Thomas S. Monson

Last Sunday we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. President Monson came on and I asked "Who's that?" Spencer says "It's Thomas Spencer Monson!". Jake starts laughing and says "Or Thomas Jake Monson, or Thomas Dad Monson" (like, yeah right Spencer).

I am thankful for....

Good health. Except for a few sick tummies and stuffy noses (oh, and that tonsillectomy), we've enjoyed good health this year.

A sweet husband. I can hardly believe we've been married 8 1/2 years! He gets up in the middle of the night to get me advil if I need it. Doesn't complain a bit when I take the night (or the week) off to sit on the couch and watch Jon and Kate + 8, or whatever dumb show I watch. He'll even do the dishes. He is supportive, helpful and a good dad. I think we make a pretty good team.

The most adorable children in the world. That would be our dinosaur/animal genius and the show-off that comes with a soundtrack and sound effects (he actually will recreate any situation and insert the sound effects as needed). They sometimes drive me CRAZY, but they are really good kids. I am so grateful I get to be their mom.

Our jobs. Dave and I work in industries that have slowed way down, but our jobs are pretty secure. I hope saying that out loud doesn't jinx us now!

The Gospel. Being a mom has helped me realize how important it is to have good values and a strong foundation to help raise my kids. I hope I can be a good example to them and help them understand this too. I'm also grateful for my calling. It's been an incredible experience to teach the Mia Maids in our ward. My testimony has grown so much. I know that Heavenly Father knows and loves each of us.

Our family and friends. We have awesome families. They have helped us so much this year, tending kids, making Halloween costumes, fixing cars, camping, loaning their really nice car, I could go on and on and on. We are also excited for our newest cousins, Talon, Zack and little baby Siggard! The boys love being around all their cousins.

We are very blessed and have lots and lots and lots and lots of things to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Jake

Jake is such a ham! He's been so funny lately. He comes home from Primary singing "Called to Serve Him", but he kept singing "Onward ever onward", over and over and over again. If I leave my place, Jake will steal it, and when I come back Jake will say, "Mom, I'm just protecting your spot!" Last night Jakey was in a happy mood and singing Christmas songs. We went to Chuck a Rama for dinner and he fell asleep coming home. When Dave brought him into bed, he started singing and giggiling in his sleep. It was so funny!

Spencer

Spencer is doing great in first grade. He LOVES to read and is reading everything he can get his hands on. His vocabulary is increasing by leaps and bounds. The other day he came to me and said, "Mom, it would be delightful if you would help me with this". A few days later he said "Jake and I were playing and suddenly we crashed into each other!" He's getting so big, I can't believe it. I love that he's becoming more loving and tells us how much he loves us. He's also becoming more aware of the world, reading the newspaper and watching the weather on the news. What a sweetheart!

Halloween

What are we going to be for Halloween? Not too hard of a decision this year, Jake is a Star Wars guy (exactly which one changes constantly) and Spencer is Indiana Jones. Dave took them Trick-or-Treating. After about 4 houses, Spencer started complaining, "my feet are killing me", (What, are you 70?) and I'm sooo tired, I'm going to fall asleep while I'm walking. I think they had more fun passing out the candy than collecting it!

Pumpkins

We've decided Jack-O-Lantern making is our favorite part of Halloween. We usually make them with Dave's family, but this year we struck out on our own. Jake & Dad decided to make a Darth Vader pumpkin, Spencer wanted wolves and I did an easy bat. It was a lot of fun, and I think we're pretty talented (it's mostly Dave).

Random Thoughts

We haven't had a lot going on lately. Dave took the boys hunting the first weekend in October. I wondered what I'd do for the whole weekend alone. I ended up watching girl movies in a clean house all by myself, going to dinner and shopping with my mom. Well, the boys got snowed out and came home late Saturday night. The weather was so bad they were cooped up in the trailer and Dave taught Spencer how to play checkers. Now, Spence brags about being a checkers expert!

