{{Bracelets....}}

Kelsie helped get gifts together for a Christmas party at a group home for special needs girls. She really wanted to make something on her own, so she took a bunch of my beads and made every one of these bracelets all on her own. I was so proud of her! She is getting so big and can do so much without me now. After accomplishing this she has decided that she wants to make and sell some bracelets.....so we'll see where that goes!

{First Cheer Comp of the Season}

The girls had their first cheerleading competition a couple of weeks ago.....They did very well and we are ready for another exciting season! This competition was especially important for the girls because it was probably the only one that their dad would be able to attend and watch.

Kelsie with her big sister

Kels & Kamrin

Their biggest fan

Kelsie as a flyer......

Kelsie & Destri

{{Inspiration}}

I recently gathered these quotes to use as inspiration and comfort over the past few weeks.....so, I thought I would share some of them. It's amazing how having these in mind when things are unsettling or you are facing difficult times can help lift and inspire.......

5x7 Folded Card

Hearts And Home Christmas Card

Turn your favorite photos into your favorite Christmas cards!

View the entire collection of cards.

{Thankful in November #12}

Today I am Thankful for.........

Good Friends

Today I was able to spend the day with a very good friend. Good food, BSU football, almost warm supposed to be hot chocolate, warm clothes, a rude girl at Burger King, and lots of talks in the car all made for a very well spent, much needed day away from home. Too bad BSU lost..... :(

{Thankful in November #11}

Today I am Thankful for...................

Our Military both past and present.

I am so grateful that because of these many men and women that have so selflessly fought that I can do so many things that I enjoy. I have the ability to say what I want, practice religion as I please, and feel safe as I go about my day knowing that there are many men and women constantly protecting and watching.

I found way too many cool videos to share, so I choose a couple to share.

{Creamy Baked Potato Soup}

4 Large Baked Potato's

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup flour

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp pepper

6 cups milk

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup chopped green onions

10 strips bacon crushed (or I use bacon bits)

1 cup cheese

On medium heat melt butter, stir in salt and pepper and add flour. Gradually add milk and bring to a boil. Cook for a coule of minutes until thick. Remove from heat. Add sour cream, cheese and potatoes. Then, enjoy!

{Thankful in November #10}

Today I am Thankful for.......


The Changing Seasons

Today I am Thankful for.......

The Changing Seasons

I am grateful for these beautiful Idaho fall days. For the promise of frigid winter mornings followed by spring blossoms and hot summer days. For constant changes and nothing ever the same or predictable. I love the changing seasons, as nothing ever gets to familiar before it changes again.

{Thankful in November #9}

Today I am Thankful for.......

Charitable Act of Kindness

I cannot even begin to tell you how thankful I am for all of the many acts of service our family has been the recepient of. Rarely does a day go by that we don't receive a meal from someone at church, some dessert or a loaf of bread, or some other random act of kindness. It has really helped me recognize how importat serving others is.........now if I can only begin to return to others what our family has been given!

{Thankful in November #8}

Today I am Thankful for........

Higher Education.

"Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in." -- Abraham Lincoln

I am so grateful that we have access to universities where we can pursue any field that we desire. I am thankful that I was persistent in obtaining my degree...even if it took longer than I had expected. Completing it has provided me with a good job, a feeling of accomplishment, and allowed me to learn many life skills. I am so thankful for all of those who encouraged me and helped me along the way. Knowledge truly is power!

{Thankful in November #7}

Today I am Thankful for.......

My kids' Teachers

Today as I go to parent teacher conferences fot my kids I am thankful that my children have good teachers. I can actually say that we have never had bad teachers for our kids. They have all been amazing. Today they spent time explainig what needs more work and where they are excelling..... We are so lucky because both of our girls received straight A's!

{Thankful in November #6}

Today I am Thankful for……

Wholesome Uplifting Music

The kids and I have found great peace and comfort in music lately. We listen to this music in our home and as we drive to town when we feel we need some comfort or uplift. This one is our new favorite we’ve been blasting it in the car for a couple of weeks now…..

