HAPPY (late) THANKSGIVING!!!!

I love these cartoons!

I know this isn't a very inspirational post on Thankfulnesses...sorry!  I thought this better portrayed my real self!

 

I hope all ya'll had a very "fulfilling" (ha ha) Thanksgiving day!  We ate soooo much!!!  I made funeral potatoes with bacon, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top and cranberry/apple sausage stuffing.  YUMMY!!!!  My mom made the turkey, ham, rolls and salads and Chris and Diana brought pies and green bean casserole. We had enough for 50 people and only 7 adults and 5 kids.  WOW!  I am still full.  It was ALL yum-yum-yum-yum-yum-yum-yum...delicioso!!!

I am thankful for laughter--- except when milk comes out of my nose.

This is my "theme" quote!

Warning!!!!

Attending public events with me could cause you extreme embarrassment!  I cannot be trusted to act mature in certain settings.  Be friends with me at your own risk!

Last night I went to a Court of honor for Scouts and they were giving out  Wood Badges to 3 adults.  There was no hope for me to take it seriously!!

-First some guy blew some weird horn thingy without any warning and I almost peed my pants.  -Then they sang some song and a guy said with such a straight face "while we are singing this song please stand when we name the critter you represent"

 

WHAT THE CRUD?!?   

I was looking around watching people popping up proudly in the audience while singing some weird song and everyone was just acting like that was normal.  I was dying of laughter inside hoping I wasn't supposed to know what "critter" I represented because I wasn't in any condition to stand up! 

-Finally I couldn't hold it in any longer...I busted out in out in crazy loud laughter-OOPS!  James almost had to escort me out of the stake center gym. 

James, Christian and I all had to contain our laughter for the rest of the meeting.  I just can't take ceremonies like that seriously...I think I am so immature.  I shouldn't be allowed in public.  Luckily I held it together after that and laughed until I was crying all the way home!  My poor family...James and Christian are so nice and quiet and then they have to have me as a wife and mom.  

I guess I try not to take life too seriously!  I have to find even the smallest amount of humor in everyday life or I will literally go insane!

I apologize ahead of time for any inappropriate laughter you may hear from me.   I am supposed to be teaching Averi proper behavior.  Boy is she in trouble!

I am so thankful for a sense of humor though!  I think almost everything seems easier to handle with a good dose of laughter.  

Above all else: go out with a sense of humor.  It is needed armor.  Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. 

~Hugh Sidey

THANK WHO?

I have seen everyone writing what they are thankful for. I have been thinking of all of the many eloquent, meaningful, wise ways to express the many things I am thankful for...but that isn't the way my mind works. 

So I saw this quote on Pinterest today and I thought "A-HA"!  This is such a thought provoking question.  I think I am thankful for a million-and-one things!  I couldn't possibly get any sleep if I tried to thank Heavenly Father for everything I am thankful for!

BUT...this made me think that since yesterday was such a lazy day for me "prayerwise", I wondered what it is I would have woke up with.  I would be ashamed to post what today would have looked like if this quote came true.   YIKES!!    How embarrassed I feel today!

I need to not only remember to be thankful for my blessings everyday, but WHOM (I am trying to fool everyone into thinking I know correct grammar too, I don't even know if "whom" is right, but it sounded smart) to thank for my blessings EVERYDAY!

Dr. Seuss is sooo smart!

 *I used to think that Dr. Seuss was some weird guy who was always on drugs.  After having been alive as long as I have and after learning that my mind is as warped or even more warped than his I think I should embrace his crazy teachings!  : )  

 I do something stupid EVERY DAY!  Thank goodness I am blessed to be surrounded by people who love me anyway!  

I am trying to stop comparing myself to others and what I can't do.  I think it is SO important to teach my kids that talents come in many forms.  

 “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 

Dr. Seuss 

I have a family with many talents that can't be seen with the eyes:

James is so hard working, wise, smart, patient, loving, spiritual and can make anything sound brilliant because of his talent with words. He is also such an adoring husband and loving father.


Christian is so sweet, smart, funny, hard working, and also has a talent with words like his dad because he is such a quick little witty thinker.  He can twist words and change perspective so quickly, he is always making me laugh

Taylor is happy, compassionate, motherly, loving, smart, and so kind to everyone.  She is like the "kid whisperer" and can play with and entertain anyone!  She is always smiling and happy.  She is just plain lovable!


Averi is so happy, funny, imaginative, innocent, sweet, smart, and loving.  She loves everyone she meets.  She remembers any kind deed done for her down to the date and time.  She doesn't even know how to be judgmental which I LOVE!!!  Everyone who meets her can't help but love her.


*I have learned a lot from having a blind child.  She can't judge people by what their outward appearances are.  She doesn't know if they have perfect features/looks, perfect body, perfect crafting/artsy skills, or a perfect home.  Averi really "sees" the person for who they are on the inside.  I wish I could always view the world from her perspective.  

