November 28th 365 challenge

11/28/11

Liberty with a Christmas snow globe... no water, just a little fan that blows the snow around.  It plays Christmas music very LOUDly and has Pooh in it.  So she loves it.  Thankful for Christmas decorations!  And kids who appreciate them.

November 27th 365 challenge

11/27/11

Happy Birthday Michael!  He's 15 now.  He loves the "Blue Canary in the Outlet by the Lightswitch"   night light he got from Abram and Jen.  I'm thankful for Michael today!

Timothy is 5! Happy birthday big guy!

Happy 5th birthday to my Timothy!  I know his birthday was actually 2 weeks ago, but I saw it was Michael's birthday tomorrow and I'd better get posting about Timothy's birthday first before I get too behind!

Timothy was our 2nd child born in Amarillo, Texas.  He was the first one born while living at a home we owned.  So, Timothy was the last of our children in a long row to each be born while living at a different house.  (Michael, Provo, Benjamin, Orem, Emilie, Kentucky, Joseph, Cincy, Nathanael, Coolville OH, Samuel, Texas).  Christopher and Liberty of course were born while we still lived in that same house, so that streak was broken.

He was our BIG baby.  Dr. Tucker was worried that he would get TOO big so I was induced, and he was kind of right... but shorted the real weight by a pound... Timothy was 8 lbs 12 oz, our biggest baby so far.  He was born fairly soon after the induction, which just shows I was ready to have him!

Timothy is our little blonde boy, with CURLY hair.  He got his hair cut last right after he got his stitches out this summer.  It's needing cut again... but he tells us he likes it curly!  He is learning how to read and loves to figure out stuff.  He definitely has his own way of looking at things and expressing himself, so we have to be ready for anything for him.  He has been doing great in Primary with new teachers and meeting at the new building next to the Kansas City temple. 

His best friend is Christopher, but they are starting to include Liberty in their antics... so for a week we had a 4 year old, 3 year old, and 2 year old all wreaking havoc on our home... but now Timothy is 5... not that it will change anything that way!  He has a great imagination and has lots of ideas to lead them in different games and activities. 

Timothy is a very picky eater and would be happy eating bread all the time.  However, we are getting him to try new things at least once or twice a week, even though he starts most meals with "I don't like that.  I want some bread."  You just can't cater to everyone when you have 8 children, but we do make sure he's fed something every meal. 

Timothy is a great addition to our family!  We love our 7th child, our 6th son, our #6 when we count off in the car, our curly haired wonder, our bundle of exuberance and excitement about everything except vegetables.  We'd definitely miss him if he weren't around!

November 26th 365 challenge

11/26/11

It's time to bring out the Nativity sets!  I am so thankful for our traditions that allow us to remember the reason for the season.  I am also thankful for my many child-friendly Nativity sets.  :)

November 25th 365 challenge

11/25/11

Christmas is one month from today.  I am thankful for this season, for times with family, for remembering the reason for this celebration, and for all that comes with it.  I love the memories, and I love making more memories.  A second Christmas in a row, pregnant, even though I didn't know it last year, I am still thankful for everything that has happened this year and for all that I have learned.

November 24th 365 challenge

11/24/11

I'm thankful tonight for my 9 children, for the things they each have taught me over the years, and for each and every day I have had with them, whether it was the 12 days I had with Joseph, or the 5,476 days I've had with Michael (so far)... (it'll be 15 years on Sunday). Each day there is something more to love about them.

And I'm equally excited to get know this 10th child, who is making him or herself known more and more often.  We will probably find out more about who he/she is on Tuesday.

 

November 23rd 365 challenge

11/23/11

Today I'm thankful for working appliances that allowed us to make our 10 pies!

(Tradition for us... one per person!)

This was the last one we finished, Coconut cream!

We also made 2 pumpkin, lemon meringue, jello, chocolate peanut butter, oreo ice cream, apple, cherry, and banana.

November 22nd 365 challenge

11/22/11

Yesterday was the Liberty Interfaith Ministerial Alliance Thanksgiving Celebration.  Tom and I were a part of the orchestra, which by the time we performed, had 39 participants.  The Community Choir was made up of 120 people from different churches.  We had 2 directors, several speakers, but mostly music.  We accompanied the hymns, plus played a beautiful piece called "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" arranged by Mack Wilberg.  Here is a link to the piece on YouTube, and here is another.  The first one is the BYU combined orchestras and choirs, one is the Tabernacle Choir and orchestra.

I am thankful to have been a part of this, for any amount of musical talent, and the opportunity to share it.

November 21st 365 challenge

11/21/11

UP UP UP!  Liberty in the air because she has a few words we understand!  She is so excited when we figure out what she's saying.

Today I'm thankful for my husband (and best friend) Tom, who loves me and our kids and shows this by spending time with us when he can, and by working hard for us when he can't. 

November 20th 365 challenge

11/20/11

I am so thankful for my beliefs, especially for my belief (knowledge, really) that my son Joseph is a part of our family forever, and for the part that temples play in that belief.  Tom and I were married in the temple, and we were sealed for time and all eternity, meaning that our marriage will last beyond death, and the children that we have are part of that union forever, as a part of our family that began with that marriage ceremony in the temple.  And that includes our son Joseph who died at 12 days of age, back in 2001, even though some of our other children have never met him but still talk about him, and our older children were ages 4, 2, and 1 still have memories of that time (or of us talking about that time.)