Here are the pics I promised.

Mike figured out how to get them off my camera and onto our computer.

Our tree 2007, before we had to redecorate because Aaron wouldn't leave it alone. Now only the top third has ornaments.

Some of my cute boys.

Before-

-and after.

Ten inches gone.

I looks a lot better when my hair is dried and fixed, I promise.

Emma the toothless wonder!

Aaron as he's being admitted to the hospital.

He did a lot of this in the almost 26 hours he was there.

Enjoying his first ever popsicle. His mouth and teeth were orange for the rest of the day and most of the night.

He looked so small in that bed!

Feeling a little better. At least he had some energy.

Aaron waiting in his little hospital gown for them to put new sheets on the bed.

Hey Mom! Can we leave yet?

Hey, I'm back!

I feel like a total schmutz for not writing for so long. I have been so busy trying to just keep up with life that the blogging world has been left out of the picture for awhile.

First I had this huge Primary Training Meeting to get ready for. I had to have all the class lists for next year and all the new lesson manuals, pictures, lesson plans, etc. ready to give to all the primary teachers at the meeting. We have over 150 kids in our Primary and 28 new Sunbeams entering Primary this next year, so the class lists were no easy task. We kept realizing that we had missed a kid here and there that we needed to find a class for. The average class size is 18 kids. Anyway, I'm glad that that task is taken care of for now. Now I just need to write the annual history for our Primary so it can be turned in by the first of the year, put the new class lists into the ward computer so that all the rolls will be correct, and line up when each class will be giving the talks in Primary for the year. Piece of cake.

That meeting was on Saturday. On sunday Emma didn't feel good, I was exhausted, and Mike had pulled a muscle in his back and could hardly move. Needless to say, we skipped church. Monday we had a Shepherd's Dinner and invited my cousin Taren and her family (six in all) and my friend Kris (the Primary President) and her family (five of them) to join us. We had a great time and a successful dinner. Aaron threw up right at the very end of the meal just a little. I thought it was because he had almost an entire orange in his mouth at once. We put all the kids in bed around eight o'clock and cleaned up before we went to bed. Just after midnight Ben came into our room and said Aaron was snoring and wouldn't stop. I went in there and tried to wake him up. He was breathing really wierd and fast and snoring with each breath. He wouldn't wake up so I rolled him on his side so he would stop snoring. The snoring lessened, but didn't stop. About five minutes later Aaron started screaming. I ran in there and he was thrashing around, kinkof like he was trying to kick off his blankets. I untangled him from his blankets and tried to pick him up. It seemed like he was stuck in a nightmare. I couldn't wake him up. Mike used to have night terrors when we were first married that I could never wake him up from, and I thought maybe Aaron was having the same sort of thing. I took Aaron into my bathroom and shut the door so he wouldn't wake up the other kids. After I turned on the light I noticed that his fingers were all gnarled up, his arms were pulled back, and his eyes were rolled back. He was kicking his legs and screaming. Mike called 911 and I put Aaron in the middle of our bed and changed my clothes. I knew he was having a seizure even though it looked nothing like the seizures you see on T.V. The paramedics got here and checked him out. His temperature was slightly elevated (100 point something I think they said) and his blood sugar level was 240 ish. They couldn't get the seizure stopped so into the ambulance we went. Mike stayed with the other kids (all of them were awake and freaking out, by the way) and I went in the ambulance. I was in front with the driver so I couldn't see what was happening, but I could hear what was going on back there. The hospital is seven and a half miles from our house, and even though it was almost one o'clock in the morning it still took almost 20 minutes to get there. Aaron screamed almost all the way there. He stopped when there was only a couple of blocks left. By this time it had been almost 40 minutes since he started screaming. I assume the seizure lasted the whole time he was screaming. When we