Invisible

I was trying really hard not to interrupt the flow of my "17 Days of Thankful" but this I just couldn't pass up sharing.

I got this video in an email from my MIL the other day and just had to share. I don't know if she sent it to me because she knows I've been struggling lately or just because she knew I'd appreciate it. Either way I am glad I spent a few minutes of my life watching it and I'm glad I got it the day I did. It was a day I needed it.

I give you: "The Invisible Woman"

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #15

Final round of "cheating"...


Thankful - Day #15: I am thankful for Nate.


Nate is the cutest baby ever! He is so much fun and loves to have fun. Everything for Nate is a game.

Nate makes a game out of everything we do: getting changed, taking a bath, getting a bottle...EVERYTHING!!! It's a lot of fun, when I go to change him he runs around me just waiting for me to "catch" him. When it's time for a bath, I will get his clothes off and he will run in the opposite direction so that I will run after him and grab him. He just loves to play.

Any type of ball is his favorite toy. "Ball" was one of his first clear words and he recognizes all different types of balls. We can keep him happy by giving him a ball to throw and chase around.

This little boy has an attitude like you wouldn't believe though. If things aren't done in just the right way or time, we know about it. He is the type of kid that will literally throw himself on the ground and throw a fit. Sometimes it's just cute and I can't help but laugh. Eric's mom swears that Eric was the same way growing up though - so I have to razz Eric about it when it happens.

I love this baby and I am so thankful that he came to the family when he did. I just wish he would actually sleep through the night. But perhaps I should just be thankful that he loves me so much that when he wakes up in the middle of the night he needs to be right by his mommy.

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #14

More with the "cheating..."


Thankful - Day #14: I am thankful for Lex.


Lex is just so much fun to have around. He is the comic relief of the family. He is always saying funny things that make me laugh. He loves to have fun.

It's fun to just watch him some days. Almost ANYTHING will get him excited. He truly has a love for life. Something, I truly hope he is able to keep his whole life.
Lex enjoys school and while he probably isn't the smartest cookie, he sure loves his teacher and school. When he asks if it's a school day and he gets told, "yes", he gets so happy and can't wait to go to school.

Lex likes to "collect" his toys. He doesn't do so much "playing" with the toys as just keeping them with him. He likes to know where they are at at all times and has to be in close proximity to them.

Lex is a friendly child and makes friends easily. We can be anywhere at all and he'll always find a "friend". We were on vacation last April and some lonely kid just kept hanging around (mostly he wanted to hang with Shaylyn, who wanted NOTHING to do with him) and Lex being the person he is befriended him and was so happy that he made a friend. When the kid had to go home, Lex told us, "That was my new friend."

Lex is a great reminder to me to not judge people on the outside and that most anyone can be a friend. He is also a great reminder to not let what people think of me get to me. I should just be happy with who I am and that's that.

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #13

Here's to more "cheating..." !!!


Thankful - Day #13: I am thankful for Shaylyn.


Shaylyn is a breath of fresh air most days. She had the biggest imagination ever! She is constantly writing books of whatever she decides she wants it to be about. She loves to read. It's been fun to watch her come home from school this year on days that she has gone to the library because she always says something like, "I found this great book and I am so excited to read it." And read it she does. There's been a few nights she has just read and read and read, that when she comes to me and says, "How long did I read?" I look at a clock and realize it's been about an hour. I guess she gets that from her dad.

Shaylyn is so smart and can figure things out without a lot of clues. Sometimes this is a good thing, othertimes - not so much.

Shaylyn is a cute little "mommy" to her baby brother as well. She is always so willing to help me out with Nathaniel on days I need that extra little help.

She is also our little chatterbox. Sometimes it's hard to listen to her constant jabbering, but I do try. I remember on a trip we took to Seattle (by car), we were on our way home from Oregon. My poor MIL was sitting next to Shaylyn and Shaylyn honestly didn't shut up the whole way. We have no idea what she was saying. My great MIL finally asked if she could give Shaylyn some Bendadryl or something to knock her out (It was getting late), so we agreed...I figure, MIL is a nurse, she's not going to harm her...Well, the Benadryl didn't do ANYTHING to Shaylyn until we were about 20 minutes from home...Crazy girl.

Shaylyn reminds me to keep imagination alive! Who cares if things can't really happen - if you can dream it, it does. She is a good example of patience. She helps me out by being able to do her homework on her own - while I am usually stressing out trying to help Tanis, she does hers on her own and hardly ever makes a mistake!

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #12

Call this cheating if you will, but it's my blog and my list so I will do what I want!!!

Thankful - Day #12: I am thankful for Tanis.

Tanis is my biggest helper EVER!!! If I need a favor he will always jump to it. He is also the one who will ask me at times if there is anything he can do for me. If the kids are told to clean, he is the one that will stick with it and do as he is told.

This boy is a sweet heart and wears his heart on his sleeve. He HATES getting in trouble and tries so very hard to be good. I often struggle when I have to get mad at him because I know he takes things A LOT harder than the other kids.

