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December Memories....

I've been called to the Young Women's program in our church. I am now the advisor over the Miamaids. December was my very first activity. Which just happened to be a trip to see the lights at Temple Square.

We celebrated Christmas with Nana and Papa this year. We had fun getting creative and finding somewhere to squeeze the tree. And it was even more fun decorating. I've always loved decorating.

Mattix was a part of his very first preschool Christmas program. With Sandy's preschool. He made a very cute Shepherd at least I think so. He even said his part loud and clear. "And what is this thing that has come to pass?" He rocked it!

Mason's class sang in his schools Winter sing around. He was so excited to sing with his friends. He learned a few new songs that we loved listening to him practice. I want a hippopotamus for Christmas was his favorite song he sang.

The day before Christmas Eve we drove down to Manti so we could be there for Matt's brother's wife/my friend Nadia to get her endowments out at the Manti temple. We had perfect timing we were able to see my Grandpa and grandma Labrum, I don't see very often because they live so far away. They drive a couple hours and spend a couple days in Manti to work in the temple. They were finishing shift at the temple we waited for them and got to sit and visit with them for a while. The boys were able to go inside the temple and see the lobby and some of the temple worker dressed in white. Mason said he loved the special spirit he felt in the temple. I loved every minute of our visit.

Because we were done so late at the temple the boys stayed at Jimmy and Nadia's and hung out. We got to sleep over and have a yummy big breakfast Christmas eve morning all together.

We took a trip to Winder Dairy for scones and a visit with this guy. Mattix and Manning weren't so impressed, Mason took full advantage of being able to talk to Santa.

Christmas Eve we always get to open a family gift and this year we got a special treat. We got a Wii. The boys and Matt love it. I love listening to them play Wii sports is our favorite game.

Santa found us and boy was Manning excited to see his new horsee. He opened his presents while sitting on him. Santa sure knows his stuff. Manning loved it.

Santa brought Mattix a Flip the bounce back racer remote control car. I thought he was in this picture but he wasn't. Mason got a big beyblade.

Because we were a little later than I'm used to getting our tree up. Things were busy with the ward Christmas party and life, I made a tree out of a green table cloth and hung it on the door. Then for FHE we made ornaments and drew pictures that reminded us of Christ on them. It was so neat to see what the boys thought of. Than we hung all our cards and pictures we received in the mail or from our friends and family on the tree too. I love getting Christmas cards. I think this was the funnest thing. And very special. We will be doing this again next year. Thank you Friend Magazine.

The Tuesday after Christmas we were able to go to the Salt Lake temple and Jimmy and Nadia were sealed and Brenda was sealed to them. It was a wonder experience and I am so happy we were able to be a part of it. It brought back memories of Matt and I being sealed to Mason. I loved the flood of memories it brought back. Being in the temple is an amazing place to be. Especially with family.

It's been a while since I last had the chance to sit down and blog. I have missed it sooo very much.
Today is a lazy/we have nothing to do kind of day. Which I am not complaining. The kids are all busy and I cleaned yesterday. Why clean two days in a row?
I've noticed a couple other friends have been coming back for a blogging break and to be completely honest it's sparked my LOVE of the blog world. I'd like to try and go through more pictures from the past couple months. Maybe I can get myself caught up. I can't wait to get my blog on!

Thankful Thoughts 5

This is me grinning... Yeah I did it! Oh yeah!!
I have been wanting to do a 5k for a few years. I think it was after I had Mattix, I thought it would be a good way for me to lose my baby fat. But I didn't I get so intimidated by "hard things." I got pregnant with Manning and while I was pregnant with him I walked so much campaigning with Matt. I thought I can do a 5k after I have him. And I will lose the baby fat. Yeah well I didn't. Once again the idea of this scared me when it came down to it. It really did seem to hard. I have been working out and started a love for Zumba. Losing weight from that. Participated in a lifestyle change challenge with my sister in law and some friends. Lost a few more pounds from that. And gained a better healthy eating desire. And a further love for taking care of my body. I am in the best shape I've been in for years.
Well I had a feeling that I have been waiting long enough. I really wanted to do a 5k. I decided to find one and instead of trying to do it on my own I put it out on facebook and asked around for friends to sign up with me. After all it's harder to back down when other people are excited too. And way more fun to have your friends by your side. Friends and family are the best cheerleaders. I signed us up! I wish I would of worked harder to get ready. But today I did it! I completed my first 5k. I am not going to say it was so easy. In fact my mind was playing with me the whole time. Matt came with me. Which I am so grateful he was there to support me and push me. I love him. I started off strong and with a good pace. I slowed down the first time. And it was hard to start again. Started up again. Every time I slowed down it got harder and harder to start up again. And every time Matt was by my side cheering me on. Telling me "I can do it. I can do this hard thing." At one point 2.5 miles into it. I wanted to cry. I really wanted to at least reach my goal of completing it in 45 min. I felt so done. Matt was tracking the time with his phone. I knew I needed to speed up. I could see the finish line. I thought in my head. It's ok if I get a few min. over 45 min. It will be close. I was ready to settle. I am so glad Matt was there encouraging me to keep going. I did better than settle. I jogged past the finish line and clocked in at 37 min. and 45 sec!!! Heck Yeah!! I did do it!! And it was amazing. I can't wait to do another. And I will try harder next time.
Today I am thankful for my strength. I can do hard things!

