Friday, November 2nd

Justin and I went to the temple Friday night. I'm grateful to live so close to a temple. We were looking for some answers. I'm grateful to feel I receive revelation when I am making decisions. We have been guided to make choices that have blessed our family.

Saturday, November 3

Had a birthday party for Nate today. October was a little busy...

I was grateful for a husband who excels in inventing games. I assigned him the obstacle course and he pulled it off without even breaking a sweat. He had them riding trikes and scooters, running in and out of soccer cones, and hurdling coolers. They loved it!

I'll have to come back later and add some photos--I got some good ones!

Sunday

I am in the primary presidency in my ward. I am in charge of sharing time for this month. I spent some time yesterday making personalized missionary tags for the kids in the primary.

It made me so happy to see those kids proudly wearing their tags. Nate came over to me for help putting his on and he told me, "Mom! I'm like a real missionary! I have a pocket with a tag on it!" Melted my heart.

I'm grateful sharing time went smoothly and the kids were engaged and excited about it.

Behind as usual

Today was a good day. I'm grateful my car passed the smog test--one less thing to worry about.
I had a nice nap this afternoon. I'm grateful to have kids old enough to look after themselves for a few hours.
I had lunch with a dear friend for her birthday. I am amazed by this girl. She has had some shocking experiences, but somehow is still tender hearted and always looking for ways to help others. Plus, she's FUN!
I'm so grateful to have a friend who I never have to feel inadequate with. I can be what ever I am and that is enough. A rare gift.

Happy November!

I did this a couple years ago, and it helped me enjoy Thanksgiving so much more.  It makes me feel happier.

TODAY, I am thankful that Halloween is over, and I am thankful that I didn't have any activities scheduled tonight.  It seems that each year Halloween gets harder.  It's so much work!  I'm grateful all the parties and planning are over, and I can put away the Halloween mess.  If only I had the willpower to chuck all the candy....

Anyways.  It was a beautiful day to recover from the chaos.  I helped in Nate's classroom this morning, did a few errands to get ready for his belated birthday party Saturday, and actually made a complete dinner.  Pasta with a creamy sausage sauce and steamed broccoli.

Nate calls broccoli "super-food."  I think he got it from his transitional kindergarten (TK) teacher.  He has been more willing to eat certain super-foods that he talked about in class--wuhoo!--although tonight he only nibbled off the tops of his broccoli.  Still, it's an improvement from the nonstop candy he has been eating for the last five days!

Spidey, who chose his costume early and never wavered.

Emma and her friend Brittany

Ash, who begged and begged for me to order this costume online.

Camille with friends Madison and Lauren.

Traffic lights

On the way to the movies Nate was explaining to Ashley how there are fruit loops in the traffic light that make it red and green. They are fighting, and when the red one is winning the light is red, when the green one is winning the light is green.
Ashley tried to tell him it was a red circle with a light, but he didn't believe her. He is sticking to his fruit loop theory.
Ah the workings of a child mind. Wow.

Graduates

Emma won the president's award, little smartie.  She gets top grades and school comes so naturally to her.  Lucky kid, she won't have to work her tail off as it gets harder.  But she has developed great study habits...far better than mine ever were!

 Emma has been so excited about the end of her year.  Yesterday she went to Disneyland with the whole sixth grade.  Where was Disneyland when I left elementary school?  She is gearing up to go into young womens, too.  Her birthday is not until August, but she gets to go to girls camp in June.  She keeps saying things like, "Father's Day will be my very last time singing in sacrament meeting," or, "Mom, this is my last time taking my backpack to school."  I just nod and smile.  I guess I remember that nervous/excited feeling knowing big changes were coming.

 My little buddy is going to full day school this fall.  (Assuming we are still living here, which I am for now.)  He asks me often about when he gets to go to the girls school.  He gets bored at home more now, so I'm excited for him to go, but I'll miss my little buddy.  I wonder how much longer he will still say, "snuggle time!" when I ask him what time it is.  We love our snuggle time.

Seattle is a cool city!

Volunteer Park

 View from the top of the water tower at Volunteer Park.

 Rhododendrons are the state flower.  They are all over and so beautiful!

 What a clown. :)

 The trees are huge!  It reminded me of the British Isles.

 From the top of the Space needle.

 Pikes Place Market.  I could do an entire post on this, it was so amazing.  The flowers were gorgeous and so cheap!  We saw them throwing the fish, they had a cool pasta shop and some really strange people.  I could have spent all day poking around there.

 Wouldn't be a big city without street performers right?

 So fun to catch up with old friends.  We ate good food, laughed so hard, and I wish I could go back this weekend!

Nate Dog...

We are getting ready for church and Katie is trying to convince Nate to change into pants that fit.

Emma trying to help says: "look how cute you little bum looks in these pants?"

Nate bends over sticking his rear end out at Emma and says, "Then feast your eyes!"

Just another priceless one-liner from Bubba.