Happy Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Turkey Day!

 I hope you have a fun filled day of lots of food

good friends, family and warm memories.

and I hope you all take the time to remember all we have to be thankful for

After all that is what this holiday is about.  

As we express our gratitude, 

we must never forget that the highest appreciation

is not to utter words, but to live by them. 

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Guess who lost his first tooth

He lost it on our way up to my family cabin on Friday night Nov 19 and he lost it in the store so we did not have it to put under his pillow.  He was not worried he

Dear Noah,
Congratulations on loosing your first tooth.  On my way to you  I got attacked by bad guys and lost in the snow so sorry it took me until you returned home
Love the Tooth Fairy

He was excited to share with his class monday during smile time.
He is getting so grown up.

Today is my BIrthday

It was a great day.  I got to go to the Brandon Flowers concert on Wednesday.   I saw Harry Potter on Thursday and we went to my family cabin for the weekend.  It was a great 34th birthday.  Noah teased me that I was really old.  I told him that I am the perfect age to be a mom. 

Halloween 2010

 Princess Sofia and Captain Clone Commander Rex

 Laurie a Japanese Masseuse and Kersten the Austrian Tourist

 and a couple of my other favorites  My niece Allie as Minnie Mouse

 Brother Nik as Ron Burgundy from Anchorman and Lina a 50's housewife

My mom Jeanne and Al as Vikings

My kids kept telling them that they were Dragon Trainers

My sister Em as Wilma and Gearold as Fred Flintstone.

We had a really fun Halloween.
We gathered with 3 families in the neighborhood
for yummy taco soup and food.
Then we went  out all together to Trick or Treat.
It was so super fun
It was fun to watch the kids form friendships
and run up from door to door.

Grateful Sunday- October 17, 2010

Time Together:  Our kids had their annual Halloween sleepover with Ginny on Friday night and then my sister Amy or Mimi took them on adventures the entire next day.  It felt like a mini honeymoon.  We went to Zupas of dinner and then walked around the Fashion Place Mall,  watched a flick until late into the night.  Slept in until 10.  Then all the neighborhood kids did our yard work.  We went and saw Red, which was awesome.  Bruce Willis and Helen Mullen are genius.  To top it off we went on a double date with our friends that evening and ate, laughed and talked the night away.  It was an amazing weekend.  Kersten commented that it was nice to be reminded that we like to do things together just the two of us and we still have lots of fun together.  It was so so nice.  Thanks again everyone.

Canadian Thanksgiving:  Either of my parents don't have a lot of parties or dinners anymore.  Yesterday we celebrated Canadian thanksgiving with my Mom and Al.  I love being with my siblings and watching the kids run around like hooligans.  The food was divine and felt like home.  Can't get much better than that. 

New Callings:  I was released from Girls Achievement leader this week and I have the new calling of Young Womens Secretary.  I am excited.  I will really miss my girls.  I was just to the point where I felt I knew them well and could really have lots of fun with them.  I am thrilled to get to know the YW and look forward to this new adventure.

Painting:  I love painting.  I have been painting a bookcase for Sofia's room this week.   It really soothes my soul.  It helps me be at peace with myself.

She made even US look Good!

 On Sept 11, 2010 

our neighbor and friend Sonja 

took our family pictures.

Wow,  I am so so blessed to have talented people in my life.

 Sofia-        Joy,  She lives in extremes.

 Me -  I finally feel I have found me.

 Noah - Oh, the adventures he has.

 Daddy, You come play with me?

 Kersten -  Yes, Ladies,  he is ALL Mine! 

 Yes, Please!

Can't get much better than this!

Sonja is such a great example to me.  She has so much joy and passion 

and lives in such a way that you want to be better by knowing her.  

Thank you again for sharing your talent with our family.

Grateful Sunday - October 10, 2010

Today I am Grateful for:

Kersten:  I don't know what I would have done without him this last week.  He has been so helpful and patient with me.  He has my back and has helped me every step of the way.  He anchored me down when I went crazy and kept me on the forward path.  He is my match in every way.  So glad he is mine.

Daddy/Daughter Party:  Oh My Goodness.  This event was Saturday night and it was a total success.  It really was just so so so so much fun.  We had a mini prom for the girls ages 8-11 years and their dads.  More details to follow but it was just magical.  I am still on a bit of a high from it all.  I of course forgot my camera in all the details of gettting everything ready.  But the Bishop and 1st counselors took pictures all night they are getting them to me.  I love these girls and I feel like I finally feel like I can help and make a difference to them

Help:   I am blessed to have people in my life who help and support me.  My husband namely and also my brother Nik,  he came to the party and DJ'd the dance.  He is so super fun and crazy that it was perfect.  And Al my stepdad,  he came and took professional pictures of the girls with their dad for their first prom picture together.  My mom made her rolls and helped me gather all the decorations.  And my partner in Girls Achievement Sharon,  we do make a great team.

Weather:  Oh,  glorious Fall.  Cool, crisp mornings and pleasant sunny afternoons.  This world is glorious.  I am so grateful to be here and witness the beauty of this earth. 

Little Hands:  my children have the most beautiful hands.  Sofia's soft chubby little fingers with chipped pink finger nail polish and Noah's longer slender fingers that can do so many things not and look so much more boy now than baby.  I love holding them in mine, rubbing their little knuckles,  feeling their palm flat acros mine.  Having their little fingers play with the tips of my nails.  And the feel of their little hands tickling my arm or legs.  Oh,  I am trying so hard to cherish this time that they are small.