Top 10 Thankfuls...

I'm thankful for (no particular order):

1) A husband that makes me happy- he ain't bad on the ole eyes either!

2) Children that are healthy- and stinkin' funny!

3) My mom and dad who rock

4) In-laws who thankfully are not out-laws

5) Siblings that are cool enough that I own up to them

6) Ice cream- for the special moments it brings me

7) Running- for the tight butt it's so graciously begun to give me

8) Friends that listen to my crap and still continue to hang around with me even though I'm sure they think I'm out there

9) Blogging friends- surely you all know how great you are!

10) GOD- because he blessed me with all these other totally cool things and people!

It feels great to be thankful! You should give it a try!

I'm also thankful for giveaways! Go check Shawn's out over at SERIOUSLY!
She's got a holiday giveaway going and I'm sure it's fab!

Vacation '09 Flashbacks...

I've been thinking a lot lately about our vacation this past summer.

It was such a great time.

We visited so many amazing things.

We saw so many amazing things.

We ate so much amazing food.

Nolan and I have talked and we want for vacations to be a huge part of our summers.

We plan to go on lots of family trips so that we can experience things together, and teach our kids things first hand.

These are some of the things I miss about our month away together as a family...

Togetherness- without anyone or anything to distract us.

Beautiful scenery...

Beautiful hikes where we could teach the kids about nature and the importance of taking care of our wonderful world...

Things built by man that are super impressive and make you marvel at how smart some people are...

Visiting 12 of the most beautiful National Parks and watching little man become a Jr. Ranger at 6 of them...

We saw lakes...

The Grand Canyon- Arches- Mountains- All breathtaking.

Sharing with our children the amazing handy work of God...

I miss it...

From nature to the Big lights of the city (literally- we drove into Las Vegas from camping at the Grand Canyon the night before)...

Paris (sort of)...

New York City (sort of)...


Hoover Dam...

We even got to visit the set of the hit tv show The Office. Micheal Scott's Office...

Me pretending I'm Pam and Nolan pretending he's Jim...

The Camaro...

We made it all the way to the ocean. The Santa Monica Pier...

Lots of fun...

The Giant Sequoias...

Wow...

We even survived some serious craziness and came out stronger because of it...

Yummy Food...

And even some good runs...

and of course lots of beautiful pictures (here at the Salt Lakes)...

I'm ready to go again!

Why did the chicken cross the road?...

For some Tasty Candy on Halloween of Course!

For Halloween we went with my parents and headed over to stay with my sister and her sweet family for the weekend. We got there early Saturday morning and went to my nephew's football game and then out to lunch, and then to my niece's soccer game.

They both played great and Won!!!

Here's some of the goofballs riding a bull in front of the restaurant (I kept thinking: I hope they don't break off one of those horns. I'd hate to find out it's break it you buy it. I don't think that would look so great in my living room! HA!)...

Me and my beautiful sister...

Mom, Tori, and me waiting to be seated at lunch...
That night we got the kids all dressed up and headed out to do some trick or treating in my sister's neighborhood.

My little chicken that crossed the road for lots of candy that I only let her have one sucker of...

Bumblebee the Transformer (look at those eyelashes!). Kane was so funny while we trick or treated. He would beat everyone to the doors and then not get out of the way for the others to get their candy. He did super good saying thank you, but at this one house the lady didn't recognize that he had said it so he yelled at her "I SAID THANK YOU!"...

What a silly pair!...

The crew (minus my nephew who went with some friends)...

Taylor, Ruthie, and Ashley headed up the street to hit the first houses...

Instead of saying "Trick or Treat" we taught her to say "Bock, Bock" like a chicken- it was so sweet! She would also say "Tank To"- translated: "thank you".

My sister leading the troops...

What a cute little chicken waddle!...

After trick or treating we headed back to my sister's and gorged ourselves on candy and put the kids to bed.

Early Sunday morning the hubs and I went on a nice 12 mile run. It was so great to spend the time with him just talking and running. I love that guy!...

After our run we got ready for church. My nephew got baptized that day. What a blessing! We left church and headed back to my sister's for lunch and some chillin'.

Ruthie had a fabuloso time playing with Polly Pockets (she did nothing but for the 2 days we were there)...I think I know what to get her for Christmas!...

Nolan watched some football and relaxed his post run-sore body!...

We headed home that afternoon and went straight to bed! We had a great time! It was a wonderful way to spend our weekend! I hope everyone else's was just as great!

Happy Halloween!

Be my Ginny Pigs and try my Recipes!

Thought this was so funny and cute I had to add it! She fell asleep with a full plate of food. Just too tired to go on! HA!

I've got some more yummy recipes up on my other blog!

Try 'em out and let me know what you think!

Diary of a Hungry Mom:
Vegetarian Fruity Curry Chicken Salad
and a Tasty Smoothie

Brothers From Another Mother...

Check out these two...aren't they so stinkin' cute?

Don't they look just like twins?

I know right?!

This is Kane and his friend Zeke.

When Kane goes to his Meme's house he gets to play with Zeke and they have the best time together!

Too Cute!

Sweet Boys...

Silly Boys...

Lessons from a Giraffe...

While studying Kane's Awana verse with him this morning we were told to look up an amimal to talk with our kiddos about. The idea being that I would talk to him about God's handiwork.

Kane decided he wanted to learn about the Giraffe.

Here's what we learned:

1) Giraffes are non territorial

2) Pleasant/social animals

3) They travel in herds that are not organized in any way- the herds may consist of any sex or age group (in other words no discrimination)

4) Young giraffes are very vulnerable and cannot defend themselves. While mothers feed, the young are kept in small nursery groups. (so they get each others backs and work together)

So I just thought that these animals, besides being super cute, are super great animals that we can learn a lot from.

I mean how much better would we be as a society if we all worked together, not worrying about sex and age, looked out for one another, and all got along spending our time concerning over the greater good and not ourselves?

This is what the giraffe taught me today...thought you might want to know.

Have a Happy Day!