Christmas time is near...

Grandma Judy and Abuelita Val,

THIS IS FOR YOU! 

THANK YOU CASSIE FOR TAKING PICTURES OF THE BOYS! 

Thanksgiving 2012

My cousins drove up from San Diego to celebrate Thanksgiving with us for the 3 year in a row. 

I think we are making a family tradition. 

Usually its Anaiz and her daughter Natalia that come up, along with Joe, Ashley, and Monse BUT this time Ozzie and Caroline came up too!!!

I guess its a cousins Thanksgiving tradition.

I love when they come up to visit. 

I love having my family around to share wonderful memories.

This year Carolina made the turkey. 
And it was delicious. 

Everyone was in charge of a dish. 
we kept it simple too so that we had lots of time to play.

We ended up having dinner around 4pm.

While we sat around the table we each took turns saying what we were grateful for. 

Afterwards we watched movies, enjoyed some homemade rice crispy treats (thanks Kent) and pumpkin, apple pie.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. 

One time we almost ate Sam instead.

Sam is 4 months old!

weighs 17 lbs 10 oz

and 26 inches long

Where did this chubby baby come from???

Here are some fun little facts about Samuel at 4 months:

Currently he weighs in at 17 lbs and 10 oz   26 inches long
no longer wears 6 to 9 months. I had to put away almost all of his wardrobe because its either too tight or too short on him.
He and Will go to bed at 8pm
Sam sleeps the whole night, what?
He loves his brother. He gets super excited when Will talks to him
He loves to be naked.
He loves bath time. He doesn't fit in his little tub...
He loves to kick.
He almost doesn't fit in his carseat.
His eyes can't decide what color they want to be. some days they are blue, other days they are green.
He is a charmer.
When he wakes up from a nap, he is usually just talking to himself.
He loves chewing on his fist. I think he might be teething...
He loves to grab things with his toes.
Doctor says he is ready to start introducing solids but we are going to wait till he is closer to 6 months.
He nurses really well and really fast!
eats every 3 hours and naps A LOT during the day. I think that is why he is packing all that weight.

He is a happy baby and we are so grateful to have him in our lives.

DAY 19

FAMILY HOME EVENING

Grateful for family night.

Grateful that we can teach our children 

reverence and appreciation 

for family and Christ teachings.

via Holy Handouts 

DAY 18

SERVICE

I am grateful for the opportunity we have to serve one another. 
To be like Christ.
I am grateful for my calling in the church. 
I am grateful I get to serve and think of others instead of me all the time.
I am most happy when I am in the serve of others.

Christ said " inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. -Matthew 25: 37-40

DAY 17

GOD'S PLAN OF HAPPINESS

Today I am grateful for the plan of Salvation. 
Grateful to have the opportunity to work along Kent and God in bring children to this world.
Grateful to help my children have faith in Christ, to be baptized and to follow the path Christ has set for us.
I am grateful for the knowledge  that God wants us all to have joy.
I am grateful to know that after we die we have a place to go and that we have the chance to be with our families forever.
I am grateful we have all the resources to have a happy and loving home and marriage.

DAY 16

P-Town

I am grateful to live here. 

Grateful this is where we started our little family. 

Grateful we have so much to do as a little family.

Grateful for the History here.

Grateful we have a Temple less then 2 miles away. 

and another one being built less then a mile away.

Grateful we get to experience beautiful seasons.

Grateful for the beautiful our beautiful mountains.

Football season at BYU is exciting.

Fall's here are beautiful! 

There is no other place like Provo.

It is unique with all the diversity.

There will always be a special place in my heart for you Provo.

Thank you for being so great to us.

Tonight we went over to Riverwoods for their annual christmas lighting and dinner at kneaders. 

DAY 15

MUSIC

I am grateful for music.

Right now i am listening to She & Him.

Grateful my parents sacrificed their little money 

to get me private violin lesson.

Grateful I was taught to appreciate music.

Grateful we sing at church.

I remember growing up when dad would come home from work, he would put on some Luis Miguel or just have 

the spanish radio station on while we ate dinner. 

I am grateful Will loves to sing. 

When he is happy, or eating or playing he is always humming a little tune. 

( he gets that from Kent)

I love listening to music when I am cleaning or organizing. 

its soothing,

but my favorite is listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sunday mornings when we are getting ready for church. 

DAY 14

BEDTIME

Today i was not feeling so well. 

Kent came home from work with some delicious chicken and wild rice soup from Sprouts and a baguette.

later he ran to the store and got me my 

favorite Canada Dry ginger ale.
I drank that snuggled on the couch 
while watching Dawson's Creek.

(no i am not pregnant...)

anyways he got home from work at 6:40pm and by 7:55pm both boys were bathed and in bed. 

yup, my husband is the best. 

I am grateful the boys went to bed so early so that I could rest and go to bed early too. 

I am grateful Kent helps me with bedtime. 

These were taken on Tuesday the other night. 

DAY 13

  MY MOTHER

I am grateful for my mother.
Grateful to be sealed to her.
Grateful for all that she has sacrificed for me.
Grateful I can come to her with anything.
Grateful she is strong and healthy.
She is a women of faith. 
She is a doer.
She taught me "judge not, that ye be not judged" ( 3 Nephi 14:1)
She has endured so much in the last few years. 
Her faith and determination to keep on ward and forward has showen how much
 the Lord loves her and NEEDS her. 
She has taught me to be a missionary ALWAYS! 
to serve others unconditionally.
To be fair and honest with everyone.
to trust in the Lord.
She has taught me to be a great mother.
I am the way i am because of her.
I am so proud and grateful to be her daughter. 
we were meant to help one another.
and I promise to help her achieve all that she dreams of doing. 

