Thanksgiving Day

I can not even begin to explain how excited that I am it is finally Thanksgiving Day.  For some reason, having the end of the year full of holiday cheer is just great for me.  I really need that time to reflect on my many blessings and on why I do indeed need to be grateful for all that I have.  In talking to the girls about Thanksgiving, I told them we would be watching the parade on TV in the morning.  They weren't really sure what that was since most years we have been traveling in or somewhere other than our house and unable to watch.  I am VERY proud to say that we will get to see it this year!  WOOHOO!   Why I get so over-excited about some huge balloons and quick entertainment?  It's because of all the stinking AWESOME warm and fuzzies that overtake my body just thinking about the season!  Life really is good (even though I argue that point the other 10 months of the year).

  I have made a big change recently that I was pretty reluctant to make.  I quit the YMCA because I wasn't able to get there enough and I couldn't take part in the classes that I enjoyed.  My resolution?  I will be taking a more active role in my fitness and overall well-being.  I will get up in the morning to exercise before the hubby goes to work.  I will read my scriptures, ready the lunch for #1, get everyone dressed and fed to start our day, and most of all - get to bed EARLY.  That is right..... I will be aiming for 9 hours of sleep each night (obviously not tonight since it is already 1am) so I can wake rested and ready to go.  I know it is a bit much to bite off at this point, but I am going to use baby steps.  Anyway... getting to the THANKFUL part of this story anytime soon!?  Yeah, really.  Ok, so I am THANKFUL for the opportunity to be able to be a better homemaker and use my time more wisely.  I look forward to more time spent playing games with my children and teaching them the things they need to know.  I see the gym membership as a small sacrifice for the BIG change that will take part in our family - for the better. 

What's for........... DESSERT???

Ever been one of the poor souls that walk by the YW room on Sunday to see a bunch of teenage girls enjoying goodies?  Well, I have FINALLY taken the time to write down some of the recipes for those creations on my recipe blog.  Check it out.  I need to add a lot more and post my yummy spanish rice recipe that I found on allrecipes for last night's dinner. Check it out! Please ignore how long it has been since it has been updated, I have a lot of work to do to keep up with that blog.  I will do my best, and I am trying to do better about posting pictures with the post.  I do not like cook books that don't have pictures in them.... so I am not expecting you to! Feel free to send some of your favorite recipes so that I can try them and post them (with credit to you of course) on the blog.  Thanks!

Duel for Monday night dinner

 VS




Like the crazy people that we are, we decided to attempt a dinner at golden corral last night as part of our FHE.  It was going to be free for the hubby, plus.... we all could eat as much as we wanted.  Naturally, I cut back on what I ate that day to leave PLENTY O ROOM for the night's smorgasbord.  We attempted two different golden corrals only to find their lines way too long for children ready to eat.  After weighing our options, we decided on cracker barrel (because I hadn't ever been).  My thoughts on my first visit there?   DO NOT go there if you are ready to eat at a buffet!  By golly I think we scarfed up most of the girls fries (oh, and their kids meals were bigger portions than our adult meals) that they played "too full" to eat.

Hmm.... letter to the company?  I think so!
           Dear Golden Corral
    Why do you have a DAY to honor military members?  Most of them end up standing outside in the cold for an hour or so - for what?  To save 10.95???  Seriously?!  I think that allowing military members the weekend of Veteran's Day to redeem their free meal.  Perhaps creating an online coupon that can be printed after registering so that not every military member in town is eating free for a weekend.  My family was hoping to have a nice evening out at one of your restaurants, but were unable to stand in the lengthy lines at your business and eventually forced to give business to another competitor.   Every year, competitors praise your "military dinner" promotion because it gives them MORE customers.

                                                        sincerely,
                                                           A Navy Wife

disclaimer: logos borrowed from their respective websites. also, opinion expressed in this blog is that of the author and not an official statement from either restaurant.

more grateful for's

#9.  Hot Chocolate made with warm milk (favorite)
#10.  Alone moments (no, I didn't get one today, just reminiscing)
#11.  the idea of yard sales
#12.  My grandparents (both sets) - they are the most wonderful people that I know and I want my children to be able to know them.
#13.  warm, cozy blankets accompanied by GREAT books
#14. friends

Happy Veterans Day!

I am sending out a HUGE thank you to all of those who have served in the US military at any point throughout this country's history.  It is because of you that we have the freedoms that our forefather's wished us to have.  ( (Today) I am choosing to ignore the fact that the majority of this country's citizens are voluntarily giving up a lot of those rights)  Thanks to all the military members, (old and new) there is at least someone fighting for what is right.   Please, in honoring our military members, do not forget to also honor those families that go through many struggles to share their loved one(s) with this country.  It is most definitely not an easy task and many important milestones/anniversaries/birthdays are missed regularly to ensure your freedom.   As you sit down with your loved one every night for dinner, remember that someone is without their loved one tonight in order to defend our freedoms.  Everyday, there is a servicemember missing the birth of their child, 1st birthday, or anniversary. Each holiday season there are empty plates at the dinner table for Christmas and Thanksgiving.  Many miss the 1st day of school for their eldest child just to defend our country and our freedoms.  It is because of these remarkable people that you have the opportunity to be with your loved ones each and every day and to have them at every important day in your lives.  As long as there are ones willing to serve,  the rest of the country will be spared in having to protect their families and belongings on their own, or being forced to serve in the military themselves. 

THANK YOU VETERANS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL!!  AS WELL AS ALL EMERGENCY PERSONNEL!! 

Oh, and you're welcome for sharing my husband with all of you and going through a lot of important holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries (to name a few) without him.

Thanksgiving

#6.  Thankful for time with family
#7.  LOVE indoor plumbing (hot showers, flushing toilets, etc)
#8.  Thankful for phones, webcams (modern technology)

Contagious

I distinctly remember telling my husband yesterday that I was sick and that he probably shouldn't kiss me.  So, what does he do?  He says, "That's ok, I'll be alright."   Then imagine my surprise when he wakes up today and then later complains of a sore throat and achy body?!  Yup, I told him!  Sometimes boys are so silly. 

Next Project....

Ugly Dolls.  I want to make one for my little man and found a fleece throw at the thrift store today for $1.99 that I am going to use for the body.  Any ideas on how to stuff that thing without having a funny seam somewhere (proof of where I stuffed it)?   I think that these things are the PERFECT gift for little boys.  All the ward has to do now is supply the boys for me to make them for (that is if they turn out cute - the dolls, not the babies).   =)

Thankful List

Ok... since I am apparently, TRULY awful at updating this, I will play catch up with my Thankful list.

2.  Grateful that my children have their health, while I am sick.
 (makes things a little easier)
3.  Grateful that I have a husband who likes loves me and finds me attractive.
4.  Grateful my family supports me with crafting
5.  Grateful to have a roof over my head and a steady paycheck (not mine... my husband's)

Give Thanks

I really love this time of year.  I know that we most definitely should always be thankful, but it is easier to think that way when Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  The same goes for Christmas and the wonderful spirit that accompanies the last month of the year.   I would love it if we had these two holidays all year long - but I will settle for just trying to live these holidays in my heart year round. 

I would like to take a moment to say one thing that I am thankful for in my life.  I am going to try to do this each time that I post (since I am horrible about posting everyday).  

#1.  I am thankful for the scriptures and the Atonement.