Dean's Birthday

Today is Dean's 50th birthday. I sent him a text wishing him a happy birthday. How I love this son of mine. He is so kind and good to everyone.
I vacuumed and made a noodle and chicken casserole for dinner and picked up Gracie from Lolo's. What a sweet little thing she is. Always so glad to see me.
I have been working on scanning my mother's photo albums. One day I might get through it.
I received the scrap pages I ordered from Persnickety prints so I was able to put 2010 all together in order. I love to look at these pages. One day I will get caught up.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my son Dean. Heavenly Father knew our family needed him to be our rock. And he is. Such a good man. I am blessed.

Making Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

Gracie

I made these Cinnamon Rolls today and vacuumed a little bit. Not much motivation to do anything. But I got these baked and made Black Bean Burritos for dinner. 

I was talking on the phone to Tommie and looked up to see Gracie sitting at the table with a huge Cinnamon Roll eating away. She figures if she can reach it she gets it.

Dean called to ask me if I could come and stay with the boys while him and Amie go on a cruise from the 10th to the 17th. I can take Gracie so she can see everyone down there. And I do love watching these boys. I think I can get all mom's pictures scanned while I am there.

Grateful Statement: Today I am grateful for the power of prayer and how much better I fell when I remember to pray in the morning before I start my day. Heavenly Father keeps telling me to do it. Why don't I mind....

Sabbath

 Pony Tail Girl

Ready for Church

Gracie and I took Heather to the shuttle this morning before church. We made it to church a little late but before the Sacrament so it was good. Gracie didn't want to stay in the nursery so I brought her to primary with me. She did okay most of the time but I had to take her out a couple of times when she laid down on the floor and wouldn't get up. Same thing in class because I wouldn't give her a graham cracker before it was time. What a tiring day. Hopefully it will get better.

Britney taught the lesson today. It was our last one for this year with our little 4 year olds. Next Sunday we will be teaching the Sunbeams. 

I came home and fell in my chair from exhaustion. Wrestling with Gracie makes me tired. But I love her to pieces so I will keep on taking her. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my little Gracie. She is so very sweet and gives the best loves that it makes it all worth it. I am so blessed to have this little one in my life.

Going to Chuck O Rama

 

 Heather and Gracie

 Cheesy

Heather and I went to UPS to notarize the paper giving Janna legal guardianship over Gracie so we can get her the services she needs. I think it was very hard for Heather but she knows she is in the best place right now. There is tons of love between these two.

Then we went to Chuck O Rama for lunch. It was so fun to watch Gracie try all these different foods. We were going to Walmart but after we ate we just couldn't do it. We went home and Gracie and Heather took a nap.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Heather Loulie. She has always been so dear to me. I know she loves this little girl with all her heart. I am grateful for the two of them.

Christmas Day

 Gracie and her Loot

 Ronnie and the Kids

 Gracie and Mommy

 AJ and Janna helping Gracie

Harley and Austin (Awwwww)

We opened all the presents at Janna's this morning. So many presents. My daughter surprised me with a new TV. Gracie had used my old one for a chalk board and it was pretty old and little. Now I have a spectacular one. And my dear hubby made me a table to grind my wheat on and can my food storage. What a wonderful Christmas. Plus Dean and family gave me a $100 gift certificate. Shopping here I go. 

I made a turkey dinner and pretty much sat around and watched my new TV. 

Grateful Statement: I am so very grateful for my Savior's birth. He truly saved me and I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation. What a blessing!!

Sledding and Picking up Mommy

Gracie is Ready

Austin and Gracie

 Gracie Loves the Snow 

Heather Loves Gracie

Austin took Gracie sledding around the block. Gracie was loving every minute of it. Austin was so tired after all that pulling he fell in a heap on top of the snow. I love this kid. He is just the best.

In the afternoon we went to the gas station where the shuttle comes and picked up Heather. Gracie was so excited to see her mom. 

