Snow Family (off year) Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

I love the message of Thanksgiving.  I love to use this time to reflect on the things I have learned and loved throughout the year.  The things that I am most grateful for.  There is so much to be grateful for and I think sometimes I tend to overlook all that I have and dwell on what I don't.  That is why I am glad that we have a day every year that helps remind me of the abundance I have to be grateful for.  

Jesus Christ

Through Him all things are possible.  I need to remember this more.  This is a year of remembering that for me.  Trials are hard!  Trials are no fun!  Trials take the wind out of my sail...sometimes.  And this year I was reminded yet again that if I would only get out of my own head and ask for His help I will find peace.  He doesn't take the trial away.  The trial is there for my good.  It teaches me to be a better person.  It teaches me compassion, love, tolerance, patience... He is there to walk me through it.  He is there to love me through it.  Each year as I get older I have ahha (sp) moments with my understanding of the gospel.  This year it was at a Laurel retreat of all places.  The mother of a missionary injured by a bus in South America came to talk to us.  She told us about her ability to stay positive through this trial.  She said she couldn't let herself go to the would'ves, could'ves, and should'ves.  As she was saying that a light bulb went off.  There is no such thing as those.  This is the plan all along.  There never was going to be a different outcome.  It was always going to be the way it is.  I just have to adjust me temporal mind to understand that this is what the plan is for me.  I know this is not rocket science but it hit me hard.  It brought me a peace I can't measure.  Jesus knows our path.  He is going to help us find our way back to our Heavenly Father if we can just get out of our own way and let him.  My heart is filled with love for all that the Savior has done for little ole' me.  For this I am most grateful.  

My Family

 There is something so wonderful about knowing your family is complete.  Our little caboose came and we are complete.  I no longer look around for the missing kid.  (Metaphorically is all.  Of course with five I am always looking for a missing kid) They are all here.  Now it is our job as parents to not screw them up.  Haha.  I can't believe how different each of them is.  I love them with all my heart.  Each of them is wonderful in their own way.

Bragging alert.  I am writing what I am grateful for not what I am not grateful for. ;)

JJ is impressive to say the least.  He has a drive and motivation in him that I wish I had had at his age.  There isn't a week that goes by that someone somewhere doesn't stop me and tell me what a great kid I have.  He is a great kid.

Emma is focused.  She knows what she wants and she does it.  She comes home almost every Friday to tell me about a test that was so hard and she thought she did horrible on it.  And before she can finish I stop her and say "but you got 100%" and she ALWAYS smiles and says "yes".

Ellie is happy through it all.  She has one of the most painful things going on with her hand right now.  And she is happy.  When we would leave physical therapy she always gave Papa a hug.  Not just a hug but a hug for him to let him know she loved him.  She just is happy through it all.  It is amazing to me.

Elsie is SMART!  I can't believe this year how quickly she is catching on to things.  I leaned over to her the other day while she was reading and said I think you are smarter than JJ and Emma.  She got a huge smile on her face.  She catches on quick.   She plays games with the rest of us and keeps right up.  It is fun to watch her little mind start to grow.

Emry is the apple of our eye.  All of us adore her.  She is just the cutest little lady.  We all love just about everything she does.  She is my sidekick all the way.  She is my little shadow and I love that about her.  I love her snuggles and will take all I can get until they are gone.  Which I am sad is approaching faster than I would like.

This pic represents three things.  First off My hubby, second the first summertime party, and third my sons awesome art.

1.   I am thankful for my marriage.  My husband is a good man. (again only good stuff)  He is hard working.  He has the odds stacked against him yet he beats them all the time.  I wish he knew how impressive he is.  He is humble.  Jeron is the only person that  I would want to spend my time on this crazy ball with.  He is the one that makes me laugh, smile, and he gets me.  It is nice when someone gets you.  Marriage is hard work.  I am grateful I get to do it with him.

2.  This party was so much fun for me.  I had a lot of people say "she is only one, why all the effort?"  It was kind of my swan song for my babies.  This is the last one year old we will have.  I wanted to go out with a bang.  Plus, it is the first time ever that we have had a party in good weather.  I loved it  and so did all my kids.

3.  I am impressed with JJ.  He came up with this idea and about an hour later we had a Mary Poppins and Bart cut out.  I LOVED it an it made the party a hit.  I think he will have to do this for me at least once a year.  I tried for Halloween but that didn't happen.  Maybe next year.

