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Thanksgiving Day

We had a relaxing Thanksgiving! We cooked way too much food, and the boys took naps.
Savannah and I made pies.

I made pumpkin pie for Court because it's his favorite. It looks perfect doesn't it? Well it doesn't taste like pumpkin pie. I forgot to put the sugar in it. I am so mad at myself!

Later that day we watched Toy Story 3 together. Savannah loved it! I am so thankful that I got to be with my family for Thanksgiving! I hope everyone elses was good too!

Happy Thanksgiving

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. There have been ups and downs, tears and laughs, but my blessings outweigh the hard times by far. I am thankful for my sweet little Xander. He loves me to hold him and loves hugs! He is so laid back and calm. I love my Xander.
I am so grateful for temples. They are the place that I feel closest to Heavenly Father, and I always feel a great peace inside.
I am thankful for my mother and mother-in-law and their love for me and my family. They are a great help and a great blessing to me. My family and my mother went through a lot and I admire her strength and courage she must of had to get through her trails, which I feel are harder than most mothers and wife's ever have to go through. She did all she could in her situation that she was put in and raised my five brothers and me. She is an amazing women and I am blessed to be her daughter. I love you mom. Thank you.
My mother-in-law is also am amazing women. She is always there for us and cares so much for our children. She is so talented and has taught me so much. I am so grateful for her. I love you.
I am thankful for my my crazy little Savannah, and all of the silly things she does!
I am thankful for individuality. It keeps life interesting!
I am grateful for my children just the way they are. They might have been born different than normal children, with extra parts, defects, and delays, but they are perfect, special children of God. My love for them is unconditional.
I am thankful for my best friend, my husband. He is a wonderful husband and amazing father. Savannah and Xander love him so much, as do I. He is my greatest support, and has a big caring heart.
I am grateful for love and laughter, they truly enrich and strengthen our lives.
I am thankful for miracles. I know they happen each day, and I will always believe in them. My two little ones are miracles, and I thank God for them each day.
I am thankful for hope and possibilities. They keep us believing and hopeful of the future, that it will be good and full of life.
I am thankful for enthusiasm, it reminds me to be grateful for all of the little things and enjoy being in the moment.
I am thankful for snow. It is pure and white and beautiful.
Most of all I am thankful for the gospel and my eternal family. It is always there for us and gives us strength in our time of weaknesses. I love my family and friends and I am thankful for everyone being there for us. It means so much to me and gives me strength. Thank you.

BE THANKFUL

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Black Headband

I was able to get some crafts done this weekend while I've been home! I think this is one of my favorite headbands I've made so far!

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

• 
  
• 2 cups biscuit/baking mix
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the biscuit mix and 3/4 cup sugar. In a small bowl, combine eggs and sour cream; stir into the dry ingredients just until combined. Fold in blueberries.
• Fill greased muffin cups three-fourths full. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Yield: 1 dozen.

Carmel Rice Crispy Treats

These are the greatest rice crispy treats ever! I could eat half the pan! I love them!

Carmel Rice Crispy Treats

2 (10 oz.) bags marshmallows
18 tbsp. butter
9 c. Rice Krispies
1 . bag caramels
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Melt over low heat; one bag of marshmallows and 4 tablespoons butter. Stir in 4 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies; press into a 9"x13" buttered cake pan. Melt caramels, 10 tablespoon butter and sweetened condensed milk together and spread over Rice Krispies mixture and refrigerate about 1/2 hour. Then repeat Rice Krispies recipe from above and put on top of caramel mixture.

XANDER wodden wall hanging letters

I've been wanting to make Xander's wall letters for months and I finally did it!!!!
It took me two days though, because some little boy thinks that his mommy has to hold him whenever he's awake, and he likes to scream at her.

My thoughtful husband

Last night on Court's way home from work, I had him stop by Macey's to pick up some groceries for Thanksgiving. This was my list...

2 red bell peppers
olive oil
ground cumin
2 cans chickpeas
whole wheat pita bread
1 tube refrigerated crescents
2 cream cheese
green onion
1 jar diced pimientos
baby carrots
turkey breast
2 cans cherry pie filling
1 can pumpkin
stuffing
eggnog

Now, this is my list that I gave him, but I learned my lesson "don't send your husband to the store by himself," exspecilly when he's been at work all day, then school, and it's 9:00, and he hasn't had dinner. This was his recite...

