Thankful

A few weeks ago in our house for family home evening we read a story out of the friend about a family who was in a very serious car accident on their way home from Thanksgiving dinner but luckily everyone was ok. Well when they finally arrived home that night they were all so shaken up that they sat down to have what their son called a second Thanksgiving and talk about what they were thankful for. We made a family challenge that night that every night until Christmas we would say what we are thankful for and put a quarter in our thankful jar. It has been such a good experience for me to really think of and count all of the wonderful blessing's that I have in my life and to hear Joseph say what he is thankful for. I know that life can be challenging and that at times it is hard to see how blessed we are but if we stop and think about it for just a moment our blessings add up faster then our trails.

With today being Thanksgiving I have been thinking about what I am thankful for and here are a few of them. :

- I am thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ
- I am thankful for the Scriptures and Church
- I am thankful for the knowledge and peace the gospel brings into my life.
- I am thankful to know that while Bill couldn't be here with us today that he was with his family in Heaven.
- I am thankful for my wonderful and amazing husband. He puts up with so much from me and does everything that he can to make me happy. I don't deserve half the stuff he does for me.
- I am thankful for my mom. She is such an incredible woman and does so much for our family.
- I am thankful for Joseph and for the opportunity he gives me to be a mom. Some days he makes me want to pull my hair out but then he turns around and gives me a great big hug and kiss and in those moments I know that it is all worth it.
- I am thankful for my In-Laws they are the best people in the whole wide world. From the moment I first met them they welcomed me with open arms and loving smiles.
- I am thankful for my "Sisters". They are always there with a hug, a caring word, good conversation and they make me laugh.
- I am thankful for my brother. He is such a goof ball.
- I am thankful for all of my extended family they are so amazing in so many different ways.
- I am thankful for the gifts and talents that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with.
- I am thankful that Ben has a good job and that we have a nice warm home.
- I am thankful for my friends who do so much and are there for me in the good and bad times.

I hope that you have all had a wonderful day with your families and that you know how much I love you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Let the countdown begin....

I can't believe it is that time of year again already, it feels like only yesterday I was doing last year's Christmas shopping. I love everything about this time of year the smells, the colors, the sounds, gathering with family, baking with my mom and celebrating the birth of our Savior. Joseph is at such a fun stage where he just can't wait to celebrate all the holidays. Well the day after Halloween he started asking me how many days till Christmas mom? I would answer and then twenty minutes later he would ask again, so the other day I thought that if we made a paper chain it would him to see how many days until Christmas. It has worked beautifully the past few days and every morning he takes a chain off and informs me that we are one more day closer to Santa coming. Bring on the magic of Christmas. :)

If you missed it on Facebook

My absolutely amazing cousin is helping put together this great fundraiser for some of their friends to raise money for IVF. If you are in the Utah area and looking for a way to support please check out this website www.poundthepavementforparenthood.com/

If you can't make it to the race but would like to support this couple all you have to do is post the link on your facebook page or on your blog to get the word out. If you post about it then you can go to this website http://www.sarahtoblerphotography.blogspot.com/ to enter for a chance to win a FREE photo shoot from an awesome photographer.

Introducing

Hana and Boo

In July we decided it was time for a puppy and after lots of research we picked the Shiba Inu to be our new puppy. It is a Japanese dog with a similar appearance to an Akita but much smaller. Well since they aren't the most common dog to find we had to go through a breeder to get them. We have been patiently waiting for the pups to be born and then be old enough to leave their mama. Yesterday they turned eight weeks and were able to leave mama so we took a little mini trip out to Ft. Morgan to pick them up and bring them home. We were only planning on bringing one home, but when we saw them we just couldn't bear to separate sisters. They are such good puppies and lots of fun to play with, sometimes I forget they are in the house since they are so quiet. Joseph is loving playing with the girls in the backyard, there favorite game right now is tag. Of course the girls have an unfair advantage they tag team Joseph from each side.

Joseph showing Hana and Boo how to chase.
Soooo Sleepy

Checking out the new place.

Boo (Since she is white and we got her on Halloween it seemed only fitting)

Hana (It means flower in Japanese)

Long Long Ago..

In a galaxy far far away.

This week has been full of Halloween activities. It started with a Halloween playgroup at Stephanie's house with tons of fun things to do with all his friends. Then on Friday Joseph had a party at school with a magician. I was a little disappointed with the school party, because other then the magician they had nothing else for the kids to do. Then tonight was our ward's Trunk R Treat and that was entertaining to see all the kids and their costumes, but it was a little windy so once Joseph's candy bucket was overflowing we came home.

Anakin Skywalker
Joseph with his friend Tommy
The Magician

The kids making sure that the block did fly, and it did I saw it.

Puff the Bunny

Anakin showing off his light saber

Anakin and Princess Leia

Anakin, Han Solo and Princess Leia

The Star Wars Crew of Littleton

Ewwww Guts!!

The other day we carved pumpkins and Joseph was very eager to help as long as he didn't have to help with the gutting of the pumpkins. So once the pumpkins were gutted we picked out our scary designs and went to work. Joseph had so much fun poking holes in the pumpkin and helping daddy carve.

Joseph and Daddy getting started
Making silly faces

The finished pumpkins

Joseph with the Bat, Cat in a boot and happy face

Joseph making a scary face like his pumpkins.

STRIKE!!

For the past few months Joseph has been asking when are we going to go bowling, so for his birthday we took him to Fun City and went bowling and then went downstairs to play Skeeball. We all had so much fun and Joseph is quite the bowler, he has natural talent just like his mom. :) The whole time we were bowling all Joseph wanted to get was a strike and he did it all by himself, he was so proud!!