This year we went to California

Thanks to my parents we stayed here.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  We had such a wonderful vacation.  The kids loved the beach, they loved Disneyland, they loved it all.  We loved getting away and being together.  It was magical.  

Facetime

 This is the best invention ever.  I love taking to my nieces and nephew.  I loved getting to talk to Jeron while he was out of town face to face.  Emry loved it too.  It helps me feel just a little more connected to those far away.

Friends

 I have made some new friends this year and have my lifers.  I am grateful to all of these women and for what they do for my sanity.  My bestie moved away (this is what everyone I love does btw) and it is hard to have her gone.  I am glad we live in a day and age where we can still be in each others lives FB, instagram, phone...  I am just so grateful  to be surrounded by such awesome women.  

Fussy Socks

 Ever since I had Emry and lost all that blood I have been COLD!  And yes everyone these are socks, and yes I wear them.  I have always hated socks but in the last year I have really grown to love these little guys.  I don't like just any sock.  But these are great.

Hair elastic.

 I can't leave home without one.  I am shocked this has not been on the list before.  I always have one around my wrist.  (A little quirk that Ellie has picked up)  If I don't have it I get a bit uncomfortable.  They are a security blanket for sure.  I have to be able to pull my hair back at any given moment.  Emma also is this way.  It is funny what your kids pick up on.

 Grey Walls

 We finally, after four long years,we finally painted our brown walls.  Our house is so much lighter.  It fills so much bigger.  We love it.  Jeron has worked so hard at making it perfect.  It looks awesome.  LOVE it.

Keegan

I am grateful for this little man.  I love when we add new babies to the family.  He is such a cutie. Welcome to this crazy world little guy.   I am so grateful for all of my nieces and nephews.  They make my heart happy.

Persistence 

 I have learned that my persistence is actually a good thing.  This is a much nicer way to say stubborn.  What ever it is this year it came in handy.  Sometimes good things come to those who wait, fight, and DONT GIVE UP!

Piano

 JJ and Emma have been taking Piano for a while now.  The house is starting to fill with songs I love.  It has been fun to watch them grow in this.  They  both do a great job.  Emma plays to help her unwind.  JJ plays to compete.  haha.  The other day I stopped Jeron and said listen.  We both knew the song.  I loved listening to them play a hymn.  It made my heart smile.

Late night movies at Station Park

 This has been a long day coming.  Jeron and I finally can go to a movie without kids.  We love this.  It is our time.  We sneak off on a Tuesday night and go hit a late show.  It is great couples therapy.  I recommend it to anyone.  Especially on Tuesday because it is half off.

 Zupas

Best little lunch spot ever!  I love going with a girl friend or two.  Talk about therapy.  Who needs a therapist when you have a girl friend and a good lunch.  Again it is so close to my house and so yummy.  It is the perfect amount of money and when you combine that with some good ole fashion girl chat it is perfect.

I want you to know if you are reading this I am grateful for you.  I have so many wonderful people in my life and I am just so blessed.  Life is good...If you let it be.

{Thank}ful

Its that time again for me to post what I am grateful for.  This year like the ones before I'd like to take some tome to write about what I am thankful for.  I really am blessed with a very rich life.  I have so much to be thankful for and I would feel ungrateful if I didn't do this post.  

 I am so grateful for my knowledge of Christ, his gospel, and his infinite love for all of us.  Throughout this past year we have overcome a lot of obstacles set in our way.  In each of these things the Lord has played a huge part.  He understands me, and buoys me up when I am struggling.  Pregnancy is getting more and more complicated for me.  This time I was sick from conception on.  It really is a trial for me and I could not have done it without the constant prayers being answered in my behalf.  Just when I didn't think I could last another minute something would happen to boost me up.  I am grateful that He loves me in spite of all of my imperfections    I feel of his love for me often and when I least expect it.  Christ's example helps me constantly.  I turn to Him in my struggles.  He endured everything, making it so that I would not have to do it alone.

There isn't much in this world that I love more than these six people.  I have been so blessed to have the family that I have.  I am very aware of just how blessed I am.  Each one of these people have been entrusted to me. I take this very seriously.  I truly hope each of them know how much I am thankful for them.  We have five of the best kids.  I know I am constantly frustrated about this or that but at the end of the day these kiddo's ROCK.  Each one of them teach me so much in this crazy thing called life.

