Watching my kids

I am grateful it was nice enough that the girls and I could go out for a little while this morning. It was fun to watch the girls play in what little snow we have left. I'm grateful I can stay home with my kids and watch them as they learn and grow and figure things out.

I'm grateful Ray put new tubes in my bike tires (I flattened the old ones beyond repair). I'm very grateful he is able to do so many things that I cannot.

Conveniences

I am grateful for modern medicines.

I am grateful for the convenience of shopping centers. I'm grateful I don't have to go too far to get my groceries and other stuff.

I'm grateful Ray watched the girls while I had places to be.

Family Fun

I'm glad we went to the zoo today! It was so fun -- even if Jon did complain that he didn't want to go the whole way there and the whole way home. (He enjoyed it while he was there...) I'm grateful I went against my principles and pulled my kids out of school so that we could do it. I'm also very glad that it was free! That kind of family activity is very important when you have 5 kids.

Team Teacher

I'm very grateful to have a team teacher in Primary. She does a wonderful job of keeping the kids reverent while I try to teach them something. It's much harder when she's not there.

I'm grateful my house is easy to clean. I'm grateful Ray took the girls for a walk while I straightened the house.

I'm glad we were able to have some friends over. We don't see our friends from our old branch very often anymore. It was nice to visit with a couple of them. I'm very grateful the girls are doing better with other people.

Ray

I'm grateful Ray made breakfast. I'm grateful Ray took the girls for a couple of hours so I could work on a Primary lesson.

I'm grateful the girls love to spend time with Ray.

A Date

I'm grateful I got to go on a date with my husband. It was nice to have a break just for us. I'm very grateful for friends who were willing to watch our kids. I'm grateful our kids behaved well.

I am grateful for...

sleeping in,
being able to take a walk,
nice weather,
a convenient library,
good friends,
long chats with good friends,
Ray entertaining the girls, and
the feeling I actually accomplished something today.

No Schedule

I'm grateful for my lack of a schedule. It's nice to be able to sleep until the girls decide to get up. Then work things in as I have time, without having to worry about sticking to a schedule.

I'm grateful Ray took the girls with him this evening. It's amazing how much I can get done in an hour and a half without the girls.

I'm grateful for good friends who understand where I'm at in life. It's so good to have someone I can talk to who is going through the same things.

My Testimony

I am grateful that Heavenly Father gives me opportunities. I'm grateful He trusts me enough to allow me to make my own decisions. I'm even more grateful that He guides me when I seek His help. I am grateful for the gift and companionship of the Holy Ghost.

I am so grateful for the teachings of the Church on families. I know that my family is the most important thing and the best thing I can do is focus on my family and taking care of them. I am grateful to have a husband who works so hard to provide for us. I know I can count on him.

I've had a lot on my mind for the last twenty-four hours while I've considered some different options for me and my family right now. I think I need these times to bring me closer to Heavenly Father and our Savior. I'm so grateful for prayer. I'm grateful for the reminder that I need guidance. It would be nice to see the future, but I know I don't need to because the Lord will guide me where I need to go. I'm very grateful for my testimony and the strength it gives me, especially when times get tough.

Time

I'm grateful my girls slept in this morning so I got to sleep in.

I'm grateful I have all week to work on my Primary lesson.

I'm grateful Ray was around all evening.

Junk Removal

I'm grateful I survived Primary. I'm grateful Ray took the girls, even though he had to teach, too.

I'm grateful Ray is trying to get rid of junk and I'm really grateful there are people who want to buy it.

Praise

Today Jon told me that he and Dad had completed the entire level 4 on Lego Star Wars. I congratulated him with, "You guys did a really great job!" He responded, "No, we did a really awesome great job." I am glad that my kids let me know what they need to hear (and I really do mean it, even if I do laugh at them at times...). I love the looks on their faces when I repeat back the compliment they just fed me. Sometimes I wished it worked like that for adults. Wouldn't it be nice to always hear your strengths reinforced and weaknesses forgiven? I'm glad that Heavenly Father is a little bit like that with me. It's nice to know there's someone out there who appreciates me for exactly what I am right now, while recognizing my potential.

Personal Wins (though small)

I (Jenn) am glad that I actually lost weight this week. I was just hoping to stay level, since a ward party (main dish: funeral potatoes), a birthday party and eating out three times (the in-laws were visiting) do not usually add up to a fabulous diet. Who would have guessed? Weight loss is easier than I thought, just much more expensive than I'd hoped...

Nothing New

I'm grateful Ray got the girls this morning so I was able to sleep in for a few extra minutes.

I'm grateful for sisters to talk to.

I'm grateful for beautiful weather.

Helpful Husband

I'm very grateful it is getting much easier to get the girls places. It's much easier to get them in and out of the car, in and out of buildings, etc.

I'm grateful the girls took a very, very long nap today.

I am grateful Ray went grocery shopping with us and then helped make dinner.

Doctors

I'm thankful that I took my kids to the doctor today (I generally put it off as long as possible) and I'm glad the NP went with her instincts even though all of the symptoms didn't add up quite right and I'm glad that DJ is now on antibiotics for strep, though he never acted as though he even had a sore throat. Thank goodness he broke out in a rash?!

Clean Noses

I am grateful it was a nice day and that the girls and I could take a walk. I'm grateful the girls like taking walks and getting outside.

I'm grateful Ray plays with the girls. They get so excited when he gets home.

I'm grateful Ruby is wanting to get her nosed wiped now and will let me wipe her nose without a fight.

