Friday, November 25, 2011

Okay... So I skipped a few days...

I've been busy, not so busy I couldn't have blogged, but busy. So, I didn't blog. End of story. No real excuses as I did say I could have blogged, I just chose not to. I'm tired, alright?

We went to Dave's grandma A's house for Thanksgiving, and it was enjoyable. His uncle made this to die for turkey, seriously, I loved it. It was a dutch oven turkey and if you've never had a turkey cooked in a dutch oven, you are missing out. They are delicious and moist and super flavorful! It could have helped that Kori brined the turkey for two whole days! Yum! I am drooling thinking about it...

We had WAY more pie than got eaten, Dave and I came home with two and a half pies to ourselves, and we only took two! A whole apple pie (which is my favorite and I love!), a chocolate pudding pie (almost Dave's favorite) and part of a blackberry cheese pie that Savannah loves, or at least I think she loves, because I say she does, and I'm the mom and right now I know best, right?

Today I went black friday shopping, sort of. I didn't buy anything, just went to the store. We may end up going to Sears tomorrow, but it hasn't been decided on.

So for the past few days, I am thankful for new shoes! I tore a hole in my only pair of sneakers the other day at my mom's house when I tripped over a stake in her yard, so Dave and I went to famous footwear the other day and I got a new pair of sneakers and he got some new dress shoes. I love that they were doing a buy one get one half off AND I had a 20% off coupon to use in addition to that. Stacking deals rocks!

I am thankful for good food, and good family to share it with. Yesterday was a day that seemed REALLY long, but I am glad that I have family surrounding us so we would never have to be alone on Thanksgiving, and I'm grateful that I only had to cook pies, because that makes for a much less stressful Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for unexpected good news, which at this point shall remain untold. I love when something that seems like a bad thing turns into a positive thing. I am grateful that so often when I feel discouraged something happens and changes my whole outlook on life.

Does that catch me all up? If not, oh well. At least blogging is still happening somewhat regularly...

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Day 21 - Generosity

I am thankful today that there are people in the world who are generous. Generous with time, talents, money, whatever it is that they have. I truly do love to witness those moments when something wonderful happens that you aren't expecting simply because of generosity. I wish more people possessed the quality...

Monday, November 21, 2011

Day 20 - Chocolate :D

I am quite thankful for Chocolate. Today I had chocolate covered cinnamon bears. They. Are. Amazing.

That is all.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Day 19 - Lazy Days and Unexpected Guests!

I am grateful that occasionally we have the opportunity to have lazy days! It is nice to just sometimes relax and have a day where the housework goes un done, and all you do is sit around and lounge.

I also LOVE having days where you get a call and it's a friend saying, "Hey, what are you doing, can I come over?" and spending the day having a great time with them. Today was one of those days, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I got to spend time with one of my favorite people in the whole world.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Day 18 - Games

I am thankful for games today. I'm thankful that my husband is willing to watch Savannah occasionally so that I can get away and just hang with the girls.

Tonight I was able to go play bunco with my mom and a group of her friends and some other people that I don't really know. It was nice to just be able to have that time out, even though we got MAJORLY lost and we were super late. It actually was quite fun to get lost even!

We were following directions that this app (Waze) for Katie's iPhone gave us, and we ended up on the wrong side of town, so then we tried to use just the maps feature on my mom's iPhone to get there and that got us lost too, so then we finally called someone for directions and we ended up back on the highway. Then we got off the highway and we called for directions again and the person whose house we were going to didn't even know how to tell us to get to her house! So, after multiple trials and errors, we finally made it! And we were only about a half an hour late. The good news is that getting home was much less of an ordeal. It was nice to have that time to chat with Katie and my mom though. We really did have a great time all of us together.

And now I am thankful to be home with my husband, who has been amazing today. He seriously has been ON TOP of the laundry! I appreciate that when I'm not home he is willing to help out with the housework. I love him more each and every day! It's like this piece I have hanging on the wall in my bedroom, "I love you more today than yesterday, and but only half as much as tomorrow". Here's to me and you, babe! I love you and I am loving spending my eternity with you!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Day 17 - SNOW

I am so thankful for snow today. I seriously love it when there is a fresh coat of snow on the ground and it is all white and perfect. So I'm thankful that it is snowing right now so that I can see that fresh blanket of snow on the ground.

