Grateful Sunday

Raphael, a cute sailor girl, Jango Fett. And done.

This has been a nice weekend, we're ready for November. Kind of. I have a lot of primary worries to consume me this month, however. Oh well, off we go.
Today, I'm grateful for:

• Halloween being over. Just not my favorite day, I'm always ready for it to be done with!
• Neal, who took a day off work to spend it with the kids at school. Our school has gotten involved with a program called WatchDogs, which puts dads on campus during the school day. He got a good inside view of what it's like in the classrooms and hallways, and even played soccer with the second graders at recess. My kids loved it.
• Audrey, because she is constantly reading. I just love that about her. She's averaging 3-4 books a week these days.
• good friends with whom we spent Halloween evening. The kids play well together and we always have good conversation. I'm happy the W*s moved here.
• my dad, who's here on his way to Atlanta. We always love to see our Pa, even if it's only for a few hours.

oo, yay, alphabetizing!

Parker has a new interest in baseball cards, which is such a fun (and cheap) thing to collect! We found an old sports card store in a neighboring town, got him a binder to store them in, et cetera. He wanted to take pictures of his favorite cards to put on his blog this afternoon, and when Audrey saw him taking cards out, she about flipped because she thought he was, wait for it, alphabetizing them! One of her favorite things to do, she is an organizing junkie! She jumped right in and started "helping" him. And I think they'll be busy for a while.

Gotta love big sisters.

Grateful Sunday

The kids at "crazy hair day" on Friday at school. My friend, Karen, snapped this photo of them; I love it! Side note about Friday. We didn't really have time to go all out for crazy hair day (last year), because we accidentally slept until 7:26. A problem because we normally wake up at 6:55, leave for school by 7:40, and Neal's first patient is in the chair at 8:00. I count it as a credit to my awesome parenting skills (or a blessing from on high) that my kids still made it to school on time. Not sure if Neal arrived in time, I forgot to ask. High five to me!

This week has been nice, the leaves are falling and sometimes it almost feels cool outside! I'm grateful for:

• the safety from the storm we experienced yesterday. Audrey and I were right in the tornado warning path and didn't know it. (Thanks to my friend, Mary Lee, we took cover.) I'm grateful that we were safe, careful and together. Audrey was a nervous wreck.
• my kids, for just being good kids and not giving us trouble.
• our house, because even though it feels small and old sometimes, it's our home and I love it.
• the nice weather, because it means Trooper can be outside all the time and my house is cleaner and fresher smelling. (I have a bad attitude about the dog.)
• good friends who get me and make me feel great about life.

pumpkin face

Miles at his preschool's fall festival.

sick day

Audrey was home yesterday, getting through her 24 hours on antibiotics after strep on Sunday. She was feeling just fine, it's just a formality with the school that you have to wait a day after you begin your medicine before you return to class. So she came with Miles and me to the park. Her favorite park, and this is her favorite spot.

handsome dudes

Neal and Parker were able to go to the first game in the ALCS last Friday night. They were in the second row from the very tippy top of Rangers Ballpark, but had fun regardless! They saw some pretty awesome baseball on the Rangers' part, until the eighth inning, when the Yankees took over. Boo.

Parker wearing "antlers" just like the speedy Rangers!

Grateful Sunday

Us with Neal's Dad and Gail at the BYU football game yesterday. Parker was at his baseball game with my mom.

This has been a nice week, we've had strep traveling through the family, but my mom and dad have also passed through, so that's been great. Today, I'm grateful for:

• Neal. Just a few of the awesome things he did this week:

1. Found Audrey's glasses in our dark night time wilderness of a yard after Trooper took them without her knowing (she had put them on the trampoline step).
2. Dealt with the neighbor when he came over to ask why there was a toy truck in his pool and broken fence slats between our yard and his (ahem Parker and friend, who were busted).
3. Called in prescriptions for me and Audrey when strep hit us.
4. Did the majority of the heavy pulling as we put the cover on our pool for the season. A very difficult task, we discovered.
5. Went to work every day as usual.
6. Got up early for church meetings as usual. I don't think I've ever heard the guy complain. He just does what he's asked to do and I am so blessed that he is my husband forever.

• wonderful primary teachers who cheerfully fulfill their callings, even when the going gets tough. I love them.
• Neal's dad and Gail. It's so nice that they live so close. We can do fun things with them like baking in the sun while watching BYU get smashed by TCU!
• my parents, for making our house their stopping grounds again. I feel so blessed that Dallas is so often on their way to other destinations. Works out great for all of us!
• Miles, for his cheerful disposition. He is my best little buddy.

Grateful Sunday

Today has been nice, I'm feeling a little under the weather, but that doesn't stop an attitude of gratitude, so to speak!

Today, I'm grateful for:

• a quick visit from my parents and their successful Visa delivery which sent them on their way to Brazil yesterday. I like to think about them way down there with Julianne, seeing the sights.
• a fun, family weekend. We hit up a street fair in our little local town (above), the school carnival, and a little league game. How American can we get!?
• a new primary secretary who is excited about things, and a couple of new teachers. I'm thankful that our bishopric sees the importance of having awesome people in primary, and that they give them to us!
• my testimony of Joseph Smith. At random moments this week, I found myself thinking about him as a young boy, his questioning heart, his desire for truth, and his faith that if he asked, he would receive. I know that he saw what he saw, that he restored the church of Christ to the earth, and that he was a modern prophet. I am so thankful for that conviction.
• my ipod and The Lower Lights and Paul Cardall albums we've been listening to today. Great Sunday music!

Random Thought Thursday

This photo was taken in 2000, in Rhodes, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It's me and Julianne, and as she has been on my mind a lot these past weeks, I thought this photo appropriate.

Random thoughts from today:

• Julianne has been in my thoughts and prayers not only because she's been sick with the flu, but because she is far, far away in Brazil and not getting any hugs. Her transition to her life and job down there has been difficult, and I wish I could hug her and see her smile. Love you, Jooj!
• I was supposed to have a stress test/echocardiogram at the cardiologist this week, but when I arrived all prepared, they informed me that their equipment had just broken. So next Tuesday it is. Argh.
• I'm getting excited for our road trip to Arizona at Thanksgiving. Too bad that's still weeks away! I want to smoosh this baby's cheeks.
• I bought myself my first iPod today. On a whim, sort of. I figured it was high time, so I got a cute little green nano. I've been having fun getting my tunes all sorted out.
• We have a lot of yard work to do, but we have yet to get motivated. Perhaps a trip to the nursery is in store this weekend.
• We are going to the pumpkin patch tomorrow after school. A fun tradition, and the weather should be ideal!
• The UPS man just delivered a fancy, warm dog kennel to our door. Not for the dog, but for the tortoise, Bruiser.

Grateful Sunday

I've been reading The Help in preparation for book club at my house this month, and so Neal and I have been talking a lot about Myrtle and his childhood. I love this picture from when we visited his childhood home when Audrey was wee!

Today, I'm grateful for:

• a most relaxing weekend. Conference + no school on Monday + a nice date on Saturday afternoon made for a nice few days. The rush of life is returning soon, and I need a day to prep now! 
• incredible weather. Finally, some cool evenings and mornings! I get so invigorated when the day starts out cool.
• Elliott, my brother, and Mimi, my sister-in-law, who celebrated birthdays on Saturday. I am blessed with incredible individuals in my family, and these are just two of them!
• inspiring messages during General Conference this weekend, and the fact that we can watch conference on TV. All those years of trying to stream it over the internet while we lived in Houston are not missed! It is so hard to concentrate that way. I'm grateful for BYU TV!