Giving Thanks

This Thanksgiving we are giving thanks for time at home with our little family and Mark's healing body. We spent the day relaxing and enjoying just being together. We (the Mr. and myself) decided that the traditional meal was a whole lot of work for just our little clan. Besides our girls usually only eat the rolls and pie anyway:) So although the thought of homemade rolls, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes sounds so enticing this time of year, we broke with tradition and had.......PIZZA instead.......I am pretty sure I hear some gasps right now!! The girls actually thought it was pretty great and hopefully this will be a memory they will cherish and not resent years down the road. We did have pumpkin and apple pie for dessert. It was an all around PIE FEAST!!

In spite of my complaints at times, I feel so blessed to have the life that I do. I have a husband who loves me and makes me laugh, and three beautiful little girlies who are each so unique and bring something different and wonderful to our family. And although sometimes they make me crazy, I truly cherish these days with them. I am also thankful for our extended family whom we miss tremendously, especially at these times of year.

We did not abandon Tom Turkey entirely, Karsyn brought this little guy to our home so we could count our blessings!!!

Farewell Lil' Hernia

Two years ago Emmrey decided to use Mark's belly as a launching pad during a friendly play session. It just so happened that her little piggy lodged right in his bellybutton and Mark instantly felt something go wrong. This little encounter resulted in an Umbilical Hernia that has not given him any real issues until recently. After it appeared to be getting worse, Mark along with his Dr. felt it would be best to get it repaired. So last Thursday we headed to the hospital for Mark's very first surgery ever. He was a little worried about the anesthesia and the pain he might experience after, but not the surgery itself. All went well and after all the time it took for pre-op procedures, he was in and back out before Emmrey and I had finished our smoothie:) He is now resting peacefully and becoming well acquainted with Netflix. Emmrey has been such a good little care taker for Daddy....I guess it's appropriate since she was the instigator of all of this:)


**On a side note....the surgeon who took care of Mark was impressive. Not only was he extremely skilled, but so genuine and kind hearted and I instantly liked him and felt at ease about the whole thing. When Mark initially met him he learned that he would be one of his last patients. At the first of the year, he will be leaving his practice to become a Monk. That's right....he is giving it all up for God and life in the Monastery. You don't meet many people like that and I think it's pretty admirable. I am sure this will be a great loss to our medical community, but I am so glad he was able to help Mark out!!

Bucked Out Tooth

Emmrey had a loose tooth, a wiggly, jiggly loose tooth.
Emmrey had a loose tooth, hanging by a thread.
Emmrey pulled her loose tooth, this wiggly, jiggly loose tooth.
And now she has a hole in her head!!

I can't believe I failed to post this. The day before Halloween, Emmrey told me she had a "bucked out tooth". I looked at her teeth and noticed that the bottom teeth did look a little odd, but couldn't imagine one was actually loose. Both Bailee and Karsyn were in Kindergarten at this age and so I guess subconsciously, I was thinking of that year in school rather than the age. I was completely unprepared for this event. Later that night she was in the bathroom watching it in the mirror as she pushed it back and forth with her tongue and .....POP out it came.

Her "bucked out tooth" was gone just like that. I am so sad to say goodbye to those cute little baby teeth....I am not ready for this yet. I have to admit she looks pretty adorable and she was talking with this cute little lisp when she was first figuring out how to talk with one less tooth:) So here she is......(enjoy Grampa & Gramma)

Primary Program

The girls took part in the annual Primary Program at church today. Although Bailee has moved on to Young Women's now, they had the oldest kids participate one last time:( I always love this Sunday. It's even more enjoyable when you don't have to plan it and you can just sit and enjoy watching ALL 3 GIRLS do their parts and sing. They all did such a good job and sang their little hearts out!! This year Karsyn invited her little friend Sage who lives across the street. I am so very proud of this little girl of mine. She is pretty fearless when it comes to things like this. She doesn't get caught up in all the "what if's"....she just goes for it!! I love that about her.

Treasurer

Karsyn was chosen as a Student Council representative for her class again this year. Because she is in 4th grade, she had the added option of running for an officer as well. After her first meeting, she decided that she would run for Treasurer. Just like that. She came home that day with a poster board provided by the school and we began discussing what we could do to decorate it and get it hung in the hall. I thought we were coming up with some good ideas and that she was as keen on them as I was. Apparently not!! While I was busy getting something else cleaned up, Karsyn grabbed the markers and went downstairs. By the time I joined her, she had her entire poster done .....EVERY INCH COVERED:) I had these ideas with fake bills on the poster etc. But once Karsyn makes up her mind, she moves on it. None of this "over thinking it". I can't help but admire her decisiveness. So unlike her mother. I was a little worried about the legibility of the poster so I did convince her to add her name and a picture of herself.

