He is BACK!

A MAJOR highlight this Christmas season #1:

Frizz. Our family elf. He has been with Santa all year at the north pole and finally made his debut the day after Thanksgiving. The kids were floored to say the least when he showed up.

I think because we have no furry pets, Frizz is treated like royalty. Only the best behavior is displayed around the magical creature.

Nathan had a project at school to put a symbol of a favorite tradition on a felt square. Lets just say I was not surprised one bit see what he picked.

Welcome back, little guy.

Ordinary Days

Today was nothing unusual or earth shatteringly exciting but I want to remember it. I want to remember the feelings I have as a mom at this moment.

Got the kids up for school, looked outside and saw that we were covered in an icy white snow, the kind that muffles out all noise.

I should have made them a hot breakfast to help warm them up but instead, I tossed bowls on the table and filled them up with cold cereal.

I started an hour before we left layering the boys up for the frigid high of 19 degrees outside. I must of asked 45 times for each of them to get their boots and gloves on. Very Cheerfully. One minute before we were to leave...no boots or gloves on. My cheerful tone turned into the drill sarg and my eyes were bugging out of my head. That really got things moving.

I was excited to be Kendall's helper at school today. We had our snack picked out and on the counter. Feeling the pressure to get to school on time with the icy roads got the best of me.

I noticed that at our first stop for carpool, I left the snack at home. My friend came to the rescue supplying me with popcorn and bananas.

I dropped off the precious cargo seconds before the first bell rang and left dodging mini vans and cars spinning out all over the roads.

We were 30 minutes late getting to preschool and I had the worlds wost headache that has been lingering for a week. Driving tension escalated the frontal lobe pain. I popped in some Advil and we headed in to preschool greeted by 6 very LOUD and happy kids.

School went great and I tried my best to sing with my voice that has been gone for a week. The teacher asked me to sing a solo. Last minute. Silent night. Oh well. I couldn't say no to the four year olds who were staring at me and the music already playing. I've embarrassed myself worse so i went for it. I even through in some fake vibrato at the end.

Kendall and I left and headed over to the market to get the bumper crop on sale. Blackberries. 77 cents a clam shell. I stocked up and we ate berries and cream.

Kendall fell asleep and I thought that was a great idea. So we both slept. All afternoon. And I didn't feel bad about the tornado of junk spewed all over the house and the cereal bowls still on the table. At least I was showered and dressed, right?

I went and picked up Nathan from school and came home to Justin and a clean house. He was cheerful and happy and instead of the mom setting the tone for the evening, it was him.

I loved today. I loved the people who were part of my day. In between the Martha, there was the Mary. Phone calls, and visits and 4 year olds. It was perfect. Well, sort of.

Peace and Comfort

It was so fitting that on Thanksgiving weekend we got to go somewhere that has blessed our lives indefinitely and among many blessings, it is the one place on the earth that I am thankful for above all.

Todd's mother-in-law was able to go through the temple. What a feeling of sweet joy and peace we felt for her. She looked beautiful and glowed all day. We all basked in the rays of her experience.

In this very temple, 13 years ago almost to the date, my family was sealed together, forever. Words cannot express the joy my family has experienced from this cement bonding and to celebrate our anniversary there together was the icing on the cake.

So Much to be Thankful For....

Woke up to some pressure. My assignment. The rolls. Yikes. The fear quickly dissipated as the smell of yeasty bread flooded the entire house.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was on in the living room in the background - a must because I grew up with that tradition, even though we only had "the channel", it was always on during that 4th Thursday in November, setting the tone.

Kendall quickly covered himself in stickers and Nathan became occupied with his new latest interest: make paper airplanes. 500 of them. Justin sunk himself down into the couch pillows and read his favorite book while I talked to mom and prepared the salad, rolls, and gifts.

The weather was unbelievable. We gathered everything up and made a pit stop to Mammy and Papa's before heading to our final destination. The boys were in Heaven playing in the back yard and the adults were in Heaven scoping out all the Black Friday adds preparing their plan of attack.

It was finally time for Thanksgiving dinner. We arrived at Tiger and Allison's and as usual, it was decorated to the hilt. Elegant yet so very comfortable.

The dinner was delish and my favorite part was listening to the mesmerizing tone of chatter and laughter and in between hearing the forks clank the empty plates, signaling that it was time for seconds. Thirds. And fourths.

Most of the family was gone this year and greatly missed but we managed to squeeze in a teeny tiny bit of fun.

There was laughter in hysterics, hanging out, tuning in and out of a really awesome football game, the biggest BINGO game I have ever played, and a fire work show that was not at all illegal.

Baby Shower for Martha

Celebrating babies is about the best thing I can think of. Joann, Mom , and I had so much fun putting together this shower. I am so excited to meet this little guy. It turned out so sweet and pure, just like a new baby.

We had a hot chocolate bar, donated coconut cupcakes, little almond cookies, cluck n nuts, infused water, and gifts galore, but nothing could top all the amazing people that came.

A List...

