Thanksgiving memories

Thanksgiving is almost here! Have you already started thinking about pies and turkey? We had our family dinner on Saturday and it was nice. The food was good and the company was also. We played games and visited.

What are some of your favorite holiday memories?

I remember going to my Grandparent's house in Driggs, Idaho. They would have the big table all spread out. Many times I got to sit right next to my grandpa. I remember thinking that I was the very favorite -later I realized that he was just like that, we all felt that way! I remember the first year that we stopped going to Driggs. It was a really hard change for us. We went to an Aunt's house and it just wasn't the same. We started doing it at our house after that and have been doing there ever since. My family always goes to Idaho for Thanksgiving. It is as much a tradition for our children as Driggs was for me. My little Miss E is counting the days to when we go to grandmas house.

This year we are having my Dad's brother come. He never married and lives alone. He is homebound. I had to bully him a bit to get him to say yes. I told him we would just throw him over Dave's shoulder and bring him. I hope that he has a good time. How lonely it would be to have no one to visit.

A Beautiful Lady

My Mom!

I am thankful for her in my life. As I do the zillionth load of laundry I remember that she averaged 35 loads a week, I am not there yet. As I make goulash I remember her making it(hers still tastes better!). As I pick up my daughters skirt from the floor I remember her saying that if you hang it up you can wear it again! As I really quickly wipe the bathroom I remember her saying "A lick and a promise". A lick is better than nothing!

My Mom is quite a lady. She went to college with four children while helping my Dad build a business. She taught school for 20 years and was a great teacher. She has had some terrible heartache in her life but she hasn't become a bitter person. She has gone to church alone for almost 20 years, many widows would have quit going. She accepts callings in church and does them well. She has been to 3 of my children's births and taken care of us after and many other times. She is willing to watch my herd while I have gone on trips. She is encouraging but doesn't give too much advice. She alway knows something special to get for someone, she is a great gift giver. She is a caring person. She helped my Aunt in her dying hours, she helps another sick friend, she fed her brother when he couldn't feed himself. She is willing to help, whatever that may be.

I am so proud of my Mom, she is a role model for me. I know that if she survived my brothers, my sister, my Dad and me that I will probably make it also!

Thanks Mom, I love you! 

I'm weird!

Strange things give me thrills! Today I decided that I am going to work in my studio. It has become less of a studio and more of a JUNK ROOM! Well, I started just getting rid of garbage, it is amazing how much actual garbage is strewn around in a room that is a disgusting mess. I decided that the pile of really old magazines had to go today! I was tempted to start looking through them-I did not! What a way to get sidetracked!!!

I took a HUGE pile out to the dumpster and threw them in! I considered calling a few friends to see if they would like to look at them, then I decided that noone else needed my clutter cluttering up their house! Amazing how thrilling that thud was!!

Off to more dejunking. My soul is in need of some calm so I have to get rid of some more chaos!

Bubble Time!

Little boy blue isn't afraid of the tub anymore! He even asked to get in this morning! Yeah!!!

Aren't bubble baths just the best thing? With a big big tub that makes lots and lots of bubbles who wouldn't want to get in?

My Yummy Guy!

I had the pleasure of going to the Temple with my sweet hubby. We had a very nice session, we hadn't been for awhile so it was nice to be somewhere so calm. Sweetie was quite emotional, he feels the Spirit so strongly sometimes.
After the session we had lunch in the cafeteria and then came home. My house was a wreck. I keep wondering when it isn't a wreck! Anyway, I put the kiddos to work(not happily). We are just not that great at really making them be responsible for things. That is something that is our fault. I have to make them do things now. Mr. M is constantly telling me, "I'll do it later" well, as we all know what that means is "I don't want to do it, I will tell you I will do it later and then you will leave me alone and I won't have to do it!" Well, I am tired of that! I know for myself that it is hard to always "JUST DO IT" but, it is quicker and it gets done!!!
Okay, enough of my Momma drag!

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that my sweetie is still my sweetie! We have been married for 161/2 years, with 4 dating and I still just want to eat him up most days! He is a calm figure for my raging storms. He is a constant. He has the gift of listening. People have come to him for years to talk. They tell him their troubles like he is a counselor. He is just a really great guy and I am just so glad that I get to share a life with him. He is a great Daddy also! What more could I ask for? Only more time with him.

Fun Little Books

Creating! It feels good!

I made the flower covered tablets the other day. The little one is my portable calendar. It had little dogs on it, it just screamed to be altered! The other is just a plain spiral notebook. I am still trying to learn what to do to cover the color on the edge--any ideas?

