Snow...in Arizona?

We had the great joy of going up to Dan's Grandparent's cabin in Pinetop Arizona the weekend after Thanksgiving. It snows up there (Over 6000 ft elevation), so we enjoyed some sledding and hot cocoa. 2 things you don't get to enjoy down here in the inferno. Dan decided to teach Emily the art of Monopoly (she actually beat him fair and square), and the Game of Life. I don't know too many 7 years olds who are willing to put 3 hours into a game like that. I know I don't like playing. Must be the daddy/daughter thing. We had a good time as usual and are so thankful to be able to go up there and spend time as a family.

Dishwasher Dreams

About a week or so ago my good friend Mandi posted a story and photo on her blog about her little boy and his love for sitting on the door of the dishwasher (when it was open of course). I just kept thinking how I have never had a kid who even cared anything whatsoever about the dishwasher. Not one day later I was loading ours up when this little bugger came over and started gnawing on it. He sat there for 20 minutes or so just chewing on it. I guess I have a kid who likes the dishwasher after all.

Just a follow up to Twilight night a couple weeks ago. It was great! Nothing like a Theater full of women and a few brave men to get you in the mood to watch a vampire love story. There was a raffle and some other prizes handed out that made it that much more fun. Thanks to Heather who put it on and Kristin who invited us! It was the perfect girls night out!

The photo left right: Annie (sister in law), Kristin (sister in law), Lissa (mother in law), Me (Windy), Jordy (sister in law), and Jordy's mom Neena.

All this toothless Turkey wants for Christmas is her two front teeth.

Two lost on top, 4 on the bottom. What's a girl to do for the Holiday's without any chewers? (wish I had that problem). She has gotten more brave though. It took weeks for the first front tooth to come out (she let it hang for a while out of fear of pain), but she yanked the 2ND front tooth out on her own. So here she is our Holiday beauty Emily and her Toothless Turkey grin just wanting her two front teeth for Christmas.

THANKS: day 11

It is a sad but thankful day for me. As I sat and read this months Ensign magazine (all the while enjoying my Diet Mtn Dew), I stumbled upon the article on page 49. I literally had tears in my eyes as I had my recent worries and fears confirmed to me. So it is good bye dear Diet Dew. I will miss you. I was good to you, but not so sure you have been good to me. Good bye old friend. So, a sad day but a thankful day just the same. Thankful for the Ensign this month to encourage me to do what I have known for a LONG time that I needed to do. Read the article, it is a good one. You can also find it on http://www.lds.org/

THANKS day 10

Today I am thankful for my Cricket loving 4 year old. I hate the nasty little bugs that take over your home in the summers here, but she can't get enough of them. She has become skilled in the art of cricket catching and will do it with her bare hands, or should I say hand. She is so good she can catch them one handed in one try. Have you ever tried to catch a cricket? NASTY, FAST, HORRIBLE, CREEPY, AWFUL, little insects. I won't even stomp on one they creep me out that bad. I have to get a broom and beat it a few times and then quickly vacuum it. If you don't take care of the carcass quickly they come back to life you know. It could have it's guts hanging out and everything, but if you leave the room it will get up and crawl away. So today I am thankful for Natalie and her total willingness to catch crickets for me (although she won't kill them). She collects them though, which is fine as long as they don't come in the car (nothing like a loose cricket in the minivan, MAJOR safety hazard). We have little baggies of crickets all over the house that she names and treats as family (except for the bag thing). If she has to show her softer side to a bug, fine. At least she shows it. Like the time she had one between her two fingers and was rubbing it along her cheek cooing to it like it was her blankie. Sometimes though she shows her darker side with them and I find them dismembered on my table. YUCK!!! Or like yesterday when one fell apart in the baggie from too much 4 year old fun so she flushed it down the toilet and announced that "Heavenly Father will fix him and send him back to me." "You bet he will sweetie." was all I could say. Cause hey, she wouldn't know him from the next one right?

THANKS: day 9

Today I am thankful for cute sleepy kids. They all slept in and didn't even wake up for the photo shoot. No, that is not a cage Emily is in (that was Nattie a few years ago). Emily sleeps on the top bunk and it is a railing to keep her from falling out.

THANKS: day 9

Today I am thankful for a great sister in law, who has connections with a great friend, who rented out an ENTIRE theater for opening night of Twilight, just so a bunch of silly Edward crazed ladies could see the movie together. Talk about the perfect girls night out. They are even having door prizes. Should be lots of fun. Even if the movie bombs, a girls night out is never bad. SOOOOO EXCITED!!!

PS-I added songs from the soundtrack to my play list for your listening pleasure!

