Birthday cake and turkey~

...sounds like a good combo, eh?

I have always loved having my birthday so close to Thanksgiving {not necessarily 'on'~kind of a drag} but near is so great. My heart is always full of gratitude, and there is never a shortage of good eats! My birthday was wonderful~ spent with my kiddos, in my jammies~ doesn't get much better in my book:)

Anyways, enough about me, let's talk turkey!

Found that printable here on Pinterest {where else!} and thought it was quite wonderful...

We do the every-other-year thing, and it was our year to be with my family. The day was extra special because it was my sweet nephew Krew's 1st birthday! Cute little stinker:) not sure where that year went~ whew!

One of my contributions this year~

Spinach Pomegranate Pear Salad

the recipe~

{tailor measurements to your taste, and size of salad}

spinach, pomegranate seeds, sliced pear, candied almonds, feta cheese

dressing~

1/4 c. purple onion, finely chopped

1 c. sugar

2 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. red wine vinegar

blend together, then add 1 c. light olive oil

toss and serve!

We ate ourselves sick! and enjoyed the fabulous company~

as well as the weather! The kiddos scampered around the backyard having a great old time...

gathering leaves...

and climbing on rocks...

and posing up a storm for their aunt reece.

Sure love these kiddos~

and really love this fam of mine! even when they don't want to cooperate for a little photo op, really?

Christmas card worthy??

Almost. ha!

It was a wonderful holiday weekend. My blessings are many. I am especially thankful to know that my Heavenly Father is very much aware of me, and my needs. He has given me comfort and strength to get through some difficult times, and I know that he loves me. Don't know what more I could ask for. I am so thankful for this blog, and the opportunity it has given me to meet so many awesome new friends. I appreciate your sweet comments, and thank you for your examples. Much love to all who read this.

Now bring on the holidays!

~xo

Grandma

A couple weeks ago, we lost our sweet Grandma. Words really can not express how much I loved, respected, appreciated, and valued this wonderful lady. She was always consistent, happy, and loved by everyone around her. I know this is such a beautiful thing for her, to be reunited with so many loved ones, and my sweet Grandpa.

{this picture was Easter brunch a couple years ago}

The funeral was a beautiful celebration of her good life. Each of her grandchildren had the opportunity to share some of our favorite memories. It was difficult to narrow it down because I have almost 32 years of memories with my Grandma, but such a great opportunity to think over her life and recall many wonderful moments with her.

When I was young, I loved going to visit my Grandma and spent a lot of time at her

house. We would color, bake cakes, sew pillows, swing on her amazing swing set, build forts, rent videos (of the VHS variety), have cousin sleepovers, and try new candy recipes. As you can imagine, these activities would create quite a mess, but she never seemed to mind. Grandma was fun, and taught me so much. She was a firm believer in the idea that 'Grandma's should always have cookies in the cookie jar.' She loved to share recipes, and I agree that recipes are meant to be shared. She would sit in her rocking chair, prop us up on her knee, and sing “rock a bye, don’t you cry, you can go to grammy’s. Up the hill, by the mill, to see the little lambie’s.” She said this is what her Dad would sing to her when she was little, and one of the only memories she had of him. My Grandma was there for us when my dad was in his accident. She would get us ready, and take us to and pick us up from school. And as difficult as that time in my life was, I know that being with her made it okay. She was selfless, always putting others before herself.

Grandma had a zest for life, and made many fun memories with friends and family. She loved having her family all together, and would plan family dinners to the Greenery and Cracker Barrel, or even getaways to Jackson Hole. Family was most important to her, and we never had to doubt that. The greatest thing my Grandma ever did for me, was be there for me when I was married to Nic in the temple. I was nervous, and felt alone, but it was so comforting to have her there with me. I know that she had a hand in getting me to the temple that day, and I am forever grateful for that.

I have fun memories of her coming to the salon every Thursday morning at 10:30 to get her hair done. She would most often show up with a treat for the kids, something from the bakery. Following the salon, she would make her weekly stop to Maple Gardens for her chinese take-out that she would pick on for the next few days. I know she made each of us grand-kids feel special in our own way, and was always there for us no matter what. She was loyal, trustworthy, kind, and very giving.

Grandma loved her great grandchildren, and would always say, “Oh, they grow so fast. Enjoy.” With a big smile on her face. The last memory I have of her at her house was taking the kids over in their costumes a few years ago on Halloween for donuts and hot apple cider. Such a fun memory of her buzzing around her kitchen, attending to everyone’s needs.

What an amazing woman my Grandma was. She was a little spicy, but mostly sweet. She had some fight in her, and had to be tough many times in her life. My Grandma was strong, faithful, and obedient. Always trying to do what was right. She truly lived the Gospel.

Just the other day I was visiting with her, and my kids were bouncing off the walls. She sat there with a smile on her face the whole time, and when I uneasily said, “My kids are a little bit wild.” Grandma looked at me and said, “Just the way I like em!” It was just what I needed to hear. I am forever grateful for her example. We all love her so much, and will miss her sweet spirit.

Until we meet again, sweet girl.

Loves, forever.

~xo

Perfect~ What's that?!

