Memorable MondayBeing Thankful

As I look back on the great memories I had over Thanksgiving Weekend, I remember all the things that I am thankful for. Since there are 30 days in November, I decided to write down 30 things that I am thankful for.

1. My family - I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, and sweet kids. They make my life so wonderful.
2. My parents & Jim's parents - They are wonderful and are such great examples to us. We know that we can always count on their support.
3. My Extended Family - I have the best extended family. Both Jim and I are very close to our siblings and they have truly blessed our lives. Our nieces and nephews are awesome too!
4. The Gospel - I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints and the many blessings it has given me in my life. I'm so grateful that they Gospel as been restored in the latter days.
5. Temples - Jim and I were married in the temple and are sealed to each other for time and all eternity. I'm so grateful to have the temple close by and visit often and remember the covenants the we have made. I'm so glad that Josh has had the opportunity to go and do Baptisms for the Dead.
6. Prophet and Church Leaders to guide and direct us - I love to conference and hear their counsel.
7. My Country - I'm so grateful that we live in a free country where we can vote for our leaders. There are many that I know who are serving our country to protect the freedoms that we have and I grateful for their service.
8. Job - I am so very grateful for my husband's job and even more grateful that he enjoys what he does at work. He works very hard to support our family and I really appreciate it.
9. Education - I'm glad that my kids have great teachers who take the time to teach them at school. When I student taught, I realized how much time and effort teachers put into their jobs. I've realized even more as I volunteered in their classrooms. Teachers are amazing! I'm also grateful for the education that Jim and I received.
10. Friends - I have such great friends and I'm grateful to have them in my life. I'm loved catching up with old friends through technology.
11. Health - I'm grateful that Jim, the kids and I have been healthy.
12. My home - I'm so grateful for a place where my family and I can feel safe and be together as a family. The most wonderful feeling is when everyone is home, safe, and we are spending quality time together.
13. Good books - I love to read and love to see my children reading, especially the scriptures. There are many nights when my kids read as they go to sleep. I wish I read more as a kid.
14. Music - There is so much power in music. Angela learned to communicate through music until she could form her own words. My children are involved in music programs through school and private lessons and love it.
15. Scouting - My son has learned so much from the scouting program and has given him the confidence to do tough things. He is learning to become a good leader and enjoys the program.
16. Primary - My children has benefited greatly from this inspired program. My older daughters are in the Activity Day program and I'm grateful for their leaders who plan great activities for them.
17. Rain/Snow - I'm so glad that AZ received a lot of snow up north and rain in the valley. There has been a drought the past few years and moisture is a welcomed sight.
18. Beautiful Scenery - Heavenly Father has blessed us with a very beautiful earth and there is so much to see.
19. Pictures and the memories we remember when we view them.
20. Journal, Family History, Blogs - It's fun to read and learn about grandparents, parents and more about yourself.
21. Modern Conveniences - Refrigerator, stove, AC, microwave, telephone, computer, washer, dryer, showers, toilets, etc.
22. Vehicles - I'm so grateful for running vehicles with working AC. I'm also grateful for a husband who takes good care of them and offers to fill my truck up with gas. Thanks Jim!
23. Yummy Food - Need I say more!
24. Family Outings - I love to go places with my family. We have been camping this year, gone to movies, gone bowling, attended the state fair, and done many more activities together. I love spending time with my extended family as well. I love to watch my kids interact with their cousins.
25. Exercise - I hate to do it, but love the results and the energy I get afterwards.
26. Games - I love to play games with my family.
27. My glasses so I can see better
28. Service - I'm so grateful for the opportunities we have to serve in theward and in the community. It's a great way to meet others and be reminded of what's really important.
29. Sleep - Nothing is sweeter than a sleeping child. I love to catch up on the sleep that I need too.
30. Holidays - I'm so grateful for holidays that reminds us what is truly important. Thanksgiving is a great holiday to remind us of how blessed we truly are.

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving and spending time together as a family. We had Thanksgiving at the Paces and invited my sister and her family and my parents. It was a great day and of course, I took too many pictures. I did pass the camera to my nieces and them take a few pics too. Thanks!

I love this picture of Emily. Someone was so kind and pulled her around in the wagon.

I love this pic - Josh sitting in the wagon while the Brittany pulls and Dani pushes

The adults spending quality time catching up.

Jumping on the trampoline is a lot of fun.

I love it when kids put olives on their fingers. Kenzie is so cute and has no plans to share her olives with me.

The girls cousins eating Thanksgiving dinner. They are great friends too.

My niece took these cute pictures of their mom. I think she is teasing my dad or vice versa. Angela loves to play on the monkey bars.

Joey does too!

Memorable MondaySurgery

My mom was supposed to have a hip replacement surgery today. She had an infection and they postponed it until the infection clears. I'm so glad that the doctors are being careful with my mom's health. It'll be so great when she feels better and is in no more pain.

This is reminds of the time that I needed surgery to repair my arm. I broke my arm really bad on a rollerblading trip and need surgery to stabilize the elbow so that it would heal in a way that I wouldn't lose movement in my arm. I was so scared to have the surgery and was grateful for the Priesthood blessings that I received to give me the peace that I needed. I was the most nervous about being unconscious. At first, the doctors were going to place a screw in the elbow, but changed their minds when they really saw the damage. They used 20 pieces of metal including screw, nuts, wires, and some other types of metal. It was a successful surgery and I went to Physical Therapy soon after to regain the movement in my arm. A year later, they moved the metal in the upper part of my arm, and the rest 3 months later. Everything turned out great and all I have left is a scar and the bag of metal that was in my arm.

