Our Thanksgiving Tree

For FHE we did our annual thanksgiving tree.

Some of the things we are thankful for this year are:

family

leaves

food

Earth

Temple

water

animals

toys

Jesus Christ

Scriptures

Heavenly Father

church

puzzles

Christmas

Thanksgiving

my body

mom and dad

seasons

mac and cheese

friends

fall

chores

music

grandparents

the Holy Ghost

blankies

challenges that help me grow

health

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Veteran's Day

On Veteran's day, Denver had the day off. He left at 4am to go hunting. The kids and I spent the morning hiking. There's no mountains, but lots of trails and some hills in a neighborhood park. The weather was perfect!

One trail led us to this stream.

After Denver's hunt, he joined us for some more trails.

There were lots of pretty trees and perfect picture spots.

Later that day, Maelie and I went to the veteran's day parade while the boys and Dad took a nap. It was the perfect day for a parade. The weather was so nice. A great thanks to all those who have served in the military. Living the military life is really a neat thing and to be able to stand up for our country in that way is amazing.

The news link

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-ofallon-police-shooting-110810,0,3137668.story

A hiccup in the neighborhood

Last week Denver and I woke up around 3 am to sirens. That's not something we hear to often in O'fallon. The sirens sounded really close. When the sirens stopped we heard some angry shouting from a woman (Den thought he heard a man) and then immediately after that we heard 5 quick gun shots. We jumped out of bed and ran to our bedroom window. We saw another cop arrive and quickly survey the area with his gun drawn. After a short time an ambulance arrived and more cop cars. (this all happened 2 houses down from us) The ambulance didn't drive away quickly so we knew someone had been killed and because there wasn't a ton of cops arriving, we knew it wasn't the cop that was shot. Anyway, a drunk 21 year ex-girlfriend of the 19 year old boy that lives at the home had a gun and when the cop approached, she 'brandished' it and he shot. This fox news van was sitting right outside our house. I took this picture from the window so I wouldn't be appear nosy :). In the video you can see our mailbox and she is standing right in front of our house. In some of the views during the video you can see our house.

A heart full of Thanks

Today I've felt so grateful. Nothing special happened today to bring these feelings on, they've just been coming periodically throughout the day. First, I've felt so grateful for the way I was raised and for my family. I love each of my siblings so much and love that I have so many. It is neat. I don't know how my parents survived all our drama, but I'm glad they did. We have some great memories. I'm grateful for Eternal families- that we can be reunited with those we love who have gone before us. Second, I feel so blessed because a year ago today I had surgery and now you can't even tell. No visual scarring, no long term effects. That was an extremely hard time for me and I was helped by the Lord and many loving people during that experience -my mom who will never fully understand how much she helped us that week and how much her service means to us, my bishop who must have been inspired to send me flowers on the day I was the most depressed, to my ward members who were concerned for us and willing to help out in any way, to my husband and kids and to all those who were praying for me. Third, for all the life long lessons I learned and the way I grew while living in Philadelphia for the last 4 years. The way I serve in the church will never be mediocre thanks to what I learned and experienced there. Thomas S. Monson said,
"Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives." My heart is full, my emotions are tender today.

Big helper

October-Halloween

October flew by. I love this time of year, with all the fall leaves and cooler weather.

Boys being boys.

On Halloween we had a party because the kids couldn't go trick or treating. They were excited about the family party. We made yummy food, decorated cookies and played games.

Sterling eating his cookie Garrett and his cookies. Looks appetizing, huh?

Maelie with her cookies

The party food consisted of muddy buddies, chex mix, ghoulish punch, graveyard dessert and crackers with pepperoni. The kids ate their hearts out!

The Saturday before Halloween we went to our ward's trunk or treat. I was shocked at how much candy the kids got. Who needs trick or treating when you have a Shiloh ward trunk or treat! seriously!

This picture was taken after Colson ate some candy (the pictures are out of order-sorry)

Princess Maelie's spoils

Skeleton Sterling's spoils

GI Joe Garrett's spoils

Before the trunk or treat, we took pictures of the kids in their costumes. Garrett was GI Joe although he couldn't remember what he was so he sometimes said he was a ninja. Whatever works. We didn't go crazy on costumes this year because we knew they would only get to wear them once and didn't get to go trick or treating. i think Halloween should always be on the last Friday or Saturday of the month of October, not always on the 31st.

Maelie was a princess.

Sterling was a skeleton costume that was too small for him. He could've been something else, but we laughed so hard at this costume, we just couldn't resist. Look how high water the pants are. So funny. We couldn't take him seriously in this costume. :)

Colson was a lion. Now looking back, I should've had Maelie be Dorothy, Garrett the tin man, sterling the scarecrow and colson the lion. Oh well, there's always next year.