THANKFUL THURSDAY

Today I am thankful for how beautiful it looks out my kitchen window. When I left out of town last Friday afternoon my tree had just a few slight touches of yellow, and by the time I got home on Tuesday night, it had almost completely transformed. BRIGHT yellow. It really is pretty! The afternoon sun shines right through this tree and makes a very bright, almost eerie glow in my kitchen and family room. It almost makes up for the fact that it is getting increasingly colder outside... which, by the way, I am NOT thankful for. =)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Today I am busy packing and cleaning for a trip to Mesa. We are all leaving tomorrow right after school gets out. I am taking full advantage of Fall Break next Monday and Tuesday, and going to see my parents and family. I am really looking forward to this mini-vacation. I always enjoy my trips back home, and REALLY enjoy the weather down there now. It is an absolutely perfect time of year in the valley.

BUT, this time is a little different. I am going with full knowledge that this will be the last time I spend quality time with my mom and daddy for over 18 months. I am so proud of my parents. Just three years ago they returned from their first 18 month mission to the Manila Philippines MTC. And just three years later they have turned in their papers to serve another mission (don't know where yet, but they requested stateside). I am SO PROUD, and super excited for them in their righteous desires! I am thankful for their willingness to up and leave their wonderful family again=), and go and do the things which both they and the Lord desires of them.My relationship with my parents is a special one to me. I am thankful for the maturity and ability now to really appreciate them, and and incredibly thankful for all their love, help, and concern that they are always able and willing to give. I love you twice as much as the last thing you say mom and daddy!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

TRUE CONFESSIONS TUESDAY

True Confession #1: Blogging everyday is hard. I probably would have had time for it, but sometimes taking a nap, or relaxing, or watching a movie with my husband is more beneficial. Sundays are anything but restful around here, and I couldn't decide what I wanted to write about for Memories Monday, so I just didn't....

True Confession #2: A room can go from perfectly clean to an absolute mess in a matter of 47 seconds in this house. If you were here at this very moment you would see that I am speaking the truth. My office is proof...

True Confession #3: I focused nearly all my energy on laundry yesterday, and I am proud to say that my laundry is 100% caught up, folded, AND put away. BUT, with that being said, I did not focus hardly any energy on the rest of my house, so it looks like a tornado came through. Guess what I am doing today?!?

True Confession #4: We have a old, badly sealed house, its coming on to cold, five children and a husband who are pretty messy eaters and usually don't pick up after themselves, and a mommy who would rather sleep then stay up half the night cleaning. What does that equal here in the White Mountains? Mice. Yes, we have them. No, I don't like it, and don't like admitting it. But, it is True Confessions Tuesday, so I will come clean. Now I just need to get, and keep my house that way. Oh wait, I forgot, I have five young kids...It will NEVER stay clean, for at least 16 more years....

SPECIAL SATURDAY

Today we created a time capsule. We put it inside our platform that we are sealing up, tiling, and putting the wood stove back on. It was Davids' idea to leave a little piece of the Peterson's as part of this house. I thought it was a great thing, and we got all the kids working on pictures and short notes about who they are, what their interests are, and what things were like on this day, October 9, 2010. We added our testimonies, and a copy of the Book of Mormon also. We all took turns helping nail the top on to the platform (Betsy is pictured). It was a fun and memorable experience.

What we did to make this Saturday special...

FAMILY FRIDAY

I took some impromptu pictures of my kiddos a couple days ago. Here are a just a couple that I just love...Yes, there is our chicken coop in the background, and a bucket, and a chair growing out of Jays' head. Hey, it is the way things are around here... Nathan is pulling his "rabbit face"that he recently perfected, and Emily is looking just a bit too seductive for her own good.

Each one of their faces match their personalities to a tee. Except for Nathan, who just looks a bit concerned at four children throwing their weight on him...

I wish Aubrey had a bigger smile on, but here is a shot of my three beautiful gals.

We have had a pretty normal, busy week around here. David went to jury duty in Snowflake last week (You didn't know Snowflake summoned jurors, did you? Neither did we.). He also spent a couple days out on the "rez", and helped out in Nathans' classroom yesterday for Parent Enrichment. I hauled four out of seven of us to the dentist a couple times last week. We all came out unscathed, teeth cleaned and/or sealed, and no cavities! Except for Nathan, who unfortunately inherited the bad teeth in the family. He has two new cavities, and has to go back in in a couple weeks to get those filled and to get a chrome cap (I think that is what they called it) put on. One of his pesky fillings refuses to stay put, so we are taking drastic measures and making it a bit more permanent (at least until that baby tooth falls out). He is so excited to get that silver tooth, that you would think he had just won the lottery or something.


Nathan also took a big step along with turning eight, that now involves bobcats, wolves and eagles. He entered Cub Scouts, and has had so much fun reading through his Scout book, and earning his badges. He and I went to his Pack Meeting last month, where he hung upside down and I got to pin his Bobcat Badge on. I can see him taking this scouting stuff really seriously. Let Scouting Begin!

And lest I forget, wasn't General Conference just wonderful?!? I have felt more and more like my Heavenly Father really knows ME, and I can't believe how many times I heard something during the talks that I felt was just for me. My favorite moments that I can think of right of the top of my head are, of course, Pres. Monsons' Relief Society talk on washing our own windows before we judge someones' laundry, Pres. Ucthdorfs' talk on s l o w i n g d o w n, and another one by Pres. Monson about having a spirit of thanksgiving, and being grateful for what we have, and not focused on what we lack. There were many more great messages that I took from conference, that I will share later this week...

Well, there is our family on this Friday...