Reading

I love to read. I'm grateful that I can read and that I have so many options of what to read. I just finished a great book today. I'm always excited when I find a good book.

I'm grateful I had a good visit with one of my friends.

I'm grateful Ray is figuring out our taxes.

Good Books

I'm grateful it was a nice day. I'm grateful the girls and I were able to get out for a while.

I'm grateful for good books. I'm grateful to have a library so close and convenient.

I'm grateful that Ray entertained the girls (or maybe it was bored them, since they both fell asleep) while I was making dinner. That way I could read while the food was cooking. :-)

I'm still enjoying Jenn's story from yesterday. It's had me laughing all day.

Life

I'm just glad that somehow my kids have made it as many years as they have with only minor health issues. I'm also glad that none of them seem to be tending to obesity.

Check out my blog to gain further insight into this post and the previous one...

Good Stories

I'm grateful that I got to talk to all of my sisters and my mom today (not all at the same time). I'm grateful we can share entertaining stories (thanks, Jenn). I'm always grateful for a good laugh.

I'm grateful I had time to work on organizing the girls' room. I'm very grateful the girls took a long nap this afternoon. I'm grateful the girls can be entertained with a bowl and a spoon for long enough to make dinner.

Callings

I'm grateful to have a husband who is a worthy priesthood holder. I'm grateful that he accepts and fulfills callings. I'm grateful that home teaching is important to him.

I'm grateful to have a team-teacher in Primary. It helps a lot to have an extra adult to make bathroom trips and keep the kids in their chairs.

I'm grateful for our friends. We had a lot of fun watching the super bowl with them. I'm grateful Greg controlled his language in front of the girls.

I'm grateful to know that my lists can help others feel better. (Thanks, Mary, for your post.)

Meg

I'm grateful for Meg and her faithful account of all things gratifying. I came here tonight in a rather droll mood to find her many cheerful posts. I read through them and it really lifted me up to see all the things she decides (because I do believe it's a decision) to be grateful for. I am in much higher spirits and shall sleep better because of it.

Many Things

I am grateful that Ray cooked breakfast for us.

I am grateful for the very helpful people at Home Depot. Even if they didn't have what we were looking for, I was very impressed with how hard they tried to help us.

I'm grateful that it was a warm enough day to take the girls out for a bit. They love to be outside.

I'm very, very grateful that Ray installed child safety locks on the kitchen drawers and cupboards. I think this will lessen my frustration level substantially.

I am grateful that Ray gave the girls their bath this evening.

Naps

I'm grateful that I was able to get in a little nap today. I'm grateful the girls didn't do too much damage to the house while I was napping. I'm also grateful the girls napped well today.

I'm very grateful that Ray goes grocery shopping with us.

A Better Day

I'm grateful that today was much better than yesterday. I'm grateful I was able to spend quite a bit of time playing with the girls. I'm grateful I was able to find a temporary solution to the drawer issue.

I'm grateful Ray distracted the girls while I was making dinner.

Today is over

I'm grateful that the girls took a two hour nap this afternoon.

I'm grateful that Ray picked up all the clean laundry that the girls scattered around the floor.

Mostly I'm just grateful that this day is over and I hope tomorrow is better.

Family

I'm grateful that Jenn and I had a good, long (very long) conversation this afternoon. I love to talk to my family. It's the next best thing to seeing them.

I'm so grateful that Ray and I have family that cares so much about us.

I'm grateful that Ray entertained Ruby for a bit this morning so I could get a few minutes more of sleep.

Helping

I am grateful that my children want to help. I'm trying to guide their helping, but not discourage it. I'm grateful that it was a new trash bag that they decided to fill with their bibs. I'm also grateful I noticed it shortly after it happened.

The girls are figuring out some things, like taking clothes out of the dryer and handing them to me. It's good to have them involved with what I'm doing and they catch on really quick.

I'm grateful that Ray fed the girls dinner while I was trying to get other things done. I'm grateful that Ray changed the 4 light bulbs that were burnt out in the kitchen. (Yes, there were four that needed changed all at once, it almost felt pointless to turn on the lights.)

Primary

I am very grateful that my first day of Primary went so well. I wasn't sure what to expect and the first indication wasn't very favorable. Several of the kids were unhappy at the prospect of a new teacher. But by the time we were done with class the kids all seemed pretty happy. One of the girls, who spent most of the class saying, "Sister So-n-so always let me do ___," found me after church to give me a hug before she went home.

I'm grateful that Ray got brooms for the girls (he got them several days ago) and shortened the handles so they aren't dangerous (that he did today). The girls always try to take my broom when I'm sweeping, so if they have their own it is much nicer (in some ways).

Spiderwebs

I'm thankful that DJ told his primary teacher that he's thankful for "spiderwebs." It takes a lot of pressure off of me.

Clothesline

It may seem silly, but I am really excited to finally have a clothesline in my laundry room. Ray put it up this morning. I'm grateful that I won't have to run the dryer as much (the dryer heats up the thermostat thereby cooling down the rest of the house).

I'm grateful that Ray took the girls shopping this afternoon so I had time to prepare my Primary lesson.

I'm grateful that my parents have a cell phone so I can still call them even when they are on the internet.

My House

I am grateful that I have a nice, warm house to stay in while the temperatures drop and drop some more.

I'm very grateful that Ray always goes with me to do the grocery shopping.

I'm grateful that my girls go to bed so well. Most nights they ask us (by standing by the crib or grabbing their sleeping bags) to put them in bed. It is so nice.

