9 points of Gratitude

Sometimes it is so easy for me to complain!

1. I don't want to apply for any jobs.

2. I don't want to get my house ready to move.

3. I don't have the time to accomplish what I WANT to do.

But you know, I forget how blessed I am. I need to be more grateful.

1. I am thankful for a family who love me.

2. I am grateful for four month old giggles.

3. I am grateful not for Josiah's hurt, but his colorful face that says YEL in scratches, from where he fell off the scooter and the colors of healing on his eye from where he slammed into the couch while he was sleeping. He's a boy! I'm grateful.

4. I'm grateful for my daughter being able to write an R after I show her, for her caring about her brothers and for her missing her Dad every day while he's gone to work.

5. I am very grateful to be a wife and work on the puzzle of figuring out how to save us money.

6. I am grateful for inspiration.

7. I am grateful for being able to read my scriptures.

8. I am grateful for a husband who buys me Easter flowers on a really bad day.

9. I am grateful for every ray of sunshine that shines outside right now.]

Maybe if I do a three to one ratio of gratitude to complaining, I can get out the ickys and embrace peace.

A little sunny spring and St. Patrick's Day

We have had a few sunny days and a lot of rainy, cold ones. But on the warm sunny ones we've been trying to get out. So here are some pictures.

I decorated the house for St. Patrick's Day and so we decided to have a little celebration on the actual day. So in one way of vewing things, here is what we did yesterday:

St. Patrick's Day 09

The day is ALWAYS special

So MUCH to celebrate

Green Earth

Little Men

Relief Society Birthday

The life of Helen Miskin Allen

& Family, always family

We wheeled our way down

the hill, just the four of us.

Dad was at work.

Feeling as if the stroller

were careening down faster

than I could control

Our purchases were few,

from a list and gathered

after a quick gallop through

the aisles of the snake and fish store.

Then it was back up that hill

The brave 2 year old

walking all the way up on the

yellow line. The 3 year old

packed herself in with groceries

all around, and the 4 month old

sleeping on my chest, never
realizing the effort.

We made it!

Then a visit from a friend

with boisterious brood running wild,

yet I find a measure of comfort

in our visit.

On to making a special dinner with

dyed green apples, dyed green cake

and never before made white rolls.

Brown fizzy bubbles for

us to drink and a four leaf

tablecloth I hurriedly

finish in time.

The celebration was

family time together.

I'm glad I took the time to celebrate.

Leftovers.

Charith's Flowers

Charith Allen drew this picture at age 3 or 4.

...at least that's what the writing at the top of this picture said.

Mike and I are trying to go through all our stuff, downsize, and consolidate. I came across this and couldn't help but scan it in.

Do you remember it Charith?

57 Degrees and Lowering

It is 57 degrees in our house this morning. We are running around trying to stay warm. No TV. The heater man is coming sometime in the next hour.

If only for this reason I am excited for summer to come.
















On a side note, here is the backpack I designed and sewed this week for Laken's birthday. I think I did a pretty good job, without a pattern...now if I can only get clothing to turn out just as good without a pttern.

February

This month has been a full one. Almost one third of Stuart's life has passed by as we've had a lot of fun. Arrel came for a visit during the first two weeks and we were having so much fun we forgot to take any pictures.












We've hung out with each other. We've fed the missionaries every week. I've started getting some of the mending done that has been sitting around in some cases for more than a year.









And of course we've been to Mom-Maw Betty's house. We love going there. Since we'd had a hiatus this last week was especially fun.


Goldie packed two days in advance and Josiah climbed on all the tables and chairs he could get away with. Stuart didn't get as much sleep as usual and has spent the last couple of days catching up. Mike and I enjoyed our time together.








We've played dress up. The other day while I was shopping in my back room for fabric for a project, I found my wonderful pink cape that my grandmother made. I love the thing. I also love the little antique pink flower pin I put on it when I was a child. It's awesome.

Josiah had to show off his kingly duds too.

It has been a good month.

Opps Goldie!

Last Friday, January sixteenth, I was working in the kitchen when Goldie came running in. This is not unusual as she often runs wherever she goes.










She ran to the scissor drawer and got out a pair of scissors. This also is not unusual. She often feels the desire to cut some paper or another and we have allowed her that privilege.












As I recall, she did give me a funny look and I think I said, "It's okay, you can cut something. It is after all Josiah I don't entirely trust not her. So she ran off to her room and remained there for quite awhile. Also not unusual. The majority of their toys are in there.








I must have been preparing lunch, because I do remember calling her to come...several times. Her slow response was very unusual. Finally, after I demanded, she hid herself around the bathroom door jam, peeking out. I looked at her and told her to come now.








Reluctantly, she joined us at the table. It took me a minute to realize that some of her hair was missing. It was not a usual moment. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry or be angry. I was disappointed that I no longer can trust her with the scissors. She must now ask before she gets them out.

Needless to say, we made an unplanned trip to Tazewell to have the aesthetics of Goldie's locks more pleasing. Here are the pictures.

Happy Inaguration Day! Although this is not a picture taken today. It looks very much like this outside today. I've turned on NPR this morning for the first time in months and there is a great fervor to celebrate an African American as President. It will be interesting to learn our future!

On this particular day we woke up at Mom-maw's house and I couldn't resist pulling my kids around on the white fluffy snow. It was great powdery snow for skiing...

...but not so good for snowman building. It took so long, that Josiah got too cold and went in the house. In fact it wouldn't have worked if I hadn't have pulled the kids around and packed the snow down.

This is Goldie with the snowman.

Goldie took this picture of me. She is getting pretty good if I tell her where to stand. This middle snowman ball cracked when I put the third ball on the top and within ten minutes of this picture being taken there was only one ball on the ground and a big pile of snow laying on the side. But we had fun playing in the snow.