Update

I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus. After doing it everyday in November, I needed a break. I just realized today that it has been 20 days since my last post. Unacceptable!

Things are going really good and very busy. The new job is okay. I hate starting over, no one knows me, and I'm trying everyday to prove my value. In the long run, I'm sure it will be great but the first few weeks have been challenging.

The kids are wonderful, exciting, and exhausting all at the same time. They are all super excited for Christmas and can't wait for that special day. Also, because of the new job, we are going to Washington after Christmas. The tradition returns.....yeah! We have a "Countdown to Christmas" in our kitchen and the kids move the dial everyday. Then they say something like this "10 more days 'til Christmas, 11 more days 'til Bunny Grandma's". The thought of the vacation is almost as exciting as Christmas.

I promise to put some more things on the blog, but for now just know this......I love these little monsters!

November Thankfuls - Day 30

Today I'm thankful for new opportunities. I quit my job today at AtTask, where I have been for the last 18 months. I was offered a new job at a company named Domo. I'm excited to start and take on a new challenge, but I'm nervous as can be. I've had butterflies in my stomach all day and just hope I made the right decision. Onto a new day........

November Thankfuls - Day 29

Today I’m thankful for this little man. I’m speechless when it comes to him. I never knew how much a little boy could change my life and melt my heart. The love I have for him is totally different than the love I have for my girls.

He is crazy, wild, and a complete joy to be around. He hardly ever cries and will flash the best smile to just about anyone. When I come home from work he runs, screaming “MOMMY” and gives me the biggest hug.  He laughs just at the right moments and makes me smile. His new thing to say is “love you more” and we go back and forth about who loves who more. It is so cute.

He is easy going and never really complains. I can drag him anywhere and he is happy about it. He insists on being included and wants to do everything the girls are doing. Which often includes painting nails, ponytails, and high heels. I don’t stop it, I think it is adorable.

He loves to cuddle on the couch and watch TV. His favorite movie is Cars and we watch it at least once a day. He loves to eat hot dogs, pizza, ramen noodles, and pancakes. He doesn’t like when people sing, in fact he yells “STOP”.  He loves trucks, dirt, and riding his bike. He hates to be dirty and will insist on a mess to be cleaned up.

I am 100% smitten by this little guy. He makes being a mom worth it. I feel so blessed to have him and can’t imagine my life without him. I hope he always stays this sweet and forever be my little man. 

November Thankfuls - Day 28

Today I’m grateful for a whole list of random things. Ready?

A good book, Air-Freshners to make this office full of men smell a little better, peppermint gum, flannel sheets, awesome in-laws that love us from afar, Zac Brown Band, my portable heater so I can stay warm in my freezing cold office, tulips, Habanero BBQ almonds (they are the best), my iPhone, a good pair of jeans, a great pair of sweat pants, a pantry full of food, smiles on my children’s faces, a husband that will talk me down from a cliff, my grandma’s blanket that I cuddle up with almost everyday,  my elf on the shelf (that is coming in the mail today), this great diet that is working, lunch with old friends, diet root beer, stupid TV shows that make me laugh, SongPop to take my mind off the stress, brothers and sister-in-laws that always have my back, great parents, the smell of freshly cut grass, knock-knock jokes from my kids, swimming pools, days on the lake with my brothers, girls night out with my girls…..

I could go on and on but I’ll spare you……

November Thankfuls - Day 27

Today I'm thankful for a trip to Mexico. That's right - Rory and I are going to Mexico in January. Today we paid off the trip - yeah! We literally saved our pennies in a jar for the last six months to pay for the trip. It is amazing when you set your mind to something how it seems to happen. A few months ago, I walked into the bank with jars full of quarters, dimes, and nickels and walked out with $1100. Rory put away $20 every time he worked and paid for the other half of the trip.
The trip is for a good friend of ours 40th birthday. It will be a memorable trip for all. I'm so thankful for the great friends we have and the memories we create together.
Last but not least, I'm so grateful for the family that is willing to take our kids while we are gone. It isn't easy to step up and take care of three kids for a week, and we appreciate it.

