A trial

run. 

That's what I told Tiffany I would be having for three days while I watched the daughter of one of Misty's friends.  The little girl, Natalie, is eighteen months old and is just a couple of months older than Lucienne.  I figured this would be a test as to how all the Christmas decorations stand up against little hands.  Tiffany told me that at home Lucienne had all the ornaments and decorations (that she could reach) down almost as soon as they put them up.

Well, I'm here to testify that it's
not really a trial run. 

Not even a little test. 

Because this little Natalie

entertains herself for hours

and doesn't get into things.

So, I guess the real test will be

when Lucienne actually gets here.

 I don't generally like tests,

but I'm really looking forward to that one!

Grateful

that Natalie has taken over decorating the

sunroom the last few years.

She is a sweetheart.

We breathed a big sigh of relief when we put the three pieces of the tree together and all the lights worked.  Last year we spent hours cutting off the pre-lit lights that came with the tree (because half didn't work) and stringing new ones on.   Then we had color coded the parts that needed to be put together when we connected the three parts again.   And it worked.  Yeah! 

When

Nick and Carrie stayed here on Tuesday night with their adorable daughter, Ruby, she was a little shy and wanted only to be with Mom and Dad.  Nick was looking at my swollen foot, and said that when he was on the track team and had a sprained or swollen foot, that they would rub it to release the toxins and get circulation going.  He had me lay down so he could rub my foot.  That is a long lead in to my main point.

As he started rubbing my foot, Ruby didn't like it and started fussing and rolling on the floor,  She was close by me, so I started rubbing her back.   It was so cute.  Even after Nick left the room, she stayed close enough to me so I could keep rubbing her back.  She didn't look at me the whole time, but she would roll to one side, then another, then sit up, then lay back down.  If she rolled so far away that I couldn't reach her, she would scoot herself back. This continued for more than twenty minutes.

I loved it.  Her grandpa, our friend Matt, died before she was born, and as I was rubbing her back I felt like I was doing it for him.   It was just one of those moments.  

Gary captured it from around the corner with this picture.

***

Identity

Crisis?

***

A beautiful

day.

The beautiful settings

The delicious food

The children

The "Play"

Santa and his Reindeer

Ganging up on Santa

The women

The family

The Chiropractor

A Thanksgiving Day

to be Thankful For

(And Gary got the lights up!)

***

Tonight

in between making pumpkin rolls, fudge, turkey pops, and pies (I'm in charge of dessert tomorrow), I sat down and read this article in the paper.

"Research say gratitude

brings health, happiness"

"Academics have long theorized that expressions of thanks promote health and happiness and give optimism and energy to the downtrodden.  Now, the study of gratitude has become a surprisingly burgeoning field, and research indicates being thankful might help people actually feel better.  There's a catch, however:  You have to say thanks more than just once a year.  If you don't do it regularly, you're not going to get the benefits . . . It's kind of like you you went to the gym once a year.  What would be the good of that."

Interesting, but I didn't really need a researcher to tell me that.  The scriptures tell us that.  My heart tells me that.  If  I am ever feeling overwhelmed or depressed, counting my blessings (and expressing thanks) does wonders.  But even still, knowing that, I do often forget.

So, during this season of Thanksgiving,

I want to express gratitude.

 

Gratitude for those who came before me. (I don't think I could have been born into a more wonderful home or family)
 
Gratitude for the handsome guy sitting right next to me in the recliner with his computer on his lap. 

Gratitude for my daughters who give my life joy, meaning, and purpose.

Gratitude for my sons-in-law who are so good to my daughters and grandchildren.   

Gratitude to my grandchildren who light up my life with joy.

Gratitude for all relatives, friends, and neighbors who enhance my life with their goodness and love. 

Gratitude for the many people who have left, and continue to leave, "footprints on my heart."

Thank you.

Sitting

here visiting with Nick and Carrie Warner,

who are spending the night.

It's fun to see our friend's children grow up.

On another note,

I'm starting to think that there

is a jinx in the air or something.

It has been years since I've fallen.