went into the E.R. he was sitting in his car seat (they took his car seat and strapped it to the gurney in the ambulance) and he looked like a doll. I stood right in front of him and talked to him, and it was obvious that he wasn't in there. He looked right through me and didn't recognize me at all. It was about 2:30 am before I KNEW that he knew who I was. It was so scary seeing my baby laying there in that big bed and having him not know who I was. I felt like he was going through this alone and there was nothing I could do about it, even though I was right there. They did blood tests, a CAT scan, and a spinal tap. Through most of these tests I was grateful that he wasn't in there, because they were very painful and he had to hold very still. It really helped the doctors that were working on him because he just laid there and didn't flinch or cry. It was so sad. The CAT scan showed that there was no damage to his brain from the seizure or from anything else (tumors, etc.), and the spinal tap showed that he didn't have meningitis or anything else like that. The blood tests were normal, his electrolytes were good, and so was everything else. His blood sugar level was still high (it is supposed to be between 70 and 130 they said, so it was about twice the normal), so they wanted me to see my pediatrician the next day to get his blood sugar level tested again. By this time, he was acting more normal and there were no more tests they could do so they sent us home. We got home just before 5:00 am. We slept for about an hour and a half then got up to get the kids ready for school. Mike called in to work and stayed home that day (Tuesday). We slept and tried to recover from the night before. I took Aaron to the doctor (his regular doctor was unavailable so I saw another one in the same office, the one that was on call the night before that had talked to the E.R. doctor) and his blood sugar was 96, so they said it wasn't diabetes. There is a stomach flu going around here, so the doctor guessed that Aaron had a touch of that and had a fever that we didn't notice, and the fever caused the seizure. We have an appointment with a neurologist from Primary Children's Hospital on Jan. 19 (the first available time) just to make sure that he doesn't have epilepsy or something else. The doctor told me to watch him closely for anything out of the ordinary and get him right in if there is anything else. Aaron was acting fine on Tuesday except for being tired. On Wednesday I got the kids to school and Mike to work and sat down at the desk to update this blog. Aaron climbed on my lap and threw up. He threw up all day everytime he had anything to eat or drink. He slept through the night and woke up the next day (Thursday) not wanting to do anything except lay on the floor. I called the doctor and got an appointment for 9:20 am. We took the kids to school and went right over. The doctor looked at Aaron and almost immediately said that he needed to be admitted to the hospital. The doctors office is hooked on to the hospital so we walked over. By the time we got to the pediatric floor, Aaron was so listless and pale that he couldn't move at all. They had a hard time finding a vein that was plump enough to put an I.V. in. When we got into the room he immediately fell asleep and slept for a few hours. He woke up feeling a little better. The rest of the day and night went about the same. Aaron would sleep a few hours then be awake for a few hours. After he got some fluids in him through the I.V. he was able to keep some things down. He drank a lot of apple juice and water. After awhile they let him have jello and chicken broth. By dinner they changed him to a regular diet and he ate quite a bit of macaroni and cheese and part of a milkshake. He kept everything down. The doctor came in around 7 pm to talk to me. He said that it was a good thing that we were there today because Aaron's electrolytes were way out of whack. The other night when they checked them they were at about 4500 - normal. This day they were over 10,000. He was so dehydrated that the doctor said that a few hours more and his organs would start shutting down. My aunt died from having messed up electrolytes. She got really dehydrated quickly and her electrolytes got messed up and her organs shut down. I am so glad I decided to take Aaron to the doctor that morning. The other appointment they had available was at 2:50 in the afternoon. By then who knows what would have happened.

Anyway, Aaron did so well keeping his food down and getting rehydrated that we were able to check out around 11 am. We went and got the kids from school (today was an early out day) and came home and Aaron and I fell asleep on the couch for an hour and a half. He is doing SOOOO much better. Thank you for all your prayers. I know they helped. I am going to make sure that he keeps getting lots to drink and has lots of wet diapers. If he doesn't he will have to go back, and none of us want that.

I have lots of pictures of him in his hospital bed looking small and pathetic, and of the family decorating the tree, and of me donating ten inches of hair to Locks of Love ( two weeks ago tomorrow). I have cute pictures of Emma with three missing front teeth. We have something wrong with our computer and it won't let us download our pictures from our camera. It thinks they are a virus. So, maybe I will post a lot of pictures when we get it fixed.

Anyway, for the moment we are all well and good. I hope we stay that way.

My kids saw the last blog and wanted to play too,

so here they are-

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1217125671

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1217355930

Hey, Watch this-

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1200546644

Have a Great Day!

(p.s. I think I'm a better dancer than Mike.)

Thoughts of the Day - Musing of my Mind

I thought I would write a little something on the blog today to shock my wife that I would actually contribute to this little site of our lives. I just wanted to thank my wife for the past month of her things to be grateful for. She is pretty amazing and I kinda like her. I am sitting her pondering that there are wet clothes in the dryer and I have an expense report to complete and I just want to be mindless right now. I know this is wasteful and has little purpose but it is what it is. I am also thinking how much I dislike cold weather if it is not snowing. If it is going to be cold, lets bring on the snow. It's like fishing and not catching any fish. My dad thinks I'm nuts but if you are going to go throught the trouble of getting out the boat and hauling your butt up to the river the fish should be obligated to snag the line so you can feel like you accomplish something for the day. I am also pondering the framing of my basement so I can get 2 additional bedrooms and a bathroom finished before to much longer. I also am thinking about the coin I just shelled out to pay of braces for JUST Kim and Josh. I really should have exploited them as younger kids and got them into acting so they could help pay for some on this stuff. And lastly I am considering the fact that I am going to night school with Ben on Thursday in order to assist him in making up a class for this semester. So on top of trying to run a business, sell to companies that think I am to high priced, trying to help a pregant wife feel at least somewhat less overwhelmed, and posting this blog, I think the world is swell and I can't wait to do a jig to a Scottish melody sung by Mike Meyers. If this could be any more random it would have a purpose and I just want to wish everyone a great holiday and to let everyone know that the things that matter are the things that are forever. May we all think of forever and how we can make it there together. CIAO!!!!

November 30, 2007

This is my last "grateful" blog for November. I can't believe I set this goal almost a month ago and now it is the end of the month. I have written all the things I'm grateful for this month on paper and I am adding it to my journal. That way I can look at it often. I have noticed that throughout this month I have become more aware of things around me that I would have a difficult time living without, things that I totally take for granted and don't even think about most of the time. I have also become more aware of my circumstances and how lucky I am to be where I am, living with the family I have, and being a member of the true Church on the Earth. There are so many people in this world that don't have a home, or clothes, or warmth. There are people who are so oppressed that they are told what to believe, where to live, what work they can do, how many kids they can have, and what to wear. I have become more aware of how people in other countries live. I read an article in the paper this past Sunday about North Korea. The reporter told about his trip. They were told where they could go and were escorted everywhere they went. They were not allowed to talk to anyone who lived there. Every where they went they noticed that all the people had to wear buttons with Kim Jong-il's picture on them. Certain kinds of technology are not allowed there. Cell phones are illegal (the reporter's cell phone was confiscated when they got there are returned to him as they left the country), all the newspapers are filled with anti-other country (especially America) propaganda, and the few houses that have televisions or radios only get a few government run channels. People are not allowed to travel outside of the country, and they are completely cut off from the rest of the world. Every house, hotel, and building has pictures on the walls of their leader. Soldiers are allowed to enter any home at any time to make sure there are no illegal internet, or television, cell phones, etc. and to make sure the pictures are on the walls. If you are caught breaking the law, you are severely punished. I can't imagine living in a place that is so oppressive, but this is how these people were raised, and most of them don't know there is any other life. I feel for these people and I am glad that I have the freedoms I do. I feel extremely blessed that I was allowed to be born into a family that lived in America, that already had the Gospel, and that was already sealed in the Temple. Out of all the billions of people who have been on this Earth, why am I so blessed? Maybe one day I will know.

Anyway, here are my last five things for this month-

1. I am grateful for my talents. I have been blessed to be able to meet people throughout my life who have helped me discover some of my talents. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I had never met these people.

2. I am grateful for the schooling I have received. I wasn't grateful at the time, and I'll admit that I didn't take advantage of the opportunities that were given to me and for that I'm very sad. I hope to go back to school one day.

3. I am grateful for patience. I don't have a lot of it some days, and I always wish I had more, but I am grateful for what I have.

4. I am grateful for the November and the May Ensign magazines. I am blessed by the words of the living prophets that I can read over and over. I need to do more of that.

5. And finally, I am grateful for the last six weeks of the year. I get to hear Christmas carols on the radio, and there are reminders of my Savior everywhere. I think about Him many times a day during this part of the year, and I am grateful for those reminders.

Bonus: 6. I think I already mentioned this, but I am grateful that I made this goal. I have been blessed because I have kept this list and thought about my blessings. I am more grateful for the things I have now than I was at the beginning of the month. I read the blog of a lady named Lisa Bearnson (http://www.lisabearnson.com/). If you don't know who she is, she is an LDS lady who lives in Highland, and she started the magazine "Creating Keepsakes". It's a scrapbook magazine. Anyway, yesterday she wrote about an activity they did for Activity Days. She is one of the leaders and they have about a dozen girls. They got some simple composition books and had the girls cover the front with their favorite patterned paper and add a piece that said "Gratitude". They put a quote in the front of the book from Henry B. Eyring and challenged the girls to write five things every night before bed that they are grateful for that day. Here is the quote-

"As you start to write, you could ask yourself, 'How did God bless me today?' If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God's hand in your life. Preserve (these memories) for the day that (you) and those you love will need to remember how much God loves (you) and how much (you) need Him."