We opened up Jammies and then it was time for bed for me. I was tired from all the Christmas shopping.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful that we can celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time of the year. He has blessed my life beyond measure.

Going To Church

Gracie

Gracie loves to put on my knee high stockings and my church shoes and go to church. She loves to go to church with me. It's a wonderful thing... I don't have any idea what I did today but I must have watched Gracie.

Grateful Statement: As I look at this picture I am so glad that this little munchkin loves to go to church with me. I am so blessed to have her in my life.

Taking Dinner To The Sick

Thinking

I made Taco Soup and Amish Sugar Cookies to take to Britney. She is sick and so are her kids so I wasn't able to visit teach her today. But I gave her dinner and a huge hug and called it good.
I picked up Gracie from Lolo's and brought her home to watch Little Einstein. She loves her cartoon shows now and actually watches them.
My blog has become a picture gallery for Gracie but she is my everyday life now. I love her so much. She is just so happy and makes us all laugh.
Grateful Statement: I am grateful this day for the Christmas season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I can't even imagine fully what a blessing He is to me.

Santa

Santa

I spent the day preparing to cook chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, corn and green salad. If I get everything prepped in the morning it isn't so hard to get it all cooked after I pick up Gracie. And it did make it easier to put dinner on the table.

Janna took Gracie to the mall to see Santa. Janna said Gracie had a major melt down. She wanted nothing to do with the man. But it was okay if she could sit on Janna's lap next to him. Too funny.

I spent the evening watching TV and doing my mountain of dishes.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this time of the year. I wish it wasn't so commercialized but I can still find my Savior all around. What a blessing to know Him.

Buddies

Papa and Gracie

When Gracie got home from Lolo's we popped some popcorn for her, She took her bowl into Papa's room and shared with him. These two are buddies.

Gracie came home in the same pants she left in so she didn't have any accidents at Lolo's. I do believe she is officially potty trained. Keeping her home for two weeks was worth it not to have to change diapers. 

I went Visiting Teaching today to Lyn and Cecelia. I love these sisters. It's amazing how that always happens to me. Everyone I visit teach I just get so close to. 

It snowed off and on all day so I stayed in the house. AJ picked up Gracie for me because the roads were so slick. I made pizza's for dinner. I have it down pat. 4 pizza feeds this family and with 3 pieces left over for someone's lunch tomorrow.

Now it's my bed time.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Visiting Teaching. It is so good to really get to know the sister I visit teach. What a blessing it has always been in my life.

Beautiful Sabbath

Gracie and I went to church today. She was very good in Sacrament but when I took her to the nursery she wasn't liking it at all. I left her there and went to be with my class. When I was going down the hall to our class room here comes Crystal with Gracie. She took care of her for the rest of the hour. Britney taught the lesson so I took her baby out. He was getting fussy. We walked the halls and then Cami Cartchner came and took him with her. I love the way everyone takes care of each other in this ward.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for Primary. I love being with Heavenly Fathers little children. I am blessed.

Reading to Her Baby

Reading

I am still watching Gracie so we can get her potty trained before she goes back to Lolo's. She is doing really well. What a smart little cookie she is. She loves to read her books and play with her babies.

She just keeps us laughing all the time. 

I made Christmas Chex Mix for gifts. I just love this stuff and so does everyone else. It is so easy and so good.

Janna went out of town so I have Gracie until tomorrow. I am going to be one tired lady by the time I get through with Church tomorrow.

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my dear daughter. What a wonderful blessing she is in my life.

Austin's PT Cruiser

PT Cruiser

Austin worked all summer at Ameripets where Harley works picking up dog poop and taking care of dogs. He saved his money and was able to buy this car. He is getting so tall. What happened to my cute little Austin. Oh yeah, he grew up. I am so proud of him for working so hard and saving his money. Now he just has to get his license and he is off and running.

I took care of Gracie all day. It's a lot of work but we are bound and determined to get her potty trained. Then it's back to Lolo's. She really is so cute and fun. 

Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for this grandson of mine. I never make him a meal that he doesn't thank me for it. What a blessing he is in my life.

Winco Time

I got up and went to Winco to do my shopping. I really needed to get some groceries in this house. Of course, half way through I realized I had forgotten my wallet so I had to call Janna to come and rescue me. I couldn't call Tommy because Harley's truck was in the shop so she had his truck. But it all worked out in the end. And Janna helped me bag everything and take it to my car.
I came home and put it all away and watched Gracie again. She now has a cough. That little girl can't stay well for nothing.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my daughter that will drop everything at any time and come to my rescue. I am so blessed to have her.

Teaching Primary

Today I got a call from Britney at 10:30 saying she wouldn't be able to teach because her kids have a cough. I got the lesson printed out figured out what I was going to do and printed out handouts. All in 15 minutes. The lesson was on tithing and it went very well. The kids knew the concept when we were done and what the Bishop does with the money and what the church does with the money. It was fun and we even went on a field trip to the Bishop's office to get a tithing envelope which we sent home with instructions to work for a dollar and be paid in 10 dimes and give one dime back to Heavenly Father.
I really felt in my realm today. I love little kids and I truly felt like a primary teacher. I am sad about not having this class next year. Carter promised me he would say a prayer next week so he could get a sticker on his chart. I really feel like I have finally won him over and now he won't be in my class anymore.
I came home and rested. I was supposed to have a tithing settlement at 6:50 but I told the Bishop that I would come in if he wanted me to but that was during the Christmas Devotional. So I went into his office right after church and said yes to the big question. It was pretty funny. We did talk about Britney and how to best help her. I told the Bishop that I would always have a lesson prepared just in case I needed to. He thought that was a good idea.
That was my Sabbath.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to teach in Primary. What a wonderful place to be.

Big Jud's in Archer

 Playing with Gracie

Yummy Burgers

AJ took the family out for dinner last night. How sweet was that. We went to the fabulous hamburger and fry place. Their french fries are so good. 

I finished this page of Gracie and uploaded all my 2008 pages to print out. I should have done this all along but I couldn't figure out if I wanted 12x12 or 8x8. I have decided on 8x8 because they fit better on shelves.

I watched the little munchkin. She can be quite the little two year old. I just have to keep telling myself "this too shall pass".

Grateful Statement: I am grateful for my life. Most of the time it is so awesome. And when it's not I know good times are coming. I am blessed.

Mammogram Ugh!

 Yummy Fudge

Ruffled Training Pants

I went to Teton Radiology this morning and had my mammogram done. They had me in and out in 15 minutes. Tommy was very pleased because he had Gracie. The technician was very good and it was literally painless.
Then I came home and grabbed Gracie and we went to the store and bought stuff for Hamburgers as per Bailee's request. I made Crashed Potatoes and bake beans to go with it.
Before I went to bed tonight I made my first batch of Christmas candy. I have been trying to get up the energy to do it for a week. So I decided I needed to get going before it was time to visit teach and it wasn't done. So tomorrow we'll do it again.
And of course, Gracie in her ruffled training pants taking a shower with her baby.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for doctors that take such good care of Tommy and I. Heavenly Father gave them knowledge for just this. Taking care of us.

Sick AGAIN

Temple

What's up with this getting sick every week. I woke up Monday morning with a burning sore throat. So I have been out of commission but I have managed to take care of Gracie. We are trying to finish off the potty training. She is so close. She just goes in the bathroom and hops up and goes. So easy. She just needs to remember to always go. But she has very few accidents.
I finally finished this page I have been working on. And I got the inserts in the mail for my 3 ring binder I organize all my pages in before I put them in the forever albums. So I am getting a system going.
I didn't even cook dinner tonight. I was just too tired.
Grateful Statement: I am so grateful for my ability to scrap my memories and organize them. What a blessing the hobby is in my life. I am blessed