November Thankfuls - Day 26

Today I'm thankful for 8:00 because that is when my three beautiful children go to bed. :) I love having them around and the house full of energy and excitement, but there is nothing better than a quiet house. I love to sit back, relax, and do my thing while they sleep soundly in their beds.

If you can't tell I'm running out of ideas. :) Good thing November is almost over.

November Thankfuls - Day 25

Today I'm thankful for this time of year. I love how excited my kids get thinking about Christmas. They are giddy over every little decoration I pull out of a box. You can see their excitement in their eyes. Today we put up the Christmas decorations, listened to Christmas music, and baked cookies. The kids were in heaven.

In a month, I will be pulling out my hair to take these things down. For now, I love it.

November Thankfuls - Day 24

Today I'm thankful for this......

Thats right.....My New Ride. Not a great picture but I'm super excited. I've been driving a 2001 Honda Civic with almost 200,000 miles on it. It has all sorts of fancy things like speakers that work, bluetooth, keyless entry, and ipod hookups. I'm super happy.

November Thankfuls - Day 23

Today I am grateful for Grandparents. Today marks the one year anniversary of Grandma Pam's passing. I miss that sweet, opinionated lady and so grateful for the time I spent with her. She taught me a lot of valuable lessons in life. My Grandpa was also one of the greatest men I've every known. I often think back about all of the wonderful times we had together and smile.

Rory also has a very good relationship with his Grandma. He respects her and her opinion more than anyone elses. I can tell him and tell him and he doesn't believe me, but once his Grandma said it he believes it. He has nothing but wonderful things to say about her and loves to spend time with her.
Both of us have had such wonderful examples of grandparents and so happy for the influence they have had on our lives. We will never forget them and the things they taught us.

I'm so grateful for all of the grandparents in our life. My kids have more Grandma's and Grandpa's then they know what to do with. They are so lucky to have so many people that care and love them.
I'm so glad my kids have such wonderful grandparents. We appreciate all of their grandparents and the love they have shown all of us.

November Thankfuls - Day 22

Happy Thanksgiving. Today I'm thankful for good food, family, and friends. I love spending the day with my family and stuffing my face with a ton of food. No diet today, no rushing from place to place, just a day of relaxing. I'm really glad I'm not cooking Thanksgiving, that is NOT relaxing. :) I hope everyone else has a fabulous day.

November Thankfuls - Day 21

Today I'm thankful for date night. Rory and I had a night away from the kids and a date. It has been a long time since we have been alone together - a long time. I'm thankful for babysitters to take care of the little ones. Good times!

November Thankfuls - Day 20

So tears are coming to my eyes as I even think about writing this. Today I'm thankful for my Mom. What a wonderful person she is. Today has been a particular crappy day in my book and the only thing I wanted to do all day is call my mom. Even Rory recognizes it. When he knows he can't help, he'll say "Call your Mom, she can help!" This happened today. There was a time after having Paiton that I almost lost it. Rory went in the other room and called my mom. He requested she get there as soon as possible to help. I love that he knows when he is over his head. :)
I talk to my mom almost everyday on my way home from work. I have a 30 minute drive and what a better way to spend it than talk to my mom. We talk about work, family, and friends. I love to just sit at her house and enjoy her home. I always feel welcome and loved and I could stay for hours.
My mom is thoughtful and sweet. She can immediately tell if something is bothering me, just by my voice. She knows when I'm on the verge of tears or so excited I can't contain myself. I think my mom is the sister I never had.
My mom is awesome with my kids. She is willing to drop everything when I need her in an emergency.  She spoils my kids rotten and loves them almost as much as I do. She was there with the birth of all of my kids and took care of me while I recovered.
I'm so grateful to have her in my life. She has helped me through so many hard times, tough decisions, and days of joy. I feel so blessed to have her and cherish our time together and every conversation. I love you Mom.

