THANKSGIVING...a little disappointment!

....We had a wonderful Thanksgiving...BUT my camera broke so I was super bummed and disappointed that I wasn't able to take any pictures of our wonderful day. SOOOOO...Dayna is going to make me a CD with all of her pictures and when I get it, I will post a Thanksgiving post...I have this thing about posting without pictures, sorry you'll just have to wait until a later date to get the Thanksgiving pics and spill...."Thanksgiving~ to be continued"........

"Master of the HoUsE"....DHS presents Les Miserables~

Each year our High School puts on the most amazing school plays. Every year I say to myself, it can't get better than that (for real...I'm not being prejudice)....and every year they out do themselves. My kids have always loved being a part of the Drama program and LOVE performing. Dayna and Todd both loved doing drama "back in the day" when they were still in school, Erik wasn't a fan of performing in front of crowds so he didn't participate in Drama...but then along came Kim who enjoyed acting and she started our family of drama kids back up...then there was Cameron, who loves it as well...we'll see where Halle goes, she still has a few years before she has to make up her mind. This years play was "Les Miserables". I was a little worried that the kids wouldn't be able to pull it off because it was a difficult play with alot of singing WHILE acting. I had never seen the play myself, but had heard from many people, what an AWESOME play Les Miserables is. Never seeing it before, I went into the first nights performance with not much expectation,

and came out VERY AMAZED!!! The play not only has a wonderful message but the kids (all the kids) did a fantastic job. I was really excited that my children were a part of such an outstanding program and that I "GOT" to go back every single night to watch them perform. I will have to say that the Tuesday night performance was my favorite. All the kids were at their best that night, letting it all out and performing at top notch. They really touched my heart. Kim and Cameron both did an outstanding job. I love watching my kids do things that they enjoy doing. Their personalities come out and they just shine (yes, I am bragging a little, but they really make me happy and smile when they do so well!) Our Drama Club has amazing advisers that take so much time out of their own lives and use their own resources to make these productions come together in the end. There were many people behind the scenes and so many volunteers that were giving of themselves to make this play possible. I am grateful for the wonderful people in my community that are just that, "WONDERFUL"...in many, many ways, that love their jobs, as well as the kids and our community. The play is always a fun way to start the holiday's out..."school play, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years"...it just wouldn't be the same without it!

WAY TO GO KIM AND CAM!!!

Yo MammA is So ProuD oF YOU BOTH!!!!

Gratitude is an attitude!

*Note...this is a LONG post...read at your own risk!

It seems the theme of the season is....being Thankful...and I AM THANKFUL. I have many things to be grateful for...much too many to list. But I thought since November has 30 days I would write my top 30 "Thankful" things....in no specific order...just thankfulness.

I am "THANKFUL FOR~"

1. MY life. Its a blessing to be here on this earth, alive and well.

2. Each one of my children. I always wanted 6 kids and I was blessed with 6 WONDERFUL children. They are such a blessing in my life. I am grateful for my 2 in-law children who fit right in our family like they were just always meant to be a part of it.

3. my husband. He is hard working, patient, happy and kind. I am grateful that I know the he loves me as well. He is a wonderful hubby!

4. my socks. My feet are always cold and I am grateful that I have socks to keep them warm.

5. my ability to smell and taste. I love to breath in the fresh air after a rain storm and smell the crispness of the earth. I love the taste of good food. (How boring it would be to eat if you couldn't taste what you were eating!)

6. my ability to exercise, to walk, to run, to jump and do all the magical things that my body can do. I realize that not everyone is blessed with this ability and I am grateful I can "move more".

7. heat in my house. A couple of years ago our heater broke in the middle of January, in the middle of the night. Its something that I often take for granted, but try harder not to anymore. Heat is a blessing!

8. my sight. I am so grateful that I can see. I can enjoy colors, people, nature...everything and I think that I can enjoy it more fully because I have my eyes that can see.

9. my friends! I am positive that I have the best friends in the entire world. I have been blessed with such good people in my life. I have MANY friends and people that I trust, confide in and love. Many, many, that I consider my friends. I treasure them dearly.

10. my siblings, my aunts, my parents/step parents, in-laws, and my grandparents (even though most of them have passed away)...its wonderful to know that I have people in "my court" at all times. They are always there for me no matter what. Its nice to know that there isn't any problem that is worth ruining that relationship....so I know they will always be there for me.

11. earplugs. Deron is a very loud snorer'. He can wake the dead some nights. But if I have my earplugs in (and get to sleep before he does) then I can usually sleep right through it.

12. my treadmill. As much as I hate to work out (just because I hate taking the time to do it), I am grateful that I have my treadmill that I can workout on...it doesn't matter the weather, it doesn't matter the time of day, its always there and I get on it faithfully every single day (opps...I do take off Sunday).