It works, it really does. Try it. I have 151 things on my grateful list. I never thought I would be able to think of five things a day, but then I thought "It's only five things. That's not very many." It isn't very many things, but when you are counting different things everyday, they add up. If you are ever having a bad day, try thinking of all the things you have that others don't. I have realized that I don't need to think of those in Africa, or Guatemala, or North Korea. There are homeless people here in Utah, and some of my neighbors and even some of my family who really struggle every day. There are people I know who don't have a kind and gentle spouse. They have a spouse that they are afraid of.

I am so blessed!!

November 29, 2007

1. I am grateful for doctors and the miracles that they help perform.

2. I am grateful for modern technology.

3. I am grateful for umbrellas.

4. I am grateful for sharp knives and scissors.

5. I am grateful for artwork. I am grateful for people who can draw and paint. People like Clark, James Christensen, Liz Lemon Swindle, etc. They inspire me. I wish I could be like them.

November 28, 2007

1. I am grateful that we got to celebrate Josh's birthday yesterday. I am grateful that he is part of our family.

2. I am grateful for laughter, especially the kind that makes your stomach hurt.

3. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and for all He's blessed me and my family with.

4. I am grateful for good movies - you know, the kind that make you feel good and make you want to immediately rewind and watch them again.

5. I am grateful for inventors. Can you imagine no phones, no cars, no books, etc.?

BONUS: 6. I am grateful that when Josh and Emma were "practicing flips" last night, it wasn't more serious that a cracked collarbone on Emma's right side. It could have been SO MUCH worse.

November 27, 2007

1. I am grateful that my in-laws made it possible for me to visit Washington D.C. It was probably a once in a lifetime thing for me, and I am very grateful for their generosity.

2. I am grateful for door locks, especially since Aaron has discovered the joys of playing in my flour and squirting half a tube of toothpaste on the carpet.

3. I am grateful for the garbage man.

4. I am grateful for indoor plumbing. I am well aware that not everyone in this world enjoys this luxury, and I am very glad that I am not one of those people.

5. I am grateful for neighbors that put lights on the trees in their backyard, not just the front yard.

Hopefully I will be able to post this. I guess we will see.

November 26, 2007

1. I am grateful for ice cubes.

2. I am grateful for Christmas decorations.

3. I am grateful for muffins and croissants.

4. I am grateful for snail mail, except when we only get bills.

5. I am grateful for the Freedom of Speech that I have.

I was going to post a picture of my cute boys with their cute haircuts last time, but the virus wouldn't let me. I will attempt to get it on the blog another time.

We are experiencing some technical difficulties with our computer. Mike is trying to fix it. We have a virus. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

November 25, 2007

Since I didn't have time yesterday, I guess I get to post ten things today. Here goes-

1. I am grateful to spend time with my husband and children (when they aren't fighting, or poking each other, or teasing, etc.).

2. I am grateful that my kids go back to school tomorrow after having three weeks off. Maybe I can finally get something done around here.

3. I am grateful for a cool breeze on a hot day.

4. I am grateful for the internet.

5. I am grateful for haircuts on my boys. OOH, THEY ARE SO HANDSOME!!

6. I am grateful that I can get milk from the store and don't have to get it directly from the cow myself.

7. I am grateful for baby wipes- they're great for cleaning lots of things, not just bottoms.

8. I am grateful for love. I am grateful that I found someone who loves me and that I love him.

9. I am grateful for cheese, especially cheddar and pepperjack.

10. Finally today, I am grateful for our new BMBC (big mormon beasty car). We bought a new car yesterday. We've been kindof looking around. The van we had was a seven seater, and with another one on the way we need something bigger. Mike found this car on the internet and wanted me to see it. I wanted to get out of the house, so I said okay. We drove down to Bountiful and saw it. We took it for a test drive. I liked it, Mike liked it, the kids liked it, it was a great deal, so we bought it. You can't really tell what color it is in this picture because it was parked in the shade. It is the same color as a ripe cherry. That kind of deep red. It is a 12 seater. Even with the extra room there is still fights about where to sit, and "I don't want to sit by you", etc. Maybe someday they will outgrow that, although I am not going to hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

November 23, 2007

1. I am grateful for the sense of touch.

2. I am grateful for the sense of hearing.

3. I am grateful for the sense of sight (even though I need glasses sometimes).

4. I am grateful for the sense of smell.

5. I am grateful for the sense of taste.

I remember reading about the death of the wife of one of the General Authorities. I'm pretty sure that it was Sheri Dew who wrote the article. Maybe Pres. Monson, I don't remember. I can't recall who the article was about, I want to say Sister Hinckley but I'm not sure. Someone who died within the last few years. Anyway, about five years before she died, this sweet lady fell and hit her head on a desk drawer that had been left open a little. After that she lost her sense of taste. She spent the last few years of her life without being able to enjoy the taste of her food. The author of the article spent quite a bit of time in the company of this General Authority and his wife and said that after she recovered from the fall, she never once complained about what had happened. As a matter of fact, she would make little jokes about it. Things like saying that this steak was the best she had ever tasted when she was really eating a bologna sandwich. Anyway, I am greatful for my sense of taste. (Especially after the wonderful food we had yesterday. YUM!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

1. I am SO grateful for TODAY!

2. I am grateful for paint.

3. I am grateful for sweet potatoes.

4. I am grateful for turkey.

5. I am grateful for squash chiffon pie! (It's super delicious! If you want the recipe, just leave a comment with your e-mail and I'll get it right to you.)

Michelle's grateful list for November 21-

1. I am grateful for people who think I'm 25 or 26 years old. It makes me wonder what they think about me when they find out I have a 13 year old son, though.

2. I am grateful for sleep.

3. I am grateful when I am caught up on the laundry. I was actually caught up for about 20 minutes on Monday.

4. I am grateful that my sock basket is empty. I cannot believe that one family can have so many socks. I HATE folding socks, so I usually just throw them all in a basket and find a match when someone needs socks. Yesterday I sat down and matched all the socks. Then I took the leftovers and threw them away. We had socks that were matchless that we moved from Spokane 8 years ago. I kept thinking that I would find the match when I unpacked a box. I was just tired of them all so I threw them out. I feel so free now.

5. I am grateful that I get to spend the majority of the day tomorrow with some of my favorite people.

Guess what Kimi did yesterday?

She got her braces on. She was so excited. She is much less excited today. He mouth is tender and hurts. She doesn't like that part very much. I tried to tell her to not get too excited because it would hurt, but that didn't make her any less excited. I gave her some Tylenol before she went to bed, and I could tell right when the four hours were up and it was gone. She started moaning and groaning just after midnight. It was a fun and exciting night, let me tell you. She picked red, white, blue, and clear as the colors of bands they put on.

November 20, 2007

1. I am grateful for friends, and for meeting them unexpectedly in unexpected places.

2. I am grateful for my health and the health of my family.

3. I am grateful for colors, especially blue, chartreuse, and green.

4. I am grateful for a living prophet on the Earth today.

5. I am grateful for a husband who fixes my computer mistakes and finds my important files that I thought I accidentally deleted.

November 19, 2007

1. I am grateful for the temple and the peace that you feel there.

2. I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation. I am grateful that I can be with my family forever and that I can live with our Father in Heaven again.

3. I am grateful for Autumn and it's beauty. I am grateful for all the seasons. I would have a hard time living somewhere where there is no change of season.

4. I am grateful for handbags, paper bags, beach bags- things that help me schlep my stuff around.

5. I am grateful for repentance and the Atonement.

Mike is grateful for-

1. I am grateful for the smiles and hugs I get from my kids.

2. I am grateful that my wife pukes Christmas all over my house.

3. I am grateful for garage door openers.

4. I am grateful for my dyson vacuum cleaner. It rocks (and it sucks)!!

5. I am grateful for Coke-a-Cola. It's tasty.

November 18, 2007

1. I am grateful for reduced price school lunches.

2. I am grateful for ink.

3. I am grateful for bedtime.

4. I am grateful for stars.

5. I am grateful for long walks alone at night when it's snowing lightly.

November 17, 2007

1. I am grateful that there is only one day now and then like yesterday. It was a day when Aaron make messes faster than I could clean them up, and everyone was so loud and uncooperative.

