Welcome December!

It's finally here!! The snow had perfect timing this morning to welcome in a new month! Now, it is starting to feel like the holidays. Break out the hot cocoa, turn on the fireplace, hang the stockings, trim the tree... I will start tomorrow on my 12 Christmas Memories. The wheels are turning, and it has actually put a smile on my face, and sometimes a tear or two, to think of so many fond memories...Can't wait to read all of your favorite memories or traditions! Here we go...

Wanna Play?...

So I've really become addicted to this whole blogging world. No really, I need to be committed to some institution for some help, but they would take my computer away and thus no blogging... Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed sharing and reading about our Grateful Hearts in November. So...I was wondering if anyone wanted to play with me in December? Here's what I am thinking...the 12 Memories of Christmas. I don't even know if I have 12, but I promise to dig deep and come up with something. I am posting this early, because I know some of you are not quite to the addiction level I am and check your blog every day (um, hour). Just kidding...kind of. And, since I wasn't quite diligent enough to post my Thankful Blog everyday, I thought we may need the entire month of December to post the 12 Memories (not just the 12 days before Christmas.) Get it? Kind of? Okay, so if anyone wants to play with me - start anytime in December. Ohh...so fun. The wheels are already turning...I can't wait to see what some of you share...what did I do before blogging...

Thanksgiving, Family, Home...

My heart has been full of gratitude this month, but especially on Thanksgiving when we traveled home to spend the day with family. If memory serves correctly, we haven't ALL been together since Thanksgiving of 2004. I am so thankful for my family...all of them...these are all the grandkids and one great grandchild on my parents side...16 in all...each special to me in their own way...

Going home is an interesting thing...so nostalgic...I like to wander around from room to room and notice the little things that are always the same...Mom's jewelry is still on the top of her dresser, her lotion still smells the same, Dad's keys and wallet are still on the kitchen table, the bread is in the same drawer. And some things are different...the trees are more mature, the rooms seem smaller, my old room seems more of a guest room than mine...but the love is the same. And for that I am grateful...

When we were little, we used to have one of those old rocking horses with the springs. We would try to see how close we could get the nose and tail to the ground. We succeeded many times, but enjoyed the hours of trying more than actually succeeding. That poor horse is now outside, faded, and cracked...but Emma still hopped right on and rode it like the cowgirl in all of us...


So, as November comes to it's finish, I carry my grateful heart into a new December...

Emma...

Today I am grateful for Emma. It seems I spend my day picking up the messes this little tornado makes...but I wouldn't trade it for the world! Here are just 5 of the reasons I love and am grateful for my Emma...

1. She has perfect timing...I thought I had it made - a great husband, a 6 year old in first grade, all day to do according to my own plan, no crying babies in the middle of the night, no diapers, we could pick up and go anywhere as a family on a whim, etc. etc... She entered my life to remind me what I was missing...

2. She gives the best hugs and kisses...open mouth with tongue...gotta love it!

3. She has been sleeping through the night since we came home from the hospital...angel baby!

4. She reminds me each day of how special it is to be a "Daughter of God" and what a privilege it is for me to be her Mom and raise her. I like to think we were best friends at another time and place...

5. She likes her Daddy more than she likes me. It does hurt my ego a little, but there is nothing sweeter than a "Daddy's Girl".

Gabriel...

Today I am thankful for Gabe. I get a little emotional just writing that. I never knew the extent that my parents loved me until I held my little angel Gabriel for the first time. We have been through a lot together his first 8 years. I love him more today than eight years ago and look forward to many years to come. Here are the top 5 reasons I love and am thankful for my Gabe:

1. He says the funniest things...He has such a great sense of humor. He loves to watch movies and then repeat the entire thing to me. I think he gets this from his Uncle James...

2. He sleeps on my floor every night. And it is NOT, I repeat NOT, because he is scared to sleep alone in the basement. He just thinks my floor and his sleeping bag are especially soft...

3. He has the most tender heart of any little boy I know. The other night while driving home, he was mad at me for not giving into him for something (I don't even remember now). So he starts calling me stupid mom and names that actually were hurting my feelings, but I kept quiet. We get home, and I go into the house. Gabe stays in the car. I go out to see if he is coming in, and he is just sobbing. He proceeds to tell me that he is not upset about what happened before, but he is sad because of what he said to me. Hugs and kisses all around and all is forgotten...

4. We had 6 years 9 months just the two of us. Well, Jesse was there too - but you know what I mean. He was my little sidekick. We went everywhere together. I didn't do anything without him. He was and still is my best buddy. Of course, I am not so cool anymore. But that's okay. I have so many great memories of just the two of us - trips to the zoo, shopping, going to the farm, the museum, riding the escalator at the mall a bazillion times, Christmas, Easters, Halloweens, Summer picnics....

5. He taught me an important lesson on the Atonement when he was just 6 months old. Gabe had Bacterial Meningitis at 6 months, and we almost lost him. There came a point in our 16 day stay in Intensive Care that I knew that no matter which "home" he went to - mine or our Father's - that he was mine forever because of the Atonement. We were a Forever Family and still are. All I have to do is look into those chocolate brown eyes, and I see a love greater than either of us can fully comprehend. I love you, Gabriel...

Five Interesting Things About Me...

Sheila tagged me to post 5 interesting things about myself that perhaps some of you would not know. Some of you may already know some of these and just think I am weird. If you just can't handle only 5 weird things about me, go to my October blogs. There are 6 more there. Here goes...

1. I was a cheerleader in high school...and so were my 4 sisters. You should see all 5 of us do the school song together! Goooo Dragons!!

2. I am named after my Grandma Kate. I am Tricia Kate. My daughter is Emma Kate. I know, cute, huh?

3. Men with long fingernails give me the heebie-jeebies. It is so disgusting...

4. I am not a fan of condiments (please read that correctly) as in ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce... I did not eat a sandwich with mayo on it until I was in college. My first salad was when I was in college, also. The things you'll eat when you are hungry! I still eat a lot of foods dry.

5. I have not watched TV in 4+ years. I know...now you all KNOW I am weird. We just never got cable when we moved here, and then we kinda liked not having a TV. I do see advertisements for shows when I am at other peoples homes or restaurants and think, "wow, what am I missing?" I have no idea what goes on with the reality TV shows. I am so out of the loop. We do a lot of reading, walking, blogging, etc. over here.

There you go. Hope I gave you something to think or laugh about!!

Family Pics...

Our dear friend, Becky Kimball, took the greatest pictures of our family last week in the Sugar House area! They turned out SO great! Becky is so talented and captured the true personalities of our kids...Emma is a mover and Gabe is stubborn with a few giggles in between! If you are interested in Becky's amazing talent, her photography blog is beckykimballphotography.blogspot.com Here are just a few of my favorites...I could have posted about 16 more, but didn't want to overdo it :)