November Thankfuls - Day 19

Today I’m thankful for this little princess. My little Saigey – where do I start? Saige is all girl. I’ve said it before but it is so true. She loves dresses, skirts, make-up, bows, and anything fancy. She loves to dress up, wear my high heels , and use my perfume.  She won’t leave the house without her hair combed and would prefer it be styled as well. She loves it when I offer to curl her hair or paint her nails.  She notices what I wear and how my hair is done. She will also be the first to tell me when I look ridiculous, or how stupid my hair looks. We are two different people, but yet so much alike.

She is sensitive and her feelings are hurt so easily. She is the first to notice when someone is sad and always tries to help. She is a little shy until she knows you. She likes to stay home and be around people she is comfortable with. She is stubborn – oh so stubborn. She is brought to tears in a matter of seconds and wears her emotions on her sleeve. When she believes in something, she believes it whole-heartily and nothing can change her mind. Sound familiar? Just like her mama.

Saige is a total mama’s girl. The other two prefer Rory, so I’m good with it. She loves to hang out with me and cuddle up with me on the couch. Her favorite toy has to be her collection of Babies. She gathers one or two of them, her stroller, her car seat, and her purse. She gets all dolled up in her high heals and make-up and plays Mom. I love it! One day she will make a great mom.

Saige looks up to Paiton and sets a great example to Kole. She is fun to be around and loves to giggle. She challenges me on a daily basis but then turns around with her big smile and lights my heart. This girl is going places in life. There is no one or nothing that can stand in her way once her mind is made up. I can’t wait to see what she sets her mind to and watch her stop at nothing to get there.

She is a true delight and I appreciate what she brings to my life everyday. I’m so glad to have her. She has made me a better person and challenges me to be a better mom all the time. She means the world to me and I love her more than words can say.

November Thankfuls - Day 18

Last week I was thankful for a clean house, today I'm thankful for a dirty one. Today my house is a disaster. This is saying a lot, given that I have a clean freak for a husband (and a baby). We gave up this weekend, we threw our hands in the air, and let the mess take over. I sat around for 2 days and relaxed. I didn't left a finger. I did force myself to do the dishes once a day but that is the extent of it. I hope I'm nice and refreshed for work tomorrow. I love me a lazy weekend.

November Thankfuls - Day 17

Today I'm thankful for good music. I love a good song and a good band. I just finished watching a live concert from my favorite band - The Zac Brown Band. It made my day. I love that a song can brighten your mood, make life seem do-able, and help you over a broken heart. Nothing like good music.

November Thankfuls - Day 16

Today I'm thankful for modern technology. I love that I can call someone from my car, text, email, blog, Facebook, and the list goes on. It's pretty cool when you stop and think about it. I love that I can write things on this blog and five years from now read it again. I love that I can stay connected with friends and family through Facebook. I love that I can type a letter and push a 'send' button and the receiver has the letter in seconds. And to top it all off, I can do it all from my phone. I can't imagine what is next. Thank you technology.

November Thankfuls - Day 15

Today I'm thankful for my friends. I have some great friends. Friends that I don't see very often, but love them still the same. Friends that after a month or a year without talking to each other, we can hit it off like it was yesterday. Friends that have helped me through really hard times. And friends that I have helped through really hard times. We rely on each other and for that I'm grateful. I know if I needed help tomorrow, I could call several people for help. They would immediately drop everything and come to my rescue. I feel that same love for them. I love my friends.
Most recently I'm grateful for professional friends. Is there such a thing? In my world there is. I have friends that I only talk to at work. We are probably just "acquaintances" but I'll call them my friends. I have people that I have previously worked with that have referred me into better job opportunities. In today's market it is all about who you know and who can deliver your resume to the hiring manager. I have two of those experiences in the last week. Bigger and better things are coming my way, thanks to my friends. It also proves to be nice to everyone you meet, because one day they may make the difference in your life.
Cheers to my friends, professional friends, and acquaintances. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

November Thankfuls - Day 14

Today I'm thankful for my bed. It has been a long, exhausting day and I can't think about anything but sleep. Good Night! :)

November Thankfuls - Day 13

Today I'm thankful for my husband. Life has been so chaotic that I often forget to tell him how much I appreciate him. Last night he asked me to name a few reasons why I loved him and I wasn't quick enough on the draw. To be honest, there are so many things I love about him. So this post is dedicated to Rory. Sorry to get all sappy on ya'll.

