Thanksgiving

What a week!  This was a great Thanksgiving that was shared with some amazing people.  I was able to fill all of my orders and keep things pretty relaxed this last week.  I was able to have Alex home all week for the holiday and we shared some good time together and Eric was thrilled that his brother was home all week.  Thanksgiving was spent at my parent's house.  There all the family gathered as well as some wonderful friends.  We enjoyed great food, great conversation, and tons of laughs and smiles.  I am super excited for the Christmas season to start. 

On Friday, James and I camped out at Target for "Black Friday".  Many people thought we were crazy, but it paid off.  We were pretty cold and then a wonderful friend and her daughter heard that we were waiting in line and brought us lots of warm blankets, REALLY warm coats and a chair.  I was so touched that she did that, it was pretty late.  Well, we went and came out successful!  We had been saving up for a new TV because ours had died and with the deal we were able to get, we got a really nice TV and had money left over.  After we got home we got some rest and then started decorating the house.  James only gets a few Saturdays off, so we took advantage of his Friday off and got lots of things done.  The tree is up, the lights are up, my nativities are set out, and I am super excited to start the Christmas festivities.  This is usually such a busy time of year, but I really hope to be able to focus on our family and on Christ.  I feel so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful friends and family that are always looking out for me and are there to lend a helping hand whenever possible.  So as I sit here humming Christmas carols I sign off, and until next week...

A fun week and a relaxing weekend...

This last week was so much fun!  Monday was my birthday and we had a few friends over for cake and a game of Apples to Apples.  I was also able to go to League City on Monday to visit with my favoritest GiGi!  On Tuesday Alex had his very first "Picture Day" at school.  I am so excited to see how the pictures turned out.  On Wednesday we had a day...a day to get some chores done and to catch up on some things.  Thursday we all went to Alex's school so that we could watch his Thanksgiving Program and have a yummy lunch with him.  He was so stinkin' adorable as he sang his songs and wore his pilgrim outfit, even if he wasn't to thrilled with his "costume".  On Friday James took off half of the day so that we could get ready to go out of town.

Alex singing his Thanksgiving songs (he's in the yellow)

Alex in his Pilgrim Costume

 On Friday evening, we dropped the boys off and headed out to Cleveland, TX.  After a much too long drive (we got lost, no cell phone reception, middle of nowhere, and not satellite reception for Google Maps, you do the math) we made it to Artesian Lakes!  This place is amazing!  We stayed in a little one-room cabin on the lake!  The weather was beautiful and the scenery was to die for.  We enjoyed waking up to the sunrise and watching the world come to life from the front porch swing as we sipped hot chocolate.  On Saturday we enjoyed a carriage ride to breakfast and a yummy breakfast.  Afterwards we went horseback riding and lots of fishing!  I caught 3 fish!  One was BIG, but the snapping turtle ate it!  I was so mad at this turtle!  We had been buddies earlier as I fed him graham crackers, then he took advantage of my kindness and stole my fish and ate it!  After that i caught two small fish and threw them back.  We then enjoyed making smores and relaxing!  On Sunday we did a little more fishing before checkout.  James caught a small bass and I caught lots of trees and a nap :).  I loved our weekend, but was really missing the boys and couldn't wait to see them.  They greeted us with big hugs, kisses, and cuddles.  Sunday night we decided to have a little fire in our backyard so the boys could roast marshmallows too.  I love being home and snuggling with my boys!  I am sure this next week will be busy as I fill Thanksgiving orders and also do my own preparations for the weekend, but until next time...

At Artesian Lakes

The view from our porch swing

Thankful Thursdays-Talents

Today for my Thankful Thursday post I have to express my gratitude for the talents that my Heavenly Father has given me.  I have become a well rounded woman due to the talents that i have been blessed with and developed.  I am especially for the talent I have for baking and cake decorating.  Who would have thought that when I started taking my cake decorating classes I would be where I am today.  I started taking the classes to deal with post-partum depression after I had Alex.  These classes gave me a goal, independent of caring for my baby and also gave me a small break every week to socialize and to be constructive and accomplish something.  I find it amazing that I now run a small business out of my home and I am even exploring my options of opening a business with a friend.  I LOVE MAKING CAKES!  I love providing people with a delicious dessert that is made with love and I know they will enjoy and will bring a smile to their face.  I love that Heavenly Father blessed me and encouraged me through my training and has always been there to answer my prayers and helped me to continue to press forward, even when I am tired.  Talents are amazing.  They bless everyone, even those who do not possess them.  I love that I can enjoy my friend's talents, as well as my own, and I can watch my children develop their talents and grow into well rounded young men.  Thanksgiving is fast approaching and I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of my "thankful list".  I am excited for the next week and I am excited that I can spend Thanksgiving with my family.  Here is our "Thankful Tree" list...it is starting to really fill out...