Stuff

I'm grateful that my kids make me laugh. They can be so funny. And they show me exactly what I do all the time because that's what they copy.

I'm grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost and knowing that we don't have to make the difficult decisions all on our own.

I'm grateful I got to talk to my dad today. He's not generally around when I call, so it's extra nice when I can have a long conversation with him.

Flowers

I'm grateful the girls and I were able to take a walk this afternoon. It was beautiful weather for walking and the sidewalks were mostly clear. It was nice.

I'm grateful the girls want to help me do things and I'm more grateful that Ray distracts them. I know that it's good they want to do what I do, but sometimes it makes simple tasks (such as sweeping the floor) so much harder. It is so nice when Ray will take the girls and entertain them while I accomplish something.

I'm grateful that Ray noticed I was having a rough evening and got me some flowers.

Many Things

It's been a long time since I've posted. I realized today that my attitude has been digressing during that time (can attitudes actually digress??? I fear they cannot, but I cannot think of a better word). I do have so much to be thankful for.

I have taken back a little bit of control over my life by finally (after years of talking about it) deciding to seriously act upon my desire to lose weight. I've only been at it for a few days and it has not been easy, but I do feel better about myself already, just knowing that I'm putting in some effort, instead of just complaining about it. I'm very, very grateful that Derek has been really supportive, since it has required that I make some changes that I'd rather not make (chocolate and weight loss are not good friends) and he has been good about making them with me, even though he isn't so in need of them.

I am grateful for my kids. They are becoming so responsible. Jon and Nina both get themselves ready for school (both the night before and morning of) with relatively little support (once they are moving). Jon does his homework most nights, without being reminded. Nina never forgets her homework. All of my kids are so helpful with the baby, which is so impressive, when one considers their ages.

I'm grateful that the baby is not sleeping in my room any more. I'm so glad that Nina was so thrilled to have a girl room. I hope her joy in her sister lasts forever.

Warm Weather

This weather has been wonderful. It feels like spring is here, I'm enjoying it while it lasts. It was so nice to be able to go outside with just a light jacket on. The girls loved it, too.

I'm grateful that the girls decided to sleep in this morning so I could, too.

Healthy babies

I'm grateful that the girls are healthy and growing well. I'm also grateful they get over shots really fast with very few side effects. I'm very grateful that Ray was able to go with us to the doctor's appointment today, it is so much easier to handle two girls with him there.

I'm grateful that Ray helped with dinner tonight.

This Blog

This is the third Sunday we've attended our new ward and today I received a calling. Let's just say, it wasn't my first choice for a calling. Amongst other things, it won't be an easy calling to fulfill with two toddlers who aren't old enough for nursery yet, Ray will have to deal with both girls by himself for two hours. Anyway, I wasn't feeling very happy about it. So I called Jenn and we talked about it for quite a while. It really helped me feel better to talk through it. I'm so grateful that my sisters are always willing to talk. Then I remembered that Ariana had posted about receiving a calling she didn't want, so I looked back at her post. She wrote a lot of things I really needed to read. I'm very grateful that she took the time to write down her struggles then so it could help me now. I'm also grateful that Ray has a very positive attitude about it all and doesn't seem to mind that he'll have to take the girls with him.

The Temple

I'm so grateful that I was able to go to the Temple today. It has been way too long. I'm grateful that Ray was willing to drive there and watch the girls while I was at the Temple.

I'm grateful that the girls travel so well. I'm also grateful that the roads were clear and the weather was beautiful.

I'm grateful I got to talk to my little brother tonight. I don't get to see or talk to him very often so it was nice to catch up.

Family

I'm grateful that my girls like to be with me. It's funny how they will follow me from room to room sometimes. They don't even want my attention all the time, they just want to be where I am. I also love how they try to do what I'm doing.

I'm grateful that Ray really does try to make me happy. It means a lot that he thinks about me and what I want.

Food

I'm grateful for good food. I'm grateful that Ray will eat what I like sometimes, even if he doesn't like it so well. I'm also grateful that the girls generally like what I like to eat. (Can you tell I really enjoyed dinner?)

I'm grateful my girls play together so well and that they can entertain themselves. I love to hear them laughing together while they play.

I'm grateful that Ruby is very willing to take a nap or go to bed when she is tired. At nap time today she walked back to her room and stood by the crib until I got there to put her in, then she curled right up to go to sleep.

Twins

This morning I babysat a little girl about the same age as my girls. I am very grateful I only have twins and not triplets. It is nearly impossible to hold three of them at once. It also surprised me how much more attention it took with three. I am glad I only have two.

I am grateful I was able to visit with one of my friends for an hour or so. It was nice to have some adult conversation.

I am grateful the girls took a good, long nap this afternoon.

I am grateful Ray clears the snow off the sidewalks so I don't have to.

Accomplishments

I finally made myself enough room to exercise and then actually exercised. It felt great and made the rest of my day go so much better. I also took the time to practice piano. I don't know how long it's been since I actually practiced, but I'm sure it was pre-kids. It was nice to be improving again. I'm very grateful that my children are at an age where they can entertain themselves for extended periods of time. I'm grateful they feel well enough to play. It's nice to have time to accomplish things again.

I'm grateful that Ray gets the girls ready for bed every night. It gives me a few minutes to write in my journal and blog.

Laundry

I'm grateful for clothing (esp. on cold days). I'm also grateful that most of the clothing in our house is currently clean and folded (and much of it is even put away!).