The cute little tag book was made today by the cub scouts. Isn't it darling? I think that there are more of these in my future. Think of all the possiblities with this idea. Alphabet books, mini albums, recipe albums, teacher albums.

I was in my studio and it felt good. The room is a nightmare. I am going to have to start 15 minutes at a time sorting, junking, organizing. I just have this urge and need to make things!

I hope that you are thankful for something beautiful today!

Best Friends

Today I am thankful for Best Friends! I got to spend the entire day with my best friend Tina. She and I met 8 1/2 years ago. We have each had two more children and moved far away from each other. We still talk almost everyday. Thank goodness for mobile to mobile minutes on our cell phones. It has improved our phone bills!

We usually go to cute little shops and spend way too much money on scrapbooking supplies and home decor. She actually decorates her house and I just add one more thing to my to do list!

I am so glad that we became friends. She enriches my life more than she will ever know. She makes me want to be a better Mom and person. She teaches me about kindness and tolerance. She puts up with me and loves me.

I am lucky she is my friend.

Thankful!

Thanksgiving is on it's way! So in a traditional way--what are you thankful for? I think that I am going to try and remember at least one think I am thankful for everyday!

I am grateful for my healthy body! Today I went to the gym and ran two miles! That is almost a miracle! I didn't die or need oxygen. Having the strength to exercise, play, take care of my babies, husband and home,these are all blessings. Often we take our health for granted, in fact, almost always.

Busy Day

What a busy day! We had no where to go! We stayed home and did this and that! I cleaned(what's new?) the kitchen, behind the fridge, really got the counters. Sweetie worked hard, he emptied the freezer, defrosted it and all! He went through the storage room that was full of junk, he put some electrical switched back on, he put the blow up Christmas decorations up and cleaned out both cars! He was a working machine!

There are days that it is nice to be home and have everyone milling around. Luckily for me, they weren't fighting(too much).

Ok, I finished reading "The Artists way" It is interesting. I believe that we as humans are creative. Most of us just don't realize it. We get stuck in the thinking that creative is for "real artists". We are all life artists. We decide how we decorate, what to wear, what to plant in the flower bed. We decide these things because they feel right, well, this is creative energy. I have been feeling creatively stiffled for many months. I am hoping that somehow I can find that creative energy. I am discovering that I stay busy with all the normal things in my life that keep me busy, I wonder if it is to avoid my possible creations. Am I not comfortable with it? Do I not think it is good enough? Good enough for who? So many questions!!!

So, this week I am going to try and notice the creative things in my life and actually give myself some time to explore!

Avid Readers Beware!

Remember when I said that I was interested in the book "The Artists Way"? Well, I went into Barnes and Noble bookstore and bought it!

Barnes and Noble---have you been there lately? I have only been in there 2 times in 13 years because I am mother and those are places that I do not take my children. It is too easy to become "That Crazy Lady". I was with only little guy(bad enough). This place is to a reader like a bar would be to an alcoholic! I just want to go and spend five hours just looking at all the possibilities!

I did get my one book. I have been reading it. It is very interesting! It is actually a process book. With assignments and such for 12 weeks. I am reading the entire thing and then plan to go back and actually try to do the course. If any of you feel that you could lead a more creative life or would like to encourage your children I recommend getting it. You might find it at the library to browse through, however, if you are going to really do the course I recommend purchasing it. I will keep you posted. I do know that I have been a busy bee around my house trying to get the mundane things caught up because I am very aware that when I have chaos in my house I have chaos in my soul. I am grumpier when there are big messes! So, I am on a quest! I hope that it works! Socks are folded(for a day) and that is almost in miracle zone!!! Downstairs bathroom is clean--13 yr olds just don't care about health issues-"it isn't that dirty Mom!"

If little boy would get over his cold I could get back to the gym. It is a must with all the Halloween candy around! I have done pretty well, I realize how long I must work for every little piece that goes in my mouth. Most of it just doesn't taste good enough!!!

Halloween cuties!

Halloween Gouls!
Aren't they darling? Big boy was out already so he isn't in the shot. I am going to have to have him put his getup back on so I can get a picture! Miss A fell and cut her upper lip so she was quite miserable, and then stayed home today because of embarassment.

Baby boy thought this trick or treating was great! He was so cute as a little bumble bee. He would walk up to the house, smile, and then take the candy, put it in the bucket and then walk into the house! Luckily, we went to neighbors who think he is too cute! Miss E was cute also, her cousins dropped out after they went to the church so it was just the 2 of them. They are still little enough that it was sweet.

Are you ready? Christmas is officially on its way! Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and the snow and then the big holiday.

How are you going to stay sane and organized?