November is here! segment 18, 19 and 20

I am thankful that I found my missing cut out doll outfit and pattern! I will make time to sew it tomorrow so Miss P will have a doll outfit to match her own for a Christmas gift!!! I love it.

I am also thankful to be celebrating ten years (wow) with my wonderful husband Tyler. We were married in the Oakland Temple on November 20, 1999. I am so thankful for my temple marriage and how happy I have been having him as my eternal companion and my best friend. I know that all sounds rather corny but it's true.

As for November 20th, I am thankful that Tyler made it home alive and well this morning. He had to work last night, after a whole day of working and no sleep in between. The dog woke me this morning at 4am to an otherwise empty bed. No Tyler yet. He had gone into work at 6pm and should have already been home. I tried his cell phone several times and got no answer. I was sure he was lying dead somewhere, certain of it. On our 10 year anniversary too. I said several prayers and tried not to let my mind wander. I was thinking about Christmas, how to make it as normal as possible for the kids with a recently deceased father. I was thinking about all the bills Ty pays online and how some, most, don't even come in the mail, I don't even know where our life insurance information is. When something tragic happens I go into this mode where I appear very calm and I do everything I can to "handle" the situation. Anyway, after a few hours of trying my best to get more than 3 hours of sleep since we were going to be going on a date for our anniversary if in fact he wasn't dead. I wanted to not be an exhausted zombie tonight! He finally made it home, he called a bit before he made it home and I did fall asleep. The poor man worked 12 hours last night! It will at least be good to get that overtime check for the holidays! So, I am thankful that my husband is alive!!!

November is here! segment 15, 16 and 17

Oh my, I had a feeling this might happen. Things are busy and it's hard to get to the computer everyday, and sometimes it just doesn't happen.

So, I am thankful for computers, very thankful. I am also thankful for my time away from the computer. I am thankful for digital cameras and video cameras and journals and blogs and all things that can record our history.

Tonight at scouts I found out why the church was empty last Wednesday when it was time for scouts. I thought we just didn't have scouts since it was a holiday (Veteran's Day). Nope, there was scouts, it was in the morning, the scouts had an opportunity to be in a Veteran's Day parade and earn a really cool, big patch. We somehow didn't know this, I guess it's because Micah went to Bears from Wolfs and the old den leader didn't tell him probably because she thought the new one would, and vise versa. I don't know. Anyhow, I am thankful that when Micah learned this tonight at pack meeting he didn't freak out. He tends to freak out about things like that. I know it really bothered him though because he had to come up with all the reasons why it was good that we didn't know. He tends to do this with things he knows there is no way of making up for. He says it was good we didn't know because a lot of the kids said it was tiring walking in the parade and he wouldn't want his legs getting tired, right. Poor kid. I am thankful though that there wasn't even a hint of a scene made.

Lastly, for now...I am thankful to have a husband that is putting left over dinner away and making the boys lunches for tomorrow. He may be feeling a bit bad about me being on my own more often, it may be because our anniversary is on Friday (10 years), or it may just be because he's awesome. I don't know, but whatever the reason, I'm taking it.

November is here! segment 14

I am thankful for Robin, my friend, giver of the green paint. Without her, these cabinets would be cream, like the furniture in Peyton's room. I know they would look lovely in cream, but They would not have been so fun. This picture is before I started the sanding, and after I took all the clutter off.
Same here, just the top of the cabinets.

I am thankful for my little apprentice and companion, Ben.

I am thankful that P didn't fall off the ladder while I ran to get my camera.

Here they are finished, very green, clutter back on.

I finished the boys bathroom cabinets today and I like them even better in the green than the hall cabinets. I still need to get a finished picture of those. Thanks Robin!

November is here! segment 12 and 13

Well, tonight I was in the garage doing some night painting. This time I'm making the boys bathroom cabinetes green to match the ones in the hall (thanks for the paint Robin). My little helper Ben was painting with me and Miss P was keeping us company. I was distracted with my painting when I heard a loud crash and then a wail. It was P and Micah's bike had fallen on top of her and she was laying on her back on top of my wet cabinets! I am thankful to report that she is fine, she was just scared, and I got most of the paint out of her little purple sleeper. So thankful for that!