Yet Tonight,

 while walking in the parking lot of the mall,

I slipped and fell on a patch of ice.

There was no snow. 

No rain. 

Just a random 12 inch circle of ice,

(probably from someone

dumping a drink or something.)

No need to worry,

I won't show the bruise on my hip.

(But, I am looking forward to my nephew, Ed, bringing his
chiropractic table on Thanksgiving)

***

Good Intentions

I had good intentions today.   Then I had work come in, which is great, but it took my whole day.  Then after dinner, I even got ready to go to the gym.  (It's pretty evident that the little stars have been missing at the bottom of my blog since I went to Oregon).    But even after I got my coat on and convinced Gary to come with me, I changed my mind.  I just didn't have it in me.   My sinuses are clogged and I have a sinus headache.  My foot is still tender.  Excuses, excuses, excuses.   

I'll go to bed early so I feel like going to yoga tomorrow.

It's been a

Whirlwind of a Weekend,

but I've got my feet up right now.

(Notice the swelling and bruising)

Yes, I'm looking for sympathy.

We said good-bye to Tom and Lynn this morning.

Then we got a call from our friends, the Warners,

who are in town from Washington State.

We haven't seen Matt's wife, Marilyn,

since Matt's funeral more than two years ago.

It was very fun to have her and their children

Lexie, Jeremy, and Maddie come for dinner.

(Thank goodness for frozen lasagna!) 

After dinner I had a meeting here at the house

for my new calling of "Weekday Relief Society Leader."

It was wonderful to meet with a group of women,

some of whom I have never met,

who will jump in and take assignments

for an event held in just a few weeks.

Home Again

Tiffany woke me this morning at
4:30 for my 6 am flight.

I quickly pulled on my clothes
and she took me to the airport.

I think that probably explains why
when I went to take off my jacket at
10 am for a breakfast with my siblings,

I found that I had my blouse on inside out.

(which Gary had to document)

I quickly went to the restroom to

change, so only Richard and Laraine

knew of my mistake.

It's so fun to have Tom and Lynn in from

California and we got to see their

new little granddaughter for the first time today.

Then tonight I fell down the stairs

and have a big swelling on my foot.

But Tom said it is not as bad

as his was when he fell.

Which reminded us of when Gary

and his home teaching companion,

Personal (aka Roylance),

helped our neighbor

after she fell down the stairs.

She never let them forget that they told

her, while she was writhing in pain,

"Gut it up, Mary Ellen."

Can you tell they are a couple of

former coaches?

I'm rambling.

Time for bed.

Some finished

projects.

Eliza sewed every seam of this apron.

I was so impressed with how well she did.

Annie, Luci, and I finished some

pumpkin chip muffins before

Mom and Dad got home.

We went to Annie's dance class,

went to the movie Planet 51

and

finished up the trip

with dinner at Red Robin.

When the

cats are away

(on a one night get-a-way)

the mice will play

(at McDonalds)

(Where have I been?

When did McDonald's playland go electronic?)

And Lucienne is happy

as can be

with me.

As long as Mom

she cannot see!

Morning Glory

restaurant.

Someplace you don't want to miss

if you are ever in Ashland, Oregon.

(Nutella filled french toast with

walnut butter and caramel sauce;

croissant egg, cheese and tomato sandwich;

hash browns)

Before Tiffany and I went to breakfast,

we got Annie ready for picture day at preschool.

So cute!

Gary was wondering if I can create messes in

Tiffany's kitchen the way I do at home.

Well, here you go.

And this is what life is all about.

A Day

in the life in Oregon.

Ashton practicing piano

Eliza doing math

Annie and cousin, Mary, watching movie

Tiffany's new haircut

and hot dogs at Costco, of course.

*** (First time this week, I know)

I cannot tell

a lie.

I have been here in Oregon

under false pretenses.

I was ready for a change.

Tiffany was ready for a change.

We've had a couple of "procedures,"

and are having makeovers.

Now is the time for the final decisions.

Should we go

Blonde?

Or Brunette?

Sunday Dress

Here we are ready to take off

 for church this morning.

Along with some candids,

taken by I don't know who.