THANKS: day 8

Today I am thankful for my hardworking man who gets up at 3:00am to go to work for a big soft drink bottling company ( I am not allowed to give specifics on here and since he likes to read this too from time to time I can't say that he works for *E**I). I love that he works so hard to provide for us a new house, cars, food, clothes and lots of love. I love that he loves his kids, the gospel, and his family. I love that he can fall asleep as soon (or sooner) as his head hits the pillow. It is nice for a guy to be able to relax these days you know! Although, some times a little pillow talk would be nice. And I don't know too many people that fall asleep mid prayer (couples prayer, the kind you say OUT LOUD). I love him for his smarts. Almost graduated ASU cum laud but since not all of his credits where from ASU he didn't get it. I love him for his green eyes. This was one of the first things I noticed about him actually. That and the way he looked from behind in camo pants. I love that he loves his mom and sisters like he should. There is just something nice about hearing a guy tell his mom or sisters I love you. (Dad and brothers too). I love that he let me have the entire inside of the house painted before we moved in, and that I didn't have to lift a paint brush. I also love that he is color blind and has no idea that the laundry room is lime green and the 1/2 bath is purple. :) Well maybe he knows now! I love that if I put the kids to bed before he gets home from work he goes in and says good night to them anyways. I love that we were married in the Temple for eternity. I love that we voted yes on Arizona's prop 102, would have voted yes on California's prop 8, voted for McCain, and wished Reagan was alive and running again. I love that he loves to hunt. I even love that he likes to hunt right out of the back door for dove and quail or what ever else crawls by. I love that Perkins man.

THANKS: day 7

Today I am thankful to not have to run the A/C anymore (as of a few days ago). Yep, we live in Arizona where you run the A/C all the way into November. Sad.

THANKS: Day 6 1/4

Today I am also thankful for 2 sweet sisters who are so very girly. I wish they never had to grow up.

THANKS: Day 6

Today I am thankful for freak Arizona rain and hail storms. Although, my flower beds didn't appreciate it. 20 minutes away...not a cloud in the sky. It POURED on us for an hour or so. Crazy.

THANKS: Day 5

Today I am thankful for my 4 year old and her inability to put her panties on the right way, along with her refusal to get dressed past that point. There is just something cute about a little hiney with the panties on backwards. I tell her "I should see Cinderella when you're coming not when you are going sweetie." But yet, an hour later Cinderella is still on the back.

THANKS: day four

I know it is early. I just had to be thankful for the baby waking me up at 4:45am, because even though that is way to early for me, I was able to get a few things done. I also get to add washing my sheets to the list since I snuggled him into our bed and he promptly saturated the sheets with spit up. But at least I can be Thankful for clean sheets too. Or at least Dan can.

THANKS: day three

Today I am thankful for chubby little fingers that are scratching at my face as I try to type. What makes me even more grateful is that they are covered in slobber and a little spit up. I am also grateful for freedom. Let's hope we get to keep it. I will be praying for B O every night for the next 4-8 years. Praying that he will do the job right. Praying that his wife won't make me want to vomit too many times. Praying that Dan won't make over $250,000 while he is in office because we won't get to keep it (he would literally have to take over the company, so no real worries there). Finally I pray that my kids won't repeat to the wrong person anymore, the things I have said or talk radio has said, about B O, well... I find that funny actually so you go girls!

PS--I really do have a Corn O'Copia.

THANKS: day 2 1/2

Tonight I am thankful for my right to vote, and for the PRIVILEGE to live in this free country.

THANKS: day two

Today I might have to be thankful for a couple things. For now I am Thankful for a Husband who loves his girls and enjoys spending time with them. I am comforted in knowing that their Daddy wants to have a good relationship with them so that they will know they can always go to him for anything.

THANKS: day one

I decided to take a minute each day until Thanksgiving to name something I am grateful for. Maybe it will help my bad attitude I seam to be oozing lately.

Today I am thankful for my church calling. I am one of the compassionate service leaders in our ward of over 700 members (yes you read that right). I have been scheduling dinners for some sisters and their families because the sisters are pregnant and on bed rest. I have been touched by the willingness to serve in our ward and how quickly I can fill an entire month of 3 meals a week for a family (in a matter of a few hours). We love our new ward and feel so at home and THANKFUL to be here.

Creepy Crawly

I was just trying to get a good photos of the kids at the park but Blake kept crawling right for me. As it turns out, this one was my favorite so I had to post it. Good boy Blake.

Twas the Night Before Elections

"Twas the night before elections And all through the town Tempers were flaring Emotions all up and down

I, in my bathrobe With a pup in my lap Had cut off the TV Tired of all the crap

When all of a sudden There arose such a noise I peered out my window Saw Obama and his boys

They had come for my wallet

They wanted my pay

To give to the others Who had not worked a day

He snatched up my money

And quick as a wink

Jumped back on his bandwagon As I gagged from the stink

He then rallied his henchmen Who were pulling his cart

I could tell they were out To tear my country apart

On Fannie,

On Freddie,

On Biden, and Ayers,

On Acorn,

On Pelosi

He screamed at the pairs

They took off for his cause And as he flew out of sight

I heard him laugh at the nation Who wouldn't stand up and fight

So I leave you to think On this one final note

IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM...

GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!