In a blink

Time is going by fast, each day that goes by puts me closer to a whole new life. A life I prayed really hard for, a new baby that has been much wanted and anticipated, but you already knew that.

 While we really love our neighborhood and Deacon loves all his little friends, he is right in between two age groups. I felt sad that he would be going to kindergarten all by himself with no friends his own age.

I kept praying for kids to move into our neighborhood so he could have a friend in his class. Over the summer a new family moved in, with a little girl just Deacons age! And for the cherry on top the mom was expecting a baby just a month earlier than me! I was so happy and thankful.

Just last week that same mom gave birth to a still born baby boy at 39 weeks. While I am planning and packing a hospital suitcase, she is burying her sweet baby.

It is an unfair world isn't it? With each trial comes a lesson, not just for the one who is directly dealing with the trial, but I believe, that there is something to be learned for each person involved. My belief is that with a prayer answered can also come a chance to answer anothers prayer. While I am sure I am not the direct answer to a prayer I do believe that I can serve others, that I can be a better mother that I can do more with the one wild and precious life that I am given.

As I bring a precious daughter into this world I hope that I can teach her how precious her life is, how lucky she is to be here and to make sure she always knows how lucky I feel to have her.

Oh 2010 I can not decide to love you or hate you.

So did we like 2010? What is the consensus?

No huge milestones this year but lots of good things. Deacon is hilarious and nuts oh and also a puzzle genius no joke, the kid put together and 150 piece puzzle. Seriously. That is some serious business.

Curtis works hard for the money and vacations like he means it. If only finding sweet vacation deals was his job, like a travel agent! He should be a travel agent!

I cook, I eat too much and I did a lot of rad things this year. I would like to do cooler things this year, maybe win a contest of some sort.

I forgot that I really like to blog, I like to keep a record of what the shiz we do with our lives. Cause it really is a pretty great life.

2010 brought some great things and a couple bummers. But I am thankful, I am looked out for. I have amazing family and the ultimate friends. I can not feel sorry for myself too long ever really because in the big picture I am lucky lucky lucky to be the mom wife and human being I am.

Lets make it a good year.

Did you think I forgot to be thankful?

I really did not. I am so thankful for so many things. And what about this oh so snowy Thanksgiving? I am thankful for that, I loved having my family home with my last night in my cozy little house with a cozy fire in the fireplace.
This year brought so much to be thankful for. Some things unexpected. The things for which I am most thankful this year include:

My lovely family, all included but more than anything Curtis and Deacon who make up my days and fill my heart.
Seeing my sister in Scotland and seeing more of Gods beautiful earth, it gave me a great thanks for the world I live in.
Going back to where Curtis served his mission and feeling first hand how much the people loved him and what a good man he is.
Living in the neighborhood I live in, where on a really bad day I cried to three different girls in my ward (on accident really) but all three thought nothing of it and just gave me a hug. Where on Sunday someone knew I was sick and I looked out my window to see my walks getting shoveled.
The weekly email that comes from my Dad, it is always a bright spot in my week, if we could just edit out the weekly paragraph about golf we would be golden.
For food and health and for my body.
Friendships that I simply could not do without. Knowing that when I need someone I have so many people to ask for help.
Prayers being answered.
Being able to give of my time and talents has brought me so much joy.
Laughing each day, I am surrounded by people who make me laugh and smile.
Thankful to be who I am where I am even if it is challenging at times, I am thankful.

A LUCKY little list

I am LUCKY and here is why:

Lucky to have friends who love me

Lucky to have a friend plan me a birthday dinner

Lucky to have family who loves me

Lucky Curtis and Deacon are mine

Lucky my Dad and Dana were here for two weeks

Lucky to go to St. George for almost a week

UNLucky to get the stomach flu for my Birthday

Lucky Isaac and Lesley were there to watch Deacon

Lucky to have family who wants to do fun things on the fly

Lucky to have a house I love

Lucky my Grandparents are so great

Lucky to be me in my life even if it comes with a couple UNlucky moments

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care

Presents wrapped {check}
shopping done{check}
goodies baked and delivered{check}
watch every Christmas movie ever{check}
see the lights at temple square{check}
send Christmas cards{check}
eat yourself into a Christmas coma{check}

I am ready for Christmas to get here! My anticipation is absolutely heightened by the fact that my little brother comes home two days before. I am so full of Christmas cheer this year I could explode. Curtis and I took his parents to see Christmas Carol at Hale center theater for their Christmas gift and that put me even more into the Christmas spirit. I can not sing the songs Silent Night or Away in a Manger without getting so emotional. Being a mother now I am overwhelmed with the thought of what Mary went through. I am so grateful for all I have. I hope these next few days leading up to Christmas give you a chance to reflect on that Silent Night.