13. my hearing. I enjoy the sounds of the world. Music, laughter, the hum of the engine of a car, the chirping of the birds, the sound of a running river, babies cooing, bumble bees, leaves blowing in the breeze...and I enjoy it all because I have working ears.

14. my sewing machine. I like to sew and have sewn many things over the years. I am grateful that I have the knowledge and ability to sew...so in all reality I guess that makes me thankful for my mom who literally FORCED me to learn...its been a skill and talent that has blessed my life for many years.

15. my next door neighbors. We have adopted them as "family" and I love them dearly. I am grateful for their wonderful examples, there strong faith, their kindness, thoughtfulness and their willingness to let us be a part of their lives. What wonderful people they are.

16. my mind and to be able to think for myself. Just take a visit to the rest home and this becomes all to clear that we all take this for granted, I know that I do. I am grateful that I have the ability to still think clearly, do for myself and that I have all my marbles that keep me in tact. (at least I like to THINK that I do!)

17. memories. I love to reminisce about my childhood. I had a great childhood. But not one like you would think when someone makes a comment like that...it wasn't the kind of childhood that was filled with "things". I grew up without "wordily goods"...but I had such a fun, happy, good childhood. I didn't know that you had to have "things" to make you happy....because I didn't know what wordily wealth was.

18. clean running water. When I went to Honduras there were so many people that live in huts without the conveniences that we have here. I love being able to turn the water on to get a drink, take a shower, wash my clothes, fill a squirt gun, flush the toilet...running water is a blessing.

19. people who pick up my trash and take it to the dump. I have been in towns where there is trash everywhere. What a blessing it is to have someone who collects garbage for a living (I mean that with all due respect!) and helps me to have a prettier place to live.

20. my green grass...NO its not green now, maybe that is why I am so thankful for it, its because I am missing it at the moment. I love to lay on it and enjoy the sun on my face and even the breeze in the air. I love the smell of fresh cut grass and the way my lawn looks after I've mowed it.

21. sincere pleases and thank you's....you don't know how much you are grateful for those until you do something nice and don't get a "Thank you", or a "please" when something is asked of you. Those 2 words go a long way in my book. They are wonderful words that bring a smile and a willing heart from me.

22. FOOD....need I say more! I've never in my life had to go without food (other than by choice). I've always had something to fill my belly. (Good food is a wonderful blessing as well...like Cafe Rio!...coconut shrimp and Jamba Juice...)

23. clean sheets....washed in Clorox water and hung on the line to dry! Awhhhhh...I love them. I am grateful that I can have clean sheets whenever I want.

24. modern medicine. Many years ago, I had a sister that was born 6 weeks early and died shortly after her birth because the Dr.s just didn't have the technology, the know how or the experience to save her life. Twelve years ago when I had my youngest daughter, 8 weeks early, they had the medical advances to save her life so that she could be here today. I am grateful for the Dr. and nurses that study their way through college, work hard and learn what they are supposed to so they can make my life a little better.

25. that my mom and dad taught me to work, and work hard. We grew up on a farm and there was ALWAYS work to be done. It didn't matter if it was outside or inside stuff, didn't matter if you were a boy or a girl, we all worked from sun up to sun down and did it until the job was finished. I enjoy a clean house, a tidy yard and the satisfaction that comes from a "job well done". Thanks Mom and Dad for instilling in me the value of "HARD WORK".

26. Very thoughtful children (all 8). I feel very blessed by the sweet, thoughtful things that my children do and say. They are kind and thoughtful toward me as well as others. Sometimes its the little things, like a phone call or a smile...sometimes its a visit or help with dinner...sometimes its viewing them from a distance as they act or react to a certain situation. I am very grateful for their examples to me. They are all good people.

27. my faith, my testimony and my belief in my Heavenly Father. I know who I am, I know God's plan. I am grateful for the gospel in my life, for my membership in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and for the guidance and direction that the gospel gives me.

28. POPCORN...yes, I love the stuff. I eat it every single day...I am hooked on Orville Redenbacher's "smart pop" 94% fat free....but I LOOOOVVVEE movie theater popcorn too. I am grateful that I can have popcorn every day..(it is a blessing you know).

29. post it notes...I use them constantly. They keep me on track and I am a little more organized because of them. Bless the soul that invented the "Post-it-Notes"!

30. where I live...people always say they feel bad for me because I live in such a rural place, but I love it. I don't feel bad for me. I love living in an area that I know people and can stop and chat in the grocery store. I know the teachers that teach my kids at school, I know the people at the gas station...I can wave at almost anyone and get a nice wave back...its a beautiful, rural area and I love it. I never want to move. I have friends here, I have put my roots deep in the ground and I plan on living until a rip old age, right where I am. I love going to the city...but I love coming down the hill, looking at our little towns lights and feeling that its "HOME"...and there's "no place like home".

