54 years

my mom and dad were married in 1959. 

all my life i knew that they were committed to God first of all. 

and to each other next. 

their choices have made a family culture. 

they've spent the last 53 years showing my family how to love one another. 

and i will make sure that legacy is not wasted. i will show my children what i have learned about Christlike love. i will tell my children and my children's children what it takes to build a strong family. 

and i will thank God every day that i was blessed to be part of this family 

and privileged to belong to these parents. I will thank Him every day for temple blessings and knowing that this beauty can last forever. 

28

in his youth

i'm grateful for my dad. he always has time to listen to me worry over my struggles and tells me how great i am. he always has time for my kids and is excited with them over their achievements and the things that are special to each heart. i am a lot like him but not enough like him. the lessons he taught me when i was young - mostly by example - come back to me now as i try to be the parent i want to be.  

tres

it's as though i need to be humbled with the atrocious quality of these pictures. ow.

L's new BFF

they've always been BFF's

aw, i just miss them so much

she looks like this 99% of the time

the holy grail: a cousin's lego stash

somehow i didn't get a photo of the serious teasing i endured. brothers!

i just couldn't get a good shot with my point and shoot. it was like trying to paint a masterpiece with a q-tip

maybe he succeeded better than i did

 if i could be like these 2 when i grow up, i'd be satisfied. 

wait, how many times did i try to get this shot?

the wait is over

tied for cutest sister in law ever

small plastic animals were the highlight of the evening

went around finding all the pilgrim hats and gnawing on them

meanwhile

he didn't slow down

i lost count at 4 slices

now he has a scantily dressed co-conspirator

she tired of it

he took matters into his own hands

it's a tricky process

but the rewards are worth it

the thrill of success

we missed you j&w + d&m!

our good old rusty dog

he was such a great dog. he never bit or snapped at the children, even at their most rambunctious. he caught rats, sat in our laps, always laid right in the middle of the hallways, hardly ever laid on the couch, and only wandered out of the front yard one memorable time.

we had to take him to the vet today. his body was worn out, sick and old. we'll miss having his hair flying everywhere and his soft fur to warm our feet on at night. we are grateful for the blessing of a loving dog to share our home for so long. 

thankful 15

i'm grateful for a season of thoughtfulness before a season of hurrying. i used to believe that the holidays would always move slowly and that my family would have time to just BE in it. i think that ends when children become people of their own, with activities that are as important to them as mine are to me.

this lovely tableau was carefully curated by miss b, in a peaceful moment one evening. these are the moments that i remember. these are the moments i am thankful for. it was soothing to her spirit and to mine as well. i am sorry to see the autumn leaves and acorns go, and for the very scheduled christmas activities to begin, though they have their own joy as well. i hope to have some scattered moments like these to remember when january begins.

thankful 13

+ for sewing skills used on nutcracker costumes

+ for friends with delicious cookie recipes

+ for kindly check-out ladies who let you use their coupon when you forget yours

+ for children who play games and build forts and have fun together

+ for warm and spicy smelling candles

+ for digital cameras that let me erase my mistakes

+ for the nursing cover my mother in law made me

+ for the litigator knowing when i need a date

+ for a free saturday morning to clean and putter

+ for the beautiful, glorious earthy smelling rain

+ and the approach of the christmas season

let the carols begin

thankful 11.

He slept from 7:30 pm to 8:30 am

!!

thankful 3.

for the sweet little strawberry-blonde curls sprouting from this baby's head.