2 corn nuts chips
2 diced pimentos
6 jello
ground cumin
2 eggnog
4 Pillsbury crescent rolls
4 stuffing
cranberry sauce
2 garbanzo beans
olive oil
turkey bags
4 cream cheese
2 red bell peppers
turkey breast
carrots
whole wheat pocket bread
pita pockets
green onion
chocolate chip cookies
chocolate covered cinnamon bears
whip cream

In the end, what should of been a $35.00 grosery trip ended up $72.00. The main reason he said why he had gotten so much was that it was all on sell. I love my husband to death but, this is why it's better for me to do the shopping. He did do something really sweet and thoughtful though. He got me chocolate covered cinnamon bears, which I love!

I am thankful for my crazy, but sweet best friend, my husband Court, and all that he does for me. On his way home from work, for his lunch he stopped at the pharmacy and picked up the kids prescriptions, so I wouldn't have to take them outside to the store again. He could of just came home last night and not of gone to the store, because he was so tired, but he went and even brought me back cinnamon bears! He is the sweetest man ever! I love you Court!

A sick baby and toddler for Thanksgiving

Xander and Savannah were getting sick last week with runny noses, congestion, and stuff. I thought about taking Xander in Friday but, kept thinking no, he'll get better. Savannah and Xander developed coughs over the weekend. Xander's has gotten really bad and sounds awful when he breathes. You can feel it in his lungs. He is so miserable. He woke up every couple hours last night because he couldn't breath, or his coughing would wake him up. I took both of them in to the doctors this morning and Xander has another ear infection and they are sending a nebulizer over for us to give him breathing treatments, and Savannah if she needs it. Savannah is being put on an antibiotic also. I'm suppose to watch Xander for RSV, and let them know how he is doing. I wish I would have taken him in on Friday. I feel so bad. It looks like we're staying home this week and maybe we'll have our own little family thanksgiving. We were planning on going over to my aunts for Thanksgiving. It might be kinda nice to just relax and have our own mini family thanksgiving. I hardly ever get to spend time with Court. When he's home he usually had to do homework. It will be good for us!

Today I'm thankful for the this time of year where I get to spend extra time with my family and loved ones.

Harry Potter GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

I'm having a girls night on Saturday the 27! If anyone would like to come see the new Harry Potter with me let me know, and we'll figure out what showing times will work best for everyone! ...And yes, I'm a geek and I love Harry Potter!

Baby Isaac

My husbands cousin and his wife just had their sweet little baby boy Isaac. He was 4lbs. and 2oz. and 17 inches long. He was born a little more than three weeks early but, he was born smaller than he should have been and with respiratory problems, which include a collapsed lung. He is stable, but, is in the NICU. My heart goes out to them. It brings back all of the horrible memories of Xander in the NICU. I know exactly how Isaac's mother must be feeling. It was one of the hardest times in my life. Please, if you would, keep this precious little one and his family in your payers.

I Am Thankful For 14-16

14. Wednesday November 4th Xander had his first taste of whole grain rice cereal! I am thankful that he loves it, and he seams to be gaining weight! He gets to eat two teaspoons twice daily!

15. I am so grateful for my calling in the young womens! I love the other leaders that I get to work with! They are such amazing women, and are so willing to serve the girls and each other. I love that they make me feel like I'm just one of them, and so do the girls. I love being with the young womens!

16. I am so grateful for my friends, who are always there for me. I always have someone to talk to when I have a bad day, or even when something horrible happens, and I just need a girlfriend to cry over the phone to. They lift me up when I'm having bad self esteem issues or having an emotional day with Savannah. No matter how stupid or small, or large my problems are they are always there for me or even listen to me just vent. I am so grateful for my friends!

I'm am thankful for 9-13

9. I'm thankful for Scensy Scents candles! They make my very old house smell so good. I especially love the warm scents of the cinnamon and holiday scents that bring back memories of childhood Thanksgivings and Christmases.

10. I am thankful for Birthdays! On Tuesday, it was Court's birthday. I love to celebrate the birth's of my loved ones and people I care about! Happy Birthday Court! I love you forever and a day!

11. I am thankful for children s books! They play such an important role in our children s lives. I love reading to Savannah and Xander and bonding with them.

12. I am thankful for my little niece who, helped me make marshmallow pops for my book club last night. She is so cute, and such a great little helper!It aways makes Savannah's day when she gets to play with her cousins!

13. I'm thankful for book club! I love all of my wonderful book club friends! It is so much fun! I never would have read as many different variety of books. Because of book club I have found s a love for reading. We get a chance to have a night out where we can hang out and talk, sometimes until one in the morning caching up on each others lives, and eat yummy food! I'll post the recipes for the marshmallow pops and rustic pear tart on my cooking blog tomorrow!

I'm thankful for...1-8

4. I'm thankful for my hands. Savannah colored paper plates with chalk. It works really well. I cut up scrapbook paper for Savannah and she glued the pieces onto the paper plates. She had so much fun!

