Birthday!!!

Papa and Joneaux and Deo

Today is Papa's birthday.  He is 75! I can not believe it.  He still seems like a spring chicken, with a bounce in his step, a tireless energy and a sharp mind.

He and Mom are in Hawaii with Anna and the boys.  Anna rented a beach house, on the water, and if I was a lesser person I would be jealous! Just kidding, I'm really not that good of a person but I am really not jealous.  I am happy for Anna and her many successes and talents.  Mostly I am happy she has those two darling boys and I am so glad she invited mom and dad along on her vaca.  Where would be a more perfect place to celebrate 75 years then on the beach, with your grandsons and smartest daughter?! 

Love you dad! Happy Happy Birthday!!! I hope you have 20 more in you! (it could happen!)

Diogo and Noah

Yesterday was Yoho's 30th Birthday! He celebrated by not having chemo.  He is actually on a 6 week break before his next round so they headed up to Utah for the holidays.  He seems to be responding well so we are very grateful and wish him 60 more years!!

a warm thing I am grateful for

1. my bed, I have blogged about it before but it is so stinkin comfy.  Especially since Nana did her magic upgrading to it.
2. our oven, it makes the kitchen warm and inviting (in the winter)
3. a car heater. and heated seats.
4. hot chocolate, on a cold soccer night it warms your hands and your belly.
5. my big jacket.
6. gloves and hats
7. a chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven
8. a summer day on the beach

9.  babies bundled up on outings somewhere fun.  This is a picture of Tate modeling that very look:)
10. a roaring fire

Ma in her kerchief and Lu in her cap

It's chilly. It snowed 7ft in Buffalo. What?? We have travel plans to Buffalo in two days, to see Clayna, and make cookies, and go to the movies!! This is so unfair! I am praying for a big dose of global warming tomorrow so we can still go.

Hannah got 100% on her chemistry test and a part in the school play!

Ethan turned in his science fair project.

I made 12 Christmas aprons for the Girl Scouts and one graphic of a buffalo kicking a soccer ball for the soccer team.

Also went to YWIE in White Plains. It was really nice. Then T and Beck and I stood in the parking lot freezing and talking and laughing  for a long time. I sure love those ladies, they are amazing!

When I came home everyone was nicely sleeping...not.

Didn't do anything

Today felt like a didn't do anything day. I walked the dogs and drove the kids. 

Did 6 loads of laundry and mopped the floor and cleaned a bit. Took E to the eye doc, 20/60, not so awesome. He got glasses. I got my first bifocals. Whoo hoo.

Made turkey and corn chowder for dinner and chocolate cake for dessert.

Had FHE, helped with homework, watched "dancing with the stars". 

Facetimed Dani and Penny and Tate. 

Worked on some Christmas projects.

It was cold and rainy out today. 

a tradition I am grateful for

It's 6:45 am.  The big kids have been sent on their way to school and Grace and I are laying in my big bed together. She is reading her book from school and I am checking my email and answering questions fielded from my little 9 year old quizzer.  What is a "thick question" (had to look that up), what does a second hand radio mean?  Is NYC on the edge of a tectonic plate? Mom what if....?  It is a pleasant way to start the day.  It's cold outside and a few extra minutes in the warm bed is welcome, and Lu is fun company.

I looked up today's gratitude prompt and saw it's a tradition I am grateful for. So I asked Grace what tradition she liked and she quickly said Christmas.  It is definitely on everyones mind as it's just around the corner and we are excited!

My favorite tradition of childhood was definitely our yearly, week long beach camping trip.  We LOVED that and went every year.  Soooo fun.  Val and I still talk about it from time to time.

Now I am most grateful for our tradition of attending church together each week.  I love it and am so happy that all of the children have always happily come and sang hymns, listened to the talks, enjoyed Sunday school and priesthood/yw/primary.  I love sitting on the pew together.  It's a good thing :)

Weekend highlights

Tonight our ward had young women in excellence. It was really nice. We had soups and bread first, then the girls each spoke about what they are working on.

After that we had tithing settlement.

Before our ward I went to Bowie and spoke. 

Saturday we had Relief Society, the soccer tournament, the school play, and some grocery shopping. Hannah went to the cast party after the show.  It ran 3 nights and she was part of the crew so it took up her evenings.

Friday I subbed.

Thursday night we went to a special meeting on councils. Rob and I got to drive down together so that was nice.

a color I am grateful for

I don' t know how color got on the list twice but okay.  I also love the color blue.  It might be my favorite color.  I love the ocean and the power and majesty of it.  I love to watch it and smell it and to play in it (if it's calm and warm). I am also scared of it.  You can not capture the colors of nature, and really you can't even remember them that well so each time you see them it's new and fresh and takes your breath away.  Each time I drive up to the water I am touched by it's beauty.  Nature is a testimony to the goodness and greatness of God.  Who else could have done that??