Wanting to Snuggle Up :)

I don't know what it is about this time of year. I don't know if it is the change in the weather or the fact that the holidays are starting. There is just something that makes me want to be lazy and snuggle up on the couch in a nice cozy blanket and not do anything except read a good book while sipping some hot cocoa or watch a good show on tv.

The problem with feeling this way is that I am in school (currently registered full-time) and we have two more weeks of classes AND another week of finals still to go. Feeling like snuggling up on the couch just isn't in the cards. I have two research papers to write, one on Mathematical Theory and one on Educational Psychology. I have oodles of reading. Tons of homework and a few more tests until finals begin. No time to be lazy, no matter how bad I want to be!

I guess that means it is time for me to quit dreaming of being lazy and get off the computer and get to finishing up my homework. *SIGH*

Thanksgiving Pictures :)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Pain in the NECK!

Literally! I have been in so much pain the past three days that at times I have nearly been brought to tears! I woke up a few days ago with a stiff neck and it has been the worst case of stiff-neck-ickyness that I have ever had!!!

I was so looking forward to my long weekend break from school and celebrating Thanksgiving and heading out early on Black Friday to find me some deals. Instead I have been laying around in excruciating pain and not doing anything fun :(

I was bummed to miss out on Black Friday, but that is okay, there is always next year. I have a high tolerance for pain, but there was just no way I could have done it this year. Instead I stayed in bed with an ice-pack on my neck. Thrilling, right?

I am hoping I am better by the time this weekend is over. If not, well then, off to the Chiropractor I go!

We had a great Thanksgiving. The food was yummy and it was nice to have the family together for a few hours. I will post pictures later when it doesn't KILL my head and neck and shoulders to be on the computer for even a short length of time!

The Letter "E"

~GratitudE~

Happy Thanksgiving!

I can't believe that it is Thanksgiving already! This post will complete 225 things that I am grateful for. 25 starting with each letter in the word gratitude. It has been a though provoking journey. It really made me stop and think about life and that even the little things are something to cherish and be thankful for.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day of family, friends, good food, and memories!

Entertainment- movies, tv, plays, music, and the like.

Eurythmics- I OH SO loved them in high school. My son "Bones" didn't know who they were a few weeks ago and so I gave him a hard time. We immediately went and found some of my old Eurythmics/Annie Lennox music and remedied that situation :)

Elephants- It's not so much that I am a fan of elephants, but my child #4 is. He went through a phase where he was infatuated with them. Anytime I see an elephant, stuffed, real, or otherwise, I am reminded of his childhood fascination with them.

Eagerness- eagerness is such a good thing. It is a driving force.

Eggs- I do so love eggs. Eggs Benedict, scrambled, sunny-side up. I don't eat them very often, but I sure do enjoy them when I do.

Ears- I really think that hearing the sounds around us, even the little things, is something I never gave much thought. Ever since I found out that my youngest child is deaf in one ear, it has brought a new perspective to me on how lucky those of us who have been blessed with our hearing are.

Earnings- no matter how meager or how large they may be, any amount of $ we earn is something to be grateful for.

Earth- this crazy spinning rock is full of laughter, memories, and millions of people making their way through each and every day.

Easy- sometimes isn't life just so great when you get a chance to press the easy button now and again?

Eavesdropping- Okay, so this may sound strange. . .but I have a habit of eavesdropping on the tables around us when we go out to dinner on Saturday nights. Sometimes the conversations are so hilarious! It is fun to see what other people have to say and listen in for just a bit. Not in a malicious way, just a curious way ;)

Ebony- I really do love the color black.

Eccentric- Johnny Depp is eccentric and I do love him. I love people who are willing to live their life exactly how they want, for them, not for anyone else.

Enchiladas- YUM!

Echo- reminds me of being a kid and finding a place where you could hear your echo and standing there and listening to it over and over and over. . .

Eclipse- Yes, the Twilight kind and the other kind too :)

Edgy- I think it is a good thing to be a little bit edgy now and again.

Edible- There are many yummy edible things out there, both healthy and unhealthy to be grateful for.

Edifying- A good book, a good church service, a good class, learning something new.

Education- I have had a long journey on my road to education. 6 years to my AS degree and about 4 so far working toward my BS degree. It is a long process, but you know what? No matter how long it takes, at least at some point I will graduate. I think that education is a life long pursuit, one that should never have a destination, only a journey.

Elf- CHRISTMAS!

Efficiency- Sometimes I get frustrated with how my kids clean their rooms or how people do things, then I remind myself that being efficient means different things to different people, and that is okay.

Eggnog- reminds me of the holidays.

Eight- the number eight has always been my favorite number, couldn't tell you why, just has.

Elders-I am so thankful for the Elders in the mission field who are out there giving up their time for their beliefs. I only hope that one day soon, my oldest son will feel the same way I do.

Electricity- duh! Need I say why? :D

The Letter "D"

~GratituDe~

Here are my 25 things starting with D that I am grateful for. I cannot believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I haven't even been to the grocery store yet! I guess I better get my list made and go :)

Dads- I have a great dad and my hubby is an amazing dad. A great dad is so important!

Dinner- Family dinners are the best.

Date Night- My hubby and I have a tradition. Saturday nights are reserved for date night. The kids have pizza night and we go out with just the two of us. I look forward to it every week :)

Desert- My kids were all born in the desert. We live in the desert. It is our home. We refer to our children as Desert Rats because they can't handle being cold.

Dessert- One of my favorite things about eating out is the YUMMY dessert!

Daisy- I love flowers!

Dogs- I am not grateful for dogs for me, but for my son "Bones". He is a true dog lover.

Dancing- Dancing in the rain, dancing because you are happy, dancing like no one is watching.

Daughter- I only have one and we think she is pretty special. Not sure what we would do without her.

Desire- Some of the greatest accomplishments come from the desire to try.

Desk- I am grateful for my desk. Most of the time it is a cluttered mess, but it is where I study, where I learn, where I create.

Destination- I love traveling and going to a new destination. Exploring all of the places out there in the world is so fascinating to me!

Discovery- Discovering and learning new things, how great is that?

Delicatessen- Eating lunch out with family or friends or even by myself. I don't know why, but I LOVE going out to lunch.

Daiquiri- Baskin Robbins Daiquiri flavored ice cream, YUM!

Doctors- Thank goodness that there are people out there willing to go to school to become doctors, nurses, surgeons.

Deals- Like the kind you get on Black Friday! :D

Dandelions- I remember as a kid when the dandelions would go to seed and we would pick them and close our eyes and make a wish and blow the seeds up into the air.

Decaffeinated Diet Coke- I don't drink pop much anymore, but I am SO glad that there are a few restaurants out there that actually have decaff-diet coke when I do want one! :)

Decorating- I LOVE decorating things. My house, my Christmas tree, etc.

Dreams- where would we be without hopes and dreams?

Dollars- it is always fun to have a few dollars in your pocket to spend on something that you want :)

Dirty- I don't like it when it is referring to my house; however, when it is referring to my kids face because they have been outside playing with friends and digging in the dirt and exploring or because they have eaten something so delicious that it is all over their face, then dirty isn't such a bad thing ;)

Daffodils- It's that flower thing again!

Depp- As in the Johnny variety ;) He was just voted the sexiest man alive this month by People Magazine! I LOVE LOVE LOVE him as Captain Jack Sparrow.

The Letter "U"

~GratitUde~

This could get pretty interesting. Here are my 25 things that I am grateful for starting with the letter U.

Umbrella- every year at the scrapbook expo, it rains on us. Thank GOODNESS for our umbrellas. Not to keep us dry, to keep our scrappy supplies dry!

Umpire- wouldn't want to be one, but glad to have them. I think that my family could use an umpire for family game nights.

Unicorn- they remind me of when my sister was little. She had a unicorn room. Childhood memories :)

Unicycle- I have always wanted to learn to ride one.

Ukulele- Reminds me of Maui, one of my all time favorite places to visit.

Up!- LOVED that movie! I cried several times. It was so cute!

Uncles- for mine, for those who are my kids. Uncles are great!

Utensils- much better than eating with my hands.

Underwear- Do I really need to explain?

Understanding- isn't it great to find someone who is completely understanding? They are the type of people that you want for friends.

Unpack- I LOVE to unpack because it means I have just returned from a trip!

Unusual- Unusual is much better than normal :)

Unfold- Isn't it fun to watch how life unfolds?

Urge- The urge to do something fun. The urge to do something exciting. The urge to be creative.

University- I am HOPING to be a college grad someday before my 100th birthday :D

USA- Glad I live in the land of the free.

UGH!- Sometimes there is no better word to explain how I am feeling.

Ugly Duckling- It reminds us of the beautiful swan that can be found inside everyone.

Ultimate- Ultimate meal, ultimate dance, ultimate experience. Things that have ultimate in front of them sound so much more special.

Underground- When I was in high school, I was so into the "Underground" music scene, etc. Oh sweet memories.

Unique- I LOVE being the only me there is.

Umbilical Cords- memories of the births of all 5 of my kids.

Ultra- Ultra glam, ultra modern, ultra cool, ultra fun, things sound super ultra cool with ultra in front of them.

UFO- The thoughts of UFO's used to scare me when I was a kid. They don't anymore, but UFO's remind me of a really good book I read called The Way Station. Even though I am not into Sci Fi, it is a GREAT book!

Uber- One of my favorite designers, David Bromstad, uses this word all the time. I think it would be UBER cool if he came and designed my house for me! :) I can dream, right???

The Letter "T". . .again :)

~GratiTude~

Here goes my 2nd round of 25 things starting with the letter T :) Tomorrow, U! Yikes!

Technology: My cell phone, my laptop, my DVR, etc.

Talking: Nothing better than a good talk with family and friends.

Turkey: Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without it.

Tests: When I am taking them, I don't like them so much. However, when I get a good grade on a test, that proves that I have learned something new and THAT is a good thing.

Typing: I am glad that I spent 2 years in high school taking type classes. I can't imagine not knowing how to keyboard. It saves me so much time when I am writing research papers!

Tinkerbell: Ahhhh, Disneyland :)

Telling my story: I love my blog because it gives me a place to write down all of the things that are floating around in this head of mine.

Treats: Yum! Who doesn't love a nice yummy treat.

Tutoring: I spent about 50 hours the past two months tutoring 1st graders and my 4th grade son in math. It is pretty satisfying to see the students progress.

Trinkets: I love going to antique stores and seeing what kind of trinkets I can find.

Tie-Dye: I always thought that tie-dye was cool when I was in high school. I am so glad it is making a slight comeback.

Textures: I am kind of strange because I notice different textures of things, walls, paper, tables, rocks, plants, etc. They are inspiring to me.

Tambourine: I know this is funny, but tambourines remind me of the Partridge Family and I LOVED that show when I was a kid. Tambourines bring back childhood memories.

Tonto: another thing that brings back childhood memories, is my little brother Jeff watching the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Man I hated it when I had to give up watching the Adams Family so that he could watch the Lone Ranger. Awwww, sweet memories!

Toothpicks: Ever since I had my back molar fixed, I get food stuck in between my two back teeth. It drives me crazy! It really has made me grateful for toothpicks and dental floss.

Tic-Tac-Toe: When Luke was little, he used to love to play tic-tac-toe with me. He could never figure out why I could always win ;)

Twins: I always thought it would be fun to have twins. I didn't want to be pregnant with them, I just wanted to have some. I got pretty close, people always think my second and third children are twins.

Thunder: I love the sounds of a good thunder storm. I also love to watch lightening light up the sky. It makes me think of a Summer rainstorm.

Tingly: Remember the first time you fell in love? Your first kiss? Remember that tingly sensation?

Thrills: The feeling of a roller-coaster ride, the feeling of acing a test, finding a bargain while out shopping, having your children actually clean their rooms :), knowing the last load of laundry just got folded and put away.

Tickles: While I hate to be tickled, I love to tickle my kids.

Tomatoes: Eating a tomato fresh from the garden is one of the most delicious things ever!

Tigger: Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too! More childhood memories.

Toilets: Hate to clean them, but oh so glad to have them! I am so NOT a go out in the wilderness kind of a girl.

Tea: The herbal kind. When I am sick, the first thing I go for is a nice cup of hot peppermint herbal tea. It always helps me feel better.

The Letter "I"

gratItude

I have been wondering how this was going to work for the letter I. Here goes nothing!

iPod- my ipod, what would I do without it?

IKEA- one of my all time favorite stores!

Information- I love gathering information and learning new things!

Intelligence- Where would we be without it?

Ibuprofen- Considering I am having a MAJOR headache right now, I am very grateful for ibuprofen.

Ice- I love to eat ice, especially the crushed kind.

Ice cream- ESPECIALLY when I was pregnant. It was my favorite thing to eat :)

Ice Skating- I have only been a few times, but I love it! So fun!

Icing- What would a cake be without it?

ICU- We always hope we will never need to be there, but are so grateful that it exists if we ever need it.

Idaho potatoes- I LOVE mashed potatoes and gravy.

Identity- Isn't it nice to know who you are and what you stand for?

Idleness- I know it isn't good to be idle all the time, but there are times when sitting down and relaxing and doing nothing is what I need in order to re cooperate from the craziness of life.

Infinity- "To infinity and beyond!" One of my favorite Buzz Lightyear sayings :)

Imagination- Think of all the things that are possible when we use our imagination.

Images- especially the kind from pictures taken with my camera.

Imperfection- I spend so much time in my life trying to be perfect, that sometimes it is just good to embrace imperfection.

Impulsive- sometimes the best things in life are when we make an impulsive decision and just do it!

Indepth- an indepth conversation can really make you think.

In-Laws- They make our family complete :)

Independence Day- LOVE the Fourth of July!

Income- what would we do without our bi-weekly paycheck?

Indian Bread- We couldn't have Navajo tacos without it! I remember in 5th grade we made Indian bread. I loved it!

Indigo- Black, LOVE IT! :)

Italian Food- Can you say Olive Garden???

WOW! I am impressed! I actually found 25 things that start with the letter I that I am grateful for. Tomorrow, 25 more that start with T.

The Letter "T"

~graTitude~

Here are my 25 things that I am grateful for that start with the letter T. I should have done this one yesterday, but I went to visit my sister and see her new house and ran out of time :) I guess I will be posting "I" later today so that I can keep on track to finish with "E" on Thanksgiving!

Time: even though time can bring about some unpleasant stuff, like wrinkles and grey hair, I love having time to spend with my family, time to spend with my friends, time to create, time to rest, time to read, time to do the things I love.

Travel: I LOVE to travel! I want to see the world!

Teachers: The older I get and the more schooling I get, I realize how much time and effort teachers put into helping their students. I am truly grateful for all they do.

Thanksgiving: The whole reason I am doing these gratitude posts is because of the opportunity that Thanksgiving gives us to reflect on the things we are grateful for.

Temples: Need I say more? :)

Trust: What would the world be like without it?

Together: This word reminds me of my family. We have the opportunity to be together forever. How lucky is that!

Toddlers: I LOVED it when my kiddos were toddlers. How fun is it to watch them learn, grow, and discover the world around them???

Tongue: Well, I need it to talk, so I kind of like mine! :)

Toothbrush: We all want shiny teeth and good breath, right?

Tools: Tools for redecorating, tools for crafting, tools for finishing up a job. The right tools make doing projects SO much easier!

Trees: I love looking at the trees blowing in the wind outside.

Treasure Chests: Pirates of the Caribbean! That is what I think of when I think of treasure chests.

T-Shirts: Nothing better than pulling on a nice comfy t-shirt with a pair of nice comfy sweats.

TEVAS!: I LIVE in my Tevas! I can't imagine not having them. They are my all time favorite shoes.

