Black Friday

There was no early rising for us.  Really, we are lame when it comes to getting up and out of the house on Black Friday, but we like it that way.  We always say, "There's nothing I want badly enough to get out of bed at 3 am!"  Though now we could just shop on Thanksgiving Day!  That doesn't make me happy that the shopping world is headed in that direction.  Give us one day without the craziness!

Our big purchase of the day was actually Misha's big purchase of the day.  She has been saving her birthday money and any other money she has earned for a kayak.  She got a pretty good deal at Dick's.  And I am grateful that the weather was so decent on Black Friday as we had to drive home with the kayak hanging out the back end of the Pilot.  It worked.  She's happy.

As for the rest of our shopping, we got a lot done while still getting our beauty sleep.

Thanksgiving Week

My girls had over a week off for their Thanksgiving holiday.  They pulled out the Wii and got excited about using it.  Amy, Misha, and I came home one night to find Kristen and Chris playing rock band with the guitars and drums.  That too became an instant hit...again.

Y M C A

Amy and Misha both had a Mutual activity on Tuesday night--a combined activity of dancing with all of the young men and young women.  There was a lot of groaning and such, but I think they had fun anyway.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the John family.  They have a lot of kids and combined with our kids, they kept each other busy and out of trouble.  It was nice to spend the day in their home and to enjoy a little more space.  We appreciated their kindness in inviting us to spend Thanksgiving with them.

Health

We take for granted the good health that we enjoy--simply getting out of bed each day is amazing.  Life can change on a dime; we enjoy many eases of life because we are healthy.

House Progress Nov 27-29

It is pretty exciting to visit the property and see the really obvious changes.  The framers have been busy while the weather has been so great.  We are in for a big weather change next week, so hopefully all of the sheeting will be up soon. 

The main floor is complete, the second floor joists were placed, the floor was installed, and most of the second floor walls are up.  The garage is 80% framed.  Stairs need to be ordered, but I believe they go in once the trusses are in place and the roof has sheeting.  The trusses are scheduled to arrive on the 4th.

November 27, 2013

I am so looking forward to sunsets in this house.

Kristen was pretty nervous climbing the ladder to the second floor and then just being up there with so much open space. 

November 29, 2013

Home

We have learned in the past six months that home IS where your heart is.  Our rental isn't our favorite place to be, but here we come home to family.  I am grateful for our home.

Christopher

Christopher is amazing.  He works incredibly hard, loves his girls, and worries about making sure they are taken care of.  He loves to mountain bike, hang with friends, and be with me.  Love him.

Amy

Amy has a fun sense of humor and surrounds herself with great friends.   I count on her for a lot of things.  She has musical talent as well, but would love it if Chris and I would let her quit.  She is a super big sister.

Misha

Misha has a wide variety of interests.  She loves the Drama Club at school, being a percussionist, anything Dr. Who, and all things Wicked.  She is a good friend.  Though she is taller than me, she'll do her best to cuddle up next to me.

Kristen

Such a sweet girl.  I am thankful for her creativity, common sense, and positive attitude.  She is the youngest, and I think I have spent the most one on one time with her.  She is delightful and looks for ways to be helpful.

Good Music

I love listening to good music. I am thankful for the blessing of beautiful music and talented people.

Good Teachers

Having good teachers makes such a difference to the success my children experience at school.  I am grateful for teachers who have the skill, talent, endurance, and patience to teach my daughters.  Thank you!

Heated Seats

Oh my, I love the heated seats in our car.  I am often cold and having heated seats is so wonderful.  I am grateful for heated seats and for the person brilliant enough to dream them up.

Air Conditioning

I thought that I was going to melt at times in the Philippines--it was just that hot.  It was a blessing to walk in to the few places that had air conditioning.  Earlier this summer our rental did not have air conditioning.  Every morning I would get  up around 5 am and open all the windows to cool the house off as much as possible, and then watch the temperature rise the rest of the day.  It was a delightful treat to finally have the A/C installed.

House Progress Nov 20

Those framers have been busily working.  They realigned the basement windows, placed a lot of the 2nd floor joists in place, and started putting sheeting on the outside walls.

My Girls

I posted this list last year, and it bears repeating this year.  I am blessed to be a mother to three great kids.  I am immensely thankful for them.  Hopefully by the time they strike out on their own, these points will be second nature.