This man puts up with a lot.  I am a whirlwind of emotions, I am stubborn  I am strong willed, I have the after baby body, I am RIGHT all the time, I am cranky, I am often frustrated, I can rant all day long if you let me yet through all of this he LOVES me.  He is my everything.  I don't know what I would do without him.  We really are a perfect match.  We understand each other in a way that no one else does.  We just work.  I am so grateful to him for his sacrifices for our family.  I love you Jeron.

My family is my life.  I am so grateful for all of the crazy that is my family.  Jeron and I were blessed this year to add a new one to this family of ours.  Emry is the light of everyone's life in our home.  We adore her.  She has taken on the nickname of Poppins because we all feel she is "Practically perfect in every way."  I am so grateful for every moment.  Her smell, her smile, her giggles, her squishyness, her hands, her cry, and so much more.  Having a baby in our home reminds me there is still so much good in the world.  

Ohmygoodness, I am grateful for this stuff.  Nothing is better to me than a Diet Coke with extra ice from McDonalds.  It is a must in my day.  I know I shouldn't love the stuff but I do.

I am grateful for Jr. High.  This has been the scariest anticipation with us for JJ.  The dreaded Jr. High years.  We put a lot of thoughts and tears into this.  I am so glad to say that all that worry was unneeded.  JJ has thrived in Jr. High.  He is pushed in ways that are good for him and he has been able to make friends and enjoy his time.  I love that I don't have to worry about the bully's anymore.  

I am grateful to have a doctor that is amazing at what he does.  This pregnancy  was long to say the least.  I was frustrated with Dr. Sharp that he wasn't letting me have the baby sooner but in my hour of need I will have to say there is no other doctor I would have wanted in my corner.  I know that it is rare that people die in delivery anymore but I will have to say I have never felt so much like I was leaving this world as I did after giving birth to Emry.  I literally could feel myself leaving the room. I was so grateful for a very competent doctor that for lack of a better term "saved my life."

I am so thankful that Ellie has a best friend.  Kaiya has been an answer to many prayers.  These two adore each other.  It is the cutest thing to watch them together.  Kaiya understands Ellie even though Ellie can't talk.  She is an angel in our lives.  Now when Ellie is having a hard time we know we have someone we can call for her to lift her spirits.

I am extremely thankful that my brother and sister-I-L got to have a brand new baby girl.  She is beautiful and I am so happy for them.  We are also excited that this will be the first time one of our kids has a cousin born in their year.  Emry and Vie will be the best of friends and hopefully pester the crap out of Ben.

I am thankful for sleep.  ANY sleep that I can get is appreciated.  Being 36 and having a baby is a lot different than 26.  I am so much more tired this time around.

 What would I do without the binkie.  This is a must for me.  I need to know I can put a cork in it and its done.  Crying babies break my heart so i love that the binkie soothes my poor baby.

Robin Egg Blue.  It is all the rage right now and I will have to say I LOVE this color.  There is something about it that is so calming to me.  I really should paint my entire house this color because I feel peaceful looking at this color.  

This website has helped me endure MANY sleepless nights with the babe.  That may be the reason that I have so many pins.  I literally get all of my ideas from here now.  I am amazed at the talent that people have.  It is all so awesome to me.  

My latest guilty pleasure.  Again this has gotten me through many a sleepless night.  It may or may not have caused me to have a few sleepless nights as well.  And like always I prefer the bad boy so I am team Damon all the way.

 I am so grateful for the moments when Elsie goes to pre-school and I get to spend that time with Emry all to  myself.  In a family of five kids the baby is always wanted by someone, especially Elsie.  This way I don't have to share with anyone.

I am thankful for Temples but this year I am especially thankful for the Brigham City Temple.  It is beautiful   I am always thankful when I get to take my kids inside a temple and show them what they look like.  The people of Brigham City were so excited and you could feel it radiate off of them.

I am so grateful for modern technology that allows my child to swim in the heat of summer even with a broken leg.  Her pink cast allowed her to enjoy the last few weeks of summer just like everyone else.

I love that I can see my nieces and nephew.  I feel like I can spend some time with my sister even though we are thousands of miles apart.  