Ronald Mcdonald house

Here is ten thousand random pictures of the room redo we did at the Ronald Mcdonald house. We had so much fun doing it! Take a look! Casi and Rachel working really hard to paint the room.

We all loved this mirror we painted black to go in the bathroom, it was fun to paint.

Laura taping up gettin ready to paint!

Lindsay shopped all day and just pretended to help.

Can you believe how beautiful this mural is? Lauras' mom Jane is so super talented.

These three were putting together the chair bed from IKEA. Which is quite a task.

The three little babies the room is dedicated to, it feels good to do something to remember these three angels.

The crew that did all the finishing touches on the room. And I loved this bedding, I wanted to steal it.

Some photos taken by Angie of course! Do you recognize that round faced cutie in the top photo? It is the ever adorable Ella! We wanted the room to feel happy and I think these photos accomplish just that.

Rach did an amazing job on this valance, she took it overnight and came back with a masterpiece! So much better than I could have ever done!

Jane in action working on her mural. At the end of the day she said thank you for letting me work on this, and believe me the thanks is all mine to give.

Working on the furniture by the light of a lamp!

Traces of the "cowboy" room before we got our hands on it.



My heart is really full just thinking of all the hands, time, money, hard work, fundraising and people that made this project happen. I am so grateful to have friends who will help me carry out service projects like this. We raised right around 1,000 dollars, so amazing.

Special thanks to-

Rachel who jumped right on board and helped me plan all the fundraising and little details, you are amazing.

Angie who totally gave of her amazing photography talents and raised so much money.

Casi for coming and helping with the dirty work even though you have so much going on.

Jane who pulled the room all together with her beautiful mural.

Hailee for being so fun and in a great mood and jumped right in to any mundane task given and for putting up the fixtures in the bathroom (did not look fun!)

Lindsay you are such a great person to have on a project, you keep it fun and funny and will help with anything that needs doing.

Laura you are the best person to shop for and design a room with, your taste and attention to detail is awesome.

Joelle for taking Deacon ALL DAY LONG so I could do this project.

Everyone who donated money, got pictures taken and supported our cause- you have helped brighten someones day who is in a tough situation. Until next year!

PS click on Laura on my sidebar, she got some great photos of stuff I missed!

Thanksgiving

Here are some very random pictures from our Thanksgiving. Deacon loved having big boys to play with. Austin and Jackson were very sweet to play with him Me and my mom.

Deacon was tickling everyone and calling them "spider bites" but it sounded more like "bider bite" it was very cute and I think all 30 people there got one at a point, here is Clarence getting his bider bite.

I mostly just thought it was funny that this was the only picture I got of Curtis all day.

This really is the hostess with the mostess, no really. My Grandma is one of the best cooks I have ever tasted and her attention to detail is amazing. She has the most welcoming and comfortable home. She is who I get all my part planning enthusiasm (and my mom of course who also gets it from her) from. I love her very much and I am so thankful I have been able to spend so many holidays in her house.

And one last thing before we leave Thanksgiving behind and move on to all my Christmas posts I wanted to share this cute song I learned from my Grandpa Bickmore:

How beautiful is the green earth, the stars and heavens above, but what would the whole world be worth if we didn't have (fill in the blank with who you are singing about) to love, to love if we didn't have YOU to love!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The ABC's of Being grateful

Do not even act like you do not want to read this, I know that you do. And I think you should copy me and make your very own ABC list. Try it, I think you may like it.