1.  Give generously.
2.  Remember that just because everyone is doing it, it doesn't necessarily make it right.
3.  Acting dumb is never cute.
4.  Take lots of pictures.
5.  Say "I love you" to the important people in your life every day.
6.  Don't be afraid to try.
7.  Be kind.
8.  Master the art of saying, "I'm sorry."
9.  Make exercise a daily habit.
10.  Listen for answers when you pray.
11.  Make your bed everyday.
12.  Take good care of your skin.
13.  Be beautiful inside and out.
14.  Stop and admire the sunset.
15.  Take walks with the ones you love.
16.  Always write thank you notes.  People love to be acknowledged.
17.  Start your day with prayer.
18.  End your day with prayer.
19.  Be a good listener.
20.  When you speak to others, look them in their eyes.  Try to notice their eye color.
21.  Never text while driving.
22.  Smile.
23.  Hold the door for others.
24.  Simply tell people "thank you" when they give you compliments.
25.  Don't talk on your cell phone when you are in the bathroom.
26.  Plant a garden and watch it grow.
27.  Crunch fall leaves.
28.  Forgive others.
29.  Learn to be calm.
30.  Carry on.
31.  Be wise with your money.
32.  Always pay tithing.
33.  Save money.
34.  Go to church on Sunday.
35.  Have faith.
36.  Get up early to see the sunrise.
37.  Give thanks.
38.  Learn how to play the piano.
39.  Play hymns.
40.  Call your mom and dad.
41.  Keep a journal.
42.  Go to bed early.  Get up early.
43.  Things always go on sale.  Never pay full price.
44.  Do your research when buying expensive items.  Check the reviews.
45.  Fill your gas tank when it goes below half full.
46.  Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
47.  Remember that Santa Claus is a reminder of what it means to give.
48.  Easter is more than hidden Easter eggs.
49.  Brush your teeth twice a day.
50.  Visit the dentist twice a year for a check-up and cleaning.
51.  Schedule a yearly physical.
52.  Work hard.
53.  Wear sunscreen every day.
54.  Be healthy.  Live a healthy lifestyle.
55.  Stand up for your sisters.
56.  Think before you speak.
57.  Fold laundry as you take it out of the dryer.
58.  Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
59.  Go to college.  Finish.
60.  Listen to uplifting music.
61.  Christmas music is okay to listen to all year long.
62.  Get married in the temple.
63.  Never settle.
64.  Celebrate the milestones.
65.  Insist on happiness.
66.  Never carry a balance on a credit card.
67.  Take a risk.
68.  Travel the world. Learn about different cultures.
69.  Make lists.
70.  Sometimes it is okay to ignore your list.
71.  Joy in the feeling of rocking a sleeping baby.
72.  Resist evil.
73.  Stay pure.
74.  If you are at a party and people are drinking or doing drugs or anything that makes you uncomfortable, never be afraid to call your parents to come and pick you up.
75.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, might, mind, and strength.
76.  Make well-balanced meals.
77.  Donate to good causes.
78.  Vote.
79.  Marry a return missionary.
80.  Be grateful.  If you haven't got all the things you want.  Be grateful for the things you don't have that you don't want!
81.  CTR-Choose the Right.
82.  CTR-Current Temple Recommend.
83.  Recycle
84.  Learn how to fail.  Pick yourself up and keep on going.
85.  Talk to grownups.
86.  Stand up for yourself.
87.  Learn to say "No" when you are feeling overwhelmed.
88.  Don't carry a grudge.
89.  Recognize that most people aren't thinking about you what you think they are thinking.
90.  Have integrity.
91.  Never date a boy whose pants hang low.
92.  Be a good friend.
93.  Life isn't fair.  Be merciful.
94.  Learn to value and respect boys.
95.  Read.
96.  Be optimistic.  Look at the cup as being half full.
97.  Lift others up.
98.  You know you are in love when you can't fall asleep because you know reality is finally far better than your dreams.  Dr. Seuss
99.  Remember that money can't buy happiness.
100.  Treat others with respect.
101.  Dream big.
102.  Be responsible.
103.  Mistakes can open the door to exciting new possibilities.
104.  Exercise can be fun.
105.  Be creative.
106.  Use your imagination.
107.  Never walk alone at night.
108.  Be prepared.
109.  Read the Book of Mormon every day.
110.  Eat cookie dough.
111.  Apologize when you mess up, especially to your children.
112.  Don't whine.
113.  Give hugs.
114.  Be joyful.
115.  Believe in Jesus Christ.
116.  Have faith.
117.  Answers to prayers do come.  They just might not be what you are expecting or when you want them.
118.  Kiss your sweetheart in front of your children. 
119.  Give hugs.
120.  Don't be afraid to get a little muddy.
121.  Buy rain boots.
122.  Learn a marketable skill.
123.  Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
124.  Above all else, family is the most important.

Piano Lessons

Though some of my children have reached a point in their lives when they no longer feel the motivation to practice the piano and want to quit (Ahem Schmamy), I am grateful for the discipline it teaches them. I love to listen to them master a tricky song and someday I hope that they will simply sit a play for the fun of it.

House Progress Nov 19

We are so grateful that our framers our moving along at a steady clip, especially as the weather has been so great.  We have freezing temperatures coming our way to slow things down a bit.  All of the walls on the main floor are up, the steel beams for the second floor are in place, and joists were up for half of the second floor.  We are looking forward to checking out the view.  Three of the basement windows need to be redone since they are placed wrong and don't line up with the main floor windows, but that should be taken care of soon.

