Giving Thanks.....

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Our Thanksgiving was simply wonderful. I love it, and it's the perfect kick off for Christmas.... First we get to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with and then we get to SHOW him how thankful we are the whole month of December! We were lucky enough to have both sets of Grandparents at our house this year. When Kassie came home from school on Wednesday, I told her I needed her help getting the house ready. She jumped right in and did her weekly chores and cleaned her bathroom. And then I came out to find she had set the table! Not what I had planned, but that's okay..... we couldn't burst her bubble.... and she did a great job! Hope your holiday was just as great!

Another Reason

I have always thought myself to be a good speller. Not a PERFECT one, but I thought I was pretty good, and was kind of critical of others who I thought should know how to spell certain words.......

..... I STAND CORRECTED! Thanks to the cute little spell check button for our posts, I have found numerous mistakes..... and that is when I have remembered to check it! So I have found yet, Another Reason..... blogging is good for me!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

HE PASSED!!

We finally got Cory's test results from his training class he took during September & October.

(Not to brag or anything, but there were guys there that had taken the class for 3 times now, and this was Cory's first go round!)

It's Official....... He's a Fireman 1!

(now he needs fireman 2 and his EMT)

Congrats Hunny! We are proud of you! One down, Two to Go!

Preschool Thanksgiving

Kambree had her Thanksgiving "feast" at preschool today.

She was so excited.

It was best dress, and she picked out her dress.

Kambree made this turkey in school last week, and brought it home to work on her manners and I was supposed to keep a close eye out and write down when she used her good manners and write them on a feather.... she then took it back today to share with the class.

Being "Silly Kambree" I wanted to post how long her hair is getting. She wants to cut it, because she thinks if she does she can get an American Girl doll like Kassie. (Kassie got the "Kit Kitredge" doll because they had the same hairstyle at the time) I have tried to explain that you don't have to have the same hairstyle as your doll, but she's just not getting it.

Anyway, Mom is protesting because I think it looks so pretty long, blonde, and beautiful!

Daddy's Helpers

I went to a little neighborhood "Holiday Exchange" today. (Which was really fun and we got lots of great ideas!) But, this is what I found when I got home......

They said they were "Helping" but it looks more like "Rides" if you ask me!?

The Results Are IN

............ It DID NOT Disappoint!

Cory's Mess

I had to work today til 3:30. I had cleaned my kitchen really good the night before for a "little" gathering with friends (12 to be exact) that were coming for dinner tonight. This is what I walked in to at 3:40 pm with people arriving at 5:15! I have been waiting for more light in my Kitchen for 6 1/2 years..... and he chooses TODAY to do it!

Insulation all over my counters......

Insulation and sheet rock dust all over my cooktop....

Insulation and dust all over my chairs and floor.....

My new can lights!!!

I have sooooo much more light in my Kitchen and I love it! Thanks so much JED (AKA Mr. Electirc) for all the "help"! I love it!

The Wait is Almost Over.....

Here they are..................

$84.00 worth of Twilight Tickets......

I am so excited.......

but not too much.....

I don't want to be disappointed.

(man, this woman is rakin in the moula $$$$!)

Food Storage!

I am so Excited! I have been on a Food Storage kick lately. I have been trying to gather recipes that my family would eat from food storage items..... So I can stock up on those items (instead of items we won't ever use or know what to make with) and rotate them better. In my research I found these two blogs that I am so dang excited about! Check them out! www.preparednessmatters.blogspot.com www.safelygatheredin.blogspot.com

Thanks Friends!!

I was so sick of that "Sappy" post..... I had to get something else to look at...... In this month of Gratitude and Thanksgiving..... I Love You all! Thanks for being my friends!

Just a Moment

Today was not your typical Sunday. We had a Homecoming and a Baby Blessing..... all in Syracuse. So we started out at the 9am Homecoming for my cousin Trevor, at both Cory and I's home ward we grew up in. I LOVE going back to that ward. It has changed more than I can say, but I still love it. Why????? There are people there..... people I have known my whole life, that I love. Some are "just neighbors" from my youth, but they mean something to me. Many are missing now, and in different wards, but I enjoyed those that were there........ *They are people who have let me babysit their kids. *They are the lady who I worked with after high school when I was 16 who was always doing "poorly" if you asked her, but was one of the nicest and strongest women I knew. *They are the ladies who I grew up across the street from, whose kids I played with in my youth, and whose homes I spent many a hour in, where the gospel, good food, and great examples were plentiful. *They are people who have been my Bishop, my teacher, a YW leader, or a great friend at some point in my life. *They are the "kids" I grew up with, that I know without a doubt, if it wasn't for their friendships and great examples, I might have found other friendships that might not have been good for me and I would not be the person I am today. *They are my relatives.... many today were cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. But all whom I have a great amount of memories.