Throughout the year I can feel a constant surge of things I'm grateful for flowing from my body. I love November because it gives you the excuse to really mull it over and for me, jot it down.

I am grateful for Justin. I love that I can finish his sentences and he can finish mine. My favorite thing to do is laugh. Even better is when he has me doubled over from it. I love date nights. It's always a good break and constant flow of conversation, which I'm sure he would love a bit more silence:). Above all, I love tucking the kids into bed and spending the late evenings together. Most nights you will find us on the couch, talking, watching some show, foot rubs and neck rubs (mostly me receiving- I owe him big), reading, or eating one of his late night creations.

I love my kids. I love learning new things about them daily. Like Nathan's favorite holiday is Veterans day, who knew? And Kendall wants a sling shot for Christmas but knows he has to wait until he is older so he will settle for a dog in a cage even though we have allergies and no back yard. But don't worry...He is going to ask Santa for a real dog in a cage, a back yard, AND a park. This Christmas might be very interesting for him.

The boys love the activity part of FHE and are always in charge of that. I love watching their new dance moves and Justin teach them Karate. I live with 3 Napoleon Dynamites and would not change a thing.

I am grateful for one of my besties taking the time to teach me how to coupon.

I am grateful for my parents watching the boys every Thursday so that Justin and I could graduate from Dave Ramsey's, Financial Peace University. Best use of time for us this past couple of months and we HIGHLY recommend it.

I am grateful for holidays. I love that they bring family in from different states and friends together. I love that bonds and memories are made over Turkey Bowls and shopping, naps and leftovers.

I am grateful for coconut cupcakes and finally finding my all time favorite!

I am grateful for my mom. I love and need her. There is no one like her on the planet. I am grateful for my dad, too. I can tell him things that I'm pretty sure most daughters would never even think about telling their dads. He is a lifter. They both are. The biggest miracle? They are both my parents and other than Justin, they are my best friends.

I am grateful for doctors. Nathan has been experiencing some major hearing loss that has greatly affected him. It has been heartbreaking to watch, but through good Audiologists, Doctors and possibly tubes, the problem can and is being corrected.

I am grateful for babies. Todd and Martha are going to experience the joy of a new baby. There are no words for that moment you meet your new little one for the first time. I am excited for them to get this gift. Doug and Sara are bringing our first princess to join the in the ranks of 7 little bodyguards. She will have more protection than she will know what to do with. I am grateful for sweet Luke. Our family is motivated and moving steadfast to reach the goal of being with him again. I miss him deeply.

I am grateful for pictures. They sustain my memory. I love that every time I look at a photo, I can relieve that memory. Even the sounds and smells come alive.

I am grateful for friends. Old and new. It is they who really help you celebrate the good and help you get through the bad. Which brings me to being grateful for cousins. I love my cousins. Every. single. one. of them. They really are just a small extension from brothers and sisters.

I am grateful for my Aunts. I dream of the day I'm allowed to come to the "brother- sister" reunion and stay up late to hear all the "good" stories that are saved for that time, playing cards and eating bologna sandwiches. I love "treats and chats" and day dream of having tea with Mr. Darcy. My Uncles are pretty darn fun too.

I'm grateful for my girls with POTS. Huge support system especially on those hard foggy days.

I'm grateful to experience emotions. They not so good ones sure help you not take for granted a "good" day. I'm not sure I would fully take in the good if I had not been at the bottom of the barrel. I know for sure now that when I feel pure love pierce through my soul, I'm going to soak up in the rays of it as long as I possibly can.

I am grateful for warm smiles. I did an experiment with my boys at the store. If you smile at a stranger, most of the time they will smile back. Like a laugh, it is contagious.

I am also grateful for rice bags, tart apple crisp, Sunday dinners, drives through the mountains, the color green, nail polish and hairspray, Black Friday, birthday parties, simplicity and healing, having hope, soft blankets, warn towels from the dryer and my beliefs.

Nathan's Preformance

I love me a good old fashioned play about the Pilgrims and the Indians. Especially when Nathan comes home from school and recites each classmates line.

The songs were festive and the books were a hit.

Come Again

What do I love most, you ask? A house that is full!

My cousin and his family came up for a little getaway. The kids played and the sweet purple princess was adored. Delicious breakfasts devoured and late night visits gave us beautiful deep purple rings under our eyes.. Shopping for deals and Chick-fil-a gobbled down.

One of my favorite things I miss so much about my hometown is Kirby's Apple Orchard. Katie brought some freshly pressed apple cider and I bout' died! I tasted home all week. Liquid gold.

Fun boys and sweetest baby. Ever. And the parents are pretty darn good too. After all, Nathan is named after him.

Meet Ham and Cheese.

I love that these two made me a mom. I love that they make me laugh and...cry. I'm sad to see them getting older and bigger but watching them learn and grow is priceless.

I know I always say this, but I'm so grateful they have each other.

The Gaint

Mammy brought home some huge honey crisp apples from her trip to Arizona. The apples were the size of a small child and took three days to eat.