A recent conversation with a sweet friend of mine got me to thinking about my blog here. Now this blog serves a few different purposes, but one of them is most definitely not to proclaim a life of perfection. Sure there are days that seem dang near perfect, but those days are few and far between. I guess I just figure everyone knows that, and spare you the nitty~gritty details of tantrums, overwhelming laundry piles, scrubbing toilets, and cleaning poop{!} off the carpet. {gotta love potty-training} Motherhood is not glamorous. I learned that early on in my career:) But I feel a little misunderstood, so just to clarify~ I cherish motherhood, and believe it is a gift. Does this mean I am a perfect mom, and never lose my patience~ i wish! Does it mean motherhood is easy? ha! quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever done. I think the things in life you work the hardest for, produce the greatest rewards. Motherhood is rewarding, it is fun, and a great blessing. Of all of the amazing happenings in my life, none are more amazing to me than my children. If ever I am having a hard day or running low on patience, I remind myself just how precious they are. Not only to me, but in the sight of God. For they are ultimately His. Children know pure and simple joy. We can be reminded to stop and find that joy in our busy 'adult' lives, through them. You know I love Pinterest:) One of the first things I ever pinned was this darling quote~

I love it so much. It is our natural tendency to look at everyone around us, and compare. We are our greatest critics, and can easily believe that we don't have enough, or do enough, or do it well enough. I think true happiness comes from knowing who you are. Knowing that we are all individual and unique, and that is such a great thing! How stale would life be if we were all the same, had the same talents, style, strengths, and interests? If our children were perfectly behaved, and never rocked the boat!? It would be lame~ for sure:) A little chaos does us all some good. Sometimes we have to dig reeeally deep, and find the strength we didn't even know we had, and use it! It is awesome. And you are all awesome!

And my kiddos are awesome! Can you believe this weather? ha! this was actually a few weeks ago, and it is snowing cats and dogs right now:)

Rylie mastered her Chinese splits~ she is pretty pumped about it.

Kaden is giving me the, 'okay, enough! mom' look...

See~ simple joy...

Rylie getting mad at Parker because he landed on her leg:)

Air~born baby boy...

silly kiddos~

So just because I like to focus on the positive and highlight our funnest in doings, certainly does not mean that I won't be refereeing a kid~fight in the next few minutes, or eating waaay too much chocolate {because the hubs is out of town and I'm flyin' solo}, and that is what gets me through:) I just figure, parenting is a one shot deal. There are no re~do's. I don't want to look back on these sweet moments with my kiddos and have regrets. I want to savor their smallness, their innocence, their joy. Even though that means enduring their tantrums, demands, and dependency. Always focus on the good, because there is always good to be found. Sometimes you just have to look a little harder for it;)

Our life is perfect, because it is imperfect. You know?

And that is exactly what it is supposed to be.

~xo

A belated report~

Please excuse me while I make an attempt to play catch~up on the ol' blog here. Last week was nut-so, and then i was sick-o~ nasty flu, no fun. But before I can move on, I have got to report on our Halloween-y fun. First off, the family shin~dig...

{note: the flash on my camera is indeed broken. i feel lost, or naked, or something. he's my right hand man... going into the shop asap!}

We had an amazingly spooky feast of bloody eyeballs{turkey meatballs in marinara}, soup with witchy finger bread sticks, spinach salad, creepy devilled~eyeballs, spider~web dip, chips and queso, little mummies, and homemade rootbeer. The weather was fantastic!

Candace and Austy~ so cute

Parker and Bode were so {and that is an understatement} excited to see each other all decked out as Buzz Lightyear...

Austy and Halli being their girly~selves...

Love when all of these crazy cousins get together. The Judge and Parke, Kade and Kole playing the mummy wrap game, and Rylie with Alie Jo and Sophie...

After church on Sunday we carved up some pumpkins. Parker says, "Mom, when you put a face on a punkin, den it becomes a jack-o-lantern!" Love that boy.

Kade and Rylie diggin' out their pumpkin guts~

and voilà!

Some posing with our pumpkins, oh! i mean jack-o-lanterns...

Daddy getting them all situated, while the kiddos monkey around...

All ready for Halloweeeen {in my best creepy voice}...

Nothin' beats bed~head and skeleton jammies on Halloween morning:)

The day was awesome, no school. Gotta love that! We played outside in the beautiful weather. Parker's preschool had a little trick-or-treat activity that we wandered down the street for. He was pretty stoked to see his best friend Woody...

Then, as per tradition, we went to see my darling Grandma. She loves to see the kiddos in their costumes, and they love to see her. We had a few treats, a few snuggles, a good conversation, and then it was time to go meet up with our Daddy for some grub!

Good ol' Warren's gives a free kids meal to kiddos in costume, and I can't resist a lime-ricky~ so naughty, but so tasty.

Have I mentioned how fabulous the weather was? Ha! I literally stood outside with my bucket of treats, because I couldn't bear to waste such a beautiful night sitting inside.

The kiddos, all ready to go...

Kade took off with a group of friends, and Nic took the younger two trick-or-treating. It sort of broke my heart to see Kaden wanting to just go out on his own, but I remember the days:)

Me and Sis have a little tradition. Parker usually tuckers out, so Nic brings them home... and then we girls go out, and I take her to all of the best spots {you know, the house that is haunted, and the coolest candy:)} It's our thing, and I love it.

And then we come home, and eat waaay too much candy~ eek!

All in all~ i'd say it was a great weekend. Something about Halloween that is just so much fun. It is definitely one of our favorite holidays...

until next year!

~xo