{Me Thinks...}

Wow it feels like forever since I've done a me thinks watch out ha ha! We had a good weekend cold, snowy, homey..

We got to go to the temple and spend time with my family and Guy and his parents all the way from England who we love like family too, they are so fun and easy to talk to and we have lots of good laughs. 

It was a relaxing morning and so nice to see them again.

We got a few opportunities to teach the kids some important lessons in life along the way this weekend too..... 

things I think they will remember forever.. touching ones and gospel ones

We also watched the Christmas carol together, shoveled walks, made cookies, had a lot of laughs and the kids played outside lots, built snowmen and got cold and drank lots of candy can hot chocolate and toast! 

So they were happy we were happy!

 I seriously can't believe how big this boy is getting he is developing a little personality, he is so fun! and is getting a little feisty some days so cute!!  He has been a teething machine who handles it by sleeping like 5 hours at a time and still sleeps all night! He is the drooling king and loves to help me with everything like making cookies, while the boys shoveled we made cookies inside ...

{and a boy after my own ♥ loves cookie dough ha ha!} U should have seen him sneaking it out of the bowl!

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ME THINKS

Christmas and New years is such a great time of year to change bad habits, bad behavior, and self centered thinking that doesn't get us anywhere.

I've found myself lately wondering what makes people compare themselves so bad to this or that and to act so miserable like everything in life is against them, or use the littlest things for an excuse to make bad choices or decisions instead of being accountable for their own actions.

We are all individuals, all Children Of God all of us have special qualities and talents and to waste time comparing the things we don't have or what so and so has that I don't ......

is a waste of time, talent, energy, spirit and thought.

To give - and to serve others is truly what makes us a happier people.

It's sad to watch people become so bitter or obsessed with things that just don't matter. Instead of making the choice to be HAPPY with what we do have.

To make the best with what we have and to help ourselves and others around us to progress solely depends on what we do and how we act, think, and feel, and treat others.

See what a smile can do for someone or what a small act of service does.

Give of yourself this Season and all year through.

That's probably the best gift there is.

To Serve.

Not only does it feel good inside but it teaches your children what your really made of and isn't that one of the very most important things we can do for our children or those around us. Be an example & serve.

Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others.

~Gordon B. Hinckley

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Miserable people think about their height, their weight, their hair, their car, their clothes, their nose. They live in a world of their own. They say things like, "But enough about me...what do you think about me?" They run their own 24-7 self-service station. Happy people know that the key to being happy is making others so. They see every new day as another opportunity to make the world a better place by making a difference to others. Miserable people think of others only when comparing themselves to them. And when they compare themselves to others, they become either vain or bitter, or more miserable.

~John Bytheway

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So remember 

in the Grinch's words 

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. 

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
Dr. Seuss

ps **header graphic is Becky Higgins** 
 

 Have a great week..

{Thankful Thursday...}

Happy Thanksgiving To all ...{{who it applies too;)}}

So crazy around here the last little while..... the challenge was so fun to do.... but its nice to get caught up too! With the freezing cold, blizzarding weather, sick me, no school today or tomorrow for the olders because a pipe broke in the school and there's no heat.

..anyway never a dull moment... 

we got our decorating done for Christmas, most of my Christmas shopping was done online so much less stress! and no temptation looking at a hundred other things along the way and no lines bonus!! Still lots of other things to get done but its a nice feeling to be almost done!

We've decorated our trees love it! This year with my upstairs tree I added some aqua and I love it! The best part I used some old decorations and spray adhesived {elmers} them and glittered them to death! The subway art I downloaded from here and based most of my living room around it...

 .....and the kids tree we did monday night.....

K2 was so dang cute and wanted to put decorations on too he was so fun he watched the kids do it for a few minutes then picked up his and dad helped him put it on so fun when they start "getting" it... 

I love Christmas!!!

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Recipe 

I made Broccoli Cheese Soup and Bread Bowls they turned out so good! and Everybody loved them and the best part.... so easy...

{and D will hate that I put his picture on here because when I took the picture he says "I don't need 300 hundred people knowing what I ate for dinner.... lol" ha ha}

Italian Bread Bowls 

{from all recipes}

Ingredients 

2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast

• 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 7 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon water 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.{I added a little sugar to help it proof}
2. Add salt, oil and 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture; beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed after each addition.
3. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
4. Punch dough down, and divide into 8 equal portions {I just did 5 and it worked fine cooked them for about 5 minutes longer.} Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf. Place loaves on lightly greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 35 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water; lightly brush the loaves with half of this egg wash.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Brush with remaining egg mixture, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.

