Emi's latest dance

Emi pinning Tyler's boutonniere 

Ready for the dance

Really, I can't believe how little I have blogged lately.

I'm swamped at work which makes it hard to keep up with stuff outside of the office. Emi went on yet one more date. This was a girl's choice dance. She asked her friend Tyler. I love how she's found a way to have fun without having a boyfriend.... ha ha ha SO much easier! Emi and I found a cute dress but it needed to be adapted. So I found some material that matched the dress and made wide straps. The dress is a pretty brown with sparkles (you can't tell very well in my picture). The sparkles are a pretty coral pink, so she pulled that color and put a ribbon in her hair. Her date wore brown pants and brought her a gorgeous corsage. Just beautiful. It had a beaded wristlet. She had fun and Dain and I had a night to ourselves!

Thanksgiving is this week. Alyssa will be here to spend a few days with us. I love being close to her again. I missed having her home the years we were in Texas. Traveling during that period for just a few days and a month before Christmas made it so hard for her to come. So being close to her, I've loved seeing her often. Yay!

Christian has been sending great letters every week. You can check out his blog here. He's definitely showing growth and I'm so happy he's doing well. We've been very blessed this year. I couldn't ask for more!

Homeless Shelter

Emi, Dain and I went to the Road Home, the local family homeless shelter in Salt Lake City, to help out this morning. It's a yearly tradition and we love going there! Today, we were assigned to work in back unloading donations, sorting through the boxes and bags, repackaging and dividing everything. Then we had to load again into other trucks for distribution. It was heavy, busy work. It made us feel so grateful for everything we have! We're grateful for all our blessings and all the "stuff" we have. We really have so much ... maybe too much.

Christmas Week

It's almost here! It's almost THE day. Even though for the last five years we've been in Utah during this week, it's been odd not to have my green backyard and swimming pool available. I miss it. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the snow and the chance to wear all my cute sweaters and scarves, but I miss my home. I guess that too shall pass, right? Maybe? There has been stuff happening lately in my personal life that has left me with tummy aches (hey, I'm a mom. I use that word). So I'm sitting here eating yogurt, my go-to for tummy aches. It works!

This has been a slower year as far as gifts and stuff  like that and I'm loving it. No rush to get just the right anything. With two girls at home, giving gifts is simple. Girls are easy! clothes, jewelry, perfumes, etc. Simple, simple, simple. :-) Now Dain is hard. The man has everything and more.

Dain played a bunch of concerts with Jon Schmidt. It was a blast to watch him. I was also shocked by how big Jon's kids are ... I guess all kids grow up.

I'm looking forward to our family tradition of skiing both the 24th and the 25th. We enjoy being together, we love being on the snow with Santa (he's quite the skier, you know) and we see some of the same people every year. I look forward to seeing parents and siblings and nieces and nephews. I hope we can talk with Christian on the 25th. He didn't know for sure if they would be able to from the MTC in Peru.

Last year (2009)

I'm so grateful for everything in my life! I'm the luckiest girl around.

BTW, we still haven't registered our cards in Utah! or changed our drivers licenses ... bad, bad, bad.

Grateful

(Thank You in Chinese)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I am SO grateful for everything in my life. I'm the luckiest girl alive. I have a beautiful, healthy family. I'm grateful for the good and the bad, because they have shaped me into the person I am today. I'm grateful for my experiences and my inner strength. I'm grateful for the opportunity to live in Texas. Not having mountains and snow around was a tough transition for our active family. It has taught me to reach outside of my comfort zone.

I'm grateful that Alyssa has a place to spend TG. She's not coming home this year and that's hard for me. She will be with family and that's comforting.

I'm grateful for everyone who has been kind to my family and me (especially my kids). I love the diversity and variety in Texas. It's awesome.

I'm grateful for my own business. I love the independence and having something that is mine. I love to work! And owning my business allows me to work around my family and personal needs. I like being the boss. HEE HEE HEE

I love making the Thanksgiving meal. All of it. Turkey, ham, potatoes, veggies, rolls, pies, all of it.

Gratitude rocks!!! It's the best feeling in the world.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And thank you for being who you are.