Piano

I am so grateful I have a piano. I use my piano as a calming mechanism. If I am frustrated or upset I can sit down and play and soon feel calmer. I also love that my girls love the piano. I hope they continue to want to play. Right now we usually play trios, if I start to play they both join me.

I am grateful that my children and I are getting better at communicating with each other. While they still don't talk well, they are getting better at pointing and other things that let me know what they want or need. It is making things easier in many ways.

I am grateful that Ray helps me with the grocery shopping. It's much, much easier than trying to take two girls by myself.

Relaxing

I'm very much enjoying going to church at the same time as my husband. It is so much easier to get two babies in and out of the car, in and out of buildings, etc, with help. It is especially nice since we have morning church now so I have less time to get everyone ready. Having help getting diapers changed and babies dressed is wonderful.

I'm grateful I had very little to do this afternoon so I was able to relax and read a little bit. Ray was around all day so the girls split their time between following me and following him. It's nice to get a little break sometimes.

Visiting

First, I am very grateful the roads were clear and the weather was perfect for traveling, since we were on the road today.

I'm grateful we were able to spend the day with Ray's cousin and her family. It was such a nice day. Our girls and her girls all got along quite well. It was nice to get out of the house and have someone to visit with.

I'm glad to be home, safe, with a nice, soft bed to crawl into.

New things

I love to figure out new things. Today I started playing around with a photo and figured out how to edit it, change the background, and a few other things. It was a lot of fun to try new things and make it work.

I'm grateful that I am able to talk to my family so much.

A Thank You

Today we got a thank you card from our neighbor across the street. She is an older woman, I believe a widow, I have never met her and Ray has only talked to her once. Ray has been clearing the snow from her sidewalk, along with the rest of the sidewalk the whole stretch of the block (he made himself a snowplow blade for his four-wheeler and I think he just likes to play with it). So she sent us a thank you. It meant a lot. None of the other neighbors have said anything about it. She figured out who was doing it and went to the trouble of writing and mailing a thank you. It really lifted my day. I learned from this that I need to be more vocal about the things I am grateful for and let other people know when I appreciate them.

I'm grateful that Ray lets the girls "help" with his projects, even when it slows him down. They get so excited about helping Daddy and it gives me a little break.

My Sweet Baby

I am so grateful that I was blessed with a 'good' baby. Some babies are so challenging (I've had a couple of those) and some are so easy (thankfully, in my case, Heavenly Father has sent me a few of those, too). Naomi is definitely on the easier end. It has been a great blessing. One of the best things is her nighttime sleeping -- for several weeks now she has consistently slept 8-10 hours a night. It makes my life so much happier.

She is also very quick to smile. Today she had her six month checkup and immunizations. She has had serious vomiting following her rota virus immunization before and today was a repeat of that, but she was still smiling and laughing. Her smiles can completely change the mood in our house. All of her siblings adore her. They love being the one to make her smile and laugh. She is a great blessing to all of us.

Google

I am very grateful for the internet and the tons of information that is available on it. It is so easy to search for things and find answers to questions. It is also such a great way to keep in touch with people and keep up with current events. I don't watch TV and we don't get the newspaper, so the internet is my main source for news. I love that it is available to me anytime I need it.

I'm grateful my husband is handy and can fix things around the house. It's so nice to have someone here when I need something fixed rather than having to pay someone else. It's also very good because he keeps the house in good shape all the time.

Cleanliness

I'm very grateful that Ruby seems to be over whatever she had. She was a much happier baby today. Because of that I was able to get a few things done around the house. It is much nicer when my house is clean. While I don't necessarily enjoy cleaning it, I do enjoy the results.

Chairs

Christmas was continued today, another gift came for the girls. They each got a little chair from their grandma. I am very excited about these chairs. Ruby spent most of the afternoon sitting in hers. Cora was in and out. Ruby hasn't been feeling well and having a comfortable place for her to sit means she doesn't need me to hold her constantly. I was very grateful for that today.

I am grateful I was able to have a long, uninterrupted conversation with Lil. I love to talk to my sisters.

Family

I'm so glad to have Roy here --even if it is a short visit. We have had so much fun with him. I'm so excited that he will be so close to us for the next few months. Hopefully we'll see quite a bit of him. I miss my family, so I really enjoy every opportunity to spend time with any (and all) of them.

I'm also glad that our move to a new church building (same ward, but different building -- the church is growing here) went really smoothly (I thought). It was a bit crazy, especially since it was also the annual primary move (all the kids moving to new classes, that is), but everyone was well prepared. All of my kids handled really well. (Jon did comment, with surprise, that all of the same people were at our new church. He's way too used to moving.)

I have loved this vacation. School resumes in the morning and I shall enjoy what that offers, but I will miss the lazy days of holiday. We have had so much fun, even if we didn't get to half the projects I had planned. It was exactly what we all needed.

Switching wards

Today we switched from the college branch to a family ward. I'm very grateful for the branch and the time I was able to spend with it. I've made some wonderful friends there and I will miss them. Not that we're going anywhere, but I won't see them as often. They are wonderful people and have all made positive impacts on my life.

I'm also grateful for our new ward and the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. It is time for us to try something new, I'm excited.

Clair's books

Today I neglected many things I should have been doing and read Clair's latest book. I loved it, just as I have loved all his books. I love to read and have been trying to get to this book for some time. Today I decided everything else I needed to do could wait. It was great to get lost in a story and almost forget about everything else. I guess I was needing a break and I'm glad I took one.

I'm grateful my girls mostly entertained themselves while I was reading.