To make bowls: Cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from top of each loaf; scoop out centers, leaving 3/4-inch-thick shells. Fill bread bowls with hot soup and serve immediately. 

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Next...

So thankful for a warm house

for good kids

for music

for the Gospel 

for you who read my little blog 

and your kind comments, advice and direction

for GIVEAWAYS 

in the last 2 weeks I've won

A PHOTO SHOOT for my little sister and her husband
and this sweet little preemie babe

they just got her home after almost three months in the hospital

some glass magnets from a sweet girl in Rexburg

A tote bag from tangled and true

and some double sided tape from the House of Smith... love her blog!

So good luck comes in streaks I guess! Fun to win sometimes...Most excited for my little sister and her little family!!!

Thankful for my families....

for friends and good times....
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and for those in our fam who wanted our grown up Christmas wish list here it is the big and little for all for some and whatever.....

we need a good popcorn popper bought two no name brand type ones and they both starting smoking so we took them back....

.... kids love games or movies anything toy story or princess or harry potter in K's case or books and games

 a manual hand wheat grinder

 we love good old and new, clean  movies

 I personally would love this cookbook anybody have it is it worth it??

....we are caving and getting the kids a wii for Christmas a rewards wii cause its not going to be used anytime they feel like it but I heard mariokart was good??

 liz lemon swindle calendar

shelf reliance thingy's for our cans

 


george foreman family grill 

 car dvd player 

some clinque happy lotion for mio haha 

anything camping for D 
gift certificate for i tunes or 
behind the door or elsewhere whatever
 
we are just excited for Christmas and the feel of it all and all the family fun!!! But you asked so here it is!
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Appreciation {Gratitude} can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”
Margaret Cousins

Have a beautiful day warm, hot, cold whatever it is 

Make the best of it!

{Day 15.....plus some}

DAY 15 pictures of your Dream house

this has been so fun to see everyone's posts everyday kind of fun to have an outline of what to post about too! Love seeing who joined in! Sad to see it end...but keep em coming if your still going..

I love old houses with character, I love southern, country type houses and would love to live out of town in the country. I love gabled windows like two or three of them a wrap around porch....window seats, a white kitchen, and a mud room {like Rebecca's in the bottom picture..}  I love an upstairs and long stairs up, with all the bedrooms upstairs... catch the vision...

 love clean fresh warm colors! So there you have it Day 15 and the plus to come.....

{Day 14....}

Day 14 {so this one should have said some pictures you've taken that you love or have special meaning whether they are perfect or not blurry or otherwise}

So 

Day 14 some pictures I love from over the years

I love this picture I took in Germany early one morning...

...

 love this girls pouty face when she was younger

 I can't get this picture upright but I love it D teaching his son the facts of straw

 I LOVE this picture it was his first cone and it was a hot day I still remember it all!!

 The real face of cold!

 Love this one because its one of the last time's that D's grandma remembered who we were! We had waited in line at a reception type thing held in her honor and K feel asleep but it was so nice to talk and get a picture! She is still alive but she doesn't remember who we are...its so sad

love this picture and how k has his arm around them he is such a great older brother!

 one of my all time favorite picture he loves the boat!

 I used to have really pretty flower beds...someday again

 This picture is far from perfect power lines and all but it was a double rainbow day a crazy sky and it was a perfect night

 meeting your new son for the first time only  hours after his birth is one of the best things in life.....

 perfection.

most of my favorites have to do with these four munchkins!! you can see why!
Have a great day!

{Day 13...}

Day 13-Goals

The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers.  But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.  

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

My goals..to have regular everything in the morning

They are basically the same goals I've always had

spent time individually with my children

Have regular prayers 

 scriptures 

family home evening 

alone and together the first two....

Goal to go to the temple more than once a month

Goal to have children who are respectful honest diligent and have strong testimonies

Goals to have those things that are important 

sometimes I ask myself do they mean alot to me or to all of us as a family

Goals to workout everyday

Goals to keep up my journal 

Goals to grow old, go on a mission, travel

Goals to be there and see a need to whoever needs it..

