my mom...

Today, November 24th, I am thankful for my mom. It's her birthday. I won't tell you which one, but I WILL say that she looks a good 10 years younger than she is. You'd be surprised. She is beautiful. I think the secret is that she laughs...alot. She is happy and kind, and that keeps her young.

Why am I so grateful for her?

*Her personality. She loves to laugh. She is so silly and when she is...it makes YOU laugh. Her personality is contagious. You can be in a room full of people...GREAT people, and you will find yourself wanting to stand next to her. I call her a lot. She will feel whatever I'm feeling, and sometimes I need that comfort. If I'm crying, she'll cry. If Molly says something hysterical, I'll call Mom immediately so I can hear her laugh. In high school, I chose to hang out with her rather than friends. We liked the same thing. There was less pressure. Is that wierd? We would sit at the piano for hours, playing together. Fumbling through songs...and laughing the whole time. Actually, we were pretty good...her on the left hand and me on the right. When she comes to visit, we do it and it makes me happy.

*Her kindness. She has a genuine interest in people. She can make anyone feel like they are the most important person to her. I can remember her striking up conversation with people at the grocery, in line at the post office, at gas stations. I was mortified as a kid. I realize now, that that is a gift. Not everyone is able to make people feel that way. She always has been and always will be.

*Her loyalty. She is so loyal to my dad and to her kids. She would do anything for us. She loves my dad and shows him every day. She really doesn't argue with him. She disagrees, but fights aren't really in her nature. Can you even imagine? I think I inherited quite a bit from her, but not that.

*Her passion. When she loves something, you better believe you'll know about it. Scrapbook supplies, Il Divo, the beach, old ceiling tiles. :) She is an intense shopper. She is really good at it and practices almost every day. I love when we SHARE a passion...like photos of my kids. I take pictures, I post pictures, we look at pictures together...ooohing and aaaahing over them like fireworks. She orders prints that very same day so she can look at them closer and touch them. That means the world to me. It makes me happy. Sometimes I'll take extra pictures just so we can have that time together.

*Her intense love for her family. I live for her visits. I think we all do (my siblings, I mean). I am so happy when I know she's coming. She is so good with my children. Never yelling at them. Doing whatever will make them happy. Going on walks, doing puzzles, watching Barbie Nutcracker. They KNOW she adores them. She hugs them, kisses them, and tells them. She brings warmth everywhere she goes. Comfort. Peace. And lots and lots of laughter.

Mom, I love you so much. The Lord blessed me when he gave me to you. Hopefully I can take what I have learned from you and bless others. Happy Birthday!

my margaret...

I am so grateful for my life. For my children, my sweet husband, my home, my faith, my friends. I haven't blogged in awhile. I've felt overwhelmed. I also felt like I had nothing to say. After a beautiful sacrament meeting yesterday, I've realized that gratitude and thankfulness are plenty. If I talk about my blessings, I have plenty to say. Time is racing by. My children are growing too fast. I'm not capturing enough details. Today, I'm going to talk about why I am grateful for Miss Margaret.

*She smells good...and if perchance she doesn't, I rub some baby lotion on her so she will again. :) I could drink her in. I love the smell of her cheeks, her pajamas, her feet.

*She smiles...alot! I tear when she smiles, almost every single time. I feel like it is her spirit speaking to my spirit.

*She takes the bottle. I nurse her, but in a pinch, she'll take formula. Any kind, from any bottle...then nurse again. What a gem.

*She is healthy. Not sure why Dave and I have been blessed with such healthy children...and it really is a blessing.

*She sleeps for 8 hours a night...ALMOST every night. If it weren't for Molly getting up, man, our nights would be awesome.

*She loves her mama. She looks for me when others are holding her. She stops crying when I pick her up. She nestles her face in my neck. She "lovingly" pulls my hair. She slobbers on my cheeks. And she's good when I need her to be.

FYI...she is rolling, almost sitting, and ready to start eating solids. Where have the last 6 months gone?

still...

I thought I would at least get some new pictures up here. Lots has been going on around here, I just haven't managed to blog about it. I need to...soon. I love my kids. I am so proud of them. I'm proud of their talents and abilities, but even more proud of the people they are becoming.

These pictures were taken about 4 1/2 years ago, up on Grandview. One evening in the summer, we had GOBS of dragonflies zipping back and forth across our yard. The kids were chasing them. It was the cutest, giggliest thing I have ever seen. We told them that if they stood really still, the dragonflies just may come and land on them. They never did, but good HEAVENS the kids were cute.

*Happiness is like a butterfly, which when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. - Nathaniel Hawthorne

cruel and unusual?

Call it cruel and unusual...I call it genius.

Good thinking, Dave. :)

a WHAT?!

Today, I taught Molly to tell me I'm a bombshell. She giggles every time she says it. I do too.

binoculars, anyone?

My niece Christy and I are going to see the So You Think You Can Dance tour in SLC on Saturday night. Any chance one of you cute friends of mine has an extra pair lying around? I'll keep them very safe. :)