Isn't it beautiful???

{Thankful in November #5}

Today I am Thankful for……….

Modern Medicine

Many of you who know our family know that we have used modern medicine a lot……..Our family was definitely given some challenges in this area however because of the many advances our children have overcome most of these challenges.
I am especially thankful this week as my mom spent the week in the hospital, then had a major surgery, and will spend the next week or so in the hospital recovering. I am so grateful that her ailment was able to be fixed and that she is no longer is major pain. After surgery listening to the surgeon explain what he had to do and just imagining that it is possible to do what he did is amazing!!
We are also very thankful that right now, as difficult as it may appear, for us to watch Josh sick, tired and struggling through the most basic daily functions that modern medicine has become so incredibly advanced to the point that his life can be preserved and that after a time he will be well again. …… That thankfully there are pills to help when he gets sick, pills to help when he is in pain and medicine to zap the cancer inside of him…… That there is a machine that can send doses of radiation to the exact spot of his tumor….within a couple millimeters to be exact!
All of this would not be possible without modern medicine and those who choose to attend college for all of those years, update their knowledge frequently, and spend many hours working to use their knowledge for good!

{Thankful in November #4}

Today I am Thankful for........

3 day weekends!

Because the quarter ended this week, there was no school today.......so that meant no work for me and no school for the kids. I always feel like I can get so much more done when I have that one extra day. And this month is extra lucky.....there is also no school next Friday and then there is 5 day weekend for Thanksgiving!

{Thankful in November #3}

Today I am Thankful for my Siblings........

I am so greatful that I was given five siblings....for me to help watch over and then for them to do the same for me. I am so blessed to have a relationship with every one of them....of course we are all different, but they each have different things about them that I love!

{Thankful in November #2}

Today I am thankful for..........

My Husband

I am so lucky to be married to Josh. Here are a few reasons why........

#1 He is a great dad...

...better than I actually ever imagined a father to be.

Just look at them...can't you see how much they love him?

#2 He is a hard worker.....

He genuinly cares about his work and the people that he gets to encounter each day. I know that he can say that he really loves what he does.

#3 He's pretty fun to be around............

We've got attend some preety amazing sporting events together, visit Martha's Vineyard, Fenway Park, Costa Rica, the Salmon River, Sunny San Diego, and many other places....Oh, the fun that we've have together! Looking forward to doing many more fun things together.....

#4He has a very positive outlook on life..................

I don't know how he does it sometimes....but most people don't know what he is deally with right now because he doesn't let it show to most. He continues to find work for his employees, bid jobs, and check on his jobs as he goes. Many don't know that he has a pretty tough case of cancer and is in a lot of pain. They don't know that he goes to radiation daily and has a continuos chemotherapy pump running. He feels sick and very tired most of the time, but I don't think that I have ever heard him complain about his situation one time. He points out regularly that this is just one more obstacle in his life to overcome.

I love you Josh!!!

{Thankful in November}

I have a friend who posted something that she was Thankful for on her Facebook wall every day for the past year. Every single day she was able to recognize something around her that she was greatful for. So, I figured that if she could do that for a year then I could do it for a month. So every day in November I am going to look harder around me to find something that I am greatful for so here is #1.......

My Kiddos!

I mean seriously....have you ever seen kids cuter than them?? I am so lucky to have them around. My kids help me every day....they help me realize what is really imortant in life, they make me become more patient (especially Kyler!), and they teach me many important lessons. We really have been blessed with good kids, they all slept through the night since their births, they are all pretty easy going, and although they've had some challenges they are all pretty healthy. I am so blessed to be their mother!

{Halloween 2011}

Kyler the Lion

Kelsie, The 80's

rock star






&

Kamrin, Dorothy


Ruby Red Slippers & All!

{Carving Pumpkins}

The kids got to make a special trip to the pumpkin patch with my great aunt.....they each came back with the pumpkin of their choice and so we spent the evening carving them.

The finished products: