thankful.

Today I am thankful


for your smile, your laugh, your kindness. The way you always think about others. Your compassion, your love, your confidence, your strength and your health. I am thankful for the growth and learning that you have shown in your first few months of Kindergarten.




your spunky personality, the silly things you do, your laugh, your smile, those big brown eyes! I am thankful for the way you look up to your sister and try to be more like her and the way you love your brother. I am thankful for how easily you express yourself, and that you are strong, confident and healthy.

Little Buzzy! I am most thankful that you are here and part of our family. I am thankful that you are such an easy baby, that you smile and laugh, that you don't talk back, that you will sit in a stroller for hours on end and are happy as can be. I am thankful that you are strong and healthy and cute as can be!

Husbando. The new work schedule has shown me how truly thankful I am for you this year. I am thankful that you are strong, constant and motivated. I am thankful that you love your kids so much, that you spend time with them, that you show them. I'm thankful for bedtime.. that you read and laugh and sing with them. I am thankful for kitchen cleaning after dinner, for a dryer that works because of you. I am thankful that I can leave at any time and have no doubt that you can hold down the fort. I am thankful that we will be a family forever.

growing up.

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And finally we gave her a spoonful of sugar to stop the bleeding once the tooth was out.

When she realized her tooth was loose, she was so excited. She told everyone who would listen. Then she realized she couldn't eat because the tooth was so loose. Then she started to panic. She was so nervous it would hurt.. In the end she admitted it didn't hurt, and was back to being excited.. and once again had to tell anyone who would listen.

As I stood there with her, looking at the gaping hole in her mouth it was like she'd aged 5 years right in that moment. Losing a tooth is such a small thing, but it was that small thing that made me realize she's no longer my baby, in her place, a confident, smart, strong, happy little girl. Oooh how I love her.

Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount— that is the measure of God’s love for you. -Dieter F. Uchtdorf It's hard to imagine there is more love out there than what I feel for these three, but it is true, there is, and today I am thankful for God's love. His love for me. His love for my family. I can see/feel it all around me. Every day.

the highlight of my day.

random thoughts.

I am sick of the Halloween picture as the top post, but I have no new pictures to post, so here is a random picture to go with some random thoughts. How's that for good blogging?

1. One of the first sacrament meetings Ryan and I ever spoke in, we were fortunate to speak with another couple, the wife spoke first and and talked about the love of traveling her parents had instilled in her and that she was so grateful to them for giving her those opportunities. I have always remembered that. I want to give that to my children. I want them to see and experience the world, exciting new places, different cultures, foods, people. I want to see the world with them and Ryan.

2. Today we tried a new cookie recipe, it could be a winner, but it might be a bar. What defines a cookie?

3. Lily announced this week that she wished I was more creative like _________. I already knew my creative energy was running low.. is it possible she is really picking up on that?

4. This is the year anniversary of our departure from Bend, it was a little sad.

5. I love where we are in life right now. We are surrounded by blessings big and small.

it's a wrap.

I'm feeling lazy, but wanted to quickly record Halloween. We had a great Halloween this year. Two cute witches, a sock monkey.. oh and although not pictured Dr. Swine (complete with his own H1N1 vaccine).

We made our rounds to multiple places, saw lots of family, friends and loved ones, this is the start of a couple months of family and friends... my favorite time of year. Is anyone else freaking out that it's NOVEMBER???

the patch.

We found the perfect pumpkins at a patch near by, avoided crazy crowds and traffic..


jumped from hay bale to hay bale

ate fresh apples on a tractor ride

enjoyed the bright sunny day

and left smiling. It was perfect.