James' new trick!

He pees his pants on purpose while he's sitting in time out. Every time! Isn't that nice?

Back on track

#1 - I'm grateful for a garage. For the first time in my life, I am able to park in a garage and it is absolutely incredible. I appreciate it more and more as the weather gets colder.

#2 - I'm grateful for my new Pleasant Grove City library card. It has been a VERY long time since I have stepped foot in a public library, but today I made the leap. James was very well-behaved. Noah was quiet as a mouse and we picked up a few good reads. James got a few Curious George books (his favorite) and I picked up some light reading for myself. My tax dollars are paying for it, so I might as well take advantage.

#3 - I'm grateful for the Daily Herald. We have had our spats in the past, but yesterday when I had a problem, I got on the phone with them and they more than made up for it. And they were very friendly in the process. We can be friends again.

Mwah!

Yesterday -

#1 - I'm grateful for Relief Society. What an incredible program. It's nice to have some time to learn and grow in the gospel in a setting with just women who share the same values and beliefs.

#2 - I'm grateful for hugs and kisses. After a rough day, nothing makes me feel better than hugs and kisses from my little boys. James can be a wild man one minute and melt my heart the next with just a hug.

#3 - I'm grateful that my days of buying diapers for James may be over. I'm not saying anything for sure, but I think we're awfully close to undies full time. I'm crossing my fingers.

Yesterday

#1 - I'm grateful for naps. James went without one yesterday and we sure paid the price. I don't just need the break in the middle of the day, but my kids need it to be happy and (somewhat) well-behaved.

#2 - I'm grateful for solo shopping trips. Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing than perusing the aisles of Smith's all by myself. I love my kids to pieces, but they make a simple trip to the grocery store about 12 times harder than it would be without them. I pack up the kids and we go shopping together more often than not, but once in a while, I get to go all by myself and boy, it is so nice.

#3 - I'm grateful that the Cougars pulled out that games yesterday. It was not graceful by any stretch of the imagination, but they were able to pull it out and avoid an embarrassing loss. Maybe next year will be our year.

Animals

Yesterday (one of these days, I'll get back on track):

#1 - I am grateful that Hans is not an animal person. No offense to all you animal lovers out there, but I could never own a pet. I am so grateful that Hans and I are on the same page when it comes to this so we'll be in agreement when our kids come begging. However, for some reason, I am not opposed to keeping chickens in a coop someday in our backyard.

#2 - I am grateful that we have a big enough backyard that makes keeping chickens back there an option. The best part is that it's big enough that I wouldn't smell them right outside my back door. I'm excited that we have the space to plant a garden in the spring and keep several fruit trees. Someday, my yard will be fruitful.

#3 - I am grateful that James wore undies almost all day yesterday with only one accident. We did put on a diaper for our outing to the grocery store because I knew we weren't ready for that yet. I didn't think he was ready for potty training quite yet, but a few months ago, we bought him a potty and some undies just to get him used to the idea. Yesterday, I let him choose whether he wanted to wear a diaper or undies. He chose undies. Maybe he's really ready for this. We'll see if it sticks.

Doctor's Office

Yesterday:

#1 - Once again, I'm grateful for Rite Aid. I had the shopping trip that I have only heard about and wondered, "How does that work?" Once again, the girl that helped was so patient and friendly.

#2 - Noah went to the doctor for his 9 month check and I'm grateful that he is perfect. He's healthy and growing. He's actually in the 65th percentile for his weight and, for my kids, that's pretty chunky. More than anything though, I'm grateful that he is completely healthy.

#3 - I'm grateful that my kids got the H1N1 vaccine. I wasn't sure they'd be able to get it since it's so hard to find, but I was lucky that my pediatrician had just a few in stock. I feel like I can breathe just a bit easier now.

Meow!

#1 - Today I'm grateful for the kitty that wandered around our yard for awhile today. James thought it was just about the greatest thing that ever happened to it. He calls it a meow. He chased it around forever and loved every minute of it.

#2 - Visiting teachers. Mine are wonderful. They really make me feel like they want to visit me and not just that they need to get it done. I also love the adult conversation. Sometimes it's nice to have a conversation that involves something deeper than undies and "meows."

#3 - I'm grateful that James ate his dinner tonight. True, he spit out most of the chicken, but he ate a lot of rice and I even got him to eat cauliflower. We're making progress, people!

11/10

#1 - I am grateful for Lissie who works at the Rite Aid in Orem. I have never been helped by someone more patient and friendly. She happily broke up my purchase into 2 different transactions and entered each one of my coupons manually when they wouldn't scan. And she did it all with a smile. I have never come across a cashier who has not acted bugged when the coupons don't scan. In fact, I think I'll make a call to her manager to tell them how great she was.

#2 - I'm grateful that my husband is not a deadbeat. There was a man on Dr. Phil yesterday who hadn't had a job in 3 years. His wife worked as a waitress and they lived in a hotel room. Her husband spent every day of those three years hanging around the hotel room "looking for a job."

#3 - I'm grateful that I didn't hit the neighbor's dog on my way home last night. It was a really close one, but everyone came out ok. That would not have been a good way to kick off a neighborly relationship.

Sweet lies

#1 - I'm grateful that I was able to get a lot done today. I've had tons of stuff piling up and today, I feel like I finally made a pretty good dent in it. There's still a lot to do, but now I don't feel so overwhelmed.

#2 - I'm grateful that Hans acted like he liked my dinner. I had high hopes for the new recipe tonight, but to be completely honest, it was gross. Hans would never admit to it; he insisted that it was good. What a liar. Just another thing I love about him.

#3 - James' and Noah's matching pajamas. They are so stinking cute together.

11/8 Blessings

#1 - I'm grateful that my kids went back to bed after both waking up at 5:30. That extra hour and a half made all the difference.

#2 - I'm grateful for tithing. It's definitely a hard thing to do, especially at a time in our lives when we have plans for every extra penny for about the next ten years, but it is one principle that I have never doubted. We've been behind this year, with all of the moving and switching wards, but at church yesterday, we almost got caught up. It's a good feeling.

#3 - I'm grateful for nursery. What an inspired program. Yesterday, when I walked into nursery to pick James up, all the nursery leaders said, "Look James, it's your mom." He took one look at me, said, "No!" and ran to the other side of the room. At least he loves it.

#1 - I'm grateful for the coupon booklet I found at WalMart today. It saved me $15. Sweet!

#2 - Saturdays. It's so wonderful to have an entire day with my family all together. We didn't exactly get much done as we had 2 kids tag-teaming their naps all day long, but it's just nice to be together.

#3 - My pantry. When I come home from the grocery store with 10 boxes of crackers, 48 cans of spaghettios, and 8 containers of apple juice it sure is nice to have a place to put it all.

Today

#1 - I'm grateful for the park. What a nice release for James. I'm so glad the weather was perfect for our outing.

#2 - I'm grateful for boys. Let's face it, without my boys, I'd be pretty much alone in this world. I hope to have a little girl someday, but right now I'm glad I have these little crazy guys and that they can be such great friends.

#3 - I'm grateful for my venus fly trap. Yes, I own a venus fly trip. When we saw Little Shop of Horrors last week at the Hale, Hans had to buy the movie. Lucky for us, a venus fly trap came with it. Now it sits in my kitchen window sill and makes me chuckle every time I see it.