I have a lot of regrets about how I have treated others in the past.  I am tormented by those memories and I have received my punishment through regret, shame and guilt!! I hope to be an example to my children and live my life in a way that I don't have to avoid someone or feel guilty for years because of the way I have acted or treated them.  

“Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered.” 

Dr. Seuss

Hardships, mistakes, problems, sorrow, pain and suffering teach us strength, wisdom, compassion and happiness.  Accept trials with grace and faith and you will be able to handle what comes your way- you will also gain skills to help others in the future.

"I'm sorry to say so, but sadly it's true, that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you"

 Dr. Seuss

  

“When you think things are bad,
when you feel sour and blue,
when you start to get mad...
you should do what I do!
Just tell yourself, Duckie,
you're really quite lucky!
Some people are much more...
oh, ever so much more...
oh, muchly much-much more
unlucky than you!”

Dr. Seuss

“And when you're alone there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.” 

Dr. Seuss 

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. "

Dr. Seuss 

 And lastly REMEMBER...

 "It's a troublesome world! All the people who're in it are troubled with troubles almost every minute. You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you're lucky you're not."

Dr. Seuss

See...maybe he wasn't crazy afterall!  Hmmm...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM!!

Isn't she SO BEAUTIFUL!

I want to wish HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet MOM today!  I am so lucky to be the daughter of a beautiful, talented, kind, funny, smart, and loving mother.  I hope you have a great birthday MOM!  Thank you so much for all you do for me, I don't know what I would do without you!  I love you sooooo much!

My whole house is falling apart!  In the last month:
1)  My bathroom toilet handle broke (which I have been flushing by opening the lid and pulling the chain)
2)  Our furnace fan broke (which I replaced with my oven with the door open for heat)
3)  Our bathtub faucet is a river (which I turn the main water off when I don't need it to save money on my water bill)
4)  My leather couch seam is coming apart (which I just look at and think I am a "redneck")
5)  AND>>>I have a huge gap where the weatherstripping came off my front door (which I throw a big towel in front of to keep my oven heat in) 

How's that for adapting?! No...I think it is the epitome of laziness!   I will find the laziest way to put a band-aid on stuff until I get around to fixing it!

 Luckily our awesome cousin Joe fixed our furnace...working like magic!  While we were waiting for parts my oven was used as a heater more than it has ever been used to cook with.  I guess it was good for something. Ha ha! 

James has been out of town all week and I really miss him!!!  I don't know why, but I am way more efficient with him gone!  I don't know if it is because I can't pawn my work off onto him or what, but I run a tight ship when I am the lone captain! We run like clockwork around here!

I guess I will go watch You Tube videos and try to learn how to repair some stuff in my spare time.  I am going to try to sew my couch together which should be very interesting...I must be really bored!! 

NEVERENDING HALLOWEEN!!!

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  I don't love this holiday, but my kids sure do.  I have to say that I do benefit from having picky kids though...they hate Almond Joy candy bars!  James and I love anything with coconut, so we get their "rejected" candy.  YUMMY!

TAYLOR:
The sweetest ever!  I told her she had to use a sheet and go as a ghost and she agreed.  I accidentally cut the head hole too big though-OOPS!  Who knew her head was so dang small?!  She went with the face paint and had to sew her head hole smaller with her sewing class skills.  It was cute, she wouldn't let me sew it because she said I didn't know how  (I will keep that illusion alive as long as I can)!  I do the same thing with laundry and cooking, it works out well.  Ha ha!

This isn't from Halloween.  I found it and loved it so I had to post it. Taylor and her "mini-me" Clara.

CHRISTIAN:
I don't know what he went as, but it was gross!  He wanted a bullet entry/exit wound in his cheeks and some kind of gash in his forehead.  I don't know why...kind of morbid.  I think he takes after me that way unfortunately.  

My first attempt at special effect makeup!  Not to shabby huh?  I found out how to do this on YouTube.  Not my favorite source for information, but it was very helpful on Halloween.

 












AVERI:  
You can't tell from these pictures, but she went as a 15 yr. old witch.  The witch part is obvious, but the 15 yr. old isn't so much.  She always wants to pretend like she is 15 for some reason, so cute!  She had tons of fun.

FUNNY STORY:  I took her to KMART earlier in the day and some little kids saw her and asked her dad if she was dressed up like a blind person because she was walking with her cane!  Soooo funny! I totally need to take advantage of my built in props for next year!  I need to dress up all my kids like mice and give them canes!  Ha Ha!  I am just kidding...maybe...hmmmm!  I will keep you posted on that one.

They are so cute and we are all in crazy sugar comas now!  Cranky and tired!  I am going to bed early! James is out of town so it is Queen Mommy time!  YAHOO!  What shall I do?