Family Foto Fiasco's

When am I going to learn? We tried to get some pictures for Christmas cards today - and oh my darling Grace, she doesn't hold still, she won't look at the camera, she threw grass and leaves on Max, she wouldn't leave the rocks alone... But aside from all of her stubbornness we did get some cute shots in!

Loving the little things!

So I don't know what is different about this year, but I am so excited for the holiday season... Is it only me?

I have already started watching Christmas movies, I'm listening to Christmas music. I can not wait until Christmas morning to watch Grace get her new little dolly crib and stroller. I am so excited to set up Christmas and see how it all looks and fits into my new house. I can't wait to go do a session at the Salt Lake temple the second week in January so we can walk through temple square... I don't remember ever feeling this way before - maybe it's Grace starting to understand, maybe - but I can't wait!

Our talks in sacrament went really well. I'm glad it's over, but I didn't procrastinate and was completely prepared by Wednesday!

Oh my sweet, strong willed Grace, she is makes me smile! Grace loves to color. She will lay on the floor or sit at the kitchen table and just color - we have gone through two coloring books in the past month, and lot's of mommy's scrapbooking paper. Grace also started sporting some "fine sunnies" this week. She wears them in the house, in the car and in the dark... + check out the hairdo!













Max is growing, I can't believe he is seven months now. He loves his walker (when Grace let's him have a turn...) He has decided that he is going to be a picky eater. He gags on Turkey and Rice, Chicken and Rice, Chicken Noodle, Pasta, Beans, Peas and sometimes his rice cereal. He loves the fruits and sweet potato's. This is a bit frustrating to me because he big sis would eat anything. She was eating table foods around 6-7 months, but not Max - I gave him a tiny bit of pancake and he had an allergic reaction. I gave him a tiny bit of noodle and he choked and threw up... But, my sweet boy is so happy, and that makes it worth it. He feeds off of Grace and laughs and laughs at her. He has a high pitch laugh which we only hear every few days, but when he lets it go everyone around stops. (Once again, nice hair!)

Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful belated Thursday, also known as Friday.

I found a post on my sister's friends blog that I really loved. As it's the season for being thankful I thought I would adopt the idea to my blog...

The 5 everyday things I am thankful for today....
1. Cars. Plain and simple, I am so grateful that I was born in a time of easy traveling. Even when gas prices were so high, it still only took an hour to get to Cache Valley. I can't imagine having to walk there!
2. Both Grace and Max slept through the night for the second night in a row. That means I slept for 2 straight nights. That has not happened in over two years. So with that, I'm so thankful for my bed.
3. My home. So many people helped us, donated/loaned and gave us furniture, time and so many other things. I love it. There is not one day I take my home for granted -
4. Binka's. Last night I was at Ikeaa with my mother and sister in law and Grace was crazy. The second I broke down and gave her a binka (It was after 8 and we had been there for 2 hours.) she settled down and rode in the cart.
5. Wet Wipes. Girls, can you imagine changing a diaper without wet wipes? Once again, I know I was born in a the day-n-age I could handle, because there is no way I would wash a cloth after it had poop on it!

So I am putting this challenge out there for all of you: find five everyday things you are grateful for, big or small it doesn't matter and either post them on your own blog or leave me a comment. I promise it is pretty fun to think through your day and realize we have a lot to be thankful for. It is a great way to end your day.

Increasing our vocabulary and gratefulness...

I feel like I have hit a blogging lull. Over a week with no post and nothing new to note... So I'll just post this cute picture of Grace and tell about some funny things she has said/done this week. Max was in his walker and he was sort of jumping, so I commented and praised him for jumping, so Grace was not going to just sit and let Max get all the attention so she stood up and said, "I jump, jump, jump." Well, she is one, so her feet never left the floor but it was so cute to watch her bounce.
She keeps me laughing, she came in the room and I was talking to Max and she said, "What's happening?" During the sacrament Grace stood up and loudly said, "I want a drink!" She loves to take the sacrament, but doesn't like to wait her turn... And my favorite thing she said this week "Super". I was sarcastically saying it to Mike and she started saying it. I guess it's a good thing I wasn't saying something worse!

Saturday night my sister was preparing her talk for the next day's sacrament on Gratitude. I teased her for procrastinating and told her that was an easy subject. I cursed myself. The next day we got "the call". I'm surprised it took them 4 months to ask us. And our topic, Gratitude. I think I'll borrow Cassie's talk... :) I also am in charge of sharing time this month, I teach primary, Mike teaches Gospel Principles once a month, they called him to teach in priesthood once a month, he is a ward missionary, Grace will not go to nursery, and we have Max. Needless to say, I'm beginning to dread going to church. I feel like I'm juggling a herd of cattle. Eventually my kids are going to cause so much disruption in the meetings they are going to change there minds... Yeah right.

Happy wishes to our friends and families -