This post is brought to you by the letter Z

Z

ZZZZzzzz

I am grateful that at the end of a busy, busy day I can catch some zzzzzzz's. I like to sleep. I love the feeling you get when your head hits the pillow and your body starts to relax and you drift off to sleep. And what a life saver naps were when my kids were little. I used to look forward to those so much. Now I know if my kids fall asleep I am going to have a hard time getting them to sleep later that night. Well, it's time for bed goodnight everyone!!!

This post is brought to you by the letter Y

Y

Yes

Don't we all like the word yes. Aren't we all grateful when you all you want to hear is that word. I am grateful for Yes's. Nattie it's time to do your chore. Yes mommy. Nichole will you help Ella. Yes Mom. Tyler it's time for homework. Yes Mommy. Ella get your finger out of your nose. Yes mommy. See how nice this word can be. I am grateful for Yes.

Happy Thanksgiving

Tyler has been in Disneyland the last week so we had to go and pick him up so we decided what the heck we can just stay here and eat too right? The hardest part (though some will argue with me) is that we had to have 2 Thanksgiving day meals. They were both great and filled with all of the food that I love (but mostly don't love because although I love Thanksgiving, it being one of my favorite holidays, I am not a fan of the food that goes on the table) but more importantly the family that I love.

We arrived in Utah Wednesday night and I just couldn't wait to give Tyler a big hug!!!! I was so excited to see him. We just hung out with my family for a bit because it was so late and we were exhausted. But first thing Thursday morning we went to Kmart to go Christmas shopping. It was great fun and I got almost all of the stuff I had left on my list. Then we went over to Nate's parents house to hang out for a bit and then over to Nate's grandparents for the dinner. They had Turkey (which is okay to have 1 day a year), stuffing (yuck), green bean casserole (yuck, would rather have green salad), beets (yuck), yams (yuck), rolls (my favorite thing at the dinner table), potatoes (yum) and gravy (yuck), fruit salad (yummy) and great conversation (can you say politics snooze fest) We didn't even have time to eat dessert before we had to head to my parents house.

At my parents house we had some great food too Turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, baked beans(yummy one of my favs), rolls, and mac and cheese (I only like Rocks) By this time I was so stuffed it didn't seem as though I would be able to stand up out of my chair and it was much more reasonable to request for someone to roll me to the couch. Nate told me that he was going to eat himself into a coma. I think that we all did. You know what they say eat fast so your breain doesn't know that you are full. We had a great time just hanging out at my parents house.

All of the kids slept at someone else's house that night so Nate and I thought DATE NIGHT. So I dragged Nate to Twilight because I heard that it was so much better the second time around. And quess what. It was!!! I liked it so much better. I knew what was coming. I knew the cheesy parts and the constipated looks and I enjoyed it so much more. I can't wait until they make the second one and lets all keep our fingers crossed that they give them a higher budget this time.

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving this year. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This post is brought to you by the letter X

X
XTI (my cannon)
I am grateful for my cannon rebel XTI. I love having a camera around and I have been know to grab my camera when something goes wrong with my kids. It is a coping mechanism for me. I would rather run away from the situation and grab my camera then get angry with my kids. When Ella gets into all of my stuff I don't yell I grab my camera and take a picture so that I can laugh about it later. I have thousands of pictures of my kids and they are going to have so many memories of their childhood because I remembered my XTI.

This post is brought to you by the letter W

W

Winter

I am grateful for Winter. There are a lot of things that happen during winter that I do not like. For example snow and everything that goes along with it. Okay really I don't like driving in snow and I don't like slipping down (I fall without the help of slippery ice). But there are things that I love about it. I love Christmas time. What a fun holiday that is. I also really like snow shoeing which is still relatively new to me. I also think that snow is pretty to look at. I am grateful for Winter

This post is brought to you by the letter V

V

Vacation

I am grateful every time I get to go on vacation. I am in need of a break a couple times a year and I love being able to go and see my family and love even more when I get to go with just my honey. I have had some really great vacations. I loved my trip this last spring to Georgia, West Virginia, and Maryland. I enjoyed getting to see my friends. I love the 2 night trips that Nate and I get to go to to Vegas Baby!! My favorite vacation was my trip to Hawaii that I got to take when Nate got home from his year tour to Korea. What a great chance that was to bond again. Yes, Vacations are so nice.

