Seriously so blessed

I know this is after Thanksgiving but I wanted to do this before Thanksgiving and never found the time so better late than never, right?! A few of the things I'm thankful for this year are:

1. Family- all of it, my awesome, thoughtful, husband; my fun, keep me on my toes, kids; my wonderful parents and siblings who I am blessed to have a great relationship with; my grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, etc. etc. etc...
2. The gospel- this is a scary world we live in and it's getting more so each day. It would feel pretty hopeless without the knowledge that we have.
3. Work- again all of it; Matt's work so that we are able to feed our kids and have what we need especially in this economy with so many people looking for work; my work, that I'm able to stay at home with our kids.
4. Health- I know I'm so blessed to be healthy and be able to take care of my family and I'm so greatful that they're all healthy.
5. Awesome friends, neighbors, ward members, and others who touch my life.
6. My beautiful home- I know we're not supposed to be materialistic and I try not to be but I love having a big house with lots of room for our family. It's great when the kids all have friends over and they have room to play and I don't feel like they're all on top of me.

I know I have tons more blessings but if I listed them all this would go on forever so I'll stop here. But thank you everyone for being a part of my life:)

Twilight

Did it live up to your expectations? I want everyone to comment and let me know. I took Kolton, Alexi, and Jensen and some of their friends to see it this afternoon (luckily the midnight showing was already sold out when I went to buy tickets so I didn't have to take them then, I know I'm getting old). Anyways, they all loved it. I have to say I actually quite enjoyed it too. I much prefer Bella in the movie to Bella in the book. When you can't read all of her thoughts you don't see how pathetic she is.

ROCK ON!!!

Last night we took Kolton, Alexi, and Jensen to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert. I just have one thing to say, AMAZING!!! If you have never been to one you need to go. Matt and I went last year and loved it so much we left saying we were taking the older kids this year. The kids loved it and all want to go again next year so start saving your money and we can all go together! They've all decided that they want to be in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Lexi and Jensen want to learn how to play the electric violin (I know who knew, electric violin?!) so if anyone knows how I've got a couple of students for you.

8 fun things

I, like Noelle, am not very good at doing tags but I'll try.

8 TV shows I love to watch

1. Amazing Race (someday Kristi and I will be on this show!)
2. The Biggest Loser (hopefully I'll never be on this show)
3. Survivor (OK, I see you're sensing a pattern, I do like some reality shows)

Now I'm stuck, I can't think of anything else I love to watch. Actually, # 3 above I wouldn't even say I love to watch but it's the only other show I could think of.

TV shows I sometimes like to watch

4. The Office (I'm finally warming up to it but I still don't love it like Matt)
5. My Name is Earl
6. Heroes
7. What Not to Wear (I would love to be on this show!)
8. The Today Show

Favorite 8 restaurants

1. Carraba's
2. Tepanyaki
3. Red Lobster
4. Olive Garden
5. PF Chang's
6. The Pizza Factory
7. Winger's
8. Cafe Rio
That was too easy, I love to eat out! I could go on and on with this one.

8 things that happened yesterday

1. I did Turbo Jam and Power 90 Abs 200 at the church.
2. I cleaned the kitchen.
3. I took Addi to dance class.
4. Matt and I made 10 Pizza Braids for my make ahead meal group.
5. We had FHE.
6. We again cleaned the kitchen.
7. We watched The Amazing Race.
8. We went to bed.
I know, I have an exciting life.

8 things I'm looking forward to.

1. The HOLIDAYS!!!
2. Being out of debt.
3. Six pack abs (if it doesn't happen in this life surely I'll have them in the next).
4. Going on a cruise (don't have one planned yet, since we just got back from one but I can't wait to go again!)
5. Watching my kids as they become young adults. (I don't want it to happen too fast but it is awesome to see them learn and grow.)
6. Seeing the Watteruds after Christmas.
7. A new calling.
8. Matt retiring so we can travel the world.

8 things on my wish list

1. A housekeeper.
2. Everything in my house finished the way I want it.
3. Two vacations a year, one with just Matt and I and one with our kids.
4. An endless pool.
5. A calling in Young Women's again, that I don't get released from after just a few months.
6. An endless clothing and shoes budget, for the whole family.
7. Being able to function on less than 8-9 hours of sleep a night.
8. Being able to do 100 push-ups (I'd even settle for girl push-ups).

8 people I tag

1. Rani
2. Jenn
3. Lindsi
4. Heather
5. Jon
6. Tina
7. Kera
8. Matt
Okay, #8 probably won't happen, but you never know.

Snow:(

We woke up to snow today. I was so bummed! I hate being cold. I also hate that every time we leave the house it takes twice as long because everyone has to find coats and boots and hats. BLAH! My kids however don't feel the same as I do. As soon as Addi saw the snow she started begging to go play in it. She played outside for more than half an hour all by herself. She had a ball.

It must be Halloween!

We had a great Halloween this year. The party started the Saturday before Halloween with a carnival in Santaquin. Our school did four booths at the carnival and I ended up being mostly in charge of them all. I spent the whole day at the Navajo Taco booth that we did. For being the week before Halloween it was super hot. I actually ended up sunburning my face being out in the sun all day.

Oakley and Addi had a blast in the bounce house and on the big blow up slide.

Then the kids all got their faces painted. They all looked so awesome!

The day before Halloween Addi got to wear her costume to preschool for a Halloween party.

That night our neighbors had a Halloween party for all the adults in our neighborhood. Matt and I dressed up as hippies. I know, you're all jealous of his hair!

Our neighbors, the Alvisos, who threw the party were Nacho and the nun.

Some friends of ours got dressed up for their shot gun wedding (she's 7 1/2 months pregnant, he's in the bisophric). I think I'll have to print this picture and hang it in the church. They won the prize for best costume.

On Halloween morning I went to the school for the Halloween parade. This is a picture of our principal.

My adorable Cat in the Hat.

Alexi the devil.

Alexi's teacher, Ms Sorenson.

Have you ever seen a cuter Cat in the Hat and Ladybug?

Jensen had a costume malfunction and so she didn't wear it.

After the parade the school had an assembly. Alexi's class did a dance to "Thriller." Here is a video of part of it. Lexi is the red devil in the back.


The "Thriller" dancers.

Later, when I went back to the school for the class parties I found Jensen dressed up as a football player. One of her friends felt bad that she didn't have a costume and let her borrow hers. My kids have the best friends!

Alexi had wanted me to paint her face for school but we ran out of time so we did it after school.

Even though I fixed Jensen's spider costume she decided she didn't want to wear it and dressed up as a Lacrosse player instead.

Our ward did a trunk-or-treat in the church parking lot. Our friends, the Corrigans, came with us.

Waiting for the trunk-or-treating to begin.

Doug Corrigan with an awesome "do".

Addi showing off some of the candy she got.

"PEACE"

The pumpkin patch

Oakley's kindergarten class went on a fieldtrip to the pumpkin patch at the Big Red Barn in Santaquin last week. Addi and I got to go along and chaperone. All the kids had so much fun. We all loaded onto a big trailer and a tractor pulled us out to the pumpkin patch. The kids were each able to pick a pumpkin to take home, unfortunately because we went the day before Halloween the patch was pretty picked over and there wasn't much to choose from. The kids had a good time trying to find the perfect pumpkin. Oakley insisted he found the perfect one even though it was pretty lopsided. After we were done at the pumpkin patch we went back to the Big Red Barn and had donuts. YUMMY!