Gratitude Day Fifteen-Nov 15th

A few months ago we found out that Sidney needed a palatal expander to make enough room for her permanent teeth to come in.  For some reason this felt different than braces for me.  I was thinking to myself that I (my body) grew that palate and that I don't want it changed!  I also really worried about tightening it every day and feeling like I am hurting her.  Well.....I am so grateful today that this girl was  SO excited about this news and counted down the days until she got it.

This is a picture of her getting ready to go into the office on "the day".

The after shot.

I was worried that her mouth would be really sore and uncomfortable so I told her she could take the rest of the day off of school.

She was excited at first but then decided she really wanted to go back to school and show all of her friends.

So we gave her some motrin, took her out to lunch, and sent her back to school :)

As she was getting out of the car she gave me a big hug and said, "You are the best mom! Thank you SO much for letting me get an expander!"

I thought, hmmm, we should really have played this up as a big Christmas present! Especially now that we have 2 kids going to the orthodontist, wow!

So I am grateful for her positive attitude and for a great orthodontist that we trust and for modern medical techniques that can fix problems early. Even if I really liked her cute mouth before, I learned it really isn't all about me :)

Gratitude Day Fourteen-Nov 14th

Today I am grateful for a sleeping baby.

Jax has been a really good sleeper from the beginning.

Then he started to get teeth....

After a few rough nights I remember how grateful I am that we were so blessed with a baby that sleeps so well at night.

I remember how much that can affect my (and by my I mean my whole family's) day.

Thank you, sweet Jax for being a good sleeper!

Gratitude Day Thirteen-Nov 13th

Today and everyday I am grateful that Allen works so hard and that I am able to be home with our kids.

It can get a little crazy.....

Breakfast, prayers, school, laundry, reading scriptures, hugs, cleaning, groceries, orthodontist appointments, lunches, rocking/snuggling, carpool, gymnastics, homework, crying, snacks, dishes, dentist appointments, spelling words, dinner, football, piano, phone calls, diapers, time-outs, boy scouts, activity days, school projects, play dates, doctor appointments, volunteering at school, birthday parties, baths......

and that is just this week!

There is no where else I would rather be and nothing else I would rather be doing.

I wouldn't trade a thing.

Being a mother is the greatest responsibility and the greatest gift I have ever imagined.

Gratitude Day Twelve-Nov 12th

Today I am grateful for the knowledge that God is in charge.

I can be a little bit of a worrier sometimes :)

Knowing I can put my trust in Him is a huge blessing in my life.

I know that doesn't mean that everything will be perfect or easy.

Challenges and trials are hard and losses are painful.

I am so thankful for the peace that only He can give.

I will soak up every day and moment with those I love and take comfort in the knowledge that we are an eternal family.

Gratitude Day Eleven-Nov 11th

Today this sweet baby boy learned how to wave, and I am so grateful that it was on a Sunday and that we were all home to see it together.

There was cheering and laughing and a lot of excitement!

I think we might have scared him a little :)

I love that this little man has a whole cheering section.

I took this video later when the other kids were upstairs and it was quiet, he was so proud of himself :)

Gratitude Day Ten-Nov 10th

Today I am grateful for our home.

The weather is cold and snowy and our house is warm and cozy.

I feel safe here and I feel like my kids are safe here.

We have brought two new babies home here.

We have built new things and worked on home projects together.

We have celebrated holidays, birthdays, and family accomplishments here.

We play, learn, eat, sleep, cry, and laugh here.

Scratches, dents, and fingerprints are all marks and memories of our kids childhood.

As much as I love to have a clean and organized house I do not look forward to the day that it stays that way all the time.

I am grateful that our kids like to be here and that their friends like to be here too.

I hope and pray that this will always be a place that each of us can feel safe and loved.

Gratitude Day Nine-Nov 9th

Today I am so grateful for extended family.

Our parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our families.
I am grateful for my Mom and Dad and brother and sister.
I love that we get to see each other often.
I am so glad that my Grandparents and Great Grandparents have always been such a huge part of my life.
I am grateful for Allen's sweet parents and siblings.
I am so thankful that they raised the man of my dreams.

