Giving Thanks

I'm trying to focus on being more grateful this season. In not really any particular order, here are 50 things I'm grateful for this year. (I'm stopping at 40 right now, because I need to go to bed! I'll finish later!)

#1. The Gospel
#2. Joseph Smith & modern day prophets
#3. My Husband
#4. Luke & Grady
#5. My Parents & Siblings
#6. All my in-laws
#7. My extended family
#8. My heritage
#9. There being no traffic in Thatcher
#10. Our home
#11. That I was born in the USA
#12. My violin
#13. My Camera
#14. Friends
#15. My education
#16. Good prime time television
#17. Electricity
#18. Indoor plumbing
#19. Popsicles
#20. Blogging
#21. My travels
#22. My calling
#23. My one pair of jeans that look good on
#24. My Scriptures
#25. My health
#26. My Christmas decorations
#27. Computers & the Internet
#28. My EAC roommates & friends
#29. My Independence
#30. All my Friends
#31. All my life experiences, even the ones that I didn't enjoy
#32. Good shopping deals
#33. Being a stay-at-home-mom (a big thanks to my husband for that)
#34. The great examples I've had in my life
#35. Forgiveness
#36. My food
#37. My clothing
#38. My safety
#39. Dessert
#40. Temples
#41. Cell phones
#42. Christmas

Way To Fast!

These last five months have gone by way to fast! Okay, so I know that turning 5 months old really isn't that big of a deal compared to a lot of other milestones, but my little baby is getting sooo big! He's definitely not a newborn anymore. He loves trying to eat his toys, diaper changes, baths, and lots of attention! He's even started sitting up, although it never last longer than about 60 seconds. I'm pretty sure he's started teething this past week too. We've had a couple of nights this week where he's refused to sleep at night unless he was being held. Other than that he's just a perfect baby. I've really enjoyed having a baby again. I just wish time would slow down just a little bit, so I can remember everything better.



Grady likes to chill in his Bumbo when Luke and I play outside.


I've always prided myself on not being overly emotional, but when I saw this picture yesterday I almost cried. This was taken the day Grady was born. He is hardly the same baby anymore. I'm really enjoying watching him grow up, but it's just sad to think about how quickly things change.

My Life with 2 Little Boys

Caption to this photo-
Luke: "Mama, Grady's eating my hand!"
"HaHaHaHaHa!"
"That's funny!!!"
-30 seconds later-
"Mom! I don't like it when Grady eats my hand!"
"Stop it Grady! Stop it!"

I really love my little boys. I think one of my favorite parts about having two kids is being able to watch them interact. A couple of days ago, when I was bathing them together, Grady was having so much fun and was kicking, splashing, and laughing like crazy. Luke was getting really upset that Grady was splashing him and kept yelling angrily at Grady "Stop it Sweetheart! Stop it Sweetheart!". I didn't even realize that I did it that often, but Luke had picked up on the fact that I call Grady, Sweetheart a lot. Grady is absolutely mesmerized by Luke. If he hears Luke's voice while he is eating he'll immediately stop what he is doing and look for Luke.

We've also been doing a lot of talking to Luke about how since Grady is a baby he can't do lots of things. We also tell him about what he was like when he was a baby. Luke has started a lot of sentences lately with "When I was a little boy ...". It's hilarious to hear a 2-year-old talk like that. All I've got to say is 1 kid + 1 baby = twice the entertainment!

I just wanted to share this picture. I think that it could possibly be my new favorite picture of Luke!

My Passion

For this past month or so photography has been pretty much the only thing on my mind. It's usually the last thing I think about before I go to bed, and the first thing I think about when I wake-up. I've been learning a lot, and trying to hone my skills. I have also become really critical of my own work, which is good. I need to know what I'm doing wrong in order to get it right the next time. If it's possible, my poor kids have probably been over photographed lately! Sometimes I fantasize that I could start a business doing this, but realistically, I know that I need more experience and a decent portfolio first.

I talked my sister-in-law Sara into watching my kids for 30 min. so I could go out and do a little photo shoot with her little 3 month old cutie, Darrek. I do have to say that I am one lucky aunt to have such a sweet and adorable little nephew!

Saturday was a day of firsts. It was the first time I had ever done a family photo shoot ( unless you count those two times I used the self-timer on my own family!). This was my friend and neighbor Cassandra with her cute little family. (Kids ages 4 1/2 and 1 1/2.) Also, it was the first time anyone had ever asked me to take pictures for them! I had fun, learned a lot, and what's best, I think I got a few really decent shots, in my own opinion.

I know they're not perfect, but I'm curious to know what other people think. I'd really love it if you'd tell me which ones you like the best or don't like at all and why. Thanks!
Warning lots of photographs to follow!
#1

#2 (same as #1, but different edit)

#3

#3a.

#4 (He is such a pleasant little boy. This is really the only face he made the whole time!)

#5

#5a

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

Happy Halloween!!!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! We sure did! Luke ended up with a lot of candy, and if I would have let him, he would have spent the whole day today eating it! This morning he got out of bed a couple of minutes before I did, and when I walked into the kitchen this morning I found him taking candy from the bags of candy I had to hand out to trick-or-treaters and putting it into his own plastic pumpkin!

If I do say so myself, Luke made a pretty darn cute pirate, and Grady was just the most adorable turtle! It was so cute how that little turtle head thing squished Grady's cheeks.

First we went trick-or-treating at Bashas with some friends where Luke even got to decorate his own Halloween cake. We had dinner with friends, then I took the kids to Ty's grandma's wards' trunk-or-treat. Luke was so funny. He would very timidly say "trick-or-treat", and wouldn't get closer than 10 feet to the person handing out the candy unless I pushed him. He absolutely loves candy, but was just a little leery of the whole trunk-or-treat thing. We had a good time, and then ended up at my mother-in-law's house.
Our jack-o-lanterns. We had a fun time carving them together a couple of days before Halloween. Ty's is on the left, and mine is on the right.

Luke with cousins Cambree & Ridge.

Grady with cousins Brecklynn & Darrek

Does Grady's costume look familiar?

Here's a picture of Luke in it when he was 6 months old for Halloween 2007.