Giving Thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to focus on gratitude. So often I find myself preparing for the logistics of each holiday and forcing myself to stop and think about what it means to actually celebrate it. Luckily, I was reminded early on this year, as I attended an enrichment night that centered around gratitude. I came home with a swelling heart and a renewed focus on the things that are most important to me. I can't even begin to express my gratitude as of late and I feel so spiritually edified these days; I love knowing that there is order to this world, a plan, and that I can receive guidance when things seem confusing. I am also so grateful for priesthood blessings. In recent months I have needed one on a regular basis, and after each blessing I cannot express the feelings I have; calm, confidence, sheer joy, renewed faith in myself... but always an intense sense of gratitude.

At our enrichment night we watched this video that I found so uplifting. It reminded me of the importance of Thanksgiving as more than just a family holiday in which we feast. One thing that our teacher pointed out was the faces of each of these people. Watch their faces as you watch this video.

"Ours is the responsibility to show our gratitude by the actions of our lives" -Thomas S. Monson

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it" -William A. Ward

"If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul" --Rabbi Harold Kushner

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven" --Johannes A. Gaertner

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so let us all be thankful" --Buddha

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you?" --William A. Ward

"Where there is gratitude, there is humility as opposed to pride" --Gordon B. Hinckley

My "kids"

Lola and Callum are like real live brother and sister; they have so many similar characteristics I'd think they were genetic if I didn't know better. Here are some things these two have in common:

-similar hair color
-similar eye color, a golden chocolate brown
-they are both big cuddlers
-they are both laid back, easy going, and fun!
-they both sleep a lot
-they are both so social! completely people oriented; if we have visitors, they are both stoked.
-they love each other. Lola always comes up when we're playing with the babe and gives him kisses. Callum always smiles when she does that.

~Best Buddies~

Photos

Here are just a collection of some of my favorite photos of the lil' guy from the past month or so. I take pictures of Callum almost every day but don't have a clever entry for them so they get forgotten in the mass of albums. I thought it was time they see the light of day!

Our cute little sleeper.


This kid loves Sesame Street!





The Baby Bjorn that Callum LOVES! This was Ryan's favorite recent purchase, he's been pushing for this for a while, and I am glad he did.

These next photos are from my phone when I don't have my camera around...



Ella our little baker, just baking with Koko.

Hunter trying to push Callum's stroller. He's on his little tip-toes.

And my sister Brittany took these photos of little Cal and they turned out so cute. She did a great job!






The air-guitar pose. I love this one!

Murder Mystery Party

Halloween is easily my favorite holiday of the year. (Is that weird?) I love witches, magic, dressing up, fall, pumpkins, haunted houses, corn mazes and EVERYTHING about this time of year.... So it was only fitting that we throw a big Halloween party to celebrate! Brittany and I spent a lot of time and planning for our Murder Mystery Potluck party and it was a huge success. People came dressed up in the best costumes and brought Halloween themed treats. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera so I have been waiting for Brittany to post so I can show you her photos here. It was a blast and I think I am going to make sure a Halloween party is thrown annually from here on out!

Happy Halloween

This year was Callum's first Halloween and it was so much fun. We went over to our cousins' and had dinner, took the kids trunk-or-treating, and played games. Some of the most fun was dressing up-- I made Ryan's costume this year and it was the craftiest I have ever been I think! Callum did awesome the whole night, and Lola had the time of her life!

It was certainly a busy weekend this year, but all in all it was a SUCCESS!

Three Months

Callum is three months old today!

What he is doing:
Holding his head up really well, Sleeping through the night!, sticking his little tongue out to the side of his mouth when he concentrates, standing on his little legs (all the time!), talking like crazy, and he almost rolled over on one side but hasn't tried to do that again since.
Likes:
People, jumping (on our laps, not so much in his bouncer yet), Baby Einstein, baths, story time, attention, his swing, smiling and talking.
Dislikes:
almost all of his toys.

We love you Zuzu!

Pizzas and Pumpkins!

On Saturday night, we invited our great friends Logan and Tracie over for dinner and some Halloween festivities. It was so fun! I am so glad we got into the Halloween spirit, as this is my most favorite time of the year. The homemade pizzas were delish, and Ryan is the master crust-tosser.



After pizza we carved some pumpkins. Logan and Tracie's pumpkin was super intricate and very professional looking. Logan worked hard on that thing! Ryan did his first-ever alone attempt on a pumpkin and it turned out pretty good! And my pumpkin is as it always is, a free-hand face of some kind!






Finally, to keep us in the spirit, we decided to make caramel apples. It was my first time in a long time making them and they turned out really tasty, even though it took a few attempts to get everything right.


(Ryan being "funny")

(that's better!)

I love this time of year and I am so happy we have been celebrating Halloween all month!