Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving. I have been reflecting the last couple days of how blessed I am. I was feeling a litte bit depressed and run down from getting no sleep for the past 4 months. I have been feeling bad for myself. But at church on Sunday I heard a story about a pioneer mother who came to SLC by handcart. She lost every single one of her 5 children on the treck, but she was still so grateful to make it to the valley and to have the gospel in her life. Then I thought of the people I know who are battling serious disease and illness, one friend who has lost a child, and others still who are struggling in their marriage or getting divorced. I realized that all the things I have to complain about are so small and insugnifigant. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. For my relationship with the Savior, and that in times when I am run down, exhausted, and struggling he is always there to lift and carry me. I am grateful for a husband who loves me and the children, who honors his priesthood, and who has no devastating addictions. He is so good to me, and he works so hard for our family. I am grateful for my children, who are my angels. They teach me so much about what is important in life. They bring sunshine into our lives. Cayden is my litte buddy, I love to spend time just talking to him. He always has the most deep and reflective questions, and he is always laughtin. Emma is so fiery, she reminds me so much of myself. She definately makes me laugh everyday. Grace is so sweet, I just want to eat her up. I love everything about her, she is so innocent and pure, and has the sweetest little spirit ever. I am grateful for a family who is close and is always helping us out. I am grateful to live in a country where I am free, and my children can be anything they want to be. I am grateful we have the opportunity for higher education, not everyone has the resources for this. I am so blessed in my life, and have been given so much, I am truly humbled when I think of all I have been blessed with.

Date night!!!

We used to do date night's with the kids every month, but since Gracie was born we have totally slacked off. We finally picked it back up again this month. Chuck took Emma on a daddy daughter date to see Disney Princess on Ice. He wanted to surprise her, so he didn't tell her where they were going. He just told her she had to wear her prettiest princess dress, and that he would dress like a prince and wear a suit. He took her out to dinner wherever she wanted to go, (of coarse she picked McDonald's). Then they went to the show. She was so excited when she found out what they were doing. Chuck got her a rose on their date and she was so excited to get a flower like mommy gets. He totally spoiled her and spent like $75 on souvenirs for her.

Emma and Daddy about to leave on their date

Emma wanted to wear her Giselle dress, she looked so beautiful

Chuck snapped a picture of her face as he told her what they were doing, she was so excited. This picture is priceless.

My litte princess

Emma in front of the stage, Chuck said they were really close.

The finale


Meanwhile, my mom watched Gracie so I could take Cayden on a date. We had so much fun. We went to dinner at the cafe at Thanksgiving Point and then went to the Dinosaur museum. It was so fun to talk and play and laugh. I don't get a lot of time alone with Cayden since he started school, so it was so nice to spend time just us. After the museum we came home and put Gracie to bed and then we stayed up late playing games. I love Cayden, he is so sweet and is growing into such a great little boy. I am amazed at how much he is growing up and how smart he is.

Mommy and Cayden on our date

Playing games

Happy Birthday Rachael!!!

My baby sister just turned 16, I can't believe how old she has gotten, she still seems like a little girl to me. My sisters and I all took her out for her birthday. We went to Olive Garden for dinner and then rented a movie and watched it at my house. Laura is in town for Dave's internship so she got to go with us, it was so much fun to spend time with all my sisters together, it has been a long time since we all got to go out together, since Laura has been away so long. I wish I had gotten a picture of all of us together.

Laura and I

Rachael and Becca

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year. I made their costumes this year and it was a lot of fun, they were so much cuter than buying the cheap stuff, plus they were warm and Emma's was modest. Cayden was peter pan and Emma was Tinkerbell (I coninced them to match, they begged Chuck to be captain hook and me to be Wendy so we all matched except Gracie. Gracie was a ballerina, I wasn't going to spend any money on her costume so I just used stuff that I already had. We got to decorate Halloween cookies with our friends in the afternoon, then We had a big bowl of chicken corn chowder and corn bread (our tradition for Halloween). After dinner our friends came over to see us in our costumes and then we stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house to shown them how cute we were. Then we went trick or treating at my mom's house in Alpine. Gracie was still recovering from the swine flu so she couldn't go out in the cold air, she got to stay at home with Grandma Bonnie and hand out candy. The kids got tons of candy and had a lot of fun.

My 3 babies, so cute

Gracie

Tinkerbell

Peter Pan

Best buddies

our friends


Grandma and Grandpa Brown


Our family, I know I look ridiculous, I borrowed a nightgown from my grandma to be Wendy cause I didn't want to buy one. I know I look hot!!!

Grandma and Grandpa with all the cousins. Gracie had had it by this point!

Harvest Party

I am the room mom in Cayden's class, so I got to throw the harvest party. It was so fun going into his class and getting to see him with all of his friends. We did a craft, played a pumpkin toss game, played duck, duck, turkey (this was the kids favorite), and ate apples and pumpkin bread. It was so much fun, and Cayden was really happy with it, he kept telling me thank you for throwing the party in his class

Cayden doing his craft

Cayden's class, they are all so cute.

The Nicest

Last night while we were tricker treating this was what Emma said to me...

Emma- "Mom, I'm prettier than all the other girls, huh?"

Mom- "You are very pretty, but what's more important than being pretty?"

Emma- "Being nice!"

Mom- "That's right."

Emma- "But I'm the nicest too!"

Oh my, what am I going to do with this girl. Well at least she has a good self image!