Things to be Thankful For...

Reflecting on the Thanksgiving Season has helped me to realize the many things that I am thankful for. It is kind of sad that it takes a holiday for us to recognize the things that we are thankful for and to express our gratitude. This year my mother-in-law challenged us to keep a notebook where we right down 5 things a day that we are thankful for and each day that have to be different. This really helped me to start recognizing throughout the day the things that I am grateful for which has helped me to express my gratitude. My list started out with the big things and as the days went on I had to really think of what I was grateful for which helps me to recognize the little things in my life.

My list includes:
Nathan, Emily, Christ, the gospel, job, food/clothing, health, creativity, talents, rain, fall leaves, bed, electricity, warm water, holy ghost, zantac, luvs/diapers, music, eternal families, veterans, temple covenants, trees, cars, colors, relief society, my own bed, washer and dryer, weekends, genealogy, tums, nap time, indoor bathroom, vacuums, education, teething stuff, flashlights, shelter, heat, cell phones, books, memories, pictures, reminders, scriptures, conference talks, testimony, friends, good conversation, snuggling, alone time, good ideas, vacation, getting my chores done, clean house, getting to stay home, cleaning supplies, vinyl windows, Saturdays, family time, Costco samples, sound of rain, floral arrangements, hot chocolate, accomplishments.

This is a really good practice to get into, and I am going to try to do it sporadically through out the year.

Halloween

For Halloween Emily was a tiger. It was the perfect outfit for her because when she was younger her cries sounded like a cat, and we always called her our little kitty cat. She looked so cute. We were going to do matching family outfits, but we ran out of time. So Nathan and I just scrounged something up from around the house. Nathan ended up being a soccer player from Brazil, and I ended up being an Eagle Scout. Kind of lame I know, but I have our outfits picked out for next year and I am so excited! You will just have to wait to see what we end up being. We trick or treated at the grandparents house. She is a little bit young for trick or treating, but we wanted to at least go to the grandparents.

Cute little tiger with tail and all!

The two best dressed people!

Snow!

While we were down in Utah it snowed twice! On our last day there I took Emily outside to touch the snow for the first time. She didn't know quiet what to think. She just sat there and touched it when it was in my hand, but when I held her over it and she reached down feeling it on the ground she didn't like it too much making an "uuuhhh" sound. This trip was full of a lot of firsts- first plane ride, first snow, and.... first tooth!

Pretty much the day after we got to Utah her tooth started to push up, and by Monday evening it had broke through. Poor little thing was not feeling too good, but now she can't help but run her tongue of her gums to feel her tooth.

Grandma Nate

We have a running joke in our family in which my mom decided that she didn't want to be called Grandma, but Grammys instead. My brother said that we needed to have a Grandma in the family so he said that he was going to teach Emily to call him Grandma Nate. Well, on our trip to Utah Emily and Uncle Nate picked back up right where they left off. He is so wonderful with her. He is wrapped around her little finger.

The two of them took a nap together. It was so cute. I think they will always have a special little bond together.