Travis: He is my baby brother. Even though I don't get to see or hear from him as much as I used to, I am still glad I have him.

Texas: My baby brother and his wife live there and my brother Jeff was born there.

Tulips: As I have said in previous posts, I love flowers. Tulips remind me of Spring.

TV: I love to wind down at the end of a busy day by watching some of my favorite programs.

Tivo: I couldn't watch TV without it! Who wants to watch the commercials anyway???

Typewriter: When I was in high school, I wanted my very own typewriter so bad! It seems silly now with computers, but back then we didn't have computers in our homes!

Talent: Finding and discovering new talents is an awesome thing! Seeing and enjoying the talents of others is amazing too!

Trick-Or-Treaters: I LOVE staying home on Halloween and handing out the candy to the little kids who come knocking at my door.

Trains: Riding the Heber Creeper when I was little. That is what a train reminds me of. . .childhood memories :)

Twilight: I know that people have a love/hate thing with Twilight, but here is the deal, although it may not be canon material to rival Shakespeare, it is a fun series with characters that come alive. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the books!

The Letter "A" and NEW MOON!

GrAtitude: (25 things starting with the letter A)

apples, argyle socks, attitudes (positive ones), antibiotics, aunts, animals, avocados, automobiles, adventures, Alice in Wonderland, angelic baby faces, art, abs (especially the 6-pack kind), anesthesia, apple crisp, assertiveness, Australia, academics, apologies, appetizers, Armed Services, aspirations, alarm clocks, All American Rejects (it's that music thing again!)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST,

#25
A Girls Night Out!!! :)

The Letter "R"

G~R~A~T~I~T~U~D~E

Here goes my 25 things that I am grateful for starting with the letter R:

Rain- I love to smell it, hear it, play in it, watch it.

Radio- Like I said before I LOVE music!

Red- The color red. It symbolizes love and passion. I LOVE the color!

Rolls- Especially the homemade kind :)

Raspberries- I love them!

Reality- Sometimes reality has a way of kicking me in the butt, but at least when it does, it helps me to refocus on what is truly meaningful in my life.

Rebel Without A Cause-James Dean YUM! If you haven't seen it. You NEED to!

Rings- I love rings, especially my wedding ring and what is symbolizes

Reading- Nothing better than reading a good book.

Rainbows- They are gorgeous! Great pic opportunities too!

Races- I love signing up for 5K and 10K races with my family. So fun!

Rides- We used to have a tradition that we referred to as our "Sunday Drive". It was fun to go out and explore together as a family.

Real Estate- It is a passion of mine. Sometimes I think I was meant to be an agent ;)

Razors- Do I really need to explain?

Recipes- Trying new ones and finding something wonderful is always fun.

Records- When I was a teen, I LOVED collecting records. Now, I am not sure if my kids even know what they are. There is something nostalgic about listening to music on a record player, scratches and all!

Redecorating- If I were rich, I would by homes, remodel and redecorate them and sell them.

Refrigerator- What would we do without one?

Running- I have been lazy, but I do love when I am faithful about my running schedule.

Random Memories- Aren't they great???

Roses- MY FAVORITE!

RAK's- Random Acts of Kindness, what could be better?

Redo- It is always nice to get to do a redo every now and again when something goes wrong.

Relationships- My hubby, my children, my family, my friends.

Relatives- You can pick your relatives, but mine I think I'll keep :)

The Letter "G"

Starting my GRATITUDE posts today:

Grandparents: Having them and seeing my parents become them. How great is that?

Great friends: Great friends are those who you can laugh with, cry with, and who will be there when you need them.

Girlfriends: If you choose them wisely, they are priceless

Good food: What is better than a meal with family, friends, and good food?

Gold: Well, it is nice :) Who wouldn't like a pile of gold? Or some gold earrings or a gold necklace? How about some gold coins?

Garbage collectors: We should all be grateful for them. What would we do about our mounds and mounds of garbage if they didn't come by once a week and pick it up?

Grapefruit: MMMMM! Love the stuff! Especially with a sprinkling of salt.