Mormon Yellow

Our family went all the way around the world to wear our first "Helping Hands" vests.  During the floods in Colorado, we transported a box of "Helping Hands" t-shirts from our Stake President to our ward members.  On the box it read, "Mormon Yellow".  I am thankful to be able to lend a helping hand.

Food

I like food.  I am grateful for food.  There is an ease to which it is obtained.  Many of us never give it a second thought when we make a quick stop at the grocery store for a little something.  That is not the same world-wide.  I remember the horrified gasp of a young Filipino friend who watched me pour bottled water on my hands to wash them when we visited the Philippines.  I learned an important lesson in that small moment.

Inspirational Quotes

There are a few quotes that I've sticky-noted and placed by my screen so that my eyes land on them throughout each day.  I am grateful for different levels of motivation that inspire me to be a better person.

Spiritual light rarely comes to those who merely 

sit in the darkness waiting for someone to flip the switch.

Dieter Uchtdorf

Hold fast to earlier illumination.

If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it, and be strong.

If it was right when you prayed about it 

and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now.

Jeffrey Holland

Sleepy Amy

Amy gets up at 5:10 during the week to get ready for seminary.  She never complains, and she always gets up.  So proud of her.  However, if I happen to drive anywhere with her in the afternoon, this is what happens.

I let her sleep for a little while and then made her wake up so she would still be able to sleep last night.

Stop Growing!

Hah!  I had to ask Amy to reach a bowl from the top cupboard shelf for me last night.  Actually I love that my girls are tall.  I wish that I was, but that's not going to happen.  Both of my older girls suggested that they needed new pants the other day.  Misha was wearing a seldom-worn blue pair of pants the other day (but that's not because she doesn't have others that fit.  She just does her own laundry and that basket has to be realllllly full before it heads down to the washing machine!)  I looked at her pants and said, "You have those ones that you hardly ever wear!"

She simply took off her boot.

Marriage

I am so grateful to be married.  It took a little longer for me to find Christopher, but I can't imagine life without him.  We meet each others' needs and balance each other in just the perfect ways.  I love having him as my best friend forever.

House Progress Nov 14

I stopped by the property this morning for pictures and saw that the garage floor had been poured, the main floor joists were in, and almost all of the floor boards were in place.  I would guess that by the end of the day, some of the main floor walls will be up.  And we have a dumpster.

9 am

4 pm

FaceTime

I am grateful to be able to "see" my husband while he is away on trips.  I am especially grateful that we are able to read scriptures together and pray together as a family via FaceTime.  He has attended our girls' concerts, performances, Recognition Nights, etc. via FaceTime.  Usually there is a collective "Ahhhh, that dad is attending by FaceTime," when people realize what we are doing.

My Camera

I love my camera.  There is still much to learn, but I have had fun taking pictures over the past couple of years.  I am thankful for such a neat way to record our lives together as a family.  Here are some of my favorites pictures from 2013:

Proofreadin' Momma

Kristen had a paper due on Harp Seals earlier this month.  I volunteered to help her by proofreading her paper.  I had a lot of experience with that in college as an English tutor.  She wasn't having any of it though.  She had taken her paper in to her teacher to get suggestions and her teacher had told her that she was off to a good start.  Kristen interpreted that to mean she didn't need to make any changes or add any thing more to the paper.

I volunteer in Kristen's classroom on Friday's, and I knew from talking to Mrs. Everett that she really wanted her kids to improve their writing skills.  One item in particular was to write a paragraph with at least six sentences.  Kristen also needed to finish her concluding paragraph.  You should know that there were tears involved in this conversation.  Chris finally came downstairs and gave Kristen a little pep talk while also convincing her that I had some skills.

There were more tears in the process, but her paper was finally finished with the appropriate number of sentences per paragraph and a good conclusion.  She had a rubric (guide sheet that tells what a good paper consists of), and she and I both felt she met all of the excellent standards for the paper.  Let me just say, I did not write her paper for her.  It was in her own words and from her research.

Jump ahead about a week later when Kristen brought her project home.  She jumped in to the car and excitedly told me that got an A+--45 out of 45.  She was thrilled.  So I asked, "Did you learn anything from letting your mom proofread your paper?"

"Yes," she enthusiastically joked, "You are awesome!  I am going to have you do all of my homework from now on!"

Getting Along

I am thankful that there are moments when my children get along.  Yesterday they spent hours outside playing on their new green machine as well as raking leaves.  A couple of weeks ago, I captured this picture of Amy and Misha cooking together in the kitchen.

House Progress Nov 11

We are at a point finally where progress is visible every day.  Exciting!  The basement walls should be finished by tomorrow.  The steel beams for the main floor will be delivered by 8 am tomorrow morning, and things will only go up from there.  The concrete in the garage is scheduled to be poured tomorrow as well.