I am thankful for studious children.  I don't know what I did to deserve it but JJ and Emma both excel in school and it is so fun to watch them learn and grow  The other night we were at dinner up at my parents house.  JJ was playing the clarinet in the background and we were discussing how awesome Emma and JJ did on their report cards and tests.  Smitty simply stated while pointing in the direction of JJ playing his clarinet "Where do they come from?"  Jeron said "The musical side comes from me." We got a good chuckle out of it but in all reality these kids have done this all on their own.  AWESOME!

This is my breastfeeding timer.  I play 4 games and that usually means Emry had a good feeding.  It also has made me feel a little more connected to my brother Smitty.  He is a busy man and this way we spend a couple minutes each day playing a game with each other.  Silly, I know.  But it does. 

I am thankful for my family.  I love each member of it.  I know that all of them are placed in my life to help me be a better person and teach me how to return home to my father in heaven.  I am thankful that each of them teaches me something different and unique.  They are an amazing group of people and i feel blessed they are mine.  (we need to update this)

I am thankful for Jeron's family.  This past year I feel we have come a long way in building relationships with them.  The kids love their cousins.  We are thankful for these relationships and all they offer us.  

This is only a drop in the bucket and I could go on and on but this post is getting LONG.  I know that I am extremely blessed with much in my life.  I truly have so much to be thankful for.  

A time for Giving Thanks

This year a lot about my religion has been brought up in the media.  A lot of things being said are not true.  Most of all is that I am not a follower of Jesus Christ.  I would hope that anyone who knows me knows that I believe in Jesus Christ.  He is the center of our home.  He is the only reason that I am able to return to my Father in Heaven.  I love Jesus.  I have been blessed to know that he knows and loves me.  My greatest desire is that my children will have this same knowledge.  I am so thankful for my Savior.  When I am facing a trial I know that He will understand me perfectly.  He is perfect in his love.  He lives, my great Redeemer lives.  Through the atonement I can be saved. I couldn't be more grateful for anything than I am for this. We all have short comings, and make mistakes.  We are not meant to be perfect in this life.  We are only meant to improve and keep going.  Because of Christ I can achieve my highest exaltation.  I am so grateful for the Savior. 

I am so grateful to be married to such a great man.  This past few months have been trying for our family.  I have been so sick with the pregnancy and Jeron has stepped up beyond measure.  He has pulled the weight of the mom and the dad.  He takes such great care of us.  He loves his children so much.  He is a great dad.  He is a wonderful husband.  I love who I am with him.  We are m.f.e.o.  Plus, he is stinkin' hot.  Can't complain about that.  I feel very blessed that we are going to be together forever.  I love you Jeron!

 I am so grateful for each of my children.  Each one of them brings a unique quality to this family.  JJ is so smart and caring.  He can do anything he sets his mind to.  He is gifted in so many ways.  Emma is tenderhearted and compassionate.  She is our child that we always say is the easy one.  She is quick as a whip too.  Ellie is sunshine.  She can turn any sky from grey to blue.  She is such a beautiful girl.  She cares with her who heart.  Elsie is spunk and charm.  She can wrap you around her finger in a matter of seconds.  Her twinkle in her eye is intoxication.  I feel so incredibly blessed that they are ours.  We re excited to see what this little bundle will bring to our family.

I am so grateful for my family.  I was blessed to have been born to such wonderful parents.  They mean the world to me.  Their advice and opinions matter to me.  They have taught me so much about how to be a good person, wife, mother... They are wonderful grandparents and my kids love them so much.  I love them so much.  I love my siblings and their spouses.  They each mean so much to me.  I am so grateful for the new little ones that are entering the family.  Lucy and Ben are darling and I love them as much as I love my own kids.

I am grateful for Jeron's family.  They are always willing to help if we need them.  The kids adore their grandparents. Even though we are not always close we love each of them very much.  It has been fun spending time with my new nephew this year.  Mac is darling and he reminds me of JJ in so many ways.  Elsie loves to help out with her Macky Macky. 

 I still totally love lotion.  I have tried to curb my need for it and I think I have done this but it still brings a smile to my face when I rub it on my hands.

 About 2 months ago this picture would have been diet coke.  But recently this has been my go to drink.  I can't get enough of my milk.  In fact we are going through about eight gallons a week compared to three two months ago. 