Humor

Lil and I were discussing many tongue in cheek things that we could be thankful for (like a lack of self-discipline: no worries about becoming anorexic). It made me laugh and reminded me that I am truly grateful for humor. Laughter makes the world so much more bearable at the tough times and so much more enjoyable in the good times. I love to laugh and the more I do it, the better I feel.

Taking a Walk

Today was beautiful. The girls and I were able to take a walk. It was such a nice change from the terrible cold we've had. The girls are always wanting to go outside so they enjoyed it and I love to walk.

I'm grateful the girls let me take a short nap this afternoon.

I'm very grateful that Ray sorted through all our potatoes and threw out the rotten ones. I really didn't want to, so I appreciated that he did.

Boxes

I'm grateful that Ray didn't have to go to work today so he could sleep in and not wake up the girls.

I'm grateful my girls can entertain themselves just by sitting in a diaper box. The two of them are sitting in their boxes right now, happy as can be. They don't have any toys, just the boxes they are sitting in. I think it's funny and it makes things much easier on me. The girls regularly ask to sit in the boxes now. It's great.

Old Clothes

Today I cleaned out my closet and I discovered that I fit into most of my clothes again!! This is very exciting for me since some of these clothes were getting too tight before I got married and almost all of them were out of the question while I was pregnant and some time afterward. I'm really grateful that pregnancy and nursing actually helped me lose weight and that I'm keeping it off so far.

Sleep and snow

I'm grateful that the girls finally slept well and slept in, allowing me to sleep better and sleep in. We've all had colds and haven't been sleeping well. Today I actually feel rested and they have been acting like they feel better, too.

I'm grateful the weather was nice enough to take the girls out to play in the snow for a little while this afternoon. They do love to be outside, but they're not sure what to think of snow yet.

I'm grateful for the fact that this week has been quite relaxed. Ray hasn't had any big projects to worry about and he's been around a little more than usual in the evenings. It's been really nice.

The Gospel

I am so thankful for the gospel and all that it teaches. Death is such a sad thing, but it is good to know that we will be together again. When it is your time to go, it is not quite as sad as when someone makes it there time, but either way it is sad for those of us who are left. I am just so glad to know that things will work out on the other side. I would go into this more, but that is not the point of this blog, I am just happy to have the gospel in my life and that it helps put things in perspective when death is involved.

Ray

I forgot to mention yesterday how nice it was to go to church at the same time as Ray. He has had early meetings for the entire life of the girls. So the few occasions when we go to church at the same time I really appreciate his help with the girls. It is easier to get them ready. It is easier to get them into and out of the car. Everything is just much nicer and I always appreciate his help.

Now for today, I am grateful for girls that will entertain themselves well enough that I can get a few extra minutes of sleep.

I'm very grateful that I don't have animals in my house and that my husband agrees with me that we never should. This evening we stopped by to see some friends and they have cats. It reminded me how glad I am that Ray doesn't like indoor animals any more than I do.

Our Branch

Today the weather was beautiful (it almost made it up to 50) and the roads were clear which was wonderful since we had a little extra driving to do.

Today was the last week for us to be in the college branch, since the girls are almost old enough for nursery. We're leaving with mixed feelings. It is good to move on and have new experiences. But I'm going to miss the good friends I've made in the branch. This branch has been wonderful for us. Ray was baptized into the branch. We met in the branch. We've had so many good friends and great experiences while here in this branch. I'm very grateful to the wonderful leaders, and for all our friends. I'm also glad to move into a ward where our little girls won't be the only kids making noise. :-)

Warmth

I am grateful that it is warming up a little bit. I love snow, but I don't like the sub-zero temperatures we've been having.

I'm grateful that my girls seem to be getting over their colds. It's always hard to have sick babies and so nice when they are feeling well again.

Learning

I love watching my children figure things out. They try so hard and are so proud of themselves when they get something. It's amazing to watch. It's also interesting to think about all the things we all had to learn once that we completely take for granted now. Sometimes we forget there are new things out there for us to explore, we lose the child-like curiosity and get comfortable in our little tiny world. I'm grateful that my children are teaching me how many interesting things are out there and that everything has potential for fun. I'm also grateful for the reminder that I still have things to learn if I will only look for it.

Merry Christmas

This has been a beautiful holiday for us. I hope it was for all of you, too. I'm so grateful for the birth, life, atonement, death, and resurrection of our Savior. I'm very grateful to have a day to celebrate Him.

Random things

I'm grateful my girls let me sleep in a little this morning. I'm very grateful I was able to get so much done today. I didn't think I'd get to most of my list, but I think I got it all done. (If not, I guess it wasn't that important because I forgot about it.)

I'm grateful that the weather has warmed up ever so slightly.

My girls

I'm very grateful my girls took a nap this afternoon. I'm also grateful that they played quietly enough that I was able to lay down for a little while.

I am grateful that Ruby is a good eater and will eat almost anything I put in front of her.

I'm grateful that the neighbor boy shoveled my sidewalk so I didn't have to.

Pictures

Today I was looking through a lot of pictures, trying to put some together for a project, and I realized how grateful I am for my digital camera. It's much easier to organize, store, and look through digital pictures. Also, my camera is a good one, so it takes good pictures. Along the same lines, when I couldn't find everything I was looking for I started looking at my siblings' blogs. I'm grateful for the blogs to keep in touch and to pass along information and pictures. It's really nice to be able to have pictures of my nieces and nephews. Since we don't see each other very often and kids change so much it's a good way to keep up on what they look like. I hope it will also help my kids know who their aunts, uncles, and cousins are.

