how grateful we are

On this the last day of November
we are finally
passing around the camera
as is family tradition
to capture 5 things we are grateful for this year.
I always think it's hard to narrow it down to just 5
because we are so blessed around here,
but I guess we just pick the first 5 that comes to mind
or that the camera lands on.
.
This year it was Kacin
who took the camera around
to take pictures for L and D.
He did a pretty good job
photographing the essentials
that make up their lives.

L is thankful for . . .

her kitchen and toys

especially her babies

the rocking horse

her pink blanket

and her boots

D is thankful for . . .

his toy cars

his bikes and "cars" to ride through the house

music

keys, keys, keys

Daddy's car, well, all cars

Kacin is thankful for . . .

TV that I can watch

my brother Kyler to play with

Minecraft to play

Mommy and daddy--daddy because he plays with me and mommy because she likes to cuddle with me

(love this face Eric :) )

D because I can play chase with him

L because she laughs really funny with me

Kyler is thankful for . . .

books to read

mom and dad because they read to us

Kacin because he is my brother

TV because I can watch and play video games

Minecraft because it's a video game I can play

and my whole family because they are good to me

Laura is thankful for . . .

Eric making waffles for breakfast almost every Saturday morning

eggs from our chickens, even though I personally don't like eating eggs, I like that our chickens help us to be a little self-sufficient. And their eggs are just so pretty.

contacts and glasses so I can see the world around me clearly

a calendar to keep track of our families activities, and I am grateful that we can participate and be a part of so many great things

my family, that we can spend time together and grow together and that we have healthy bodies

Eric is thankful for . . .

the Smoker and all the yummy food I cook in it

graham crackers and milk. delicious.

(diet) Mtn Dew because it gives me less heartburn than Dr. Pepper

Tums, because of my love of Mtn Dew

family because I love them

Other pictures Kacin took this morning . . .

These Days

During my all day foster care training yesterday, I made a list of 200 things I am grateful for. I was surprised how easy getting to 200 was. And I know I could've gone on with all the big and little things that fill my life with peace, joy, fun, and convenience. Now if only I could be content with the 200 plus wonderful things that surround and bless me, and stop daydreaming about new floors . . .

In other news, L asked me to paint her nails. Don't tell my dad (he doesn't condone such things). I was happy to do something girlie around here for a change. I get nail polish--I don't always get Star Wars, football, Minecraft, or Legos though.

All on her own, L set up the table tonight for a meal for her and her babies.

Do you know how much D is talking now? It is a lot. Well, a lot more than he was. Maybe that's what I should do during my next foster care class--make a list of D's words. He can put two words together and even said Kyler and Kacin's names the other day. Hot dog! Speaking of, he has been singing that Mickey Mouse club house song this week--"hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog . . ."

Kacin has spent a lot of time playing with his little siblings this week. Like, he discovered he can chase them around the house and everyone will laugh and scream, and if he takes D's keys then D will do the chasing, too. Sweet. Loud. Very loud. But sweet family fun.

Kacin also got his Wolf in Cub Scouts. Yay!

I have one boy in my house who is beyond, beyond excited to be turning double digits tomorrow. Really, Kyler will be the big 10. And he won't let any of us forget the fact that tomorrow is his day. We have talked and talked about what we will eat tomorrow, what we will do and "Mom, tell me again how you want me to stay little." and "Take a picture of me and say it is my last moments being 9". I'm excited for Kyler's birthday, too. He is a great kid. And for some reason in my head I've been thinking he's been 10 for awhile now so it'll be good to know that he is actually 10 and I am not just making it up . . .

Oh, and Kyler got his Religious knot in Cub Scouts. Yay!

Homemade Invitations

We are just about to kick off the birthday/holiday season around here. In the span of 33 days we will celebrate two major holidays and three birthdays. Yessiree, we will be busy for awhile.

The boys created their own birthday party invitations. Completely {designed created written} homemade. I love it. I love that it is good practice to write neatly. I love that they feel ownership. I love that they spend time deciding what they want them to look like.

Measuring My Day

I came across this blog post the other day and then yesterday after attending a beautiful funeral for an amazing man and while sitting at an all day foster care training my thoughts came together about what I should be asking myself at the end of the day.