She had to give a speech in front of the school on Tuesday. Again, we gave her some suggestions, but she decided right away what she wanted to say. She knew she wanted to tell some jokes in her speech....so funny! The kids thought that was great. After all the speeches, the kids went to voting booths to cast their ballot. All my cute little 3rd graders were telling me they were going to vote for her and at the end of the day, the announcement was made......."your new Student Council Treasurer for 2011-2012 .......Karsyn Smith"

(Here is the speech written by Kars..spelling and all:)
Hi, my name is Karsyn Smith. I would like to be Treasuarer for Student Council. I am responcible, trustworthy, honest and good at counting and I am good at math. All of these things are important qualities when choosing for treasuarer. I am fairly organized also. I always try to do my best to be a kid of character and treat others the way I would want to be treated. I will do my best to make sure Student Council fundraisers money is spent wisely. I will also give my best effort to raise money so student council can help those in the world who need it the most. Here are some jokes for you…. There is a new book out called “How to live happy without money” , it cost ten dollars. Where do penguins keep their money? …In snow banks!!
All kidding aside, I think Sunset students are the very best and I would love to represent you as Treasurer. Remember-YOU CAN COUNT ON KARSYN TO COUNT FOR YOU!! Vote Karsyn Smith for Treasurer!!!

We are so proud of our "money manager"(YIKES)....we know she will represent well!!

Middle School Swim

We are in deep with another season of CMS swim team. Bailee practices everyday after school and we have a meet every week. It is a crazy time of year, the only thing that makes it bearable is that it is short and over within 6 weeks. She is doing great and shaving seconds off her previous times (in swimming this is HUGE:)


GO COUGARS!!

Mamacita

My laptop died and so I have been without a computer for several days. Now that I have a replacement, I can post some things that were in the works....like a post for my Mom.

Not so many years ago on November 3rd, this cute little lady was born and my life has been blessed because of it. My mom gives more than any person I know and has greatly influenced my desire to help those around me. She gave life to 10 children and until I became a mother myself, I never truly understood the sacrifice she made for all of us. I have come to appreciate her in a whole new way as I struggle with the challenges of motherhood and I have come to love her more as I experience the joys of having my own girls. I often think back on memories I have as a child and aspire to give my little ones a taste of my childhood....my mom always went out of her way to make things special for us:) I am in awe of this woman who I so admire and feel lucky enough to have as my mom forever.

I love you Mamacita~

Scenes of Halloween

Sadly, Halloween has come and gone all too quickly. Although I have to admit that as much as I LOVE this frightful holiday, I am so over all the treats.

We had the day off of school for Halloween, so it made the day extra pleasant....but also extra long for a little girl who was so very anxious. We started out the day with Pumpkin Spice Pancakes, which were a big hit.

Now let 's talk costumes.......I love the idea of dressing up with a theme. This year I had wanted to be a Hippie Family...the whole clan. Well things went down differently. Karsyn was pretty much refusing to be a part of it and had decided early on that she was going to be a Jockey. My life got too busy to put together costumes for Mark and I. Emmrey found the Ladybug costume in the dress-up box which my sister had made for Bailee when she was about 3 and she was pretty dead set on wearing that (still as cute as ever "Aunt Mamie"). And so it was down to Bailee, she carried my Hippie theme. So while my vision for this year didn't pan out...the girls looked fabulous!! There is always next year right?
Once the costumes were on we took our Hippie, Jockey and Ladybug downtown for our traditional trick or treat.

It was a perfect Halloween day!!!

Once their pails were too heavy to carry we headed home for our traditional Halloween Dinner. Nothing special this year, sub sandwiches, dip, a little Poison or Witch's Potion if you prefer:)

I had hoped to spend the rest of the night doing a little more Trick or Treating around our neighborhood and then stay in and pass out candy to the little goblins that came by....maybe watch a Halloween movie:= Instead, we spent the evening Trick or Treating around a huge neighborhood with some friends. We made a stop at Mark's boss' house and then we met up with friends. By the time we returned home it was after 8:00 and we had missed any trick or treaters we might have had...boo-hoo!!

Oh well, the girls had a fabulous time and were swimming in a sea of candy. As soon as we got home the living room floor was covered with candy all sorted in piles.


Happy Halloween from our ghouls to you!!