Goals to get to where we want to be in the end....

Goals 

Goals....

Always a new one...

always working on or towards something....

cause Goals are good and so are DREAMS..

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ps I couldn't stand it anymore!!!!D caved and I decorated for Christmas and put our upstairs tree up!! Added some turquoise to the red and green  and I love it!!!
So question is when do you usually decorate for Christmas??
Any fun Christmas traditions??

On the last Monday night in November is usually when we decorate the tree we decorate than have hot chocolate and watch polar express together so fun....the kids can't wait and think its totally unfair that I decorated the tree upstairs already :) when I'm done I'll share!
and the NEW thing for the this year that I'm doing is....

.... wrapping up 24 of our Christmas books {you can get some from the library if you needed too} with each book we unwrap each day will be our advent for the day I am so excited we all love books around here and then each day they get to unwrap a present 2!!
Can't wait to hear some of your best Christmas ideas, favorite Christmas recipes, favorite Christmas music etc....

{Day 12...}

 Day 12-What you believe
 I BELIEVE
"If we thought of life as a gift, we might not demand nearly as much from it. And if we lived more graciously, giving of ourselves more freely to the well-being of others, many of our personal concerns would disappear, and life would become easier for all."
— Lowell C. Bennion

.....Okay I'm loving this one because at the beginning of the year I picked a word and this was the word I used...so here goes a little old with a little new....

I Believe in Christmas and the true feeling and meaning of it...
I believe that people around me are genuinely good and slip up just like we all do sometimes
I believe life was never meant to be easy
I believe in the BOOK OF MORMON
I believe we are given trials to help others get through theres if they are open and willing to share

I believe I can do hard things.
I believe that families are forever and I will do all I can to get to where we want to be in the end.

I believe in Miracles. And Healing.
I believe in Jesus Christ.
I believe that my Heavenly Father Loves me very much as he does every one of us.
I believe in forgiving and forgetting.
I believe that life is what we make it.
I believe we go through things to make us stronger inside and make us who we are, and to help others.
I believe that the only reason I have my children is from a lot of prayers, believing and help, prodding from above for us and all those involved -- the right time right place kind of thing--.
I believe that I can be a example to my kids and need to be a good one always. That it is more important than we know or realize most of the time.
I believe that life is short and I need to do what I can now this year to improve and do what I need to do and what hasn't been done yet.
I believe prayer is more important then we could ever know and I want to be more diligent and meaningful in them this year.
I believe it will happen. Whatever it may be.
*

♥♥

believe
Believe in others.
Believe in yourself.
Believe in the future.
Believe it will be okay.
Believe people can change.
Believe in faith, hope and prayer.
Believe in each other.
Believe.
 {does it look like a tree? }
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.....Oh my gosh I heard this song for the first time today driving, 

listen to it the whole thing... 

by the end I was bawling!! 

This should have been the one of the songs that makes you cry 

and he's even from Jaffrey, Bc ..... 

My favorite song right now some songs just hit something in you and this one sure did... I don't even know if its new or not but today was the first I time I heard it and had to share.... I couldn't help but think of all my kids...

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Have an attitude of believing gratitude today....

{Day 11....}

Day 11-Favorite Tv shows 

Well I don't watch to much tv since we are old school and only have the 4 channels with a nice digital antenna all are clear so thats a bonus.....so out of limitation because if I did have many more channels I'd probably be addicted to TLC among others ..... but since I don't I'd have to say my favorite shows are:

1. Love Flashpoint clean good and I swear I cry at the of every episode

2. CSI love them but they aren't on at good times this season...sad

3.yes I watch days still its pretty much cleaner than prime time tv......

4. love extreme makeover

5. I was a Lost lover! Now I love the event

6. BIGGEST LOSER is my favorite show love the inspiration, the ideas and the motivation... i pretty much cry in each week in this too

7. Amazing race love to see the world

8.CSI Miami used to watch now its on at some weird time

{I don't own a dvr or tivo or.....heck even a cell phone....

see old school I know.}

ps
guess who got to come home finally after almost 3 months 
 little India miracle we are so happy and excited to finally have her home and hold her and meet her{after I get completely better!} But miracle after miracle and all your prayers have been a blessing to Guy and Livi and baby India...thanks so much

 even and a blizzardy day like we have here again today... there is something good in everyday...