Thankful Thoughts 4

I am so thankful for my sense of humor. And my boys that help remind me that I do in fact have one.

Last night as we were getting ready for bed, I was rushing the boys and trying to get them to settle down. (that sounds like confusing parenting doesn't it?)

Me: "Guys we need to get to bed, tomorrow's an exciting day."
Mattix: "Why who's coming? Do we get presents?"

Me: "No it's not Christmas."

Mason: "No the turkey's coming."

Mattix: "Oh yeah the turkey brings us the chicken."
In our house every kind of white meat is "chicken." I had to laugh. My kids come up with the funniest things.
This after my boys were fighting over who gets to play with my new sports bra. Mason informed me that he loves the word "bra." Why because you can have a "bra" at school, with your friends, or at a club. I think he meant BRAWL! I had to correct him. I can't have him going through life thinking those two are the same thing. How embarrassing when he gets older and someone corrects him.

Thankful Thoughts 3

Today my day started out very good. I woke up happy. Especially because it is my little guy Manning's birthday. I love it when it's one of my boy's birthday's. I love making them feel special. And showing them just how thankful I am for them. All day Manning just did not get that it was HIS birthday. Everyone kept saying happy birthday to him and asking him "who's birthday is it? " He kept responding with different people's names. It didn't kick in until he realized there were presents for HIM. Maybe he understood then?
Amid the birthday celebrating today, I ran into some drama. My battery died on my car. I panicked. Matt was in class up at the U. I didn't know how to fix it. Mason was late for school. But my mom came and took him. Than my brother in law came and very quickly (made it look so easy) jumped my car and had it running, just like that. I am so thankful to be surrounded by people that love me. That are willing to drop what they are doing to come RESCUE me. I know that I have so many friends and family that would come if I needed them.

I am thankful for my friends and my family. All the people that I love. I am thankful for special days to celebrate those special people.

Thankful Thought 2

Our Thankful Turkey Family

The Mommy Turkey

The Daddy Turkey

The Manning Turkey

The Mason Turkey

The Mattix Turkey

Tonight we had a fabulous Family Home Evening. I wish I could say that we are very good at holding weekly FHE but we tend to miss a week here and there. (maybe more than I'd like) We taught the boys about being thankful. And what it means to have a thankful heart. We sang a couple Primary songs that daddy picked out, read a scripture and a quote from Pres. Monson. After we played thankful Pictionary. Each of us took turns drawing something we were thankful for and we had to guess. I should of took pictures of some of these pictures. We than made thankful turkey's to hang up and help us remember to be thankful. And of course we had a treat. While eating our treat Mattix discovered he is very thankful for root beer floats. I am so thankful to be able to have this time with Matt and the boys. I am so incredibly grateful to my Heavenly Father for trusting me to teach my family the things they need to learn and for giving me a partner. It makes me beam with happiness to have Matt by my side working just as hard as me for the same goal. To have our Family for Eternity.
I am Thankful for my Family and the precious time we get to spend together.

Thankful thoughts 1

I am a Daughter of God


I am thankful to know that I am and Daughter of a Heavenly Father. He knows me. I am reminded of this everyday but honestly don't stop to realize what really is going on.
He knows me, he knows my strengths, my weaknesses, my desires, intentions and my potential. (Even when I don't see it myself.)
I love that when I am living with the spirit so strong in my life, I can hear those promptings that will guide me to what I need to be doing. He's always preparing us for bigger better things. Even through our trials and pain. If we have faith we will be able to look back and see that he was fine tuning us for our next step in our life.

The Pumpkin Patch

We could just buy our pumpkins at the store. We usually do. But last year we went to a cool pumpkin patch. So I figured this year let's find another.

Manning was determined to push himself.

Mason found his pumpkin. A flat round one.

This was the one Manning eventually had to have. But he was convinced his pumpkin is a ball.

He found this one but when he couldn't comfortably lift it he went back for the other "ball."

All these pumpkins, I just had to pose them.So cute!

Mattix loved this BIG one.

Another posing moment.

Cheese! (Manning is upset he can't see his ball.)

We took a hayride around the pumpkin patch.

Matt really wasn't feeling good. But I did catch a smile.

Mason is becoming quite the photographer. He brought his camera along too.

Our cute family on the hay ride.

Matt really didn't feel good. And the hay ride didn't make his stomach feel to pretty either.

There were lots of tractors to climb on.

My boys loved every one of them.

The boys were sooo excited to get to go through their first corn maze.

They were afraid to get lost. So they stuck together. Little did they know, that was the shortest corn maze ever and it was not the least bit scary. But it was a REAL corn maze to them. And they loved it. It was awesome!

Such a fun day!