I was attending ASU and working during the time of my accident and surgery. I was unable to work for a couple months and was concerned about how I was to pay next semester's tuition. I didn't want to take a semester off of school. During this time, I was in Lambda Delta Sigma and serving as an officer in the church sponsored sorority. I went to a conference down in Thatcher, AZ where I was awarded a $500 scholarship. It was so perfect and I was able to pay my tuition for the next semester. It was a wonderful gift, especially since I handed in the form to my advisor the morning of the conference. It's amazing how the Lord knew that I needed that scholarship during that time. It's comforting to know that He is constantly aware of my needs.

Emily's field trip to Albertsons

Emily's Preschool class went on their first trip to Albertson's. Taking my youngest to the grocery store is something I do all the time, so it didn't sound that exciting as a field trip. Our tour guide showed us all the places that the normal shopper doesn't get to see and the kids really enjoyed it.

The class checked out the Deli area.

The kids watched a baker decorate a birthday cake.

Emily is handling a coconut.

The tour involved a trip to the Refrigerator and it was cold!

The tour included a stop to visit the lobster. Some kids touched it, but most didn't want anything to do with it.

Emily resting her head. It's exhausting!

Emily and her classmates checking out the store from upstairs. This was the highlight of the whole store for the kids.

A class photo after the field trip

Zoo with Friends

While Josh was participating in a chess tournament, Jim & I took the girls and some of their friends to the zoo. There is a new Komodo Dragon exhibit that we wanted to check out. It was a cool morning and the dragon was inside a glass enclosure which made it more difficult to see and even more difficult to get a good picture. It'll be fun to see it in it's new exhibit soon. We stopped by to see the Orangutans and the baby was putting on a great show. He was spinning on his back and dancing for us. We stopped by to see Monkey Village. We usually need to enter the exhibit to see these monkeys in action, but not this time. They were climbing, jumping, and entertaining us while we view them from outside the exhibit. We stopped by to see some other animals and headed to the tree house to play. We were short on time but it was a great experience for us all. It even sprinkled while we were watching the kids play. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed spending time together. We made in time to hear about Josh's tournament.

This is the best picture that I could get of the Komodo Dragon since he was in the glass exhibit due to cold weather.

The baby organutan "break dancing" for us

The spider monkeys are always fun to see.

The girls in front of the giraffe enclosure. All four giraffes are eating lunch in the background.

Pictures by the tree house - the funnest part of the whole zoo

6th Grade Egyptian Masks

Dani made her Egyptian mask this week. I volunteered that day in her class and helped make her mask. She did a great job lying still while her friend and I put the plaster on her face. She was a little nervous, but it wasn't as bad as she thought. After her mask was completed, she tried to help everyone else with their mask. She really enjoyed helping her friends and others with their masks. The masks turned out great!

Dani's friend applying the plaster

Dani with the mask on and waiting for it to dry.

Dani is putting the mask on her friend.

The completed project

Dani showing off her mask at school. The 6th graders show off their masks in the library for everyone to see.

Memorable MondayPrimary Program

The kids had their Primary Program yesterday. I loved listening to the music that they learned this year and hear my kids give their parts. They also recited some of the Article's of Faith. Dani and Angela have memorized all 13 this year. I'm so proud of the both of them. It doesn't seem that long ago when Josh was up there as a sunbeam singing and participating in the Primary Program for the very first time. Last year, all of my kids participated and it was AWESOME! I've served in the Primary Presidency in the past and know what work is involved in the program and am thankful for the leaders for their hard work. I love to hear the Primary children's sweet testimonies through music. Many members in the ward still remember Angela from her early years and the struggles she has had to overcome and commented on her growth and her sweet testimony. It is one of my highlights of the year and look forward to it every year.

Emily's Birthday Party

Emily had her very first birthday party today. It was so much fun and everyone had a great time. The theme was centered about Tinker Bell and the girls each made a wand to take home. We played "Duck, Duck, Goose" for almost 30 minutes or more. It is so fun to play with some 4-5 yrs old, a husband with a great sense of humor, and a couple of teens/preteens. Balloons and cake are a big part of the party too. Josh, Dani, and Jim helped me plan and execute the party and were such a big help. Thanks! Happy 5th Birthday Emily!

I made a crown cake for Em's birthday party. It was a fun cake to make and it was a big hit with the kids.

Emily's friends

Emily opened her family presents earlier in the week and received a bike from her parents. It'll be so fun to ride in the winter while it's nice outside.

Arizona State Fair

Our family went to the State Fair this year. My sister-in-law had a book booth at the fair and decided to take the kids. We picked up the kids early from school, actually it was an early out and no school was missed, and drove to the State Fair grounds. We paid our admission, 6 toothbrushes, and entered the State Fair. There was so much to see and we quickly became overwhelmed. We headed over to the kid rides and found some rides that the kids really enjoyed. We had so much fun and I'm glad that I took them to the fair this year.

The kids really enjoyed the rides. These pics are just a sample of the many

different rides the kids went on.

The pig races were a hit with the family. My nephew was picked to do the pig dance. I love this pic with Josh and his cousins. It was fun to have cousins at the fair with you.

The petting zoo was another big hit. There was a big llama and baby kangaroo that the kids really enjoyed.

There was a children's play area where the girls dressed as cowboys and played. It was a nice break to just sit and watch the girls play.

Emily is 5

Emily's birthday is today and she turned 5 years old. She is so excited and started off the morning going to preschool with her friends. She had a great day and really enjoyed being in the limelight. It's so fun to look back on the past 5 years.