Tanis helps me to remember to keep things in perspective and to not fly off the handle so quickly. He is also such a great example of serving others!

I'm glad I got to take him out on a "date" Saturday night. He had so much fun and I was amazed at how he downed the salad at Olive Garden. We had so much fun and I'm glad that he wanted to spend time with his mommy.

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #11

Now, this one may leave some of you with a somewhat quizzical look on your face, but here goes.

Thankful - Day #11: I am thankful for Hair Blogs.

What in the heck is a hair blog you might ask? Well it's as simple as it sounds - blogs about hair. I first ran across "hair blogs" when one of my friends from high school mentioned somewhere that she had one.

After checking her blog out and seeing some of the other hair bloggers on her list, I was hooked!!!

I HATE looking at pictures of me when I was elementary school aged because I look like an orphan. (Except for picture day pictures and other special occasion pictures) I've told myself that my daughter is NOT going to go through the same thing.

In fact Eric and I were talking about this the other day. There is going to come a day when Shaylyn won't be so kind and let me do her hair and I dread that day. But, hopefully - she'll be so used to having her hair done, she'll be a bit more experienced at doing her own hair than I was.

It's been fun to find new hairdo's to do with Shaylyn and I LOVE that she has such long hair. It makes things so much easier.

Shaylyn's teacher last year told me that there were a couple other Mom's who wanted me to put like a hair-do book together for them. I just laughed and felt guilty as more than half the do's I do with Shaylyn AREN'T my idea. Some kids in her class even referred to her as: "The girl with the hair."

Wow, I totally went off with this subject...But hey, I am really thankful for my hair blogs!

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #10

Thankful - Day #10: I am thankful for patience.

I am not the most patient person in the world, especially when it comes to my kids, but I try. Patience is something I am constantly working on and the days when I am able to be patient and calm, I am so thankful for.

I am also thankful that I am more patient than my dear hubbby most days. Because then I can usually calm him down as well.

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #9

Thankful - Day #9: I am thankful for music.


I don't know where I would be without music.

I always have to laugh when I think back to when I was around 11 - my older brother listened to music CONSTANTLY and I always gave him a hard time, I really didn't see what the purpose of it was.

Then when I was about 12, I found out what the purpose of it was. Since then, there's been no going back.

Music helps get me going and doing what needs to be done. Music inspires me and uplifts me. I am absolutely IN LOVE with lyrics. I love listening to songs and figuring out the message it is trying to put across. Guess that's the "poet" in me. :)

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #8

Thankful - Day #8: I am thankful for my mom.

Because today is my birthday, I thought it appropriate to mention my mom.

I was not an easy baby when it came time for me to arrive. For 2 weeks my mom had false labor and apparently most of the time it was quite painful. My mom has said that when I did decide to come, however, I came quickly.

So here is to my mommy, who 30 years ago, brought me into this world and has dealt with my insecurities for as many years!

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #7

THANKFUL - DAY #7: I am thankful for my kids!!!

My kids are so great! I am thankful for them most of the time, but today (Sunday) I wanted to dedicate to them.

The Primary Program was today and my kids were all so cute. Lex's part was changed from what I thought he was supposed to say, but he said it anyway and sounded so cute. Shaylyn got up and said her memorized part and I was so proud of her. Tanis decided he would like to be with a group of kids to sing a new song. I LOVED the song, and watching how excited Tanis was when he was singing it was just awesome! Nathaniel even cooperated by snuggling with Daddy most of the meeting so that I could actually pay attention to the other kids.

I love Primary Programs and enjoy them even more now that my kids are involved!

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #6

Thankful Day #6: I am thankful for fun.


On Saturday, I got to spend the day, away, with my best girl friend. We didn't do anything way too exciting, but it was fun to just spend the day "window shopping."

We ran into a couple people, I'd rather not have ran into - but it's okay, don't think they really recognized me. ;) Let's say my ex-sister-in-law's sister and a friends ex-wife....Not fun!

After we got home from our shopping excursion, we grabbed our hubbies and met up again to play "The Newlywed Game." It was way too much fun! And I am glad Eric was a good sport and played. Our friends totally won the game, but there were a couple questions that didn't really apply to Eric and I in any shape or form, so we had to make up answers.

All in all, a great night, lots of fun!!!

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #5

So, uh...Yeah...I got way behind here, but I am going to do my best to get caught up...

Thankful - Day #5: I am thankful for sleep.

Honestly, it is rare that I sleep a full night anymore. The main reason for this: Nathaniel. He is the WORST sleeper EVER!

My other kids were sleeping through the night by about 6 months, if not before...This kid has YET to figure it out!

I am happy if we can get to about 4:00 in the morning before he wakes up - it doesn't happen as much as I would hope, but it does happen on occasion.

The other reason for lack of sleep is pregnancy. It's so fun to have to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom...

So for today, I am going to be thankful for the days when I get to sleep until 4 a.m. without being awoken for some reason. I am also thankful that if I need a nap, I can take one while Nate is napping and the kids are all in school...Somedays, that's the only reason I can get out of bed. ;)

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #4

Yes, I am purposely making sure that I get day #4 posted on day #4...I had enough "off" days.