This post is brought to you by the letter u

U

Unique

I am grateful that Heavenly Father has made us all unique. I am so happy that I am the only one like me. I am an individual and thank goodness for that could you imagine more of me hanging around. Wow the world would be crazy.

This post toyou by the letter T

T
Tyler
I am grateful for Tyler. He is such a handsome feller. He is just a great kid to have around. He is so funny and likes to make people laugh. He has a kind heart and wants to help anyway he can. He's my Boo. Love ya buddy.

This post is brought to you by the letter S

S

Susan

I am grateful for this wonderful woman, My Mom, Susan. I couldn't of asked for a better mom. I had so much fun with her while I was growing up. I remember making cookies and going to the park with her. She used to make us Popsicle's out of yogurt and they were so yummy. I love my mom. She still is so much fun and I love hanging out with her. I miss her all of the time. I love you mom!!!!!

Twilight Movie

We all know that I am slightly obsessed with Twilight. I love the books so I was so excited about the movie. I knew going into it that it was in no way going to live up to my expectations of the movie. I went in expecting the worst and that is exactly what I got. I thought some parts of the movie were awkward and cheesy. I thought that the vampires were not graceful enough at least what I imagined them to be. I thought that Jasper looked like Edward scissor hands and that Edward looked constipated. That being said, I thought that some of the movie was hilarious. I really liked the baseball scene. And I thought that Edward looked hot when he went to school with Bella holding her hand. I am glad I went to the movie at midnight with my friends we had a great time. Nicole and I got our nails done in honor of Twilight

Kori, Heather and I at the library they had a twilight party. It was fun. They had 4 different stations there and at each station they had prizes that they gave you. At the first station they made us all sparkly. The second and fourth station they gave us a button and at the third station they drew a crescent mark on our hands.
Heather, Me, Kori, and Nicole

We went to Goodwood BBQ and it was so yummy. I love Goodwood.

Me and JoMama

Fish face

Me and my girls

We were waiting at Moxie Java for the movie to start

So we decided to have a photo shoot

There was this group of older ladies there that were such sweeties. We tried to get all of them to get in the pictures with us but only this one would. She is awesome.

I got my girls these cuffs

Still at moxie java

Aby is so awesome and one of the sweetest girls that I ever met.

Nicole and Aby on the floor of the movie theater waiting in line for the movie. We only waited for 2 1/2 hours

The Puppy poster????????

In the movie theater

Me and Nicki D in the theater

JoMama and me at the theater

Aby, JoMama and Me

Me and Nicole and her friend Pam

This post is brought to you by the letter R

R

Roof

I am grateful that I have a Roof over my head. When times are tough like it is now I am especially grateful that Nate an Air Force job that will keep a roof over our heads. I am grateful that the Lord has provided us with such a basic necessity.

This post is brought to you by the letter Q

Q

questions

I am grateful for questions. Yes even the one that is why? why? why? Because the more questions that I ask the more answers that I get and that means the more knowledge that I have. I like to find out the answers to things and if I don't know it I say Look on the Internet. Why? because you can find anything on the Internet. Why? someone, somewhere has posted about it. Why? because they were bored. Why? because they didn't have anything else to look up on the Internet. Why?????????

This post is brought to you by the letter P

P

People

I am grateful for all of the people that have touched my life over the year. I am grateful for Mindy for being so fun and adventurous with me.

Carolyn for being my oldest most amazing friend

Bishop Hayes for the love and support and strength he gave me through my rough times

Ginger for knowing exactly what I was going through

Trisha for being a excellent example of faith and patients

JoLynn for being my friend in Idaho and having great time together

Mindy E for our matching personalities and our jokes that only we can understand

Heather even though I am just getting to know you, You are awesome

Angela for putting up with me and accepting me for who I am

JoMaMa for having such a great time just hanging out

Nicole for helping me get through so much stuff that you still don't get. And loving me just the way I am

I am so lucky to be able to have these friends in my life and to have their support, friendship and love.

This post is brought to you by the letter O

O

Outside

I am grateful for being able to send my kids outside to play and to get exercise. I am grateful for the changing seasons and for being able to go camping outside. I didn't feel comfortable going camping with the kids when they were younger and I finally feel that my youngest is at an age where we can go camping a lot. We were able to go 4 times this summer and look forward to going a lot more often this year.

