Thanksgiving a time to be Grateful

What a wonderful time of year. I am very grateful for my life. Growing up in a large family and often having less than others has allowed me the opportunity as an adult to truly see the blessings in my life. I realize that because of my upbringing I am a more frugal individual. I recognize the efforts my parents made to give me opportunities and try to do the same for my children. I am grateful for the chance to learn about myself my shortcomings and also my strengths. A man that was a home teacher for my family growing up was killed in a car accident on Thanksgiving day. His 18 year old daughter was also killed. The mother and son was hurt badly and another daughter had less serious injuries. When I hear about illnesses, injuries, and death I am reminded just how quickly life can change. I can not help but reflect on my life and how difficult it would be to go through something like this. It helps me remember how important it is to tell my husband and children that I love them and more importantly show them that I love them. Our actions speak much louder than our words. I am grateful for this time of year and the chance I have to live and enjoy life. I am grateful for the chance I had to make a cherry pie. It was good, but it could have been better. I learned that I should have cooked it just a little bit longer. I look forward to making another pie and building on what I learned from this experience.

I am grateful for homemade egg noodles. This is one of my favorite Thanksgivings traditions in my family. There are not too many of my siblings that like them, but the tradition will live on through me. It was fun to work with Paul to make them, and I was very happy with how they turned out this year. It is a little tricky to improve on your cooking skills with things that you only make once a year, but they turned out great this year!

The kids loved their Aunt Jenny's jello. I think Connor only had a roll and jello, but I figure it is Thanksgiving a day to eat what makes you happy.

I am so grateful to have people in my life that I can be silly with.

One True Church?

At church Hannah's class talked but our church being the one true church. Hannah came home and had a very good question. She told me what she had been taught and was very worried about her Grandma Pam and Grandma Lois not going to the true church. I asked her if she knew what church they went to. I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to her. If we only had one building how we would we all fit. Just because our Grandmas do not attend our church building they go to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This church is the only church that has the priesthood. We talked about how it might be confusing if we had more than one prophet. It gave me the opportunity to talk about other churches and explain that they all teach good things, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only church run by a living prophet directed by Lord. This was one of those days that I can say, This is why we attend our church meetings each week. My children have the chance to go to class and have discussions. This allows them to begin to question things they are being taught, and I can not say how happy I was to be able to try to explain things to my daughter. What a wonderful opportunity to be a parent.

This was a drawing Connor made at church. It is Christ coming out of the Heavens surrounded by Angles.

What to do with SNOW?

Sunday morning we all awake to the ground covered with the fluffy white stuff, SNOW! I am not a lover of snow, but I am so happy to have a husband the realizes the joy that playing in the snow brings to kids. Paul got everyone bundled up and out making a snowman. I got the cameras and went to work documenting the fun. Once the snowman was complete Paul stepped back inside, and returned outside with snow cone cups and syrup. I gave him that look "Is this a good idea?" He quickly replied, "We will use clean snow. Everyone should have a snow cone made with real snow." Dad was the BEST today!

I helped out by making hot chocolate. I figured after being out playing in the snow and eating snow cones everyone would need something to warm up with.

BOYS!

Connor got this silly knife from the dollar store. It did not come like this. It only lasted a few days and then broke. Paul being funny held it up to his head like he had been stabbed through the brain, and without thinking I said "Connor I can try to make it like that if you would like. All we need to get is a headband." The very next day when Connor got home from school he asked me if I had gotten the headband. Well, I had forgotten about the little project just as quickly as I had told him about it. The following day I happen to be at the dollar store again. I purchased a headband and made my boy a new toy out of his old toy. We all now if you spend your money on toys at the dollar store they are NOT going to last for very long, but one thing I can say I will never stop loving that feeling you get when your kids think you did something SO GREAT just for them!

Looking back over the last 10 years

20 years old. I had the wonderful opportunity to be crowned Miss West ValleyWhile 2o years old I agreed to take on a new name of Ashby

While 21 I took on the name of Mother.

22 years old. I graduated with an associate degree

23 years old. I became a mother to a son.

24 years old. I took my first trip to Disneyland.

25 years old. I had the privilege of having another beautiful girl.

My little potato girl, born while living in Idaho.
26 years old. I had the opportunity to be with family back in Utah. Paul and I learned new skills while moving into our home. After only a short three months of living in our new home I was called to serve as Relief Society President.

27 years old. I got involved in the Lehi Art Center Community Theater. With the production of Oklahoma. I loved that Hannah got to be in the show also.

While 27 I got to with my husband to Hawaii while he attended a conference for work.

28 years old. I began teaching gymnastics.

At 28 I was in Once On This Island with the Lehi Art Center

29 years Old. I got to go with my kids and Paul's parents to Disneyland.

I learned a little bit of tap dancing while being involved in the production of Singing In The Rain.

I have been so excited the last few months as I have had the opportunity to get involved in film.

I can honestly say that I have never been more excited for a new year. As I look back at the last 10 years of my life. One thing that is certain is that I have been very blessed. I am blessed to have a very hard working husband. Who also is very supportive. I have been given three wonderful children. I have been blessed with health. As I looked over pictures it is crazy the many different shapes and sizes my body has been over the last 10 years. It will never be what it was, but thanks to the insanity program my pants are fitting, and that would put a smile on any girls face.

I know if I continue to work hard and most importantly make an effort to follow promptings from the spirit. The next year, five years, or even 10 years will be just as good as the last ten!

October

October, a month full of Costumes, Candy and FUN FUN FUN! I decided that it is very easy to tell when my life gets a bit too busy. I have no time to post anything on my blog. November has begun and life has slowed down a little. Our family had a very busy October, but I think for the most part we all really enjoyed it. I believe some of the best activities for the kids were dressing up for the school parade and again the next day for Halloween. The kids were also very lucky to be involved in the children's musical "The Jungle Book" at the Lehi Art Center

Hannah was a red Fairy
Connor was a Bakugan Master

Bonnie was a CAT

I was very pleased to be asked to help out with the choreography. It has been so much fun for me to have the chance to have my kids be involved in things that I love. Connor got to play the part of a monkey.

He also got to part of the snake. Connor had so much fun learning the songs for this musical.

Hannah got to be and elephant. I had the opportunity to improve on my sewing skills. I ended up making six of these elephant heads. I can not express how happy I was to have them all done.

Hannah was also very pleased to get the part of Shanti.

Being involved in the play made October a bit more busy, but I know it gave the kids a memory that they will never forget. They will probably not remember what their jack-o-lantern looked like, but they will remember preforming Jungle Book.