Graciousness: Isn't it nice when you meet someone who is truly a gracious person?

Giggles: Giggles in the dark, giggles in the day, giggles from a funny joke, GIGGLES are great!

Grass: How sad would it be if the parks and our yards didn't have grass for us to play on?

Glitter: Glitter, bling, shiny stuff! Girls love to shine :)

Glamour: Who doesn't like to feel glamorous every now and again?

Grand Pianos: or any piano! I love listening to good music on a piano.

Guitars: I love all kinds of music, so really anything that makes good music, is on my gratitude list :)

Global: This global world that we live in has made it so we have so many opportunities!

Ground: The ground helps us grow our food. It is the soil that nourishes the trees, the grass, and the beauty all around us.

Grahame: My friend Grahame that I met way back in 1986 or 87. He visited us from Australia and we reconnected a year or two back. It has been fun to hear from him.

Geraniums: OH how I LOVE flowers of ALL kinds!

Google: How could a G list be complete without it?

Goals: Life is always so much better when you set and meet your goals.

Giant: Giant hearts, giant hugs, giant kisses, most things are better when they are giant sized!

Gentleness: Gentle hugs, gentle kisses, gentlemen, need I say more?

Gutsy: Sometimes you need guts to make it through life. Sometimes being gutsy is all it takes to find success.

Greek food: Especially baklava!

Last but not least,

GRATITUDE!: My whole reason for starting this post is to reflect on what I am grateful for.

Dear Santa

Santa, I have been a VERY good girl this year and I think that I deserve one of these:

Just to prove how much fun I could have with one of these, I created my very first Digital Scrapbook page. Do you want to see it??? Then CLICK HERE.

Santa, I know that I can never leave the world of traditional scrapping behind, but I do SO BADLY want to do some hybrid and digi scrapping. This Bamboo Craft would really help my creative juices to flow! :)

Please make your list and check it twice to make sure I find one of these on Christmas morning.

Motherhood, A STRaNGe Journey. . .

I don't know why, but I have been reflecting on my life as a mom the past couple of days. What a journey it has been so far!

I was walking down the hallway after waking everyone up to get ready for school, and it struck me how grown-up my kids are getting!

During the days of diapers, bottles, constant messes, crying, spitting up, sleepless nights, pregnancies, diaper bags, etc. I never thought that it would end. Sometimes I feel as though I wished it away much too quickly. There were times when I cherished my time with my little ones and other times when I couldn't wait for them to be a little more independent. If I had known when I was in the thick of a house full of diaper-bottomed-little-ones that it was going to go by as quickly as it did, I don't think I would have spent one second wishing for them to get a little bit older.

It is strange to me that my oldest son no longer lives with us. How did it happen so quickly that my oldest child is almost 19? I now have two children with drivers licenses and one who will get his permit in 7 months. I have more kids out of elementary school than I do in elementary school. Actually, I only have ONE left in elementary school. That hardly seems possible.

There have been highs and lows, ups and downs, tears and laughter, and a whole lot of craziness in between. It has been satisfying and frustrating, but so far my journey through motherhood has been one that I wouldn't change for the world!

My kids are everything to me and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for each one of them. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to be blessed with all five of them in my life. Not to brag, but, I have the greatest kids EVER! :)

Halfway Through NOVEMBER!

Where has this month gone??? I can't believe that November is half over! It is crazy. Good, because it means that I am going to be done with this crazy semester of school before too long. Bad, because I haven't given Christmas a second thought and I really won't have time to think about it until finals week is over!

This week I will start my GRATITUDE posts. I will start on Wednesday with the letter G and end on Thanksgiving day with the letter E. I am hoping that I can come up with at least 10 things each day that I am grateful for that start with a letter from the would gratitude. It will be a fun challenge for me :)

This week my daughter and some friends and I get to go and see New Moon. We bought tickets for the 2:30AM showing on Friday. It will be fun! I am super excited to see the movie. It will be a busy night! I have Bunko that night and then we are going to make some New Moon inspired bracelets (if you want to see the bracelet that I came up with, (CLICK HERE).