Thankful - Day #4: I am thankful for family.

Not only am I thankful for the family I was born into - I am thankful for the family I married into as well.

I love being with my brothers & sisters and my parents, we always have fun and although it's always loud and crazy - it feels like home. But that's what you get when there are 7 kids in the family and add 3 spouses and 5 little kids.

I love Eric's family so much as well, even the aunts and uncles and cousins. They all accepted me from day 1 and I have never felt anything different. It's nice to feel that loved.

Here's to families!!!

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #3

Once again, I am a bit behind on actually making this post ON Day #3 and my excuse is that I was working on Scout stuff all day yesterday, then we had Scouts and after Scouts I ran away for a bit. So yeah...

Hopefully I'll get my act together though and actually start posting things ON the correct date.

Now onto:

Thankful - Day #3: I am thankful for my body.

(Picture from www.snorgtees.com)

Okay, now before you think I am being vain or something - I am NOT saying, "Oh look at me, I am so hot!" Because hey, I know that's not the case.

I am actually just talking about all the things our bodies are capable of. I was able to go play Volleyball with same ladies in the ward last night and have done so for a number of Wednesday nights. However, I didn't play for the 2 previous weeks for various reasons, so it was nice to get back to it.

I am also just amazed when I stop to think about all the things our bodies can do. There are just so many things. Our bodies truly are amazing machines and I am thankful to have a body that is still working!

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #2

Alright, so technically "Day #2" is about 10 hours late of making it to actual day #2, but I was kind of busy yesterday, so it just didn't happen.

Anyway, onto :

Thankful - Day #2: I am thankful to be pregnant.


That may sound weird to many of you, but to tell you the truth, I really wasn't too excited when I found out #5 was on the way.

I had/have so many fears about what people are going to say/think because Nathaniel isn't even 2 yet. (He will be by the time this baby actually gets here, though) And I still worry about other people's reactions, but I am getting better at accepting whatever they have to say.

I needed to step back and thank the Lord that he is choosing to bless us with another one of his special spirits because I know not everyone is so lucky. I know many people who struggle to get pregnant or to keep a baby once they are pregnant.

I have never had an issue and I am thankful for that. I just need to focus on the fact that the Lord feels we need to have another baby and now is the time.

We got to hear the heartbeat for the first time yesterday and it helped alleviate some of my fears and I am finally able to start "getting happy" about things.

What Happens Next...

17 Days of Thankful - Day #1

So, the thought occured to me the other day that I wanted to start sharing something I am thankful for every day until Thanksgiving. After all, isn't that what the holiday is mostly about?

This also came about after a particularly hard day last Friday when I realized just how thankful I am for:

THANKFUL - DAY #1: I am so thankful for such great family friends (you know who you are) and my terrific hubby.

I won't go into much detail, but I will say this: while I was having such a rough day, my best friend (after hearing from Lex and her hubby (who heard from Eric) that I was having a bad day) came right over and spent the next 2 hours just talking. Something that was definitely needed.

Then, my dear hubby who I kept whining to, came home from work early because he was so concerned about me. He then took me out for a night away from the kiddos. (Who, by the way, had NOTHING to do with my bad day.)


And I would be remiss if I didn't thank my best friend's hubby for allowing her to come and be with me for 2 hours while he watched the little one!

Look back daily for my new "Thankfuls"!!!

What Happens Next...

Halloween!!!!

Is there anything I can really say about Halloween? I mean really, it's just the same story you hear from everyone - got the kids ready, took pictures, went trick-or-treating, came home, scoped out the candy and went to bed.

Yeah, that's pretty much how it happened here too, only we went to my mommy's house (My little bro that lives in Wyoming was in town). And the kids got to go trick-or-treating with their cousin, Tyler. Can I also mention that my kids scored at 2 houses?

At one house they got full bags of licorice. I'm talking the $3.00 a pop bags, here. At another house they got a full can of root beer. Nice, huh?

I was happy the weather was nice and all of our cute kids had fun.

On a side note: I helped with Lex's class party on Friday and took Nathaniel with me, so a couple pics are from Friday as well.

ENJOY!!!

Oh yeah, Kaeloni & Cody: Thanks so much for keeping me company that night & for helping me with Nater Gater!!!

I decided to dress up very last minute for Lex's class party, so I had to come up with something we had at home...

Halloween Parade Pics (Tanis & the other 4th graders were "too old" for the parade.)

When the Kindergarten class went to listen to a story, Nate went right with them and sat right down to listen as well.

Indy Tanis

Very Bat Girl Shaylyn (She copied the model's pose from the packaging)

Iron Man Lex

The Cutest Little Garden Gnome

What Garden Gnome should have looked like, but he wouldn't keep either thing on.

Hey, Mickey!!! Put down that stinkin' mat so we can take a picture!

About the best one I got of all 5 kids. Lil' Sis has a better one but she isn't sharing...

Oh, well at least we got a semi-cute one of the older 4 kids.

What Happens Next...