Today has been HECTIC! It started at 8:00 ish when I had to leave to take Savannah to the sitter so I could go to the testing center and take 3 (that's right, THREE!) exams there. I had an accounting exam, an economics exam, and a placement exam for math. I'm pleased with my scores on all of them. Then I had to come home and write a 5 page paper from Mexico's point of view on the restrictions of tuna trade in the United States. It was SO dry and boring, but I am finally finished! Now I just have one more exam for the day and then I am DONE! And I can just relax next week because the only thing I need to do next week is a couple discussions in my economics class and work on a group project. It will make it very nice to not have any stress next week during the holidays.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Day 16 - Bri!

I am so grateful that I have reconnected with a friend (acquaintance?) from high school, her name is Bri. She is truly one in a million. We have recently gotten to be much much closer friends and I am basically counting down the days until she moves back to Utah. Arizona doesn't need her, I do!

Today has been one of those days where everything started out wrong and just kept going wrong. It makes me want to punch someone in their face, but instead I'm venting all my anger and frustrations to her and she doesn't mind! Even though I swear I am sometimes the most repetitive person in the world, she just listens to me. I love that about her.

I also love that she inspires me to be a better person. She is so focused on the gospel and living her life the way she should, and that makes me want to do the same. And she has this way of making it so things that seem incredibly huge and bothersome to me at the time aren't so much of a big deal after we talk for a while.

Anyway, I'm grateful for her.

And don't you worry gnomies, I'm still just as grateful for you and all you do as well! <3

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Day 15 - Modern Medicine

Today, I am very grateful for modern medicine. And for the advancements in technology that we have made. I have a friend whose sister was in a pretty bad accident, but because of some of the advancements and technology that we have she is, while still in pretty bad shape, doing much better than she would have been. I'm grateful that the doctors are there and are doing what they can to help her be comfortable and healthy.

And I know I've said this one before, but I am truly grateful and blessed to have the friends I do. I am grateful for each and every one of them and I don't know what I would do without them. I'm also insanely grateful to have a beautiful talented mother, and a wonderful mother-in-law who are always willing to listen to me and just lend their ears and wisdom.

And lastly for today, because I don't think I've ever actually written it down though the words have been in my head multiple times, I am incredibly grateful for my own dad, and my father-in-law. I'm grateful that my dad is a "jack of all trades, master of none" especially when it means he can help us save money by teaching us how to do something ourselves that we would have had to pay someone else to do otherwise. I resented when he would make me do things myself as a teenager, but looking back on it now I wouldn't have it any other way. I am incredibly independent because he taught me that I don't need to have someone else do everything for me, but I never lost my dependence on other people, and that I feel is something truly special about me.

And I am SO grateful for my father-in-law. Even though we don't always see eye to eye, in fact I'd wager a lot of times (more than half the time) we don't. I am grateful that he was there for us right after I found out I had miscarried. I'm grateful that he let me just cling to him and cry, and that he brushed off the snot all over his shirt as no big deal, even though to me it was. I'm grateful every day for his love and support of Dave and I, even if I am slow to say it. I'm grateful that he is there for me EVERY time I go to have blood drawn, and that he always makes the good ones draw my blood because he knows how much I hate needles. And I am grateful that he hides the good chocolate that he keeps in his office for after the blood draws, and that he always has a smile and a game for Savannah.

Seriously, I feel like one of the luckiest girls alive.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Day 14 - School

Even though I complain about school frequently, I really am grateful for the opportunity I have to further my education. I am especially grateful that I found a program I am truly interested in that I believe I would love to have as a career. I am looking forward to starting the program in the Spring!

Today was great fun. As I mentioned yesterday, we got a dog. Savannah just loves him to pieces. His name is Hercules, and when Savannah fussed at 5:45 this morning, she refused to go back to sleep until she had seen him and petted him. Then when she actually got up for the day, she ran to him and just hugged him and hugged him. I am incredibly grateful that he is a tolerant dog and that he doesn't snap or growl at her when she is rough with him.

She's decided her new favorite hiding place is his kennel, and it was hilarious to watch her today crawl into it and then try to slam the door shut. She tried for a good 15 minutes to keep the door shut before she finally decided it would be alright if it was open.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Day 13 - Productive Days

I am thankful that I am able to have productive days because I am able to stay home. Today I feel like I accomplished a LOT! And I love those kinds of days. The days where everything falls into place. I love that Dave is able to provide for our family with me just being able to stay home.

