Feeling Grateful

Some days, maybe the result of an experience or conversation with someone, do you just feel grateful for where you are and what you have? Today was one of those days. I am extremely grateful today, like close to tears grateful. I have an amazing husband. I wish he knew how amazing he is, maybe the fact that he doesn't know that makes me think he is even more amazing. I honestly can't believe that we have been married 11 years! (No, today isn't my anniversary...lol) He is not one of those men that isn't too maucho that he doesn't express how he feels, or isn't afraid to shed a tear (I'm sure he doesn't want that broadcast, oh wait...to late!) He helps me around the home, loves to spend a great deal of time with our children, and is always concerned with making sure my needs are met. I love Dr. Laura Schlessinger's book The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. I have the hardest time being around women or listening to women who rag on their husbands. Now, I'm not perfect...I've made little comments about my own hubby on occasion, but I hear from him at a later time how that made him feel bad. Is he less manly for telling me so? No! I think us women share small stories about our men, hoping to find that we aren't the only ones who feel a certain way, but does this do any good? No! I agree with Dr. Laura...the more we encourage, love and build our husbands up, the more willing they will be to please us. If you have not read that book and you are married...go read it :) It will change your view and promote a healthier marriage....I promise!

Another thing I'm incredibly grateful for...friends. As Anne of Green Gables would say "kindred spirits". Oh how I love that expression! How often do you find "kindred spirits"? Not often, I think. I'm not saying that there aren't oodles of good people out there...but sometimes I think there are people you just feel like you knew before you were born! Sometimes I marvel at these friends and think...why in the world do they like me so much? These friends are unconditional in their friendship with me. How grateful I am for this! I don't have to worry about my body image, or how I feel about something, I can cry in front of them and express myself without worrying how this person will feel about me when I'm through. I hope these people in my life know how I feel about them!

I am grateful for my Savior. I often think of that story in the New Testament where the Pharisee's came to Christ with a woman....wanting to stone her for adultery. As Jesus wrote in the dirt he replied"...he who is without sin, cast the first stone at her" (John 8:7) As they began to leave the scene one by one...he then said to the woman "...woman, where are thine accusers, hath no man condemned thee? She said no man Lord. Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more." How powerful is that?! How loving and kind He is! He loves us regardless of what we do. Does he want us to live right? Yes, because he wants us to be happy, but He will love us no matter what our choices may be and if we are humble and contrite, he will forgive us ALL our trespasses. If only, we truly understood that!

Now, aside from all the hokeyness today, I am grateful for laughter...sometimes in life...all we have to do is just laugh...laugh at ourselves, laugh at our circumstances, laugh when our children have meltdowns in the middle of the store or pull the fire alarm during sacrament meeting. I mean, these things are funny, really...think about it...they are! Things would just be boring all the time if we didn't just have a good laugh.

In Key Drop Outs

My little Brother, Shawn, has his own band called In Key Drop Outs (click on link...don't mind an occasional swear word *shocking gasp* Slow Down and Spiders are my favs). They are a Ska/Punk band. I love their music! Shawn is super talented at the piano, guitar and composing his own music. I'm so jealous! I can play the piano/violin/viola but I can't compose music very well. I do love to take hymns and arrange them differently but that's where the talent ends. I've been bugging Shawn to tell me when he would be having his next show and he told me last week that they would be performing at Boing. Boing is a house downtown where several people live and they open their home up to several bands on occasion. This house was cool, I thought. They have mattresses up against the windows to block out most of the sound (they are in a neighborhood and it is LOUD!) They also have a vegan cafe as well. The people were very nice! I have to admit I was slightly nervous going down there but super excited to see In Key live. Can I just say that it was SUPER KOOL! They ROCK! I couldn't believe how well they sounded live! The entire crowd skanked and moshed and sang to the top of their lungs when he was on. Shawn is lead guitarist and does most of the vocals. He also composes most of the music. His drummer, Anna, was awesome and the bass guitarist, Casey was great as well. I can't believe how talented he is! Dan and my parents came with me. We, seriously, were completely out of place but I don't care! I teased Shawn that next time I will wear my Big D and the Kids Table (their Obama Song is retarded...just so you know) t-shirt and dye my hair purple (oh wait, it already is purple! It will have to be blue then!) It was a blast! I tried hard to get my dad and Dan to Mosh, because they are big guys and would seriously kick trash, but they refrained...geez you'd think they were old or something, course I'm one to talk...hahaha! I'm excited for his next show! You PWNT Shawn!

