First graders don't have a lot of experience with life, but like all of us they want to be a part of the conversation/story so Abbie's new favorite phrase picked up from school is..."I heard that...."followed by some random, and usually fictitious, fact that she has picked up at school.

Abbie has been asked to sing with three other girls at the ward Chirstmas party. And I have to teach that night. I am pretty darn bugged.

I got my student reviews for my class this semester. (No the semester is not over. I don't get it either.) One of the reviews mentioned frustration that I don't use power point or give out study guides. They said, "All we have [to study] for our test is our notes from class and the book!" I laughed out loud. Sorry kid...welcome to college.

We've been working with Nathan on helping him sleep through the night. We've gotten to where we will just give him a binki in the night and he wont wake up to be fed until 5 or 6. Now if we just weren't giving him a binki three times a night!

Savannah has been improving on saying her Ls. But the funny part is that she is doing it conscientiously. So she'll say bLLLLack baLLLL or coLLLor. It is awesome.


I weighed myself on the scale a few days ago and didn't like what I saw. However, I also don't like the thought of eating healthy during the holidays. Blast!


Our shower has had a leak into the basement. We had the plumber come out once and the easy fix didn't fix so we've been waiting for him to come out again. It's been over a week. And as much as I want my own shower back, what I really want is to know if this is a $200 problem or a $2000 problem. My Ebert mind can not handle not knowing.

Chocolate is calling my name....I think the scale is going to have to wait!

In no particular order.......

I'm thankful for Russ, Abbie, Savannah and Nathan.

I'm thankful for yesterday. We went to the zoo in the morning and watched various animals pig out on pumpkins. My personal favorite was seeing the gorillas eating pumpkin innards. Then we raked leaves and the girls jumped in the pile. And then we feasted with Russ's family Mmmmmmm. Focused family time is always a blessing.

I'm thankful for our home. Last year we were squatters in my parents basement for Thanksgiving. While we were truly blessed for their help it is so nice to have a place of our own again.

I'm thankful for good schools and good teachers for my children.

I'm thankful for toilet paper. No seriously...aren't you?

I'm thankful for good, good books.

I'm thankful for the Spirit that brings me closer to God.

I'm thankful for our friends. I've been blessed with some true and close friends thoughout my life. We've also made wonderful friends since moving here and are excited with what the years will bring.

I'm thankful for wonderful parents.

I'm thankful for my job and Russ's job.

I'm thankful for good knives. I use my knives every day and they make me happy.

I'm thankful for naps. Love naps.

I just resent our family pictures to Russ's mom. So Laura, if you're reading this I promise they are in the mail. With the correct postage this time.

I just got offered the option of teaching a mostly online course...hmmmm less time away from home, same pay...worth considering.

Any thoughts on how to keep a nine month old from pulling down the Christmas tree and/or ornaments? I need a solution by the day after Thanksgiving, when the tree goes up.

These pictures pretty much show each child's personality perfectly.

I spent an hour raking leaves yesterday. I filled five bags. I got blisters. Looking out the back window this windy morning you would never know that anything had been done.

I voted early last week. All the perks of voting, including the all important sticker, with none of the line. Genius!

Abbie learned about the candidates this week. She learned the important issues for the first grade demographic, their families, favorite foods, and their hobbies. Who did she vote for? Mitt Romney. Why? Because he's a grandpa. Grandpa's will always trump dads.

I made meatloaf this week. This wasn't some glorified hamburger. It had ground beef and ground pork. It had Ritz crackers, Worcestershire sauce, fresh parsley, garlic, onion, and an amazing ketchup brown sugar glaze. Abbie's response, "This is the grossest food ever.....Well except for worms."

Yup. I beat out worms.

His nicknames include Nate, Nater, Nathy, and Happy.

He, thankfully, liked the meatloaf. And he likes lasagna, and pasta. Finally, a kid with an appetite.

Savannah has not adjusted to the time change at all. She is content to wake up an hour early (5:45). She would actually be content to entertain and feed herself but she is unable to pour her own milk. Blast this time change!

Happy Halloween from our family to yours!



Right after this picture was taken we discovered that Nathan had a rash all over his belly and back. That combined with the fever since last Saturday equals Roseolla. Honestly, I'm just glad we are on the tail end of it. Fussy babies aren't much fun.

This morning I (clearly selfishly) wanted to take a shower uninterrupted  So I locked the bathroom door. Almost the minute I got in the shower the knocks began. After repeatedly trying to explain that I couldn't hear my children while I was in the shower and to please wait the five minutes it would take me to finish showering, they got down and started yelling through the crack in the door. The needs that were so urgent they couldn't wait? Abbie wanted to play on the computer and Savannah wanted me to put toothpaste on her toothbrush. Awesome.

I've spent the last 20 minutes trying to download the video of Abbie's choir concert and for some reason the sound, which plays fine on my phone, wont play once I download it. Sorry, I don't know what else to do.

 
Honeycrisp apples are one of the few things that I think are worth the more than double the price of regular. They are yummy.