Today (as of 9:30 PM) I
  • Made dinner (Cream Cheese Chicken that actually turned out this time! And it was ready when Dave got home from work!!)
  • Cleaned the Kitchen, all except for mopping the floor INCLUDING doing ALL the dishes - even dinner dishes have been loaded into the dishwasher!
  • Cleaned and vacuumed the living room
  • Watered my plant
  • Vacuumed the hall
  • Cleaned up Savannah's room
  • Finished a chapter in my Management class
  • Made it to my mom's to have Savannah fitted into her Christmas dress and my scout shirt sleeves measured so she can shorten them.
  • Got a dog! (Hercules, and he is CUTE!)
All in all, I feel pretty good about it. And I'll probably finish up a few more things before I head to bed tonight. Hooray!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Days 11 and 12 - Combined!

Okay, so I forgot to blog yesterday, even though I was up until late enough that I could have even blogged what would technically have been REALLY early this morning, But oh well...

So for yesterday I really did want to say that I am SO grateful for my gnomies. They are wonderful, and they really each deserve a post of their own, but I'm lame, so this will have to suffice for both of them. They both make me want to be a better friend and a better person. They are some of the best friends I have ever had and I truly appreciate all that they do for me.

Yesterday we got together for a crafty day and it was super fun!

Today, I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be on this lovely planet with the people that I love. I'm grateful for a living prophet we have to guide us in these troubled times, and I am grateful for my own personal testimony of the gospel. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity today to feel the Spirit so strongly through children, and through music.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Day 10 - Veteran's and Our Military

As today is Veteran's day, I find it only fitting that I am thankful today for the veterans, and current servicemen and women who have served our country and fought for the freedoms that as an American citizen I am proud to have. Those people who have given their lives, and their time to fight so I don't have to. A big thanks to each and every one of them!

I am also thankful for Savannah snuggles. Today we were watching The Notebook which always is a tear jerker for me, and she just crawled right up into my lap and snuggled. I love those.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Day 9 - Good Books!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to read. Like seriously love love love to read. So today I am super grateful for good books. I love having things around me as somewhat of an escape from real life, where I can immerse myself in a fictional world and forget about my problems/stresses for a while. I love when books can uplift me.

...

I'm also grateful that my mom taught me how to cook so that I don't starve. Even foods that I don't like I can make passable for dinners. Meatloaf, beatloaf I hate meatloaf. But, Dave loves it, so that's what we had tonight for dinner, and it wasn't too terrible. The potatoes were my favorite part. <3

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Day 8 - Cub Scouts

Today, I am super grateful for my cub scouts! They are adorable little boys, and particularly for the ones that LOVE being there, I am grateful for them.

Last week one of them needed to leave early, and when his dad got there to pick him up he seriously begged his dad to let him stay. It was one of those moments that pulls your heart strings and makes you feel appreciated for those things you do.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Day 7 - Internet!!

Today, I am choosing to be ever so grateful for the internet. It means I don't have to leave my house to do my Christmas shopping, and that makes me immensely happy, as I hate Christmas shopping in crowded stores that mean you have to wait in line for EVER to purchase your items. It makes me happy.

And, my Christmas shopping is ALMOST done. Just one or two people that I have a hard time shopping for left, and then all that's left to do is wrap and enjoy! I love this.

Day 6 - My Family

I didn't post last night, because I went to bed early, so I figured early this morning and again later tonight would work.

Yesterday I wanted to make a point of letting my family know that I am so grateful my family. Mom, Dad, brother, sisters. I love and adore each of them in their own way.

And I know that was really short, but that's all we're getting for yesterday. I had a whole long post planned out, but I'm not feeling it right now.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Day 5 - My Savannah Lynne

I am SUPER grateful that I am the mom of one of the best children in the world, my Savannah Lynne. She makes me smile every day! I love that she is getting vocal! I also love that she is starting to be affectionate. She's started grabbing my face and rubbing her nose against my nose, and I absolutely love it! She also is getting to a point where kisses are CLOSED mouth, which I absolutely adore, as I hated the ones where I felt like she was trying to eat my face, also I was getting tired of the bites...

I am grateful for her smiling face and bubbly personality! She LOVES to dance, and I love to watch it. She has a toy on the door that plays music when she pushes the button and when it comes on she will stop whatever she is doing to dance to it.

I am grateful that she is ALMOST done teething!! She has 16 teeth now! She just recently got her canines, and they are starting to come in nicely. I will be really grateful when she is done with that.

I am grateful that she has a pretty regular sleep pattern, though recently it's been more difficult for her to sleep through the night, but I'm guessing that's due to teething.

Savannah from today, with her brand new scabbed nose (almost bedtime!)
I am very grateful that I am blessed enough to get to be her mother, and I'm sure Dave echos my sentiments about getting to be her father. She is a very special and unique little girl, and I love her SO much.