A- All my faithful blog readers, very grateful to you.
B- Brothers
C- Curtis, really thanful for this one.
D- Deacon and my Dad
E- Energy to do the things I love, like running
F- Flying, the ability to get on an airplane and go far places.
G- Grandparents, mine and Deacons.
H- House, I love my house so much and all its quirks.
I- Internet, it helps me feel close to my far away family.
J- Jobs, Curt and I both have good jobs.
K- Kitchen, I love cooking and am glad to have a space to do it
L- Love, to be in love after 6 years of marriage.
M- Moms, that I have one and get to be one.
N- Nice Neighbors
O- Oprah, how can she leave me???
P- Pets, especially Duke the greatest dog ever.
Q- Quiet Sunday evenings like today.
R- Read, I love being in a book club and I love a good read.
S- Sisters, and girlfriends who feel like sisters
T- Trips, we have gone on some great trips this year.
U- Updates weekly via email from my Dad.
V- Vacations to come!
W- Wednesdays, a great middle of the week day off work!
X- X-specially grateful for no Swine Flu in our house!
Y- Young Womens, I love it so much.
Z- Give me a suggestion for a Z would ya?

I love love

Do you Love her? http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ I do.


Do you Love MAC? I know you do.


Go here http://formerlyphread.blogspot.com/
And help spread some much needed Love.


I know you will.

Last day to be grateful

I had a NOT great day today, tree fell over tears were shed. Let us move on, I am still grateful....for:

1. The fact that Deacon loves nursery and jumps right in.
2. That Deacon was extra snuggly today.
3. I wore a new dress to church, always fun.
4. That even though my tree fell down Christmas will still come.
5. I am thankful that so many people have told me they were thankful for me this week.
6. I am thankful my little brother is thriving on his mission.
7. I am thankful for this blogging world that keeps me closely connected to so many people I love.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Pictures to come!

Another day another thing to be thankful for

Today I am still grateful. Today I am thankful for:

1. My mom who ALWAYS comments on my blog even if it is the worst post ever.
2. Poor mans dinner. Chips with melted cheese rice and a chopped up tomato. Heaven.
3. Digital cameras, I can pretty much take a picture of anything I want at any given moment.
4. This coming week which will be full of good vibes.
5. Talented friends who are helping me spread my good vibes.
6. Thanksgiving leftovers, the gift that keeps on giving.
7. The anticipation of a Christmas tree tomorrow!

And of course I am thankful to all you blog readers, I love you all.

I was thankful for NOTHING yesterday!

Just kidding I just got home at one am from playing games with Curts family. But yesterday I was thankful for:

1. All my nieces and nephews who are fun cousins to Deacon (and we can not wait to meet the Wilshire cousin!) on both sides.
2. That I came home from work to a cleaner house and a husband who cleaned it.
3. That I won both catch phrase and aggravation!
4. Deacon sleeping in til ten thirty (that was really this morning but I am counting it!)
5. That when I woke up to got to work early Curtis went out and started my car so it was nice and warm.
6. That all my family is healthy. (no more kidney stones or emergency surgeries!)
7. That tomorrow all will be right in the world when my Christmas tree goes up.

Especially grateful

For:

1. A mother in law and sister in law who washed all my dishes after Thanksgiving dinner.
2. The "hosting" gene I surely inherited from my Grandma Orme
3. All of Deacons Grandmas and Grandpas
4. That we got to carry on the tradition of Thanksgiving dinner in the house it was in for so many years.
5. That I do not have to pull the neck out of a turkey for a while.
6. All my friends who I am thankful for every day.
7. My husband who helped me with every thing I asked him to do today and did not call me crazy once.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Love you all!

this post was meant for yesterday

but my computer would not oblige. Oh well. It is Thanksgiving week and I am thankful. So in honor of Thanksgiving I am posting 7 (six now) days each with a list of seven things I am thankful for.

1. My family. Big and small far and close. They are my safety net and I love them.
2. Duke our dog, he is a fine family pet and I can not imagine life without him.
3. A home to call my own. I can hang a window on the wall in my living room just cause I can (and I did)
4. Friends who share similarities with me and friends who are different.
5. My little brother on a mission, who constantly impresses mr with him humor and natural ability to be a friend.
6. Motherhood. And that I get to share the experience with so many people I love (and Kendyl in June!!!)
7. My health and my body, it may not be exactly how I want it to be but I can run swim jump and go to 24hr boot camp ( I really might die after this last class)

I bet you are all just waiting on pins and needles waiting to hear what else I am thankful for!