Why is Lindsay hiding from monsters?
Arlin: Well, she did watch Scooby Doo this week...

3. A certain 3 year is the expected thief of my phone. She says, "I washed it in the dirt really good. You NEVER find it." Yep, spent a week phoneless, and had to buy a new one.  We never did find a trace of the old one!  She stuck to her story for the entire week too.

4. I was cleaning ketchup off Lindsay's face and I told her, "Bring that pretty face over here." As I was wiping she goes, "Mommy, don't wipe my pretty off!" 

 

Free at Last

So last week our latest batch of roomies moved out.  It was a very dramatic, unexpected ending, and suffice it to say I'm pretty sure the friendship is over for good.  And I'm not even broken hearted about it.  It feels like HEAVEN to have our home back, with no other families living there with us.  Even the girls have told us how they love having their own rooms back.  No more playing keep away and fighting the bed time fight.  Now I can put them to bed in their own beds, without an audience, and shut the door and let them relax and find their peace and not have to worry about each other.

Of course, it also means less dishes, less house cleaning, not waiting to use the washer/dryer, no children fighting no children fighting with other children I cannot punish, and just no melding of different rules, lives, and social backgrounds.  It's like I've gained 2 hours in my day!  I can hear quiet harmony, feel the spirit, and remember what it is like just to buy things for myself and my family without having to worry about covering the bills of 4 other people.

Ah....  :)

AND in case you were wondering, NO NO NO, there will not be other roommates again.  Just ask our friends or our Bishop.  They have all offered to be the person to say NO WAY! to the next individual that even looks at the office/spare room.  So much less stress on my shoulders as the primary worker!

Running on Empty

Well, it's been about 9 weeks or so, and I'm still running/walking about 2-3 miles 5-6 days a week.  Yay me!!!  In honor of my sacrifices for waking up at 5 am every day to get it in before I leave for work at 6:30, I'm giving you:

Jackson Browne 1977

Gotta love us oldies but goodies.  :)