Top Ten Reasons I Love Rory

10. Rory is a clean freak. Sometimes I love this quality and sometimes it drives me crazy. He is a cleaning fool. He does dishes, sweeps, mops, and cleans random things ALL THE TIME! People come over and comment on how they'd love to have a husband like him and I agree. It is so nice to have someone to help out and keep up the house work. Here is a random fact, since we have been married I have not changed one light bulb - not one! He takes this responsibility very serious. :)
9. Rory is supportive. No matter what I do or the choices I make, I know he has my back. He stands behind me 100%. The last few weeks, I have been interviewing for a new job. I'm a mess and can't decide what to do. He waits for me to rattle off all of the pros and cons and then voices his opinion followed by a "do whatever you want" comment. He has been supportive in several career changes, millions of diet programs, and many emotional crisis' over the years. No matter what I choose, I know he will be supportive, and that is a great feeling.
8. Rory loves me and I know it. There is not a day that goes by that he doesn't tell me he loves me. Not a phone conversation that doesn't end in 'love you', and usually a kiss goodbye every morning. I have never doubted his love for me, and I hope he feels the same way. He is always concerned about my safety and always asks if I'm driving carefully, wearing my seat belt, and suggesting I take the big car to work so I can be safer. Maybe he just doesn't want to raise 3 kids on his own. :)
7. Rory doesn't 'sweat the small stuff'. He rarely gets mad (unless the kids spill something on his clean floor) and never holds a grudge. He is the easiest person to get along with and never stays mad for long. We hardly ever fight because he doesn't let the little things get to him.
6. Rory is good-looking. Just look at him - I won't say anymore.
5. Rory and I have fun together. When life slows down once in awhile, I stop and think about us. We have laughed, cried, and enjoyed our time together. We have great conversation with each other and always find a way to have fun. I can think of so many fun times and laughter we have shared together. I will always cherish those memories and look forward to new ones.
4. Rory is the life of the party. My friends know about this. Rory is one of the funniest people to be around. He is easy to talk to, has a great sense of humor, and loves to entertain. One thing I have always loved about Rory is how easy-going he is. I can take him to a party full of strangers and by the end of the night he is the hit of the party. He doesn't wait for me to introduce him or shy away from a conversation, he leaves my side and finds someone to talk to. I love it! One time we were at one of my work events, he didn't know anyone. It had been awhile since I had seen him and sought out to find him. I finally found him chumming it up with the CEO of Novell. He doesn't care and can turn on his charm whenever necessary.
3. Rory has a huge heart. He may act like a tuff guy, but on the inside he is a teddy bear. He is always out to help someone and will go out of his way to help a friend. He is the first person the neighbors call to help move, lay sod, whatever. He loves to help. He is also the one digging in his wallet for a dollar to give to the homeless man on the corner.
2. Rory sacrifices for our family. I know it is hard on him to be home all day. He struggles with sending me to work and him staying home, but he knows it is the right thing for us and does what is necessary. He dedicates himself to school because he knows that will help our family out someday. And lastly, he works his butt off at night to bring home some extra spending money. He will work day and night to give me and the kids what we need or want.
1. Rory is a wonderful Dad. My kids adore him. When he is gone, they constantly ask for him and want him back. He is sweet and caring to our 3 kids and is the best stay-at-home-dad any kid could ask for. He loves our kids more than anything else and will do whatever it takes to put a smile on their face. It is wonderful to watch and makes me love him even more.

He isn't perfect but neither am I. I promise to try and remind him everyday why I love him. He means the world to me and I'm happy to be his wife.