This post is brought to you by the letter N

N

Nichole and Natalie

I am grateful for my 2 daughters they are both just wonderful kids. They are turning into wonderful and responsible kids. They are so fun to hang out with. They are funny and I love them both so much.

This post is brought to you by the letter M

M

Marshmallows

I know that marshmallows seems like an odd thing to be grateful for but let me tell you why I am grateful for them. One of my favorite stories happened to Tyler when he was 3 years old. He had hurt himself and he has always been a kid that is a little (a lot) dramatic about his ouchies, anyway he wouldn't stop crying and I was at my wits end with it. So out of desperation I asked him, Do you think that a Marshmallow will help.

He replied, "I think so."

I gave him one and he limped,wobbled into the other room while I was finishing up in the kitchen. He stopped crying so I said, It must of made you feel better

He said" Yes mom it did."

I then walked into the living room to see him with a marshmallow on his ankle. It was the cutest thing that I had ever seen so I had to take a picture. So yes I am grateful for marshmallows (plus hello yummy in your hot chocolate)

This post is brought to you by the letter L

L

Lesley

I have know Lesley almost 10 years now and I feel as if my life has been blessed because of it. She was my family when I lived far away from my family. She knows me better then anyone else out there. She is an great example to me. She is an amazing mom. And one of the funnest people that I know. I love you Lesley.

This post is brought to you by the letter K

K

Kim

I am grateful for Kim my Daddy. I know that at times I have let him down but he has always been there for me anyway. I am grateful that my Dad has supported me on the decisions that Nate and I make even if he doesn't agree with them. I am grateful that he fixes my house on his vacation here. He is a great dad, an excellent grandfather, and an amazing man. I love you Daddy!!!

This one is for Lesley

Today I was going through some of my old photo Cd's to find a picture for one of my posts and I came across these pictures of Lesley's kids. I thought that it would be fun to post some old ones of my kids and I thought that I would add some of Lesley's kids too. This picture was taken in February 2004. At this time Lesley is in the hospital having Trista.
This picture was taken at Tyler's 4th birthday party in July 2004

This picture was taken at the girls very first sleepover (when I wasn't there) at their birthday party in 2003

Baby Trista. What a beautiful baby she was. And a beautiful girl she is now. This was taken in 2004

This one goes along with Kassy's picture on the day that Trista was born. She looks so little here. Lesley you have such beautiful girls.

The big girls I am combining them and some of all of the kids together

I guess I am just getting lazy but I decided to put the 2 I have of all of the kids and combine the big girls pictures on here. Just so it looks like I have a lot of them. Don't they all look goofy in this picture
This picture was taken right before we moved from AZ. So Tyler was 4, Nattie and Choley were 7, and Ella was 18 months old

The kids loved boxes. Its amazing how that happens. Right after we moved on base the kids took over a few of our boxes and made them into their club houses.

Nichole got attacked at Tyler's 4th birthday party.

I love the look on her face in this picture. She must be deep in thought

You almost got her in girls keep trying

Choley's first day of 2nd grade

And the award that she got

My girls spent the whole summer outside when we moved to Mountain Home.

Oh so sad Nattie

Natties first day of 2nd grade

She has always liked to have her picture taken until now

Some pictures of the little man

I have had so much fun looking at these older pictures of the kids. My very favorite story of Tyler will be posted under the "M" day so be ready for it. It's pretty good. Tyler spend the 24th of July with his Grandma Musil when he was 5 years old and she took some pictures for me this I thought was just so cute of him.
My my big girls were younger they would always pick on Tyler. They would pinch him and try to make him cry. On day I asked why do you do that. Their reply.... His eyes get so blue when he cries. They still do. I love this picture because it shows that. Why is he crying you ask. Because I made him play outside for 15 whole minutes when he didn't want to. He just sat by the door and cried the whole time.

He was so pooped this day. I always found him sleeping in weird things like this. He fell asleep in a laundry basket and a drawer one time.

He wanted to dress up like a hero and we didn't have any hero stuff so this is what he came up with.

Can you see his tongue sticking out? Yep I totally do that. I don't mean to and I am getting better at it.

This is his birthday picture when he turned 5 years old. What a handsome feller