Season of Change, and Thankfulness

I love all the seasons because I love change. I love fall for all the beautiful colors, the cooling off of the hot weather, the holidays, going back to school and so much more! I have another change this fall along with adding a member to our family making us a family of 7, this week I received a new calling. I only had my last one for a few months but I had started enjoying going to Relief Society. We got a new bishop in our ward at church the week Ruth was blessed and a lot of times that means changes in other areas. (Not always) So this Sunday I received a new calling. I was called to be the 2nd Counselor in Young Women's. This is a whole new thing for me! I haven't served in Young Women's ever. I haven't had anything to do with the Young Women's organization since I was one which was 12 years ago. Some things have changed I hear but they are minor. I am looking forward to this experience. I already love the group of girls I will be working with since I have spent lots of time with them while they were in primary. They are also my favorite girls to call when I need a baby sitter! It will be fun, and much busier then I have ever been. I thought being Primary President had a lot of meetings.... Good thing I have a wonderful, supportive husband who does a wonderful job putting kids to bed at night and even does a great job giving the baby a bottle every once and a while so I can leave her when need be.
Since this week is Thanksgiving yesterday at church the talks were all about Gratitude and being thankful for the blessings in our lives. I know I did this a couple years ago but I thought maybe it was time for me to count my blessings again. I truly am blessed and am so thankful for all the things my Father in Heaven has given to me and my family. I truly have much to celebrate this holiday season. I think I will just list some of my blessings, I know I can't write them all this would be incredibly long.
I am thankful for: My family, my mother who raised me and taught me so much about the gospel, motherhood and being a good person all around, my dad who taught me tons about service, work, honesty, what being a good man is (this helped me find one!) and tons more.... Brothers and a sister who I fought with as a child but totally love to hang out with now! They are some of my favorite people, they make me laugh, and bless my family in more ways then they know! My grandparents who are all passed away now taught me tons of things and more then I can list. I love them and am so grateful they paved the way for our eternal family! My husband and the wonderful man that he is. He makes me a better person, he strengthens me and blesses our home with his priesthood. I am grateful for his parents who taught him many things. I am so grateful for my 5 healthy children. They bring me more joy and love then I ever imagined. They each have wonderful traits that bring joy into our home.
The Gospel: Priesthood blessings, leadership, a prophet that leads and guides us today, scriptures, inspiration, Temples, Eternal marriage, tithing, hymns, and all that comes from living the commandments of our Father in Heaven.
This country: The freedoms that come from living in the USA. Even when I can complain about how messed up some of the stuff that goes on here is we still live in the greatest country in the world. We have more freedoms and rights then anyone and are truly blessed to be a part of this land! I am thankful to all those who helped make it what it is, and fought and died to make it what it is!
Friends: All of them passed and present. The ones who helped me when I was younger shape my testimony of the Savior and his teachings, who taught me how to have fun and still be good. The ones who help me now as a mom not feel alone when I am struggling, who help me when I need it, teach me ways to be a better mom, and wife. I know I wouldn't be able to function, with out the love and support of good friends in my life. There are so many times when you just need a break, a time out, or support as you care for your families and I love having friends who help me with this and I love being able to help them with this also! I think my life would be so lonely with out good friends in my life!
There are so many temporal blessings I have been given I can't count them all but I will list a few, a warm safe beautiful home, (a husband that takes good care of this home and is able to fix anything in it,) 2 vehicles that run well, are dependable, and affordable. Food that is abundant in our home. Clothes that are abundant in our home (hopefully mine will fit again soon!) scrapbooks and scrapbook supplies that help me remember all the wonderful times I get to have with my family and friends. There is much much more but I need to go care for my family now so I will just say, I am grateful for all the things I have been blessed with. I often feel more blessed then I deserve!

Cousins

Dwight loves cars and had lots of fun with all the cars at our house. My boys don't play with them a lot any more but once they got them out to play with Dwight they had a great time all the way till bed time. I am sure this means they will be playing with their cars for a few more days.

Yesterday we had a special treat of getting to spend the day with my wonderful sister in law and her little boy Dwight. We just love this little man. He is so cute and full of energy. I love watching him run! Ethan really loved playing with him. He took Dwight down the slide, helped him hold a bunny, and pushed him on the little car.

It was so wonderful to sit and visit with my sister in law. I am very lucky to have great sister in laws on both sides of my family. I enjoy visiting with them and yesterday was a treat. We sure miss Annette since they live in Vermont. We can't wait to meet the newest member of their family due to come in Feb.

The 3rd Brithday Party!

Here is my second attempt at the Monkey cake. Which I think turned out better. They usually do after a practice run. She loved it! It was really yummy to. How could it not be with all that chocolate and candy on it!


Memory and Candy land are the presents she got on her actual birthday and she loves them. So they had to play those games!


Amelia did a great job of running the games while I sat feeding Ruth and watching. They played ring around the rosie and duck duck goose. Which was apparently new to the 3 year olds. They had a lot of fun learning and loved running around the "circle".


Hayden got this cute little Doctor kit from Matthew for her birthday. She went right to work. She gave Claire a check up and even took her Health history. It was pretty funny, and so cute! It was funny when she was doing the "history" for Claire she said "what's your name Claire?" Then she checked her nose and said yep you have buggers. Gotta love it!