I am so blessed and I have much to be grateful for. Even when things are tough, I know that I have so much and I am grateful for what I DO have, for who I AM and for all that I have to look forward to in my future. I'm not just thankful at Thanksgiving time, I really do try and be thankful year round, but its nice that we have a month/season that helps me to focus and remember to be grateful.

LIVE and LEARN~

Yesterday was the big Holly Fair....the day that Dayna, Dana, Halle and I had been working toward for the past 8 weeks. We've spent many long days, evenings and late nights crafting, sewing, glueing, tieing and losing sleep. Dayna made home decor blocks, Dana made tutu's, Halle made her hair accessories and I made my aprons. The Holly Fair lasted 2 days. The girls and I had a good time spending the long hours together. We talk, made our "Christmas wish lists" with all the fun stuff that we saw there, we people watched and even got some fun ideas of things that we might want to make ourselves....BUT as far as the Holly Fair itself goes, I don't know that its something I would be interested in doing again. It was a lot of work, for not much return. It was a good experience and I don't regret doing it...but I will leave it to the pro's! I appreciate all of my dear, wonderful, sweet friends who supported us! So many of you come by our booth, came by the house, ordered things on-line and bought things even before we went to the Holly Fair...you girls all know who you are and I appreciate you so much!!!! Thank you dearly for your support....Love you all! And for the many of you who supported us with all of your encouragement, kind words and sweet thoughts, you are all wonderful! I have the best family and friends around, I couldn't ask for any better!!!! Thanks for being such amazing people in my life!!!! Being a business woman is something that I thought I might want to do at some point in my life, but after this experience I have decided its not something that I am going to pursue. Its certainly something that is meant for some people and not, for others...and I happen to fall into the "NOT" category. But- I learned alot about myself and my abilities. It wasn't a complete waste because I grew from my experience...AND as a bonus, I got to cross off one more thing from my bucket list too...."Sell something that I made"....and I did! Thanks ladies!!!!!!

*NOTE~ I still have MANY aprons, both adult and little girls sizes...I would love to sell them. If you are interested you can email me at julie@ubtanet.com They would make awesome gifts for friends, mom's, daughters, sisters...co- workers...or anyone.

Growing "OLD"...gracefully!!!

As you know, (if you read my blog on a regular basis) last year I made up a "Bucket List". I came up with 75 things that I plan on doing before I die and I am determined to DO every single thing on that list...if it takes me until I am 100 years old, so that's why I am starting NOW. No, I don't plan on dying anytime soon, but one never knows when they will be snatched from this world and taken into the next, so there is no time like the present for me to get busy with the things that I have planned for the rest of my life. Having a bucket list gives me purpose and something to look forward to. I've never wanted to get older, wrinkles and saggy skin...leaves little to be desired. BUT I believe that by staying busy, living my life to its fullest and having things to look forward to, will make getting old seem alot more fun.

Last week I got to cross off the 1st thing from my bucket list. I got to "drive a convertible with the top down and the music up!". I loved it!!!! Todd owns a convertible, but its been broken down for quite sometime. He'd been telling me that as soon as he was able to get it fixed we could take it out for a spin. Last weekend he was able to get it fixed and ready for us to take a little drive. We decided that Sunday after church would be the perfect day...even though it was a little nippy outside, nothing was going to detour me from seeing this dream out. I invited Cameron

to ride along and share in this exciting experience with me. So off we went, Cameron, Todd and me... with the wind in our hair (except for poor Cameron who was a little Eskimo), the bugs in our eyes, and huge smiles across our faces. We drove down the old

country road, back to where I grew up. I was able to share with them, some experiences that I had as a child and some of the crazy things that I use to do. I showed them the places that we used to play and told them some of the mishaps of my youth. We drove past the old canal that I use to ice skate on, the swimming hole, the sledding hill, the old barn, the place where I use to live, the old "apricot orchard", the corn fields, the "pine tree", the "big tree"~....it all brought me right back...to yesterday. It was sad, in a way, to see how things had changed over the years. A good part of the area had become unrecognizable. The "big" swimming hole, wasn't so big anymore.