November Thankfuls - Day 12

 

Today I'm thankful for healthy happy kids. A year ago today, our sweet baby Kole was being life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital with a serious case of the croup. It was the scariest day of my life and I've never felt so helpless. I'm also very grateful for modern medicine and the great doctors we can rely on. 

Today, all kids are healthy and happy little children. I'm sure we will more scary moments ahead of us but for now we are good. My one issue has made me so happy I don't have to deal with major health issues.  I love those kids more than anything and it breaks my heart to see them sick. So, so, so, so thankful for healthy kids. Just looking at these pictures brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart race.

Halloween 2012

Another Halloween bites the dust. This Halloween went out with a bang. The kids had a ball and collected a ton of candy. We attended the Halloween parade at school, a bash at my work, and a night full of trick-or-treating.
There is not a lot of pictures, but that just proves how much fun we had, right? :)


Pumpkin Carving - The girls really enjoyed it this year and obviously took it very serious. :)

 Even Kole was intrigued by the carving.

Saige's finished project

Kole's finished project

Paiton's finished project. 

Paiton's School Parade. She was a pirate this year. 

Saige's school parade. Her and her friend Teagan were both witches. 

Kole had a Spiderman costume but refused to wear it. I think there are bigger fights to have, so I let it go. He went Trick or Treating in his street clothes. :) What can I say, he has a mind of his own.

November Thankfuls - Day 11

Today I'm thankful for all of the veterans that have served our great country. It brings tears to my eyes to think about all of the men and woman that have died for this nation. I can't imagine making that sacrifice. Cheers to all of those that have made the USA what it is today.

November Thankfuls - Day 10

Today I'm thankful for a clean house. It is almost midnight and my legs and back are sore - but the house is finally clean. I love a clean house! For some reason it just makes everything in the world seem right. So now I'm headed to bed and I'm sure within 1 hour of waking up the house will be chaos again. Oh well, I enjoyed it tonight.

November Thankfuls - Day 9

Today I'm thankful for a furnace, a fireplace, a hot bath, flannel pajamas, flannel sheets, seat heaters, hot cocoa, and anything else that has kept me warm.
It has been snowing all day and I'm not a huge fan of winter. I've been freezing all day and now I'm nice and cozy warm in my pajamas sitting by the fire. Bring it on, winter!

November Thankfuls - Day 8

Today I’m thankful for this sweetheart. I can’t believe she is already 7 years old, I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. She has turned into such a lovely young lady.

Paiton is sweet and always concerned about others. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. She comes home from school and tells me stories like she sat next to the stinky kid today, because no one else would. She can’t stand to see anyone’s feelings hurt.

She is my social butterfly. She loves people and friends. If we have to go an entire day without friends it is dangerous. She loves family and parties. When friends are over they just play and play. She is friends with everyone and nice to all types of people. She is rarely ever in trouble and always makes great choices.

She is a great student. Her teacher loves Paiton and constantly tells me how wonderful she is. She is always helpful in class and again nice to everyone. I received this email from her teacher the other day:

“I also wanted to let you know how much I adore Paiton. She is such a sweet girl. She is very diligent in her school work and sets a great example for her classmates. Thank you for raising such as wonderful daughter!”

As you can imagine, I had proud mama tears that day. She is exactly what you want your children to be.

She loves horses and anything that has to do with horses. She still takes horse riding lessons every week. She draws horses on everything…and I mean everything. She can raddle off a bazillion facts about horses, and when she sees a horse she knows exactly what kind of horse it is. She is also very athletic and excels in soccer and baseball.

She is a delight to be around. She is always happy, out to have a good time person. She is easy going and will go along with just about anything.

I’m so thankful to have her. She has changed my life for the better. I’m so proud of the person she has become and look forward to her bright future. I’m so proud to call her my daughter.

*Any way I do this is going to make it seem like one child is my favorite. I wanted to give each of them a special day in the November Thankfuls, but debated on which one would come first. I’ve decided I will do each of them on the day of their birth. Because today is the 8^th and Paiton’s birthday is the 8^th, her day is today. The other two will have their November Thankfuls on their day.