Live Thanksgiving Daily

Hi,we had a great Relief Society lesson today by Jolin Brady. She is a great teacher even though she says she scared each time she teaches she does a great job. She talked about Giving thanks daily not just on Thanksgiving. We all went around saying something different other than just Church things things because we are always or should always be grateful for those things in our lives. People said some fun things, from Chocolate, to pillows to the crispness in the air in for fall to the 90 degree weather which was today. I said I was grateful for my daughters happiness and excitement about life. She started her full week of school this week and has loved every minute of it and I am so GRATEFUL for that!! She is so happy in the morning right when I pick her up to when we lay her down at night. She can get crabby or whinny but I am so grateful for her happy and healthy spirit!!

This week at school was her first full week. She like I said would get up happy and be ready to go. I usually would get up and get her breakfast ready and then get her up. Well, I was walking to the kitchen and all of a sudden she jumped out from the hall way and said beat you! Meaning she beat me up and was ready to go for the day! You think she would be tired and not wanting to get up. Not Hannah.. Later that morning she was up and ready and she was waiting for the bus. That started this week too and she loves taking it. She kept looking out the window and I said, I will let you know when it is time to come. She said, but the sun is coming up I am going to miss the bus! It was pretty funny and cute! I love her so much and so grateful for her happy spirit!!

Also, this weekend, Chris and I got a taste of the Wii.. We loved it!! We are looking for it. We tried bowling and Chris tried baseball, and we boxed each other. It was so much fun. We were at our friends house, and having another wanting to do another fire and it rained so we played that. It was so much fun!! We are both really sore though but it is great!! Hopefully this week we are going to purchase one and have some fun Wii matches. Chris off course knocked me down in boxing but not until the 3rd round. If we find one we hopefully will have some Wii parties..

I have been doing pretty good writing mostly every week. I hope I can keep it up.

Hannah's First Day of Kindergarten!!!

I was going to wait until the second day of school because here in N.Carolina they tease the kindergartner's they go for one day but then don't go again for week!! But today, Hannah was able to go see who her teacher was and meet her. She was really nice. Her name is Mrs. Hughes. Hannah has two friends in her class already. One was from Pre-School a boy named Joshua and a girl named Faith. She is our neighbor. I am so happy for her. She loved her first day she can't wait to go back. I am just worried because she loves to learn and everything comes so easy to her and I hope she doesn't get bored.

It is hard to believe I should have already gone through this with Alyssa. But Knowing she doesn't even need school is the best blessing!!

Our Trip to Utah!!

Hannah and I got to go to Utah last week! It was a lot of fun. We had so much fun I got sick the end of my trip from going and going the whole time, and staying up late playing games and watching the Olympics!

When we got there Uncle Matt was there picking us up with Bronco. Hannah was so excited to see him as always! She never wants to let him go, until he sees the girls!! As soon as we got to there house she played and played her heart out!! From sun up or even before, on some days to Sundown! She played with Nastassaja, Mikayla, and Briella! Then on some days she also played with my other nieces Holly and Kitty, mainly those two because the rest are just so busy! Lizzie teaches ballet and is VERY good! Mary was swimming the whole time I think we were there, or in school and Julianna playing with friends.

Matt and Michelle took us up one of the canyon's so Hannah could play in the river! She had a BLAST!! She didn't want to leave. She didn't even think it was cold she just played and played. It was the first time for me to be able to do something like that too. We just watch the girls play while I took pictures!

On another day while we were there we went up to Temple Square. Yes, think I am crazy, I have lived in Utah and been up there several times, but I wanted Hannah to see it. Wow, so much has changed since I have been there and I didn't even see it all! I didn't get to the conference center and I heard that is some sight to see too. But,we did go to Temple Square first and the girls kept saying why can't we go in. We would try to explain to them when they get older they will be able to go in. Then they would say but if it is Heavenly father's house why can't we go in. It was really cute. We also went to the church museum there. It was so neat! We spent most of our time there. If you haven't been there you need to go! There is a room of prophets there that tell about them all and have some of their own things in it for display. It was just really neat.

We had a really great time. I got sick though towards the end of my trip because I kept doing to much and not slowing down! On another day, I went to see My stepbrother and Holly and his girls. they took us up to see Kinacot (probably spelled wrong sorry) Canyon. It was really neat. They are mining up there for gold and you can go to the top and see from S.L.C to the southern part of Union country all in one view!! It was Georgous!!

We did miss seeing Chris' side of the family while we were there. Like I said, I got sick with a HORRIBLE sore throat!! I have lost my voice completely and just drained. I felt bad not seeing them but I didn't want his grandparents to get it. We also missed Chris not being there with us. Next time he will have to go with us!

We had a great time while we were there. I got to see one of my companions from my mission and we ate at my favorite restaurant Cafe Rio!! I actually had to eat there 3 times to get my fix!! I was pretty beaned out by the time I left.

We loved being in Utah. We couldn't say what was our favorite part. We got to meet Jonathon's girlfriend Julia and Hannah fell in love with her instantly!! I love being in the east but have learned how important family is and when we are together to appreciate the time we have together!! Until next time!!

Do they Really Listen?