Shawn is behind this dude staring at the camera. He's the one behind the mic with the glasses.

This is a small clip of the show...can't hear much and it doesn't do it justice but it's sort of fun to see.

Thanksgiving Day Race

For anyone interested in running or walking a 5K with me on Thanksgiving morning...here's the link. Register and let me know!

Annual Christmas Candy Houses

This year, our family decided to do our houses early. It's nice to enjoy the houses during the holidays! No one was missing, which is getting to be a rarity. I love watching my brothers and my Dad to see what kind of houses they come up with. Mom never makes a house and if she does it's an outhouse (LOL). So she just played with the kids and made oooo's and awwww's when we would add something new. Everyone's house turned out great this year....although Dad and Brent kept their houses low key...Matt's was my fav. He always creates these monstrosities. My dad made a neat little old fashioned car by his house (I didn't get a picture, dang it). Dan and I built our house together. Brent and Cortnie's new little baby Malloy is growing so fast and he is soooo cute! I love having my sister-in-laws around. They are pretty much all I have for sisters and I really enjoy all of my sister-in-laws and love it when they want to hang out with me!

Riding Bikes & New Haircuts

Rachel has been learning to ride her bike and today, she took off and rode all by herself for quite a while! She was very excited! Also, my uber amazing cousin Tammy was at it again, and cut Hailey's hair. Hailey has been wanting a new do for a couple of months now, and I had to chew on that idea for a little while, because her hair is amazing long! I finally gave in and couldn't be happier with how cute it turned out! Hailey loves it as well and is flipping it constantly and talking about it constantly! Thanks again, Tammy...YOU ROCK!

Place mat Bags

I can't remember the last time I pulled out my sewing machine. I think it's been about 2 years. I learned to sew while we were living in Portland, Oregon and my wonderful, amazing friends taught me how to sew these darling place mat bags. They are the easiest things in the world! I love buying clearance place mats and matching really cute ribbon to them. They make the best gifts! I wish I would've taken pictures last night for Young Womens! We made place mat bags, like these below and they were thrilled with their super cuteness!

To make:

1 place mat bag
2 yards ribbon
fun thread to match or contrast

Sew Ribbon to the outside of the bag, making seams match on the underside where the place mat folds. Make sure you have the ribbon even on both sides. Also, make sure handles are even when the bag folds, adjust pins if necessary before sewing.

Once the ribbon has been sewed on; fold the bag in half so it is inside out with ribbon (outside of purse) on the inside and sew the ends of the place mat together. Turn the bag right side out and say hello to your beautiful new little place mat bag! Have fun!

Halloween

This year was a blast! I'm not usually a big fan of Halloween, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting the kids, myself and Dan ready for the spooky day! Dan was fortunate enough to stay home from work this year. We both attended the parade at the kids elementary school. The kids are so creative! We then did a little last minute Halloween shopping, had a nice long nap and then the makeup creating took full force! Why is it boys always want stuff that involves blood? Dan looked great! I, of course use any excuse possible to plaster on makeup. I love that stuff! My eyelashes were wickedly sexy ;) My parents and Shawn came over to hang with the kids while they trick-or-treated and I used the holiday as a perfect excuse to take a break from my healthy eating schedule (haha!) I love raiding the kids candy bags. They get good stuff! We all stayed up playing games and watching scary movies. The kids crashed early, I thought, around 9 p.m. They all were up so early this morning, you'd have thought it was Christmas! I remember that as a kid, being so excited, not getting any sleep, butterflies in the tummy and all that. I hope all of you had a great Halloween...I expect plenty of pix!

(Abby is a witch & Hailey is a runway diva)

Rachel is Spiderella
Joe is Batman

Dan is Flesh Wound Phil (haha) He actually wanted to be Obama's bodyguard (hehe)

Me...a witch, isn't that so creative?!