After bracelets are made, we will go and stand in line for the movie. After the movie, perhaps breakfast at Denny's. Then off to bed for me and off to school for my daughter! Not sure how her and her friends will stay awake at school, but they are young, I am sure they will figure it out :) I am sure I will bring my camera along for the fun, I will post pics on Friday.

We had a busy weekend. My sister and her kids were here, we had Scout pow-wows, birthday parties, and errands to run. I also had two kids that weren't feeling great and a hubby who isn't feeling too great either. UGH! I don't have time to get sick, so here is hoping that they don't pass their ick on to me! Airborne here I come!

Kid Pics!!!

I posted kid pics from our visit to the ghost town on Sunday on my craft blog.

If you want to see them. . .

----CLICK HERE----

Gratitude

Thanksgiving is almost here. I can hardly believe it!

Last night I walked into Target and saw all of the Christmas decorations. It just doesn't seem possible that Christmas is just around the corner! Wow! I haven't even had time to give Christmas a second thought. Guess I better start at least thinking about it.

Anyway, last year for the month of November I decided to take my blog post each Sunday and post 25 things that I was grateful for. Since there were 5 Sundays, I ended up with a list of 125 things on my list.

This year I have decided to switch it up a bit. . .I am going to take the word GRATITUDE and start 9 days before Thanksgiving with the letter G, and list at least 10 or more things that start with the letter G that I am grateful for. Eight days before Thanksgiving I will do that with the letter R, and so on and so forth until I hit Thanksgiving day and end with the letter E.

This should challenge me a bit to REALLY think about things I am thankful for. Especially when I hit the letter I and E. We will see how I do :) I am kind of excited to give it a try!

Oh, and just an FYI, I researched it on my blog, and today is my anniversary for officially being caffeine-free. It has been ONE FULL YEAR! It hasn't been easy, but I have stayed off of my diet coke that I love so much!!! Just had to give myself a pat on the back :)

Watch for my Gratitude posts to start on November 18th. . .

Just in Case. . .

Just in case you ever find yourself in need of a short movie/song clip about fractions, now you know where to find one! Haha! :) I am sure I will have MILLIONS of people who are in need of a fractions movie thanking me for posting this! ROTFL!

I had to make this movie for my Math 2010 class. Just thought I would share. It is targeted for grades K-3. Turn up your speakers, the music is VERY catchy!! Beware, you will be singing the song all day long! It gets stuck in your head!!! :D

Birthday~Halloween~Drivers License

Things have been so crazy that I let October fly by without updating my blog much, or adding any pictures! We have been busy, but also very blessed this month. I was accepted into the Elementary Education program at the college, and Bryan was offered a new job that he loves so far. We know we still have some hurdles to overcome (like a home that has been on the market for almost 9 months with no offers!), but we are so grateful for what we have and have faith that things will work out.

The kids enjoyed the GORGEOUS weather that we had this month, and spent most of it outdoors hanging out with their friends (when they weren't in school).

"Skampy" celebrated his 12th birthday. Hardly seems possible that my fourth child is that old. He had a great time on his birthday and was happy that his Grandparents and his Uncle Bob and Aunt Karen were here to celebrate it with him.

"Nutmeg" was FINALLY able to finish up drivers ed, pass the test, and head out to the Drivers License division to get her official license. So, all of you on the roads might want to beware that she is going to be out there on the road behind the wheel! Unfortunately for her, the only time she will be driving is when she can get her hands on my car or her fathers. She doesn't have a car of her own, she wants one BAD! I am sure she will take any donations people are willing to give her for a car of her own ;)

Enjoy the pictures!

Official Driver!

Wahoo! She passed!

HALLOWEEN PICS!

Mr. & Mrs. Gene Simmons

What teenagers do on Halloween (act like nerds)


"Nutmeg" and her Halloween gang

Vampire


Skeleton Pirate

Birthday #12!

PS- I updated my scrappy blog as well! Imagine that! To check it, CLICK HERE :)