Happy Birthday Dad!

There is not many things I love in this world more than birthdays! All kinds of birthdays....kid birthdays, adult birthdays, half birthdays....all are just awesome! This week was my dad's birthday. He is the big double nickel...55! Wowee! I am glad he is thrilled he qualifies for some senior citizen discounts! I went to a store called Color Me Mine. My new favorite shop! You pick the piece you want to paint, paint it, then they will fire it for you. My dad loves ice cream so painted him an ice cream cup that says "dad's" It was fun to see him use it. Hurray for ice cream and awesome dads!

Giant Little People at Thanksgiving

This holiday weekend has been was simply incredible! To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive about the Thanksgiving holiday because I all my siblings are married and have kids.Sometimes I feel like the odd gal out. But of course, the Lord took care of me and I had nothing to worry about. I was so blessed to have my niece and nephew to brighten my day...every day during the holiday. I was reminded of SO many little life lessons.

My family may say the most important lesson I learned from my nephew Mark is that footed flannel pajamas are much cuter on 19 months year-olds than 261 month-olds. Drat! It's just that he looks SO cute in them I want to look just like him! Mark reminded me that it's okay to cry sometimes when I'm sad, if I eat candy first I won't be hungry for real meal, there are times when if I can't get what I want I should find something else to do, the small things in life--like cardboard boxes, blocks, and baths--are really fun, when something is important to me but I don't have words to explain I can take people by the hand and show them, I need take time to be outside everyday, nothing is better than a good book, hearing the word "no" is never fun, when I want to talk to someone just pick up the phone and to sing loud even though I don't know any words.

I also had such a wonderful time with my sweet niece, Anna. I learned from her that when I'm on a walk to take time to stop and pick up sticks, opening and closing the mailbox is a highlight--even if there isn't any mail inside, it's important to take turns, names are important and everything needs a name (ie: the big yellow ball is now named Fred), sharing is important but a hard lesson to learn, rootbeer is delicious, sometimes people just need a good tickle, and in candyland (or any game) it doesn't matter who wins just moving your piece to the next color is thrilling.

I think the biggest lesson I learned from Anna was when she was bouncing on a ball and hit her head on the counter. When she hurt she turned straight to her mom, no one else could comfort her. I thought about the many things I can turn to when I'm hurt...sometimes I turn to friends, sometimes I hold it inside, sometimes I try to find things to distract me and take my mind of the hurt. She was big example to me. I want to follow her example and rely on my Heavenly Father as she relies on her mother. When I'm hurt or sad, I want to be like Anna and immediately turn to Him for comfort.

Oh thank Heaven for little people and their giant example!

Halloween!

When I watch the great Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, the movie is only 45 minutes because I fast forward all the scary parts. Needless to say, I don't like scary things. I really don't care for blood, vampires, skeletons, devils, or many of the other things associated with Halloween. However, I do like the holiday. I just wish everyone would dress up like inventors or fairys--like me.

One of my favorite things to do to celebate the holiday is to carve pumpkins. This year my friend Dan came over to carve pumpkins with me and I have to say, his pumpkin was much more creative than mine. We were able to put it on! He even carved holes for my pigtails to stickout...what a good friend. Life looks good from inside a pumpkin!

girls just want to have fun!

A few weeks ago my dear high school friend, Celecta, and I discovered our inner child. I think it's peculiar that when I was little I liked to get together with friends to play dress up and now that I'm an adult, I like to build forts and drive cardboard cars when friends come over. I saw this fort as a practice run before my nieces and nephew get here for the holidays. I have this secret goal (that's not so secret) to be the best aunt ever! Building forts....one of many great tactics!