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Day 4 - My Home

Today I am SO grateful that I have a house to come home to. Something to keep us safe and warm, especially when we have weather like today! SNOW! Brr!!!

I'm grateful that in my home Savannah gets to have her own room. I am so grateful we aren't still living in the apartment in Midvale where there was just one bedroom. I'm grateful that we have an extra bedroom so we can help shelter others from the store.

I am ENORMOUSLY grateful that I have a red kitchen that is large enough I don't feel like I'm suffocating when I'm in it! I'm even grateful for our living room, which is small, because it gives us a place to relax and wind down from our days.

I'm grateful that I have two bathrooms! After only having one in Midvale on a HORRID black Friday, I will forever be grateful that I no longer have only one bathroom, so if Dave and I both need to puke, one of us doesn't have to clean out a bucket. (Sorry again for leaving you with that one, babe!)

Even though we sometimes gripe and complain about the state of the Homeowners Association, I truly wouldn't trade the experiences that we've had here for anything. I love the community and the people we've met here (minus a few, who shall remain nameless).

And now, on to other news:

We had new family pictures taken today. Dave's really happy that after 4 years he's finally going to get "Grumpy Gus" off the living room wall at my parents house. I'm just excited because I truly LOVE getting my picture taken when I've gotten all dressed up and fancy for it.

I had a ton of fun with my family while we were doing them. Also, we all looked AWESOME, if I do say so myself.

Friday, November 04, 2011

Day 3 - Grateful for the Hubster

Today, I am grateful for the hubster. He is truly an amazing man, and I am thankful every day that I am married to him for all eternity! I wouldn't have it any other way.

He always knows when I need a time out, a day with my girls, or just a nice long soak in a HOT bubble bath. I love that he is always willing to listen to me vent, even when I am wrong and he knows it. I love how he lets me sleep in, even when he has to get up early to go to work. I love that he is completely understanding when I have bad days and NOTHING gets done around the house. I love that he provides for our family so completely, and I love that he makes it possible for me to stay home with our adorable daughter.

I love that he cries with me over our angel baby, on days that I need him to cry with me. I love that he isn't ashamed of that.

I love that he will get up in the middle of the night with Savannah, just to let me have a night off, even though he has to get up early the next morning to go to work.

I love that he cares enough to worry about me when I leave the house, or even sometimes when I just stay home. I love that he calls me from work just to tell me that he loves me, and that he misses me. I love that he watches chick flicks with me, and laughs at me when I cry over them.

All in all, I LOVE HIM, eternally. And I am thankful every day to my Heavenly Father for letting me have him, for this life, and the next.

I love you Dave!

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Day 2 - Whoo hoo!

Today, I am grateful for coupons! Seriously, they have saved us SO much money! I realize that in order to save money I have to spend money, but I was seriously SO thrilled at the grocery store today when I got to the check stand and I took my total from $108.90 to $53.36 just by using my coupons on sale items with my store shoppers card. It is a HUGE thrill for me, I love the rush I get when I save money!

Among the items I got today are:
  • (8) boxes of cheerios
  • (3) 20 ct. boxes of Finish Powerball Dishwasher tabs (formerly called Electrasol)
  • (3) boxes of Kleenex Tissues
  • (16) cans of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken Soup
  • (6) lbs margarine
  • (3) lbs cheese
Among other various items needed, milk, spices, etc. I seriously LOVE it!!!

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

November - The month for Thanks

This is for you Bri! Because you posted about being thankful in November, I'm going to make it a personal goal for myself, not only to blog more about life and what's going on in it, but to make a conscious daily effort to blog about something I am thankful for through the month of November.

I'm a day late and a dollar shy, but I'm starting on the 2nd instead of the 1st.

Today I am incredibly grateful for old friends who used to be acquaintances but are quickly becoming someone I couldn't imagine my life without. I am grateful for all the friends I have in my life who are willing to listen to me no matter what I have to say.

I'm feeling much better about life in general than I was the last time I posted. Having a miscarriage was something that was very difficult for Dave and I, and I'll be honest, I still have hard days. Days where I want to punch pregnant women in their faces. But I haven't given in to that urge yet, so I'm sure I'll muddle through.

Savannah is getting SO big! She had her first birthday in August, and that was entertaining. I think Dave and I had more fun with the cake than she did, being that we ended up with our own cake fight! And now it's time to get ready for Christmas! I can already tell Savannah is going to be spoiled rotten by Santa, but she's a wonderful little girl, so she deserves it.

And, I'm tired. And that's as much as I'm posting right now.
Goodnight!