BYU Football is big at our house right now. Dave has Jake and Spencer taking an interest in it now. We are all big Y fans, unless BYU is playing Wyoming. Apparently since we've gone on vacation in WY, Jake and Spencer have a special place in their hearts for Wyoming and got very upset that dad wanted BYU to beat Wyoming!

A few weeks ago we were at my parents house for Erin's b-day party. I cut a piece of cake for Spencer, it was shaped kind of funny and before I could say anything Spencer (who is in 1st grade) said, Hey that looks like Oklahoma! I couldn't believe what a smarty pants he is.

We were talking about what the boys wanted to be for Halloween. Jake's decided on a Star Wars guy, and Spencer wants to be a monkey. Jake said "Mom, what are you going to be for Halloween?", I don't know I said, maybe I'll be a nice mom instead of a mean mom. He thinks about that for a second, then says, Oh, so you'll be a mean mom in a nice mom costume? It's fun to have a couple of Smarty Pants in my house!

Goodbye Mom!

Last Friday morning our goodbyes went something like this...
Mom: Goodbye guys
Boys: Bye Mom!
Mom: Have a good day!
Boys: Have a good day Mom!
Mom: Good luck on your spelling test Spencer!
Spencer: Good luck on your...money! (I work at a bank)
Mom: Thanks!
Jake: Don't get very lost mom!
Mom: Okay Jake, be a good boy!
Spencer: Be a good Mom!
Jake: Be a good.....human!
They are so funny. I love my kids!

Noah's Ark

Spencer learned about Noah and the Ark in Primary today. Driving home from church he said Mom, do you remember that movie we got from McDonalds about Noah and the Ark? I couldn't remember anything like that, and I can't imagine McDonalds including a Noah's Ark movie in the Happy Meals. He kept insisting we got a Noah movie at McDonalds, "You know, the one about Evan and he had to build the ark in his yard?" Oh my goodness! He was talking about Evan Almighty we rented from the RedBox last year! I'm not sure what to be more surprised about, that he learns Bible stories from the movies or he can remember we rented that movie from McDonalds a year ago.

The Olympics

Dave and I have always loved watching the Olympics together, so of course we have been watching them nonstop for the last few weeks. Surprisingly Jake has become a HUGE fan. He loves the volleyball and the guys running (track). We were watching the swimming and he said "Mom, is this the boys or the girls", I told him it's both. He asked "Do the girls wear swimming suits?" I said yes, "Oh," he said "I like the girls in swimming suits, they can come in my room!" That is the ultimate compliment for this four year old, I can't even come in his room! We've had a lot of fun watching the Olympics with our kids and we all loved cheering on the USA. Dave's even become a fan of Synchronized Swimming and Rhythmic Gymnastics!

Kindergarten Graduation

Kindergarten was a fun time for Spencer. He really loved his teacher Mrs. Craven. He went to Thanksgiving Point and the Zoo on field trips. He learned how to read and write his name. This is a picture from his graduation. He said he would only go to 1st grade if Mrs. Craven is his teacher!

Memorial Day

Over Memorial Day(I know it's like 3 months later) we went camping & 4 wheelin' in The Unitas, except it snowed and rained and it was really cold. So we camped in the parking lot! It was one of the cleanest trips we've had! We had some fun on the 4 wheelers and watching Toby play with his ball. This was Scott's first run on his new four wheeler, soon after Grandpa bought one too.

Greys River

Over the 24th of July we went camping to Grey's River. Our campsite had a creek that ran below. The kids had lots of fun playing in the creek. Morgan was the bravest, dunking herself in the cold water, Justin needed a little encouragment from his dad. Jake and Spencer had fun chasing Toby around the water and following Justin & Morgan from one side of the creek to the other.

Camping in Wyoming.

We went camping on Greys River in Wyoming over the 24th of July. Lots of riding on four wheelers and swimming in the river. We also saw lots of Moose and Deer.

We're online!

This is going to be great right! Hopefully this will last longer than the scrapbooking thing ever did! (and it's cheaper).