5. I'm thankful for bedtime hugs and kisses! One of my favorite times of the day is Savannah's bedtime. She gives us great big hugs and kisses on both of our cheeks and lips, then she gives us esscomo kisses, and grabs our head to put her eye on our eye. She has to do this every night. It's so cute! She even does it to Xander now! I love my little princess!

6. I'm thankful for my kitchen. Savannah helped me bake cookies this week! She loves to pore and stir. Her favorite part is licking the spoon after I'm done!

7. I'm thankful for our beehives! They are so cute and sweet! I look forward to our activitiy days every week! It's so much fun! They make it fun to teach them and they're awesome girls! When I'm having a bad day and they smile at me or give me a hug, it really means a lot to me! I love them!

8. I'm thankful for overalls for babies. They are so cute on Xander!

I'm thankful for chicken noodle soup

#3I'm thankful for chicken noodle soup! Mindy made me her yummy chicken noodle soup! Savannah and I had some for lunch today. It was so good we both had seconds! Thank you so much Mindy! It was so sweet of you! That really is the best chicken noodle soup ever!

I Am Thankful For Nap Time!

#2 I am thankful for naptime! When Savannah gets home from school and after she eats lunch, I put her down for her nap and then try to get Xander down for a nap too. When this amazing thing happens I get to clean my house, chech up on my blog, make appointments, pay bill,read a book, or do crafts! Today, I had another huge meltdown then, I pulled myself together to clean my kitchen and living room, then painted the center pieces for Young Women's New Excellence tomorrow. I hope they turn out ok. I accidentally painted one of the blocks pink, then realized it was suppose to be purple for Integrity. There is no value who's color is pink. What was I thinking! I would go insane if nap time didn't exist!

Xander's Follow up phone call

I just got a call from Xander's doctor's nurse and she said that his doctor talked with his other doctor and there is nothing to worry about with Xander's head! I was really scared about it.

Xander"s Six Month Check up

Xander had his six month checkup today. He has gone from the 1% to the 8% for his height! But, he has lost weight and gone from the 10% to the 7%. He weighs 14.6 pounds. We get to start feeding him cereal and vegetables. Xander's plates in the front of his head are not as open as they should be, which can mean mental problems, but they're going to have him go see a specialist. I don't really want to talk about it right now because it just makes me to emotional. Xander is scheduled for his consultation with the plastics to remove his polyadactly December 8th.

Halloween 2010

Savannah was Bell from Beauty and The Beast. It is her favorite princess movie right now! If she'd have the choice she'd never take off her Bell dress. She was so cute in it! Before we left to go to grandma Loves Savannah had to wear her princess shoes that Grandma Jensen had given her, but of coarse they didn't fit with socks on. In the end one of them broke while I was trying to put it on her foot and it all ended in a screaming tantrum. I told her that these pink shoes are princess shoes and she decided to let me put them on while she sobbed. After we went to grandma Loves we went to thw ward trunk or treat. We had dinner, played some games, and then Court and Xander handed out candy while Savannah and I trunk or treated in the church halls because it was poring rain outside. Savannah of coarse only wanted the yellow candy, but she let it go now and then if she was given another color. She is getting so well at saying thank you! I had put a lace ribbon in Savannah's hair before we went to the church and on the way home Savannah was screaming bloody murder. She was pulling on the lace trying to get it out of her hair. We had to stop so Court could try to get it out before she pulled her hair out. He couldn't get it out so we went home. Court go the ribbon out of her hair but, one little thing after another set her off. We put her to bed early. It was a really fun night but, I think Savannah had had it, and when she's done we're all done.
Xander was a cute, snugly little teddy bear!

I had curled Savannah's hair in the back but, you'd never know. It just had to be poring rain.
Xander took a little nap on the way over to Grandma Loves.

Thankful Jars

Wrap a matching ribbon around paper strips. I added little tags that I made with my cricket home expressions.
I found these on www.somewhatsimple.blogspot.com and printed them.
Wrap swirl around and hot glue. Cut out a leaf shape and crinkle it for leafs.
Fold swirl in half. It's not suppose to be perfect!
Cut a square, then cut a swirl in it for a rose.
Mod Podge baby formula can, then place scrapbook paper around it. Mod Podge over paper.
Wrap paper around to curl and place inside the thankful jar. Place crinkled paper on the top of the jar and wrap a rubber band around it and then cover the rubber band with a ribbon.
Fold strip in half.
On the back of one of the strips write something that you are thankful for.
Cut up strips of scrap book paper. Crinkle a large square of paper for the lid.
I have been wanting to make thankful jars. My family and I have many things to be thankful for this year. They are fun and easy to make, and Savannah even helped me! We are so very blessed!