Sometimes as parents don't we say, do our children really listen? I know I do especially with Hannah. She does things sometimes things that makes us CRAZY!! For instance.. She will color on her wall, even at age of 4. I saw coloring in a book tonight, and she said..oh I did that at age 3. What her memory will hold if she really did that at age 4 or at age 3. So, Sunday Chris and I were getting ready for church and yes, we were letting her watch some t.v. and coloring, and we were in our room. Well we got back from church and Chris was upset. He said, Hannah come here. She had colored on the edge of our T.V. You would think she would have learned after a time out, from before and trying to clean off the wall. But then, they surprise us!! That night, we were saying our prayers and Hannah gets bad dreams. She would say, all the time. Please bless me not to have bad dreams. Then she would usually say,"Bless me to dream about Alyssa, and Strawberry Shortcake, and Cinderella. Well, instead of saying that she said about Alyssa, and she said, Please,Please Please. It was so sweet, and cute and innocent. I hope for her she will or has seen her in her dreams. She is so innocent. They really do listen to us. Teaching them young they will learn young and help them throughout there life.

Go For the GOLD!!!

Also, I have forgotten to mention the Olympics. Chris is an Olympic nut!! He records everything, and if he misses it he does watch most of it. Well last night we stayed up for the 400 relay with Micheal Phelps. It was AWESOME!! They came from behind and won with .08 or so seconds. It was awesome! Micheal Phelps is doing awesome! He just won his 3 Olympic gold! He won the 200 meter Freestyle, I think. He is hoping to win 8 Golds this Olympics!!

The past couple of weeks..

Hello again. It has been a couple of weeks. I have been busy watching kids and my own. I am grateful for the time I can watch other kids, and then be grateful for the one I have. I watched the Barlow kids. They are so GREAT!! No problems at all. Sydney and Hannah love to play with each other. It didn't matter how long they were together they just played well. Then Tyler I was worried about him, but He loves the Computer. He brought his Harry Potter book,(pretty impressive for a 6 grader. But he really wanted to play and why not..he doesn't get to do it that often. Then Cameron I was most worried about. I don't have 18 month olds very much, but he was so GREAT!! No problem and when he was done playing he just wanted to watch t.v. and there was no tearing him away except to eat. It is a great experience for me but glad the lord knows I only need one at a time here on earth.

One thing I have fallen in love with is Facebook. I have found so many friends that I haven't even thought of since High School. I am glad people are smart to think of fun ways to hook up with your old friends and loved ones. I am in better contact with my nieces and nephews too because of Facebook so again. I am grateful for it.

Today we had a great lesson in Relief Society. It was titled Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death. That morning I admit, I looked to see what the lesson was about thanks to the spirit. I got through it, but it was hard. I am so grateful for the gospel and what we know after this life. I made a comment after talking about how to talk with Children about death. Hannah of course has always known she has a sister. In her prayers she says.. Please bless me that I could dream of Alyssa and Strawberry shortcake and Cinderella, but Alyssa is always first. I hope that since she is so pure and innocent she will see Alyssa in her dreams and play with. She loves being with other families to play like the Wheelocks and the Daines family. She feels like a sibling to them I am grateful she will to always know that we are an Eternal family and we will see her again one day.

I am too also reading Breaking Dawn. I haven't finished it yet but about half way.

Hannah and I get to fly to Utah this week. We can't wait to see FAMILY!! We will share all about when we get back.

OH.. Also, Hannah had her well check this week for Kindergarten. She just doesn't not like going to the Dr. I think she thinks about Alyssa. Because before we got there she asked.. why couldn't the Drs. fix Alyssa? We were able to have a good discussion but she really misses her sister. Hannah weighed 37.5 pounds and 42 inches tall. She such a great girl and we sure love her!!

Until next time!!

Having fun in the Summertime!!

It seems I am doing updates once a week. I will keep trying on Sunday evenings it seems like a good time when Hannah is in bed. We have had a fun week. Hannah spending time again with the Daines family while I am @ work. She is like the 6th child there and she loves being around everyone! We have also been swimming almost everyday this past week including on Friday with the Barlows. It was fun! Hannah loves Sydney and they are both a lot a like.

Last night, we hung out with the Wheelocks again. We are so glad they live here! We had a cookout and a fire in there firepit. It was fun, just in the first 5 minutes, I was the only one to get 5 misquote bites in the first minutes. Chris BBQ and Cooked a yummy peach pie. (Not my Chris' ) but Chris Wheelock. Later that night we had smores. It was really fun just hanging out and relaxing. While the girls, Hannah and Mackayla and Brianna and her friend Sara watched the Hannah Montana concert! My Hannah really enjoys it but she doesn't like being called Hannah Montana.

I am still new at this blog thing and hopefully it will get better as weeks past! Thanks for all who are looking and caring. It has been fun. Enjoy the rest of your Summer!!

Saying Goodbye!!

I just wanted to do a page about my friend Mare. She has been here for 5 months helping her dad who has a brain tumor. She is amazing!! Her husband is in Iraq and her two kids have been living with her two sisters during the past 5 months. She has been going from Indian Trail, to Pineville, to Rock hill. Her car was a brand new car now it has about 8000 miles on it from the past 5 months.

Hannah loves her to death!! She was really sad to see her go! So, will I. I have enjoyed our evenings when we were able to get together. We always said we would go to a movie but instead we would just go shopping or go have a dessert somewhere. I was lucky to have her around and I will miss her too. I haven't found anyone who hasn't loved her. Animals love her too. My dog Dakota, for those of you who know him, he loves people! He loved Mare too! I just wanted to let her know how grateful for the time I did get with her and she always inspired me to serve better.