Thankful for Freedom

Today I am so very thankful (as many of you are) for the wonderful country we live in. I am thankful for those who have fought and died to protect the rights of men and those who have fought and lived to stand as testimony to our need to protect those rights. I am also so very thankful for the fathers, mothers, wives and children who let their loved ones go with their support. How blessed we are!!

Thankful for Wal-mart

Wal-mart? I know...but when you practically live there, you gotta be thankful for it sometime. Despite often having limp produce, too little parking and WAY too many people, it fits my needs. I adore the fact I have one less than 2 minutes away and on a whim I can drive there for WHATEVER I might need. (Not to mention the quick little time-out I can give myself for these quick little errands!) Fabulous, let me tell you!

Thankful for Time-Outs

I'm thankful for time-outs. Not the times when I put my beasties in them, but the ones I occasionally allow myself. I was able to go out with a few of my sweet friends for an afternoon. I love how being with close girl-friends gives me a moment to rant, relax and laugh so hard my belly hurts (and shake like an enormous jello-mold). I love being uplifted and the feeling of the weight of life and mother-hood being released like helium-filled balloons. I definitely need time-outs more often!

Thankful for Returns

Tonight I am thankful for my husband's return home.

Thankful for Support

Today I was thankful for my brassiere. I know, it is something always used (or should be) and rarely thought about. I feel as if I have gotten quite buxom lately. For me, normally I am non-existent after breast-feeding and adequate while pregnant. Not so this pregnancy; I have become well-endowed. Now to the point of my thankfulness. I have been living in my bra 24-7 due to tenderness normal to pregnancy. Last night I thought I'd be wild and free and let things be relaxed for bed. I woke up miserable and oh-so-sore in the chest area. So, slipping on my well-worn, more gray-than-white supportive undergarment, I felt the bliss of support. Ahhhh!

Thankful for November

I love the Fall Holiday Season. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then on to winter and Christmas. I love it all. Despite the opinion of certain family members (Kit and Mack), even though I listen to Christmas music and relish in the gift procuring before Thanksgiving, I do appreciate and love Thanksgiving. The spirit of gratitude is strong in my heart and I am thankful that despite our crazy, materialistic world, as Americans we still celebrate a holiday where we are truly thankful for the blessings we have.

Halloween

**I'm not feeling witty, or Whitty, so I will let the pictures do most of the talking in this post (keep your sighs of relief to yourselves!)


We started our Halloween celebrations a bit early this year. With Kit being out of town (he's been gone for 3 weeks for training in VA) I thought to give us a head start and enjoy the season...(okay, so the real reason was mostly to have things spaced out so we have something to look forward to and to save me stress)

We started by carving jack-o-lanterns for FHE last week. A bit early, I know-my boys go outside every day to check and see if they are "decaying" but, I couldn't wait! I LOVE carving pumpkins. It is one of my favorite Halloween traditions. The tension relieved by ripping out something's innards, maybe. Whatever the reason, I {HEART} pumpkin carving. I don't actually carve things myself. I leave that up to whoever the best carver is. I have too many memories of ruined creations...eyelashes falling out, ears coming off, teeth getting knocked out...(not me, my favored pumpkin) just ask my family, it was ruinous to the occasion. So to save myself the heartache, I have retired my personal knife and I am now self-proclaimed Queen Innards Remover. Since Kit was gone, the carver was my brother, Mack. The boys drew out their ideas and Uncle Mack made them happen.

You will notice how Josiah and Gunnison look a little "special" in the next couple of photos...

Mack, the carver, relishing in the use of his big knife

I love how cute my boys look with their pleased expressions {{hugs}}

We had our annual ward Chili cook-off and Trunk-or-Treat this year. I love ANY event where they will feed me chili! Yummo!! So, I was inspired to put together costumes sooner than the day before the big H. Despite the distance between us, Kit made a major contribution to Halloween this year in the form of figuring out what Gunner and I should be. We knew Gavin was going to be a leprechaun for Halloween back in the summer (his decision) and when we were in OK helping Steph pack for her move we came across this little linen suit of Grey's and knew it was perfect. Add his mischievous grin and red hair (which is hiding under the hat) it was a perfect fit. I didn't have to do much with his costume other than stencil "GOLD" on his pot and put it together. Josiah's was another matter. He has been quite excited about what he wanted to be for a LONG time, but-what to be?? That has been the question plaguing us for awhile. From Darth Vader to a porcupine to a door (yes, a door...per Jos-"They can be quite dangerous you know. One minute you'll be walking along minding your own business and Boom! you walk right into one! It happens to me all the time." ) We finally agreed on the eyeball and without too much difficulty got it put together. Gunnison was "God's gift to Women". He wore his bow and a gift tag. His smile was infectious and I thought he pulled it off well. ;) I was a Pumpkin Thief. A couple of "huh?"s, but most people got my husband's sense of humor. It made me smile, so it was worth the funny looks!

**I apologize for the next pictures. Mack's camera was struggling, too. I'd better get mine fixed before the upcoming holidays!**

The boys and their "Prince Charming" Uncle Mack

Me...and my stolen pumpkin

You can't see the belly too well 'cause I'm wearing oh-so-slimming black and the camouflage of a child, so this next one embarrasses me plenty...all because I love you!!!


( I totally pull off the Fertility Goddess look here, especially if you could see my nicely rounded thighs!)