This last year I have strictly been in survival mode trying to manage our home and family--two more kids really shook things up for us and we all had lots of adjusting to do.

I am ready to be more deliberate and thoughtful about my day and my time to keep peace and happiness in my home and to build strong family relationships.

I think this list will be a living document in which I can adjust things as me and my family change. Right now, at the end of the day I'd like to be able to say yes to these questions.

Have I read to both L and D?
Did I send Kyler and Kacin off to school with a hug, kiss, and smile? Did I greet them cheerfully when they got home?
Did I feed my family {mostly} nutritious food?
Did I work to tidy and create a pleasant, organized home environment?
Did I take time for myself by exercising, studying scriptures, and doing something I enjoy?
Did I spend time one on one with each of my children and my husband {playing or talking}?
Did I speak nicely?

Some of these I do naturally, some of these take a little effort, and some of these are really, really hard for me right now. I just hope that by deliberately thinking about these things I will get better.

Random Things

D is currently occupied eating burnt waffles that were left on the kitchen counter to give to the chickens today. So I'll take this opportunity to document a few random things from the past month.

Kacin's class performed a song for the Veteran's Day assembly. He really wanted Eric and I to come so we postponed our anniversary trip by a couple of hours to make it to the assembly. Totally worth it and wonderful to see a happy, proud Kacin smiling at us. I adore this boy.

L sneaking Halloween candy from the basket on the counter. It looks like too much sugar for you, little one. 

Kacin's seed project.

Kyler's work hanging up on the wall at school.

Kacin went with the cub scouts on a field trip to the fire station.

Sharing a snack while we were on a walk while Kyler was at piano lessons.

D has lost interest in burnt waffles so now I am off to play playdo. Happy Thursday afternoon!

Our Tenth

Back in August, during our family journal writing time, E composed a piece of poetry to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of his proposal.

He shared it with me.

"Ode to the Faye"

10 years ago in a land far away

I proposed to my dearest Faye

Inspiration I received from a Native friend

As upon one knee I did humbly bend

The fountain exploded as words began to rush

I said a bit of this and some of that--it was all mush

I paused and waited would my heart be crushed

It was as if the earth and the air had been hushed

The response came, it was a yes

A big kiss ensued, could she ask for less

And that was the beginning of life that day

10 years ago in a land far away

How romantic is that to get an ode written to you. Well, not to you, but to me. :)
It's pretty cute that he put his rhyming skills to work. He is so sweet.

Last week we celebrated 10 years of marriage.
Ten years since this day in Arizona.

Can you believe it? Ten perfect years of fun and adventures and changes and good and bad and beautiful and ugly-- all wonderful years!

My sweet, sweet dad took time off of his work and traveled to us and faced his fear of stinky diapers and watched our kids for two whole days so we could celebrate. Praise to the dad!

It was the most relaxing two days I can remember. Oh my goodness, you can't go wrong when you stay at a place in which you can sit in mineral pools and saunas and dine on a 5 course breakfast all while overlooking a beautiful waterfall.

Our second night away we stayed in Bellevue so we spent the afternoon at Bellevue Square and then we were off to an iPic movie theater.

We woke up early the next morning and learned some things about temple work. Like, eat breakfast before you do sealings, but if you don't and you begin to pass out, they have a nice stash of emergency orange juice and a sweet lady who stays with you til you can walk on your own. Goodness I'm old.

We tried to do a little reflecting on our ten years together. I think we got as far as the fact that this has been the most busy, stressful year ever and that we have moved 6 times in 10 years and that we do love each other more these days than we did when we first got married. And then we moved on to more serious conversations, like Thor and E's facial hair and how stuffed we were from a five course breakfast.

Looking forward to the next 10 years! And many more 10's after that.

A Few Days with R

L has loved playing big sister/mom the last few days. She happily holds bottles and when R needed a diaper change she got the wipes and took the diaper and insisted "I do it". This two year old sure loves babies.

Even D joined in on the baby loving. He offered her her sippy cup and shared his precious set of keys. I've never seen him let anyone else touch those keys so it was a very sweet moment. By the end of three days, he was even saying her name!

We loved having R here for a few days. She is the sweetest. It's funny though how my mindset has shifted a bit and now 4 kids doesn't seem so hard--not compared to 5. :) :)