Thursday: My Job (James)
Friday: Talents (Me)
Saturday: Flowers (Alex)
Sunday: Drink (Eric)
Monday: Health (James)
Tuesday: Friends (Me)
Wednesday: Animals (Alex)

"And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

(New Testament Matthew 25:20 - 21)



Thankful Thursday-Veterans

Thursday has come again and I have decided to dedicate my "Thankful Thursday" to Veterans because it is Veterans Day.  I am so grateful for the men and women who have fought for my freedom.  I am so grateful to know many people who have served our country and I feel blessed to have them in my life.  I love the opportunities I have every day to make choices and exercise freedoms that many people do not get to have every day, or even ever.  I am grateful for the right to vote and to be able to voice my opinions in a peaceful and diplomatic way.  We are truly blessed to live in the United States of America and we are in a choice land.  Thank you to all of those brave men and women who serve or have served our country! 

Our family is still working on our Thankful Tree and this is what we have since last week...
Friday- Giraffes (Eric)  He wanted to put Poop...but I didn't think we should put that on the tree
Saturday- Eyeballs (Alex) because eyeballs are cooler than eyes and they're squishy
Sunday- The Gospel (James)
Monday- Knowledge (Me)
Tuesday- Trees (Eric)  He tried poop again...
Wednesday- The Whole World!

And November Begins...

I cannot believe that it already November!  Time is racing by and I am trying to keep up!  Our week was pretty typical as we went through our daily activities.  The boys and I took a "lazy day" on Wednesday!  I think we all needed it.  When I asked Alex if he wanted to go to story time or to stay home, he immediately replied that he wanted to stay home.  This was nice to be able to catch up on housework and get some other miscellaneous things done.  I did have my follow-up ultrasound on Friday.  Whatever it was that showed up last time is gone now and my doctor was VERY relieved...he even admitted that it was a miracle.  I had no idea he was so worried about it, but I am glad it is gone now.  This weekend was supposed to be a weekend of catching up for us.  We had planned on staying home and finishing some home projects we have been working on.  This of course did not happen because we were needed to help prepare for my step-sister to come to Texas and live with my parents.  I am always happy to provide service, and one day, that room will be finished and painted...but that day is not today.  the Primary kids are ready for the Primary Program!  They are such sweet children and have worked so hard!  I cannot even express how proud I am of them.  I am looking forward to next Sunday being over, and I know they are too.  This week is destined to be busy because the holidays are quickly approaching and my business just keep picking up.  I am so excited as I begin to contemplate opening a business and taking my desserts to the next level, but we will have to wait and see.  I almost forgot...on Friday a friend of ours took us to a fancy dinner!  The food was amazing and the experience was so fun.  It is a Brazilian meat buffet and the people come to your table and bring all kinds of gourmet and exotic prepared meat!  It was so fun and we were definitely spoiled.  The kids are doing well as always.  The runny noses have returned and I am sure that they will not leave until summer, but I welcome the cool air.  Alex is doing so well in school and really becoming quite a little man!  Eric is as energetic as always, and lately VERY whiny!  I sure hope his whiny-ness goes away soon because it is making me crazy!  I love being a mom and we are definitely learning together as a family as we fumble through rough times and enjoy the happy times together.  We are so blessed and I feel my Heavenly Father's love for us every day.  Until next week my friends...

Thankful Thursdays

I decided to start posting something I am grateful for every Thursday until Thanksgiving.  Who knows, maybe I will continue it after.  For family home evening this week we talked about gratitude and setup our "Thankful Tree".  I put this up every year and every evening we write what we are thankful for on a leaf and put it on the tree.  This year we are taking turns each night.  Night 1 Alex put that he is thankful for his toys.  Night 2 Eric put that he is thankful for hot dogs.  Night 3 James put that he is thankful for Alex and Eric.  Tonight is my night and I am going to have to put, the scriptures.  Today I am tremendously grateful for the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.  Today we finished reading the Book of Mormon!  I can't believe we did it!  I have learned so much about myself, my children, the church, and especially Jesus Christ as I read the Book of Mormon aloud to the boys every morning.  I am excited to start again and see what I learn this time through.  When Alex asked what we are going to read now that we finished the Book of Mormon, I told him that we are going to read it again.  After a serious moment of thinking and waiting to see if I was kidding, he looked at me and said, "Well, you're in charge."  This kid cracks me up.  I hope someday he will look back and remember our scripture breakfasts and that he will develop a love for the word of God.

"Gratitude is deeper than thanks.  Thankfulness may consist merely of words.  Gratitude is shown in acts."
--President David O. McKay (Friend November 1975)