What I'm Thankful for

With the economy getting scary and the world around us falling to pieces, I've been thinking a lot about what I'm grateful for at this time of the year. Here is what I've come up with:


1. I'm grateful for a husband who loves me and puts me and our children before his career. He was willing to give up working for his dream company in California to come up here to a place where he has to commute two hours a day just so that I wouldn't have to work and could stay home with the kids. He comes home exhausted from work sometimes and jumps in to do the dishes without being asked or complaining. He loves spending time with the kids and teaching them new things. He has made a huge effort to have a regular date night with me. I am grateful that he loves the Lord and tries his hardest in his calling at church and in leading our family spiritually. Plus he makes me laugh.



2. I'm grateful for awesome kids. They wear me out sometimes, but they are constantly teaching me things (and not just patience). They say the most profound things sometimes. I am grateful to be able to stay home with them and drive them to lessons and watch the wonderful young people they are growing into.


3. I'm grateful for where we live. I wasn't sure I would like Seattle with all the rain, but I have to say after two years here, I really love it. I don't even mind the rain. I don't think I could go back to the desert after living here. The rain makes everything so beautiful and gives us an awesome garden. I love the breathtaking views from everywhere and the constant reminder of the majesty of God. I love being within 20 miles of lots of museums, parks, beaches and shopping centers. I love living in a hamlet of 6,000 people right in the middle of a huge metropolis. I love having my kids in a small school district with very few discipline problems and where everyone knows each other. I love their friends that are members of our church and members of other churches. I love that there are so many things for them to be involved in with good friends--soccer, ballroom dance, scouts, etc. I'm grateful for the neighborhood and the friends I've made in the preschool co-op. I love the ward (church) here and being a part of it. I love playing the cello in church events.


4. Most of all, I am grateful for the Savior and his atonement, for his life and his teachings. I know I don't always follow them that well, but I am so grateful that He lived and is willing to forgive me of my shortcomings. I'm grateful he made it possible to return to our Father in Heaven and to be with my family forever.

Swimming Lessons

Hunter is my timid child. I never had to put a gate up on the stairs when he was a baby because he was too afraid to go anywhere near them. He would get on the trampoline until this summer and he still won't go down the slide. When we lived in California, we went swimming everyday and it took him two weeks to even touch the water, let alone go in.

Now that he is a big kindergartener, I thought the time was ripe for him to take swim lessons. He was a full head taller than the other 3 year olds in the class. It was kind of funny. One of the other kids called him "Mr. Hunter" because he was so old.

Age notwithstanding, I spent the first month of lessons (twice a week) dragging him to the pool screaming at the top of his lungs. I felt like such a rotten mom dropping into the water into his teacher's arms. He tried every kind of coercion possible to get out of it. He tried threats, bargains, the whole nine yards. Luckily his first teacher was so patient with him. He told me Nancy was the nicest teacher in the world.

The second month (session) of swim began and I got him into a class with all his buddies from preschool. He had a different teacher, but he ended up really enjoying lessons. He is quite proud of himself now. He tells everyone "I take swimming lessons." Unfortunately we have to quit for a few weeks. I hope we are not back to the screaming when we resume in January.

Something I Never Expected to See Again in My Lifetime

This is something I never expected to see again.... especially in Seattle.

Halloween Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Carving

Photos from our ward Trunk or Treat Party, which I was in charge of.

Dylan actually wore this banana suit to school this year. He said he got a lot of hugs from girls in it. Hmm. Alex and Hunter were chefs. I couldn't convince Alex to go as Alton Brown. He wanted the whole iron chef costume. This episodes's secret ingredient: lobster.

Bonding with the secret ingredient.

Pumpkin Carving

Hunter kept carving his pumpkin over several days. It ended up with about 6 faces on it. He actually did a pretty good job on his own.

Dylan's pumpkin was beyond description.

I had to put this photo in because it just screams, "Mooommmm!" The ultimate teenage look. Her pumpkin is the one with the whirling eyes.

Hunter's pumpkin is on the left. Mine is in the middle and Dylan's is on the right.

Alex got to carve the granddaddy pumpkin. He initially did the grim reaper face, but decided it didn't fill the pumpkin up enough so he added the other face. We affectionately call it two-face. Megan's is the whirly eyed one.

The whole pumpkin-carving crew.