That old barn that brought back so many memories, looks as though it might fall down at any given moment. The yard that my mom and dad worked so meticulously on...is run down

and no longer exists and the little grove of trees that we use to play in has become a large forest of overgrown brush. But...things change...I guess that's just the circle of life. It was nice to "live a little of my past again and share part of my life with Todd and

Cameron. We had a great visit. And enjoyed the afternoon together. I loved driving the convertible. It gave me such a feeling of "FREEDOM". I felt a little bit like a kid again...not that I am old or anything...but I felt just a taste of what I felt like 25 years ago. I loved feeling the breeze on my face and being able to smell Autumn in the air. Life is what it is. We all grow up, we all grow older, we all experience life in one way or another. We all have experiences (both good and bad) that make us who we are. I have always had a wonderful life...never a perfect life...but I have always been very blessed. Many of my life experiences have shaped me, molded me and many have even given me heartache and have been trials along the way. I've never had a "glamorous life", I've never been blessed with wealth, I've never traveled to exotic places or lived in mansions...BUT I am grateful for who I am, the experiences that are mine and what I've become~ and no matter what- I am going to enjoy the rest of my life...living it out and enjoying it to the very fullest!!

Life's little "bumps"....

Last week we had the "Piano Dr." come to look at our old antique piano. He determined that "yes, it was worth fixing". We were thrilled that we were going to officially be "Piano Owners". Halle was excited that she would finally have a piano to practice on. She has been using our electric keyboard for 2 1/2 years, has never complained, but it will be nice that she can finally use pedals and have an entire set of piano keys to work with. While the Piano Dr. was here fixing the piano, I felt as though I should stay close in case he had questions. I had things to do in the kitchen, on of which was some baking SOOO...I started to make bread. I guess I didn't think through what he was doing like I should have. He was trying to tune the piano, and I guess my baush (bread mixer) was very noisy...he proceeded to LET ME KNOW that I was disturbing him...SO I had to take my bread making excursion into another room (after all it was well into the mixing process by the time he said anything to me). Halle's was the cleanest room that day and so it was dubbed the "official bread making room" for the day....lets just say, it was interesting and I hope NOT to have to cook in the bedrooms again.

Ohhhhh the Halloween Hoopla....

Halloween morning came and I was trying to think of some "fun" thing to make for breakfast. After searching on the internet I found something fun and easy to whip up. I made "GHOST pancakes". They were cute and everyone thought they were a fun holiday thing to eat....I guess thats the extent of my Halloween holiday celebrating....but hey, I go all out for Christmas. Todd and Dana had a big Halloween party this year. They invited family and friends that were close to their age. Dayna and Jack were able to come out for it. We didn't get to visit with them for very long, but they got ready at our house...getting into costume and preparing their goodies to take to the party. So we got to take some fun pictures and visit for a little bit. Its

always fun to see them...no matter how

long or how short of a time it happens to be. Kim and Cameron were

invited to go as well. They were excited to have plans

for the "Howl-oween" Holiday and got dressed up for the occasion too. Dayna was "The QUEEN BEE"...Jack was "A nerd of some guy that is on a show they watch"....Kim was a "Lady bug" and Cameron was a "Monster". It won't be too many more years that I will get to see my kids dress up...they are all growing up and moving on. So I'm glad that we have pictures to help us remember the fun times.

It's Halloween with the Kiddo's!

Halloween is one of my very least favorite holidays of the year. It ranks right up there with St. Patricks day for me....BLAH! BUT I know that the kids love it, so I've always let them have fun. It was alot more fun when my kids were little, to see them get all excited about what the were going to dress up as, about going trick-or-treating and coming back with a stash of goods that were going to rot out their teeth. Yes, I was a good mom and let them do all of the traditional things, but Halloween to me has always just been the gateway to the "Christmas season." This year Grandma Kathy (my wonderful Step-mom...whom I love dearly) had a really fun Halloween party for all the grand kids.

She had them all come hungry,

dressed in costume and bringing a pumpkin to decorate. Kim and Cameron both had drama practice, but Halle was very excited to go. Her and her cousins that are the same age, were the ones that were going to help with the games, so it was kind of a "grown up moment" for her. I was excited to go and see my nieces and nephews. I hadn't seen some of them in quite awhile and I was excited to spend some time with them and to get to see them all decked out in their Halloween attire, to play games with them and get lots of hugs. I miss them when I don't get to see them very often and I was looking forward to spending some fun time with them. I love hanging with my family, we always have a good time. We arrived at the party with all the kids looking so darn cute, and very excited to be at grandma's. They ate chili and "mummy dogs"....played duck-duck-goose...fished in the fish pond...decorated jack-o-lantern faces...made slime...wrappped mummies...and then decorated their pumpkins with frosting and candy. Everyone had such a great time. The kids played and played, made lots of "excited noises"..(the kind like screeching and laughing). I think it was a hit!!!! I am sure that everyone will be looking forward to next years fun party. Thanks Grandma Kathy for an awesomely fun day!!!