Hayden's 3rd Birthday!

 

 

 

 

So I am finally posting the pictures of her actually birthday. She wanted a Monkey cake. (Even though that is what I made last year! I wanted to make a parrot cake since she is such a parrot!) But The monkey was totally cute too! She got this doll from great grandma Lucy and she loves it! Larry built her a new cradle for her dolls that she really loves! I painted it purple (her favorite color) we used my doll cradle from when I was a little girl as a pattern, only Larry cut out little hearts for the handles it is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Amelia was made because her cradle (my old one) is brown and not a pretty color! But such is life. We got her a new stroller for her dolls to since the one she got for Christmas last year is all broken thanks to her older brothers! She loves it and walks her doll down the the bus stop everyday in it to get her sister! She had a great day and loved telling every one "I'm the birthday girl" it sounds more like "I da burday dirl!' But totally cute!

Ethan's 4th grade music program

 

 

 

Ethan has wanted to have a part (like speaking or singing part) since he was in 1st grade! This year he was a rapping little pig and got to sing and had one speaking line. He was very excited about doing it and practiced all the time at home! He did a great job! The program was on Hayden's birthday I am just now getting to post it. We had her birthday dinner then went to his program, then came home for cake and presents. It was a fun evening for all.

Hayden Turns 3!

Today my little girl turns 3 years old! I can hardly believe it. It seems to have flown by! She has been such a joy and blessing to our home! I can't even put into words all that having her has done in my life! I can say that about all my children but Hayden came at a dark time for me and us and truly brought sunshine back into our home! She healed so many things in my heart and has filled me with joy! She is so funny and makes me laugh everyday. She is a beautiful little girl and I am truly blessed to be her mother! The baby pictures are of her at almost 3 months, then I have one of each birthday. The one of her in the pink dress I just took last Sunday before church. Everytime I get the camera out to take a picture of Ruth Hayden will say, "take a picture of me mom." So I do. What a sweet girl! Happy Birthday Hayden.

 

 

 

 

Looking at these pictures makes me think maybe Ruth looks more like Hayden then Amelia... What do you think?

One month old!

 

 

Ruth is one month old today. It is funny to me how time seems to fly by once baby gets here after it seems to crawl by the last month of pregnancy. But at the same time that time seems to have flown by it is really hard to remember our life before Ruth. I was sending pictures to be printed at Costco and there were tons from before Ruth was born and I had to stop myself when I started wondering "where is Ruth" in these pictures. Oh yeah I was pregnant! How is it possible that after a few short weeks it feels like she has been a part of us forever. No matter we love her and are thrilled she is here. This last month has been heaven! (minus last night when there was little sleep to be had by mommy, but even then I am still thrilled to be snuggling my sweet baby girl!)

Blessing Day!

Ruth's blessing day was so special. Her daddy gave her a special blessing. He always does a wonderful job. She was blessed with health, that she would get a good education, know that she was loved and wanted before she was even born, and find a young man to marry someday...
It was so wonderful to have some of our family join us on this special day. We missed those that were to sick to come but understand. We were blessed to have those who could come. We are so glad they are willing to drive so far just to spend the day with us on such a special day!

Yesterday was Ruth's blessing day. She looked so sweet in the dress that both her big sister's have worn. It was made from the scraps of my wedding dress. It broke my heart when I took it out that morning to find it had been stained. I had had it dry cleaned 2 times after Hayden wore it 3 years ago!!! I will take it in again today because Ruth threw up on it but I am sure there is nothing they can do about the stains. She looked beautiful anyway!

Halloween Day

Here is our little pumpkin in her first Halloween shirt. A sweet sister in our ward gave this to her. I just love it! I will wear it all the way through Thanksgiving I think! She is so sweet!

This is our traditional Halloween dinner. I make stuffed peppers with Spaghetti in them so it looks like a jack-o-lantern with worms crawling out. Our kids totally love it and it is always lots of fun. I think I prefer them with the rice and beans in them so I think next year I will make them differently. Brock wanted to know where I got peppers like that Larry tried telling him they grew like that. I told him I just cut them with a knife.


This was our most fun costume this year! Ruth got to be a Baby Ruth candy bar. I had fun making it. It was totally easy and we got lots of compliments on it. Mostly because it is funny! I wished we had all gone as some kind of candy though. I have ideas for all of us for next year though... so maybe next year we will all be candy bars... We will see if I can get my kids to agree to it. She did look pretty cute in her tiny "fun sized" candy wrapper!

Hayden loved being a dog. Or as she would tell people a Puppy! She really got into panting and sticking out her tongue. She is a funny girl!

Amelia ended up being Snow White. I actually bought this for Hayden because that is what she wanted to be but I put it on her a few days for Halloween so we could go to the library and she promptly told me it was itchy and took it off. She would NOT wear it. So I got out one of our old costumes for her and she agreed to let Amelia have it. Amelia said she would be Snow White this year and she would wear the other costume I bought her next year since it is big enough it will fit her next year too. (Unless she grows like a foot this year!) She made a beautiful blond Snow White though!


Brock wanted to be a dinosaur again.

Here is Ethan in his Harry Potter Costume! I know totally original! I think this years theme must have been unoriginal for our family. But the kids all got what they wanted so that is all that matters right! Oh and it was totally easy for mom!