Compliments?

Sariah told me this morning: "Mom, you're the best mom in the whole house!"

Tonight, as Talmage's lesson for family night, he read a poem entitled, "Sometimes I wish my Dad were a dog."

Thanksgiving

When the kids started to see Christmas lights and hear Christmas music they were concerned that people were forgetting Thanksgiving. Such an important holiday deserves to be remembered. In our family home evening prior to Thanksgiving we took just a few minutes to scratch the surface of those things for which we are grateful. Here they are: (each family member took a turn until we filled up the lines on a sheet of paper)

• God's creations
• God
• Family
• running water
• everyone
• money
• books
• clothes
• warm home
• scriptures
• Hyrum
• good neighbors
• food prayer
• bodies
• clean sheets
• reliable vehicles
• Bishop
• prophets
• Santa
• Christmas
• generous friends
• electricity
• animals
• freedom
• good teachers
• baths

Weekend Warriors

James is frustrated with the early nightfall. He can't seem to get as much done on the shed as he would like. Saturday, there was more than building going on. There was some quality time happening. I told Talmage to learn all he can about building from his Dad and someday he would have a very grateful wife.

Poison Control

Today, somehow Hyrum got into my childproof prenatal vitamins and started helping himself. One in the mouth and one on the way by the time I got to him. Since he doesn't eat anything, I wasn't worried he'd actually eaten any.

A few hours later, Sariah kept disappearing at regular intervals. When I asked her where she was going, her response was especially minty. I followed my suspicion and found her eating our toothpaste.

When she woke up from her nap this afternoon, I was in the rocking chair in the bedroom with Hyrum. Christmas music was on the radio. She came in, and before the grogginess was even gone she was dancing and hopping and soon in giggles. That girl makes me happy. Today, she also made my lunch!

Walnuts

There are a few things I always think about from my childhood during this time of year. Raking, and raking, and raking leaves and picking up walnuts. If I remember right, we were paid a nickel for every quart jar of walnuts we gathered. Today, I picked up walnuts under the tree where I played as a child. I don't think I could have possibly imagined the company I would have 20 years later under the same tree. I know I couldn't have imagined just how cute and sweet she is.

Crawling

Hyrum is officially crawling. Right now he's still in the experimental stage where he slaps the floor as he makes each move. We all think it is so cute right now. However, when I was getting ready in the bathroom this morning I got a glimpse of the reality of "crawling" as he found me and started to explore the tub and toilet.

James left this morning for three days of training. As soon as he left, all of the kids were crying because they miss dad so much. Well, Hyrum was crying because he was tired, the rest were crying because they miss dad.

Tea Party

Just walked in on a promise made this morning and kept at bedtime. Despite a headache, he donned the few-sizes-too-small crown and poured tea. You can see how tickled Sariah is to have such a dad.

This picture tells you how busy yesterday was. It started out cleaning the church building in anticipation of Elder Holland's visit. Then, finishing and delivering a gourd basket order. Then back home for pumpkin carving and costume finishing touches. All the while, James working on building a shed in the backyard before the bad weather hits. Once when James stepped in the back door he said, "Did you know Hyrum has toothpicks in his mouth?" I was carving a pumpkin three feet away from where he was playing on the floor and I hadn't even noticed!

The kids ended up happy with their pumpkins and their costumes.

The fairy godmother holding the cutest pumpkin ever!
Cinderella, Dumbledore, and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Dumbledore and his pumpkin.

One thing we have found that makes trick-or-treating a little more meaningful is going to those people who may not otherwise get any trick-or-treaters but who joy in the little ones. Such a night may not fill their buckets, but we hope in the long run, it will fill their lives.