DAY 12

  TO BE A LATTER DAY SAINT

Grateful we have modern day prophets who teach us and direct us today.

Grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Grateful we have another testament of Christ found in the Book of Mormon.

I am grateful Joseph Smith had the courage to stand for what he knew to be true.

I am grateful I had the opportunity to serve a mission. 

I am grateful for the callings I have. 

serving is my life.

Grateful to be sealed in the Lords temple to my best friend. 

Grateful to have the opportunity in this life to stand tall, true and be a light.

I am grateful for missionary opportunities. 

they are everywhere. 

especially at home with my children.

Grateful for the blessings keeping the Lord's commandments offer us. 

Grateful to be part of a world wide sisterhood. 

DAY 11

  Sunday Dinners

There is just something special about Sunday dinners. 

Coming home from church to the house smelling delicious 

is a treat.

Usually we have something going on our Crockpot or Kent and I team up and cook something great. 
Sundays we run things a little different. 
We are not rushed. 
I love that. 

Tonight we made chicken pot pie. 
it was delicious. 
I am also grateful that I love to cook. 
I think I inherited that from my mother. 

Our Sunday dinner are always followed by a classic movie. Tonight we are watching A Court Jester.
 super cute movie. made me laugh.

This little guy was super cranky and sleepy while I was getting dinner ready.

I love these two!
they make me so happy. 

DAY 10

WORK & PLAY

Grateful for Kent's work and abilities.

 Grateful for my opportunities to work

 from home when I am needed. 

We are especially grateful for our days to play as a family.

Today Kent and Will built a snowman outside. We had enough snow to finally put to good use our Snowman kit cousin Angela made us last year.

DAY 9

 PERFECT COZY DAYS

Its raining heavily outside. and some snow.

occasionally you can hear thunder. 

inside Will and I are snuggled up with a blanket watching Cinderella. 

Sam is asleep in his crib with full tummy.

Pumpkin & Cheese bread is in the oven and delicio homemade mexican hot chocolate on the stove. 

marshmallows on the table. 

all we need is daddy to come home and join us. 

also, its my grandfathers birthday today.

he was such a great man.

DAY 8

   My boys

Today Will had a hard time listening. 

He got in trouble a few times and I kept looking at the clock waiting for the hour Kent would be home from work.

Some days I feel defeated, not able to keep up. Just when I think I can not handle Will's tantrums and wish I could just drop him off somewhere for the next 15 years, he randomly comes up to me and hugs me and says "thank you mom" (tender mercies)

I cannot help to feel gratitude for being a mother to Will and Sam. I am grateful to be a mother to a little boy who loves to make messes

wrestles

loves watching Cinderella (at least 4 times a day, he has it memorized)

obsessed with brushing his teeth

doesn't like his feet touched

loves to be loud but can't handle loud noises...

is a thrill seeker

not afraid of anything

loves his brother and kisses him and hugs him at least 100 x a day

always says bless you if you sneeze

says thank you and your welcome

and Sam, well he is a delight to have him in our family. even at 3 months old he loves to talk, grab things, and play with brother. 

I am grateful for my children and what they teach me every single day.

DAY 7

MESSY HOUSE

I can't believe i am even saying this. 

BUT!

I am grateful for a messy house. 

I am learning to embrace the mess my little family makes. 

It doesn't matter how many containers or labels there are, there is always some sort of mess. 

and I am learning that it is OK.

I want my family to feel safe, relaxed, and happy. 

I want our home to be a place of refuge and a place where they can explore and imagine. 

I also want them to learn that after we have had our fun, it is time to clean up and start fresh. 

DAY 6

  HEALTH 

I am grateful for my health. 

My health permits me to carry a baby on on hip and a screaming 3 yr old on the other.

I am able to nurse a chubby baby. 

I am grateful that my body is keeping up with the demands of a growing chubby baby. 

I am grateful I can play, run, and walk.

I am grateful I can keep up with my 3 yr old. 

I am grateful I can exercise.

This morning I exercised in my living room. 

Thanks to a friend, I was able to borrow her Zumba Rush on the XBOX KINECT. 

It feels great getting in a nice work out in the morning.

DAY 5

  PINTEREST & PLANNING! 

I am grateful for the resources available to help me be a better wife and mother. 

I am always striving to be a better wife and mother. 

I love to plan and organize. I have a planner or calendar almost in every room in the house.  

i know. i have a problem. 

I make lots of list and charts for everything and I think it drives Kent mad. 

BUT that is how I get things done. 

Between my calling at church, Will's schedule, husbands work and getting our house in order I am a busy women. 

I love to plan things in advance.

(mom, thank you for being patient with that. I know you don't like that)

I am grateful i can plan delicious family meals a week or two in advance with all the great recipes pinned from my friends. 

and just for fun, here are some of my favorite "your e cards" found on Pinterest. 

ENJOY! 

HA! 

DAY 4

  SUNDAYS

Sundays are day of rest.

Sundays are spiritual and uplifting.

Sundays are our chance to start new and set goals.

Sundays are family time. 

Sundays are watching a classic movie in the evening.

Sundays are usually crock pot on and dessert in the oven. 

Sundays include a little nap at some point with my little family.
Sundays my men look good in ties and I'm wearing high heals.

I am grateful for Sundays.

I love this kid.

DAY 3

                         Marriage

via

Today was a rough day for me. I was not myself. Everything and everyone bothered me and I didn't like how I felt. My little family depends on me in every way. I am so grateful that I am not in this world alone. I am not alone in preparing myself to one day stand infront of my maker and report. I get to have my best friend beside me helping me to be a better person. I am grateful for the covenant   of marriage.