Good Behavior

First I'm grateful my talk is over. It went fairly well, so that I am grateful for, too. But, even more, I am extremely grateful for the relatively good behavior of my children while the whole family was on the stand. Yes, one of them got stuck under the organ bench. And I must note that one of them fell down the steps off the stand. (No injuries.) But they did it all quietly, which is what I cared about the most.

I am also grateful that someone else showed up a few minutes late for church and was willing to help me get the girls inside. (We have Relief Society first, so I wasn't late for my talk.)

Today

I am grateful that this day is over and it is time to go to bed.

I am grateful that my children were mostly cooperative while I was trying to write a talk. I can't guarantee that it is good, but at least it is written. I am glad to be done writing it.

Snow

I'm grateful for snow. I've always really liked snow and I put up with the cold so I can have snow. It's snowed a bit today. Hopefully that means we'll have a white Christmas.

I'm so excited that we've been receiving Christmas cards. I love to hear what is going on in everyone's lives. It's nice to be caught up. That's what I love about blogs, too.

Vacation

We are on vacation! Two whole weeks of no schedule (except church)! I love school breaks.

It was up around 60 degrees today. That was a beautiful change. I'm trying to enjoy the moment, since I know it won't last.

Reminders

I've been looking through my journal from the last year (trying to remember what happened to write a Christmas letter) and I realized that I am very grateful the girls are getting bigger. In so many ways it is so much easier now than it was a year ago. Since I see them every day I don't really register the changes. But as I read over how things were at the beginning of the year when they couldn't do anything for themselves it brought back a lot of memories and helped me realize how much easier things are now that the girls can do things.

I'm also very grateful for the gospel. This evening we attended a new member discussion for my friend that just recently was baptized. Sometimes it's good to go over the basic principles and be reminded how true they are.

Today's list

I'm very grateful that my girls play well together. This evening they were chasing each other around and laughing so hard. At one point they both fell down, Cora on top of Ruby, and were laughing so hard they couldn't get back up.

I'm grateful I was able to talk to several of my family members today. It always makes my day better to talk to family.

Kids

I'm not sure if I'm really grateful for this or not, but it is positive in that it makes me laugh. Tonight we were at the church for tithing settlement and one of the wards was having a Christmas party. Their bishop was wandering around handing out those plastic candy canes full of M&Ms. He gave one to each of the girls. Over the next few minutes or so Cora managed to chew through the plastic and get to the candy. That's the second time she's chewed through a candy wrapper to get to the candy.

I am grateful that my children make me laugh. I'm also grateful that my children seem to love the nativity already. I haven't put up a lot of Christmas decorations, but of the few that I have, the girls' favorite is my little nativity. They love it. They especially love to pet the sheep. Ruby always tries to get close enough to grab the baby out of the nativity. Don't worry, I have it set out of their reach and she just tries to grab it when I'm holding her.

I'll also add, since I forgot to the other night, that I'm grateful Ray didn't get a ticket when he got pulled over for speeding on the way home from his Christmas party.

Christmas Music

I haven't been able to blog much, thanks to a retarded computer, but I just wanted to say how grateful I am to have Christmas music playing in my home. It just helps to get in the mood and spirit of Christmas. Music has always been a blessing in my life, in more ways than one, actually. I was asked to sing with Katrina for the Dillards VIP night and we each got to pick out $50 worth of things from the store, something that was completely unexpected when we accepted.
I also love that my children have an appreciation for music and I can already tell that they want the Christmas stuff too. Forrest will say to me, "Mom! It's the Polar Express song!" or "Hey Mom, is this the song from Elf? Oh, I just love this song." And Nadia wants me to sing her Silent Night or Away in the Manger at night before bed and she does her best to sing along. I just love it.
There are so many out there that stir the soul and remind us of our Savior and the ultimate sacrifice He made for each of us. How grateful I am to be able to sing and listen to songs praising our beloved Redeemer. I just love this time of year.

Initiative

DJ has pretty much potty trained himself. It has been nearly painless. I love that child! And, since it has gone this way, I am also glad that I didn't put much effort into it at an earlier date. So, how do you accomplish this with your children??? You put off potty training as long as possible, then, accidentally run out of diapers. At that point you realize (with great relief) that you have 2 packages of pull-ups that you'd forgotten about. You tell the child, with excitement, that he is big enough for underwear. You then explain that Lightning McQueen doesn't like to be wet. Then you praise him when he tells you that he has peed and pooped in the toilet (very genuinely, since you are so happy that he went, as you had completely forgotten that he was in underwear). Perhaps I should mourn the motherhood awards I'm not going to win, but instead, I think I'll just be grateful for my big boy's initiative.

My Journal

I'm grateful that I had no reason to leave the house today. The temperatures are still below zero so it's very nice to be inside where it's warm. It's also good to be able to keep the girls in, although they would rather go outside.

I'm grateful for my journal. I've kept a regular journal for over ten years now. It works as my memory since I forget a lot of things anymore. When I'm not sure about something I can look back in my journal and usually find what I'm looking for.

The Christmas Spirit

This evening we had a beautiful musical Christmas program at the church. The choir was made up of people from all three wards and the branch. It was a wonderful, spiritual program. I was so happy to be there. The girls seemed to enjoy it, too. Ruby even sang along part of the time.

I'm also grateful that the girls did so well at church today. It was a good day.

My house

About noon today the temperature started to drop, approximately a degree every ten minutes or so for a couple of hours. Not long after it got dark we hit zero. Last I checked it was negative. Right now I am very grateful that I have a warm house and a good furnace.

