My top reasons to be thankful are the same every year but that's because they are so important!!

#1 The gospel. Where would I be without my faith? I'm thankful to know my Savior who gave his life for me and for my Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionaly.

#2 My family with Travis My parents (including Dean) and brother

#3 Our Health

#4 Travis' Job (I love my bean counter)

#5 The United States of America

(Don't forget to look at the previous post.)
For those who don't know, our church has instructed us to have Family Home Evening once a week. This is an evening where the whole family is together and you typically say an opening prayer, have a little lesson, do an activity, eat a treat, sing, and end with a prayer. The purpose is for the family to spend time together and to teach the children the gospel. Well, Travis and I are slackers, mainly me. I didn't want to do it with Douglas because he was "too young" and I didn't know how to go about teaching such monumental subjects to him. (I still need ideas.) Well, my mom-in-law got us our churches nursery manual which is perfect because it's a repeat for Douglas and it is already in 2 year old terms. Well, Sunday night we did our first ever Family Home Evening with Douglas. The idea was teaching him that he has a mother and father in Heaven who love him. That he is a child of God. We started with a prayer and then sang the song "I am a child of God." I knew Douglas would love "conducting" so I got him a spatula and he "led" the music while we sang. He loves imitating the lady conducting the music at church. Then we did the lesson. It was quick and kind of choppy but I felt a peace and happiness while doing it. I am genuinely concerned about the world and teaching my children right from wrong. I know that the only way I can protect my children is to teach them about Jesus and Heavenly Father and the gospel. It felt good knowing that I was building his protection by doing Family Home Evening with him. Well, the end of the lesson had us point to each individual and say "Daddy is a child of God. Mommy is a child of God. Douglas is a child of God." Douglas shocked us by saying "child of God." We got it on video. Here he is pretending to talk on the phone. Listen carefully.

• He's got stranger-danger syndrome. I suppose that's a good thing. He's always had it. Even as a baby, people had the hardest time getting him to smile, etc. Around the family, he's a BIG ham, but people would never know.
• His talking has quadrupled in the last couple of months. He's doing really well and I'm so happy about that.
• He loves his daddy. Boy, oh boy, does he love Travis. He definitely prefers Travis to me. When hurt, sick, or sad, he wants Travis to comfort him. He's a Daddy's boy.
• He loves Papi's shop. He loves tools and helping Grandpa in the shop. (He also has Papi wrapped around his finger big time.)
• He loves it outside! Throwing rocks in the water, feeding the ducks, going on a walk, playing at the park, etc. If it's outside, he loves it.
• He loves to help. I often don't let him because it makes a bigger mess but he loves to help clean, cook, etc.
• Probably my most favorite thing about Douglas is he's sensitive. He shares his toys. He kisses all the animals in his books. He gives the softest, sweetest kisses (mostly to dad but I can sneak a few.) And he speaks in the softest, sweetest voice to Harrison.

We love you Douglas. Happy birthday!! Here are some pictures from when we celebrated his birthday a couple Sundays ago.

His firetruck cake. He loves firetrucks. Thanks Grandma and Papi for your help.

He got a tool set, tool box, play kitchen, firetruck, ABC magnet game, puzzle, and color/shape cards. He loves them all. Today has been a good day as well. He had a chocolate chip smiley face pancake for breakfast, played at the park with his friends Elena and Charleigh. They gave him a toy guitar, a Thomas the train book, and a conductor hat, and train whistle.

Not to push down the Halloween post but I'm so SICK!!! Obama will be the next president. Sickening. Oh well, I'm looking on the bright side and having Travis quit his job so we can live off all the government programs: welfare, food stamps, WIC, etc. Yes, we'll take it easy while you foot our bill. Thanks Barrack. Oh, and thanks for further giving me the opportunity to rise to the challenge of teaching my children that abortion is evil and same sex marriages is wrong. Wow, what a life I'll have.

Travis' parents were in town this weekend for Harrison's baby blessing (more on that later). We went to Historic downtown McKinney to trick or treat around the square. We were very pleased and will most likely do it again next year. Anyway, Papa walked with Douglas to each shop. Douglas loved the idea of holding up his bag to get candy from people. There was a little train that Douglas and I went on. To our surprise Douglas cried the entire time. We think it's because we were right behind the driver and his bell and that was too loud. Douglas was Bob the Builder and Harrison just had a pumpkin hat and bib.