Thankful

I am so thankful to have a job where I get to be home for the holidays. Last week I was literally at work more hours than I was not at work for three straight days, and I was completely wiped out by Friday, but it was so worth it because this week I got to stay home!

I am thankful for a sweet husband. On Monday, Isaac and I went to see Mockingjay Part 1. It was good, and it made me want to re-read the book, so I did that this week too. Isaac went to work that evening, and he came home with two small bottles of Martinelli’s for a sweet Date Part 2.

I am thankful for technology. Our first yearbook deadline is Monday, and I spent hours upon hours going over everything with a fine-toothed comb, correcting errors, adding & shifting elements, and giving lots of feedback. It took forever, but I think when we submit on Monday, the kids will be proud of their (and my, ha) hard work. It was so nice that it’s all done online though, so I could be in contact with the kids asking questions, getting input, and getting their assistance as they had time during the week.

I am thankful for good weather! Teresa & Sarah came to visit us from Provo! We were glad the weather held up enough for them to drive all the way out and back. It was so nice to have them around for a few days. I was yearbooking a lot and not much fun, but they were so sweet. Aiden is especially sad to see them go since they were so nice about playing with him and reading to him, even though he tends to get caught up on the same one or two books at a time.

I am thankful for wonderful family and good food. We had Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s house, and there were about thirty of us there, so it was quite a house full! I got to see aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma, and we all enjoyed a fantastic meal together.

I am thankful for fun. On Saturday, Isaac, Dad and I went to the BYU-Cal Berkeley football game. We won 42-35! It was the first BYU game I’d been to in nine years, and I worked with catering for all the games my junior and senior years, so I didn’t get to fully participate in them those last two years. Isaac was excited to see the caffeine-free Diet Coke at the BYU tailgate party. I loved my time at BYU so much, and it was so exciting to cheer for them today. We had so much fun!

I am thankful for my mom. Hats off to my mom for making at least half of these things possible by watching our kids and cooking up a storm. I am so thankful for her not just this week but all the time for her selfless acts of service.

I am thankful for my kids. These two sillies keep me on my toes, but they make me laugh, they make me proud, and they make me a better, more patient, and more loving person. I’m not a perfect mom by a long shot, but they are patient with me as I figure things out. They generally play nicely together, but even when they don’t (like Aiden’s outburst of “I don’t want a brother anymore!” when Landon moved his neatly aligned cars Friday night), we work through it.

I am thankful for the spirit of the holidays. We put up our Christmas decorations (well, most of them) the day after Thanksgiving. We have been reading a Christmas story every night before bed. I can’t help but be affected by the spirit of love and giving that permeates this season, and I hope I can transfer some of that love and joy to my kids as I try to teach them the true meaning of Christmas.

I hope everyone had a wonderful week and a happy Thanksgiving. Sending my love your way!