I love family traditions and stories and I hope that we can continue to make fun family memories together.

Gratitude Day Eight-Nov 8th

Today I am grateful for pictures.

I have a pretty good memory, but there are so many moments that I want to freeze time and I feel like taking a picture gets me as close as I can.

I have realized that even when I feel like I remember something that happened in my mind, when I see a picture of it so many of the emotions come back.

I have been spending a lot of time going through old pictures to get caught up and it helps me to remember things so vividly.

My kids love to look at pictures over and over.

I am so grateful that we have the ability to take pictures and save them.

I have always wanted to be able go back to certain moments in my life and re-watch them, not like watching a video but like really being there again and just watching from the sideline.

 For now I will keep looking at my pictures.

Like this one of Porter running up the hill to his last football practice, so glad I have it to help me remember.

Gratitude Day Seven-Nov 7th

 Today I am grateful for where we live.

I am grateful that we are free and that we live in a beautiful place where we can enjoy all of the beauty around us.

I love that we get to experience all of the seasons.

I also love that we have mountains and lakes nearby.

We try to take advantage of each of these elements and enjoy them to the fullest.  I hope we always will.

Gratitude Day Six-Nov 6th

Today I am grateful for great friends.
Friends that are always there.
I am so blessed to have wonderful friends, some close by and some father away than I would like.

I am grateful to have friends that have been there for me through my hard times and celebrated with me during my greatest moments.
Each have made such an impact on my life.
I am grateful that I am a better person for knowing each of them.

Gratitude Day Five-Nov 5th

I am not sure I even know where to start with this one.

I am so grateful for my sweet baby.

For awhile we didn't know if we would be blessed with another baby.

A lot of prayers, patience, tears, hope, and blessings.

I still can't believe he is here and that he is ours.

Jax is happy, smiles all the time, usually sleeps good, and loves his brother and sisters.

He makes me smile every day.

I love that he looks just like Allen and Porter.

I feel like he is a little piece of heaven in our family.

I love you sweet Jaxon, and I am so grateful that you are here.

Gratitude Day Four-Nov 4th

Oh, my Rylee bug.  I am so grateful for you.

My sweet, fun, little 5 year old.

I am so grateful that she is loving Kindergarten, even though it is still hard for me to let her go everyday.

She loves to do anything that Porter and Sidney are doing.
She loves being a big sister.
She seams little and big all at the same time.

I am so grateful for the 4 1/2 years that she was my littlest sidekick.

Rylee, I love you so!

Gratitude Day Three-Nov 3rd

Today I am very grateful for my cute Sidney girl.

This sweet girl is 9 years old.

I was so excited to find out we were having our first girl. I didn't know how excited until we found out and I could not stop smiling.

She is my helper.

She is so loving and sweet and she writes the best love notes.

She is smart and catches onto things very quickly.

I love that she is such a good friend.

Sidney I love that you are my oldest girl and I am so grateful that we have each other.

Family Pictures

Our great friend, Ryan Birnel, took these family pictures for us.

Love all of them!

It was cold and we were losing sunlight fast, luckily Ryan is awesome and very talented and quick!

 The boys :)

 Cute girls :)

 We could not get Sidney to pull her hands out of her sleeves, she was too cold.

Love these, Thanks Ryan!!

Gratitude Day Two-Nov. 2nd

I am so grateful for this sweet 11 yr. old boy.

He is close to 12 and that seems very old.

He made me a mother.

We didn't know if he would make it here.
When he did, all healthy and perfect, I couldn't put him down.

He is smart, funny, athletic, handsome, sweet, and so much like his Dad.

He loves his sisters and baby brother.

Every night before I go to bed I walk into his room and give him a kiss on the cheek.

When he sees me at school or church or even football he runs over and gives me a big hug, I don't think he will ever know how much that means to me and I pray that he will do it forever.

Porter, I love you and I am so grateful that you are you!