I love going to the lake.  The lake I love more than any other is Pineview.  My kids and I go here in the summer and we have magical moments.  It seriously is the best place to spend time with my kids.  We just have a ton of fun.  Love it.

I am so grateful for those unexpected packages that come in the mail. I don't know why but it still feels like Christmas as child when one of them comes.  This package in particular brought a real smile to my face and the face of my kids.  A act of kindness from someone who has never met us before.  So kind.

I am so grateful for my girlfriends.  I don't show it enough but they all mean so much to me.  There are the ones I have know forever that understand me perfectly, and the newer ones that I am having a great time getting to know.  Each one of the ladies in my life have taught me very valuable lessons and made me laugh along the way.  Love my ladies.  You know who you are.

I am grateful for those moments when I catch my child sleeping.  No matter what the day has been like in these tender moments I am able to see the innocence of a child.  I think for me it is a glimpse and just how perfect they are.  I love my kids but man, when they sleep I could just eat them up. 

I have found a new website called Family Volley.  I LOVE IT!  I am grateful that she takes the time to give me ideas of how to be a better mom, how to love my children better, and how to have a happier family.

 I love the beauty of the temple.  I love that when we drive down state street and my kids see the temple, they always sing "I Love to See the Temple.".  I love that this building stands out in the world.  It is a place of peace and love.  I love that there is a place we can go and feel the presence of our Father in Heaven and the Savior.

 I am grateful for all the hard work people (especially my dad and mom) have put in at the cabin.  Next year it will be such a neat place to go.  I almost can't wait.

 I love my girls room.  The PBK quilts just bring a smile to my face.  I could hang out in here all day long.  I could even decorate my own room this way if I didn't share with a boy.


I am very grateful for these little messages that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has bee putting out. It seems that every time I see one it is the message I needed to hear. This one is the one that hit close to home most recently.

I am so grateful for blogging.   I love my blog.  I love your blog.  I feel connected to people that normally I would lose contact with.  My favorite thing about it is that I now have a journal of my family going on five years.  I love it. I see my sister and brothers families and feel they don't live so far away.   I keep in contact with my cousins and feel so close to them through it.    Love my blog!

I am still grateful for my camera.  It is the best thing ever.  With the help of a cute friend that I pester often I am learning to shoot in manual.  It is slow going for me seeing that all I do lately is throw up and lay on my couch but someday I will KNOW how to use it.

I am grateful for my phone.  I didn't think I would put this this year but with how sick I am feeling it has been nice to have some games on here that I can play to take my mind off of it.  Even my own daughter last night told Jeron "The reason mom is on her phone so much is because she feels sick and she plays games to take her mind off of it. normally she is not on the phone that much."  (my poor family)

I am grateful that I have learned what a home is.  It is not the house that we reside in but where my family is.  No matter where we live we will have each other.  I am so grateful that I have my house too.  We love the neighborhood, schools, and the life we have here.

 I am grateful for brownies.  Really is there anything in this world better than a brownie...I think not.  I love how hot and gooey, that when you put it in your mouth it just makes me smile.  Mmmmmm

I am so grateful for football season.  Ha, isn't that funny.  I literally get butterflies in my stomach when I know a game is coming.  It is sad that it is over soon, but good because then I can dedicate my life to something else on Saturdays. I love the taunting I do with people on Facebook. I just love everything about being a fan and watching a game.  Pure fun!...unless we lose of course.

I am so grateful for the changing seasons.  I am most grateful for Autumn.  I love the smell in the air that comes that time of year.  I always say it smell like Halloween.  It is one of my most favorite smells next to my hubby of course.

 I am thankful for airplanes that make travel to see my sister and her family so much easier.  Surely it seems like a pain to fly to DC for 5 hours+  but when I think of the alternative this is heaven compared. 

I am thankful...so thankful for this little gummy bear that is growing inside of me.  I wondered if it would ever really happen.  I have know for a while that #5 was there.  I just didn't know if the big man (meaning Jeron) knew this as well.  I decided that I didn't want to fight for this one.  I wanted Jeron to want this as much as I do.  After waiting patiently...which is not easy for me he finally came around.  It is crazy to think we will have 5 kids but it is so right.  I am excited to meet him or her...(but we prefer HIM hahahaha.)  Love this gummy bear.  LOVE!

I hope that you know how grateful I am for you.  My family and friends mean everything to me.  I hope each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you for giving me much to be grateful for.