2. I am grateful that my brother Scott, his wife Kelly, and their daughter Adelynn are moving home from Maryland.

3. I am grateful that I don't live in Africa and that I have more than one bowl of rice to eat a day.

4. I am grateful for random acts of kindness.

5. And finally, today I am grateful that good things happen to good people who deserve it. After many many years of trying to have a child, and many many years of trying to adopt, and coming very very close to getting a child many many times, our friends Ryan and Nacole got handed a baby girl last week. We are SO happy for them. You're next Sara and Isaac. We pray for you often, and we love you!!!!!!

November 16-

1. Today I am grateful to have a hot water heater. I think of the pioneers and how they had to heat all their water if they needed hot water. Can you imaging heating enough hot water to bathe five children and two adults?

2. I am grateful for a comfortable bed. Some days I just want to stay there, without a bunch of kids there with me of course.

3. I am grateful for snuggles. From my kids and from my husband.

4. I am grateful for ear plugs. Right now the kids are running around screaming at about 20 decibles. I have asked them about a billion times to stop, but obviously it's loud enough in here that they can't hear me.

5. I am grateful for the beauty of this earth. Last night we were watching Survivor-China and I am constantly amazed that there are such beautiful places on Earth.

November 15-

1. I am grateful for the radio. After 40 years I still can't figure out why or how it works.

2. I am grateful for fabric.

3. I am grateful for clocks.

4. I am grateful for shoes. I am grateful that we can afford to buy shoes for our children.

5. I am grateful that we have never had to go without. Anything. We have never truly been in need. There have been times when it's been kindof slim, but we have never been in need.

My list for November 14-

1. I am grateful for dentists. I think I may have a loose filling, and just knowing there is someone that can fix my pain is a comfort to me.

2. I am grateful for Christmas crafts.

3. I am grateful for furnaces and air conditioners.

4. I am grateful for the imaginations of my children. Josh thinks he is going to make a hover craft for his science fair project. He has it all drawn out. I don't know how he's going to do it, but he is determined.

5. I am grateful for pre-birth baby movements. I am so happy that I can feel this little one move and know that my child is healthy.

Here's my list for today-

1. I am grateful for soap.

2. I am grateful for glass- windows, mirrors, drinking glasses, glasses to see with, etc.

3. I am grateful for oranges, especially those cute little, easy to peel, clementines.

4. I am grateful for can openers.

5. And finally for today, I am grateful that almost 38 years ago the Price family decided to adopt Mike and almost 15 1/2 years ago they grudgingly decided to adopt me too. They have blessed my life and made me a better person. Thanks!!!!!!!

Haircut for Emma!

Before After

It started out as a trim of the bangs, then she wanted a trim of all the hair. I noticed she had shorter pieces on the sides, so I just cut it as long as the shorter pieces.

I think she's pretty cute!

Today I am grateful for:

1. I am grateful for blinds, shades, and curtains.

2. I am grateful for my microwave. It makes my life SO much easier.

3. I am grateful for tools. I am grateful that I know how to use them

and fix things around our home. I have saved us a lot of money by

fixing things myself.

4. I am grateful for toothpaste and toothbrushes. One of my favorite

parts of the day is getting rid of the fuzz in the morning.

5. I am grateful for the opportunity to have two priesthood holders

living in my home. The priesthood blesses my life more than I can

say.

Today Mike is grateful for:

1. Mike is grateful for air freshener.

2. Mike is grateful for Jessica Alba. He appreciates her beauty.

3. Mike is grateful for a wife to type for him. (The lazy bum.)

4. Mike is grateful that the sprinkler system is half way installed.

5. Mike is grateful for rain. It is cool and refreshing.

More Things I Am Grateful For

Since I didn't get a chance to add to my list yesterday I get double

duty today. Here goes-

1. I am grateful for Orange rolls. Yum!

2. I am grateful for Pie Crust Day. Every year in

November, my mom hosts Pie Crust Day at

her house. It is for all the grandchildren. (There

were 25 children and nine adults there yesterday.)

They all get to make their

own pie crust, and all the moms make crusts
for the Thanksgiving pies they will make. The
kids talk about it all year and really look
forward to it. Mom said yesterday, "I don't
know how many more years I'll be able to do
this." My sister, Jolene, and I told her that
she started the tradition so she gets to carry it
on until she dies. Mom said that may be
anytime now, with how much this activity takes out
of her.

3. I am grateful for rain. I love how it cleans the air

and makes everything clean.

4. I am grateful for crock pots.

5. I am grateful that I get to make this list and think
about and realize all the things I am grateful for.

6. I am grateful for a two year old that is a born
entertainer. He has been trying somersaults
and doing flips and dancing around our front room
for the past fifteen minutes. It is very entertaining and makes me
happy to see.