For a Just A Moment today I just took a few minutes to look around and enjoy the memories of a great childhood, thanks to the many wonderful people I was blessed to have in my life. I can only hope and pray for the same for my kids.

Our second stop was at the Baby Blessing for my little niece Kalli. This was the second sacrament meeting my kids were going to sit through (all by 11 am), and they did pretty good, all things considering. :D This was a great meeting, with all of us sitting close together, with our kids going back and forth between Gma & Gpa, Connor, and then Britton, and then wanting to sit with Lindsey, etc.... not to mention the passing around of all the babies..... :D it just makes me happy and wish I had them all with me every Sunday!

But my "moment" came right after church, when we were all leaving, rounding up our kids, and heading over to my sister's for lunch.....

I was sitting in the car, we were backing out of our parking space, and here comes my brother out of the church, carrying his new little baby in his baby carrier, all bundled up, and my Dad close behind..... it was one of those times when you just "SEE" clearly. I am so blessed. I have an AWESOME family.

I have 2 amazing brothers who served missions, who all found and married amazing (new sisters for me) women, who have great kids that I love so much, and best of all who are great dads and strong members in the gospel who hold the priesthood. I have another brother who I love very much, who has lost his way for a time.... but he's been taught, and he KNOWS. He will come around. He has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know and he is a good person, who has much to give.

I have a great Brother In Law who is all of the things my brothers are..... and he's fun to joke around with. You can give him crap, and he just gives it right back. My sister is a lucky girl.... but she deserves it, she's a rock.... a great example to me.

All of these things running through my head in just a few minutes after I "SAW" them leave the church. For "Just A Moment" I was soooooo content. I could have stayed there for a long time. Who knows what lays ahead, what the future holds for any of us.... but today was a great day. I am so blessed.

*** SIDE NOTE*** why does this thing do it's own spacing? See the difference between our 2 different events today? The top one is all ran together and the bottom one had the spacing between paragraphs.... all typed the same way at the same time! I am getting very frustrated with this!!! :(

3 Days of Play

We had the opportunity to tag along with my parents this weekend to Heber City.

It was the annual Cowboy Poetry Festival, and mom and dad had tickets to several shows.... but we couldn't let that extra bedroom in the condo go to waste now could we?

So on Thursday we rode the Heber Valley Railroad train while several Cowboys & Cowgirls moved from car to car and entertained.

We had a nice lunch of Chili, Hot Chocolate, and Cinnamon Rolls before we departed.

We enjoyed beautiful views. Despite the weather..... man it was cold!

We were also lucky enough to find some tickets to the Michael Martin Murphy Concert that night.... man it was soooooo good! I forgot how many great hits he had! It took me back to my youth! :D

And who doesn't love the food at the Homestead? I just love the drive down their lane..... it just makes you happy.

Thanks Mom & Dad for a fun weekend! And thanks to my MIL & FIL for coming to hold down the fort so we could enjoy some time away!

A Special Place In My Heart......

November Is NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH..... Listen to this wonderful song in Honor of this amazing gift.

The BIG Day.....

... is finally here.... and I couldn't be happier about it. I am tired of the negative publicity, emails, and the media pointing fingers. So obviously I did my patriotic duty and voted. This go round I was really torn.... I really felt neither presidential canidate represented me or my family in any way at all. But what do you do? I feel like I am choosing the lesser of two evils.

So it's done.... I guess it comes down to the fact that my vote (living here in Utah) doesn't really count anyway. But hopefully for a few items right here at home, my vote mattered.

The only item I am really pondering today and where my heart is today isn't even on my ballot. I have a little prayer in my heart today for the residents of California and thier decision on Proposition 8.

I have contemplated the news story on KSL last night about the "Mormon Mothers" who were protesting the church and where they stand on this issue.

I was really suprised at the turn out they had. It made me sad.

I couldn't help but ask the question.... "How can they call themselves a member and a beleiver of this church and gospel and feel that way?" ..... "How can they question a Proclamation from a Prophet of God?" ..... "How can they openly and publicly protest "Their" church on this issue, and not expect repurcussions?"

I feel for these women. I cannot imagine how it would be to be a mother of a Gay or Lesbian child and I understand their desire to support them. However they have accepted this gospel and all that comes with it. We do not get to pick and choose what principles we want to live by and which we do not. For me you either accept it all, or you do not. That sounds very Black and White, but I guess on this issue..... that is where I am. I am not saying I am perfect, and that I abide by all of the principles and guidelines of the church at all times, but I would be the first to admit it. I strive everyday to live the teaching of our prophets and the commandments of my savior, I am not perfect. But I would NEVER protest my church privately or publicly.

My prayers and thoughts are with those residents of California today. I hope and pray they will find the courage to stand their ground on this moral issue.

God Bless Us, EVERYONE.