To Decorate Or Not....

Me: Zachary....what are you doing?

Zachary: Balloooooon mama ballooooon

Utah Jazz Game

Thanks to a gentleman from Church we were able to go to the Jazz game on Friday night. Zachary had a BLAST! Everytime the Jazz would score he would yell and clap right along with everyone else. And as you can tell from the expression on his face he loved all of the lights on the trees outside of the area.

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful for all of our growing collection of Christmas items. I do have to admit that I wasn't feeling very Christmasy until those got put up.



2. I'm thankful that Zachary will eat anything that I make for him. Thankfully (no pun intended) he can't really tell the difference between Dad's cooking and Mommy's cooking...yet.

Thanksgiving '08

So the last few Thanksgivings we have ended up in St. George with Jared and Andi (and kids of course). This year was no different. But mark my words we WILL make it to California one of these times! We decided to try something new and deep fry a turkey this year. I don't think that I want to eat a turkey any other way. It was SO GOOD!

Look at my man....so handsome!

So while Zachary was doing this...

The boys were trying to put together the fryer. And while the boys were doing this....

We were doing this!

And here is the end result...a yummy dinner with family!

We hope that your Thanksgiving was just as enjoyable as ours!

Some Things I'm Thankful For

I'm thankful for.....

...this little guy...

...and this big guy...

...and when they play how much fun they have.

My Thoughts...

I have thought long and hard about this post....only because I let what I think the judgements of others will be get to me. But I need to learn not to worry about what others will think of me. So here goes...I am not a stay at home mother. I work. I wish I was able to stay home but that just isn't possible for us right now. I read on other people's blogs about how grateful they are that they are stay at home moms. They should be. Right at this moment in time I am grateful that I have a job. With Joe looking for something else I consider it a blessing that I am gainfully employed. When I am asked if I work or stay home I say that I work. But then I feel like I need to go into an explanation of how I only work 4 days a week and why I have to work.

Elder M. Russell Ballard gave a talk in April's 2008 General Conference. In it he said, "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." Click here for the talk in its entirety.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of those that got to stay home. In fact I often wonder how much of a struggle it is or just how some are able to stay home in these economic times. I struggle everyday with not being home with my son. But I know that he is in good hands while I am away as a very dear friend of ours watches him. But I take comfort in knowing that I am a good mother and wife. I do what I can to be the best that I can. And I know that my husband and child don't love me any less when I'm not at home. I only ask that you not judge those of us that don't have the privilege of being home.

Thankful Thursday

1. We all know that Joe is the culinary genius of our family....but I do love to bake! I'm thankful that Joe really does like my baking. I love it when he tells me, "These are so good! When are you going to make more?" Right now he and Zachary are both loving my scrumptious pumpkin cookies.

2. I'm thankful for our food storage. In making said cookies I had all of the ingrediants at home. I love it when I don't have to go to the store. I seriously have issues with grocery shopping...I HATE IT! I dread going. But I do pride myself in our little bit of food storage and am thankful for our good sized pantry and under the stairs storage to keep it all. Here are two awesome websites discussing food storage....Everyday Food Storage and Safely Gathered In.