I am thankful for furlough Fridays and a husband that enjoys grocery shopping. I'm thankful that we got to go shopping with just the 2 of us. Yolawnda had Ben and Morgan watched P. It was like a date, almost. I am thankful for full cabinets, a full freezer and a full pantry. I am a bit sad that I no longer have an excuse for feeding my family sorry excuses of a dinner.

I am thankful to report that P's eye is completely healed now and her cheek is just slightly red and a bit dry looking. I am amazed at how quickly it all healed. She looks much cuter now, like her old self.

I just thought this was so cute. I am thankful to have a daddy's girl daughter. It's really quite sweet.

Peyton's first shiner

November is here! segment 11

I am thankful for my haircut! No, mostly I just put these in here because a few of you that don't see me often wanted pics. I cut a good foot or so off and it does feel much better.
This obviously, is the front. Jacob took the picture for me because Ben took the first one and it was VERY unflattering :) Jacob is taller and stood on the couch. Pictures taken from below are so not good for me!

This picture was from the other night when Ben was my sleeping buddy until 4am when Tyler got home from work. I am thankful that I have a little buddy and I am thankful for sleeping children. The world (at least my world) is a better place when my kids are well rested.

Lastly, for tonight anyway, I am thankful for my girls. Not just my beehives, but all of the Young Women. I am thankful for mutual and all the fun we have together, and for a husband that arranges for me to be able to go!

November is here! segment 10

All I did until this afternoon was play games with Ben, exercise, shower and play more games with Ben. That kid is a game maniac, seriously. He's good too, I don't just mean good for a 4 year old either, he's really good. The kid actually bested me at checkers. I've never played it with him before and I was honestly expecting to whip him at it. I was trying too. It was probably the best game of checkers I've ever played, I gave it my all. He was so happy at beating me that immediatly after he asked me if he could call Daddy. I let him gloat. I got on the phone with Ty after Ben gloated for just a minute and Ty told me that last week he taught Ben how to play, they played a game where he was just pretty much learning the rules, and then they played again and Tyler had to actually try to beat him, which he did. I don't think anyone beats Ty at checkers. It's kind of funny to think that Ben is a more challenging opponent than I am. Anyway, I know that's a big explanation of what I'm getting at here, but...

I am thankful that I have kids that are smarter than I am. I'm not saying they know more than I do right now, but they are better at some things already and they know some things that I don't. I am sure by the time they are my age they will know far more than I do now.

I am also very thankful that having 3 boys has really mellowed me out A LOT. What's going on in this picture below would have really bothered me several years ago, now I can almost even handle when the boys jump from arm to arm on the leather couches, almost. If you can't tell, they are tipping Grandma Williams rocking recliner on it's back, I hope she is not turning in her grave, so to speak.

I am not thankful that Sister Dunford left us. Before she left I gave her a Barbie Sister Dunford. When she showed up that morning for my sister's discussion she was wearing a white shirt and black skirt just like her counterpart, minus the black lace. I happened to have some black lace, so before she left I quickly added it. It was very worth the time it took as she was VERY happy to have her very own Sister Missionary Barbie.

However, I am happy to report that although the new sister is no Sister Dunford, I like her. She is from Tonga and this is her first area. 2 months ago she did not speak english and I am amazed at how well she does now. She has definately been blessed with the gift of tongues. They came over last night for another discussion with my sister and it was fun to hear a little about Tonga (they eat dogs there, Sister Tufoe does not though)and how it differs from here. She helped teach part of the discussion and did a beautiful job and had the spirit with her. I am happy to report that my mom knows she is learning about the church and is fine with it. I love my mom so very much and her support means a great deal to me. Mom, if you're reading this, I love you!

November is here! segment 9

Tonight I'll keep it simple and say this. I am thankful for the nights Tyler has to work a double shift. He gets paid overtime and I have an evening all to myself to get caught up on all the laundry. Benny is asleep on my bed right now, right where Tyler usually is. Instead of hearing Tyler's snores, I get to hear Ben's! I am thankful our kids have their own beds and are pretty good about sleeping in them but I do enjoy cuddling one of my sleeping children every now and again.

On another note, I was just reading the NieNie Dialogues and her husband made a comment to their daughter that I have to remember and use. He said, "Girls, guess what, the devil just called and he said you guys are doing awesome."