The Word of Wisdom

This evening was the Christmas party for Ray's company. It was a very nice dinner and I enjoyed visiting with Ray's coworkers. But, as Ray's work parties usually do, it made me think how grateful I am that I can have an enjoyable evening without getting drunk. Of the 70+ people there, I only know of three, besides Ray and myself, that weren't drinking (two were pregnant), although there may have been a few more. I really don't understand why people feel that alcohol is so necessary to have a good time. Over the past few years I have gotten to know a few of Ray's coworkers quite well, but the rest I only see at parties and they are usually drunk. It makes me wonder what these people are like without alcohol. I don't know their real selves. I am very grateful this isn't an issue for me and never has been. I watch what drinking does to people and I've never even been interested in trying it. I'm very grateful that I was raised by parents who stay sober and taught that it is right to stay sober.

I am also very, very, very grateful that my children didn't scream at the babysitter all night. She said they were mostly happy and Ruby didn't cry at all, which absolutely amazed me. I was very concerned that the babysitter would have a miserable evening with two ornery babies, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I was entirely wrong.

Sleeping in

I'm grateful that my children slept in this morning so I was able to sleep in this morning. I always appreciate a little extra sleep.

Also, today I took the girls to City Hall, where I used to work. It was so much fun to see everyone there and visit with them.

I'm grateful for family time. Especially time to talk with my husband without either of us being in a hurry to go somewhere or get something done.

Laughter

I'm so very grateful that my children are finally acting like themselves again. Today they played and laughed so much. And they didn't want to sit on my lap.

I'm also grateful it was a very nice day and I was able to take a walk and run errands. The girls love to be outside. If they see a jacket they will grab it and bring it to me or try to put it on themselves.

I'm glad I found Ray a Christmas gift. I finally came up with something. Now I just hope he likes it. :-)

The holiday season

The Jingle Bell Store (our school's version of a Secret Santa Shop) was really successful. We had so many kids come through and sold almost everything we had purchased, which is a relief. None of our parent volunteers came down with the nasty stomach virus that's been going around (though a couple of us may not be able to say that by the end of the week). Thank goodness! With my kids getting it one by one, then Derek, I was sure I'd have it. But my prayers were answered and I survived.

I love IHOP. They make very delicious breakfast foods and they also do the dishes. I know it's not the healthiest alternative for dinner, but it is nice every once in a while to not have the stress of dinner at our house.

DJ gives great hugs. He's all the way recovered from the virus and he is better rested than he's been in a while. He's been so cute. Several times today he just ran up to me and gave me a squeeze. At one point Derek asked Michael for a hug. When Michael denied him, DJ went to him, squeezed him as hard as he could and said, "I love hugs like this!" Sweet moments like that make my day!

Music

I'm grateful for music. Especially Christmas music. I love to listen to it, play it, and sing it. I'm so glad I have a piano so I can play it. I'm also glad that my children are developing a love for music. I love it when they sing, dance and play the piano. It's even better when they try to do all three at once. I hope they grow up loving good music and wanting to have music in their lives.

Today

I'm grateful I was able to talk to Lil this evening. It is always fun to talk to family.

I'm really grateful that my children are doing well at climbing stairs. We have a lot of stairs in our house so this is a very good skill to have.

Church

I'm very grateful I was able to go to church today. Last week we missed because we were all sick and the week before that we went, but in a different ward. It was so nice to be back in our branch, to see our friends again and feel the wonderful spirit they carry.

I'm grateful for the Christmas devotional. It is one of my favorite firesides every year. I'm glad I was able to watch it with friends.

I'm grateful for quiet evenings at home with my family.

A much better day

I'm very grateful that today was much better than yesterday. The girls were happier and things went much better.

I'm grateful that this afternoon was nice enough for a walk. The girls were antsy to get outside so it was good for all of us.

I'm very grateful that I was able to attend my good friend's baptism this evening. It was so nice.

I am grateful that my husband planned a "date night" for us. He got a movie to watch after the babies are in bed.

A terrible day turned good

Early this evening I was thinking of this blog and thinking of my day and I could not come up with one positive thing to write about. It seemed as if everything had gone wrong and I was having a pretty good pity party about it all. I was sitting at home by myself with a sick baby instead of being at the branch Christmas party that I'd been looking forward to all week. Right in the middle of my thoughts, the phone rang. It was one of my good friends, calling to see why I wasn't at the Christmas party. We talked for a couple of minutes. It meant so much to me that somebody had missed me and cared enough to call.

Anyway, the evening went on much the same, but my attitude was a little better. Then there was a knock at the door. This same friend and her husband had brought leftovers from the party. We visited for an hour or more. By the time they left my day had completely turned around. I felt so much better I could hardly remember all the things that went wrong. I'm so grateful for good friends who thought of me, noticed I was missing, and cared enough to call and come by. It really made my terrible day turn into a good one.

It's been a long time...

So, I was thinking I ought to think of something to be grateful for since I haven't posted for a long time.

First, I am so grateful for my family and being able to spend time with them over Thanksgiving.

Second, I am grateful that this semester is almost over. (I'll be even more grateful next week when finals are done.)

Third, I am grateful for beautiful sunrises. I don't generally see the sunrise cause I really don't get up that early, but the other day I had to meet with my partner on a group project and we chose to meet at 7:30 a.m. (call me crazy). As I was walking up to the library the sunrise was just beautiful!