7. I am grateful for the scriptures. I am grateful for the chance my
husband has to teach the Gospel Doctrine class in our ward. We get
to have some really neat discussions as he prepares his lessons. I am
also grateful for this because then I get to hear some of the lessons
that I would otherwise not hear because I am in Primary.


8. I am grateful for carrots and potatoes. Especially the potato part. I
could eat them everyday.

9. I am grateful for little kid giggles.

10. I am grateful for Jackson's Primary talk he is giving today. Look it up
on Mat and Kati's blog. I really appreciate the sweet spirit that children
have. I get to see it and feel it every week in Primary.

Mike's 2nd BLOG

Greetings to the world!!!

In my second blog entry I will obey the command of my sweet wife and write 5 things that I am grateful for. I will admit that mine will be somewhat different and will probably not be to the extend that Belle has written but it will be my five of the day.

1. I am grateful for a car that takes me to and from and around for work. It is my office on wheels and smells like it. It has all my sales crap in the back seat and my binder fits in between the parking brake and the passenger seat. It has been a great little car and gets me where I need to go. My area manager and other coworker laugh at me because I don't drive a Lexus or a BMW but I also don't have a $350.00 a month car payment for which I am also grateful.

2. I am grateful for the health I have. Yes, I am big and could stand to lose 100-150lbs but on the whole I have been pretty healthy. I have been able to take care of my family and help build and keep a house going. I feel pretty lucky to be alive and well.

3. I am grateful for my beautiful, amazing, persevering, incredible, and muy caliente! WIFE!!! She can do almost anything from fixing the main plumbing pipe under a house to canning a mess of applesauce to talking with me when I am down to being my best friend. The last one is probably the most amazing!

4. I am especially grateful for music. I am always amazed that music gets me motivated and pumped up or gets me relaxed and spiritually uplifted. I know I am not the best singer in the world but I love to sing with the radio and in Church and in the shower. (Bad visual for all of you) It is the power that brings peace in my life.

5. I am grateful for the blessings of good parents. I look back at the times I gave mom and dad grief and pain in my life and realize I am getting a double helping in return. I am glad Dad held us accountable and set high expectations for us. I am glad Mom taught us that the world is full of amazing things and that I can see the possibilities if I open myself up and welcome them in. I am also grateful for Dee and Diann and the influence they have added in my life. Dad Lalliss has been a great resource of information and help and Mom has always looked at the best that people have to offer and recognize their potential.

So there you have it. They are good for me and I hope you all have something you can think of that you are thankful for.

Five things I am grateful for today

1. I am grateful for fun socks.

2. I am grateful for rechargeable batteries
for my camera.

3. I am grateful for big mugs of steaming
hot chocolate.

4. I am grateful for two year olds who say
"besh ooo, mommy" when I sneeze
or blow my nose, and say "yuv ooo,
mommy. hug, hug?"

5. I am grateful for work. I need to clean
out and unpack some boxes from the
room that will eventually be the "girl's
suite". You can hardly even get in there because everything has just
been dumped in there.

Have a fantastic day!

Here's my grateful list for today-

1. I am grateful for the ocean. This is a picture of me, my brother Rick, and my sister Jannette in July 1976. We are at Seal Rock in Newport, Oregon. This is one of my favorite places on Earth.

2. I am grateful for a washing machine, a dryer, and a dishwasher.

3. I am grateful that there are people who are willing to serve in the military. This is a picture of my brother, Scott. He is a linguist in the Army Reserve. He has served for 15 months (I think, it could be 18 months) in Iraq and he is being re-deployed to Afghanistan in January or February.

4. I am grateful for ice cream. Especially chocolate, spumoni, and peppermint. The only problem, I always want peppermint ice cream when I am pregnant, and the only time you can get it is in November and December. Lucky for me, it's November.

5. I am grateful for my calling in my ward. I am the secretary in the Primary presidency. I get to serve with some really awesome women and I am learning a lot.

BONUS: 6. I am grateful for my parents. I think I mentioned both of them yesterday, that's why this isn't one of my five. They have taught me many great things, and they are always there when I need them. Besides that, they are really cute, don't you think?

I have decided that I am going to post everyday five things that I am grateful for.

I read something recently that made me think about what I am most grateful for. And, since this is November and we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving I thought that this would be a good idea for me, and for my family (that includes most of you reading this) to know what I'm grateful for. Since it's already November 7, I guess my list needs to start with 35 things, so here goes-

1. I am grateful for shampoo. Can you imagine living without it?

2. I am grateful for my minivan. Even though we are quickly outgrowing it, I am so grateful that we can afford to have that car for me to use.


3. I am grateful for disposable diapers. Enough said!

4. I am so grateful for people who know more than I do and aren't afraid to share their knowledge with me.

5. I am grateful for chocolate (even though I am really not supposed to be eating a lot of it.)

6. I am grateful for refrigeration. I can't imagine living back before it was invented.

7. I am grateful for my brothers and sisters. Even though we don't get together very often, I know that if I ever needed anything I could ask them and they would be there for me.

8. I am grateful for healthy children. We had an ultrasound this morning and found out that our baby is healthy and active. I have been worried because I can't really feel the baby move, and I know I've felt all the others by this time. But, never fear. All is well. My due date is March 26 by the way.

9. I am grateful that I know how to preserve some things. Peaches and applesauce so far this year. I also know how to make jams and jellies. I've bottled tomatoes and spaghetti sauce in the past. As much as I dislike doing it, I am SO GLAD that I know how. Thanks, Mom!

10. I am grateful for fresh, clean sheets on my bed (when I have them).

11. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and all He's done for me.

12. I am grateful for computers. Even though I can't figure out how to do what I need to do half the time, I'm glad that we have one in our home.

13. I am grateful for our new cute little house. Obviously this picture was taken awhile ago (before we moved in, in fact) and the yard doesn't really look like this anymore. We now have dirt, trenches for a sprinkling system, and two trees in front, and seven trees in back.

14. I am grateful that my husband has a job that allows me to stay home with my kids, and pays him enough that we always have enough food for our table and money for our bills.

15. I am grateful for paper. I love paper. Any color. Any pattern. Plain or colored. I love paper.

16. I am grateful for central air conditioning. I would melt in the hot Utah summers without it.

17. I am grateful that my husband has dragged me into the digital age. I carry my camera with me everywhere I go. I would never take as many pictures as I do if I still used my old dinosaur camera.

18. I am grateful that I have a sewing machine and I know how to use it.

19. I am grateful for my cute kids. They bring so much fun and adventure to my life.

20. I am grateful for tissues. We all have colds right now, and they are well used here.

21. I am grateful for television. It helps me feel included in the world, and it brings me entertainment when I have a spare moment.

22. I am grateful for milk, and chicken cordon bleu with cordon bleu sauce, and rice, and broccoli. Yummy, I could eat this meal everyday of my life and never get tired of it.

23. I am grateful for vacuums.

24. I am grateful for books, even though I hardly ever get to sit down and actually read one.

25. I am grateful for grass, and trees, and flowers.

26. I am grateful for a garage. Even though it is a mess right now, I am grateful for the storage and shelter it provides.

27. I am grateful for this country. I find it hard to fathom that out of all the people in this world, I get to live here. Not only live here, but live here in Utah where I was born into a family that already had the gospel and was already sealed in the Temple. What are the odds?

28. I am grateful for music. Especially this time of year when I get to hear Christmas music and be reminded of our Savior.

29. I am grateful for school. I know my children will not agree with me, but getting an education is a good thing.

30. I am grateful that we have clothes. They keep us warm and they cover up anything unsightly that doesn't need to be seen. My toes for example.

31. I am grateful for my gas stove and oven.

32. Even though we sometimes complain and joke a little about my Dad's knowledge, I am glad that he knows things and is willing to help us out with things that we don't know-like finishing a basement, installing a toilet, changing a car battery, etc.

33. I am grateful for crazy glue. I use it at least once a week. I should buy stock in the company. Duct tape, too. You can fix anything if you have duct tape and crazy glue.

34. I am grateful for electricity. A lot of things I am grateful for and use everyday wouldn't even be around if there was no electricity.

35. And finally, for today, I am SO grateful for a kind, gentle, and terribly handsome man. He takes such good care of me, and he works so hard for our family. It is an honor and a pleasure to be married to him and to have the opportunity to be with him for eternity.

I am tagging some of you to participate in this list of things you are grateful for. You can put one thing a day, or five like I am. You may not repeat anything on your list, and I would like it to be an everyday thing. By the time Thanksgiving comes around, you shouldn't have any problem thinking of what you're grateful for.

Tag-

Kati, Sara, Isaac, Barbara, Tom, and Michael