Things to be grateful for:

1. The Sharks are having a fabulous season! They are number one in the league right now.

2. My baby sleeps through most nights and I didn't even do anything special -- in fact, I really did most of the things all of the books say not to do. She's something of an angel.

3. I got to hang out with grown up girls tonight. It was a nice change in this very busy season.

4. The child who threw up twice in the middle of Wal-Mart was the baby, so we could pass it off as bad spit up and move on. (She seems to be doing okay now, though I do worry about little people and vomiting.)

5. The Jingle Bell Store has run very smoothly thus far and we've had lots of help! We've also had lots of fun and gotten to know some new parents, who are awesome.

Doctors

I am very grateful for the girls' pediatrician. I've known some doctors that make you feel stupid if you ever ask a question. This doctor is not like that at all. She is always willing to answer questions and calm concerns.

I am grateful for my nice, warm house with a working furnace and that I don't have to go anywhere most of the time.

I am grateful for my George Foreman Grill. I use this thing all the time. It is easily the most used appliance in the kitchen. I'm not a steak-cooker, but I married a steak-lover, so the grill has been wonderful.

Haircuts

I am very grateful to Beth for cutting my hair. I love that my new style is so easy to take care of.

I am thankful that I don't have to go grocery shopping by myself most of the time. It's so much easier when Ray goes with me.

I'm grateful for my dishwasher. It does make dishes so much easier.

Two in one day

I wasn't going to post again, but I have to add how grateful I am for Ray. This evening was a little rough, the girls have been extremely demanding today. Ray noticed that I was having a hard time so he told me to go somewhere and do something else while he watched the girls and made dinner. It was exactly what I needed. I'm so grateful that he noticed and is willing to help.

Thanksgiving

This may be longer than my usual posts, but I have ten days worth of thanks to catch up on. :-)

First, I am extremely grateful for fast internet connections. After spending ten days with my internet access limited to dial-up connections, not being able to frequently check e-mail and blogs, I am so glad to have my fast internet back.

I am grateful we have a holiday to celebrate gratitude. Thanksgiving has long been one of my favorite holidays. We should be looking for things to be grateful for every day, but I love that there is one day where thanks is the focus. This is one of the holidays that really seems to bring out the best in people.

I am so grateful for family. My family is so important to me. I'm so glad I was able to spend some time with my parents and most of my siblings. I am grateful that Lil was willing to make an extra trip just to see us. I am grateful for my mom and the things she does for me, she made a quiet book for my girls, even though it took up most of her time while we were there. I can't really express how grateful I am for my dad and everything he does.

I am also grateful for Ray's family. I appreciate so much how they have accepted me into their family. They are wonderful. I am especially thankful for my mother-in-law who spent three days taking care of the girls, Ray, and me when we came down with the flu while at her house. I don't know how we would have managed without her.

I'm very grateful for Ray and how helpful he was when the girls and I were all throwing up. (He got sick the day after we did.)

I am grateful our travels were safe. I'm grateful the car worked perfectly and the roads were dry. The weather was wonderful for most of the trip. I'm not sure I can go so far as to say I'm grateful for the flu, but it did keep us from coming home one day longer than planned which had us traveling on a beautiful day instead of a nasty one.

I am very, very grateful that my children travel so well. Ten hours in a car is too long for me, so I don't expect them to enjoy it. But they do so well. Even when they get tired of it they still don't complain too much.

I am grateful to be home and to be feeling better. I'm very grateful the rest of my family is feeling better, too.

I'm grateful for snow. Now that our traveling is over I'm ready for snow to come. I'm awfully glad it waited until we were back home, but I'm enjoying watching the world turn white as I write. I do love winter and snow.

And right now I am really grateful for disposable diapers.

Medicine

I am really thankful for medicine. I have been sick lately and I went to the Dr. and he gave me stuff to get better, hopefully. I don't like the way they gave me the meds. but I feel better now then I did earlier today. After I left the doctors office I came home and fell asleep and now that I am awake I feel better. I am not better yet, but I hope that I get feeling better soon. I am really glad that people are willing to go through that much school to make me feel better when I need it, even if it costs me a lot, because I wouldn't make it through that many years of school.

So much for catching up

You see, when Meg and I started this blog, we kind of challenged ourselves to write everyday. (There was no such expectation of anyone else who chose to join our endeavor.) As you can see, if you check the labels, Meg has done a much better job of that than I. I was planning to take advantage of her technologically challenging week and catch up, but I got too busy enjoying myself. Oops...

Thanksgiving was wonderful! We spent the holiday in Houston. Except for the crazy freeway system, which baffled us much of the time, and some bad traffic in a couple of spots, it was a really fun vacation! We have great families. I am so glad that I can enjoy time with my family and Derek's family. I love seeing my children's relationships with their grandparents, aunts and uncles develop. It was sweet to see Nina spend time with Kendra, who she did not want to leave (that was a bit sad, since she cried). It was great to hear Jon explain that he loved Houston, because he had access to a swimming pool. I'll post in greater detail on my other blog, but all in all, it was a great experience.

I'm thrilled that the Christmas season is in full swing! I love this time of year! I love the lights, decorations, music, gift-giving, etc. But most of all, I love being reminded of Christ. I love how much more thoughtful most people are of others. I love seeing the acts of charity quietly being carried out all around me. I love the angel trees, toys for tots, Relief Society projects, food drives, etc. I love being able to get my kids involved in some of those causes. I wish we could carry that part of Christmas into all parts of the year. (Okay, I'd probably take the rest of the holiday year-round, too. I really love Christmas!)