Back to loser land

So Thanksgiving is over and I quit posting about what I'm grateful for.  I can be such a loser.  I really am grateful for so many things.

I'm thankful for:

...(as aggravating as it is) the laughter of my kids at 11pm on a school night.

...being able to check 'family pictures' off my to do list for another year.  They all said "HATE" at some point, and there was only one kid in tears.

...that today is my Bubs' birthday.  HE IS THE BEST!!!!! I'm so grateful for that man and even more grateful that we live close enough for my kids to know and love him, too.

...those rare occasions when I can see the bottom of the laundry hamper. Oh, happy days.

...the opportunity I have to go back to school.  Totally love it!

...nail clippers. Random, but they make me happy.  I love to have little boy nails.

...gum.  And you're all grateful when I chew it.

...my testimony.  It's strong and growing stronger.

...my snuggly puppy.

...the Christmas season....so wonderful!

.... COMMENTS on my blog!!!!!

  - if you stop by, say "hi rani"!!! It's an ego trip, I know, but it's fun to know who's checking out the Halliday's!

BOM

The post below was a little weak in the gratitude genre. 

As excited as I am about getting a good deal,

I thought I should post something that

 I am truly grateful for.

I am so thankful for the Book of Mormon,

Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book

with the kids this year.

We will finish it by the end of December.

It's been an awesome goal and I've learned so much

and am so appreciate of the added measure of

the Spirit as we study and read together,

even if attitudes are sometimes less than desirable. 

I am grateful for the newness of insight 

each time I read the BOM.  

I am grateful that I learn more how to be

like my Savior from this book.

I am grateful for Joseph Smith and his role

in translating and spreading this book.

So so so so grateful.

black friday...

Before I moved to TX, I avoided the 

black friday crowds like the plague.   

Then Leah and I became the fabulous tag team duo. 

 I'm totally psyched to get up at 2am tomorrow 

with my partner-in-bargains 

and SCORE on some sweet Christmas goodies. 
I'm grateful for the poor souls that will deal with me.

 I will report back tomorrow :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

It has been a wonderful day and I'm most grateful

 to have spent it with my sweet family.  

And p.s. the bird was edible.


p.s.s. another awesome giveaway HERE
and same page - but check out the scentsy  
stuff HERE
 

Gobble Gobble

 I have lived 39 years and have never had to cook

a turkey for Thanksgiving. 

Call me a mooch...I say I'm brilliant. 

I got flamboozled into cooking the bird this year.

(Thanks, Gigi). 

I'm grateful for the last 39 years of non-turkey-cooking.  

I'm pretty sure my family will be grateful 

if I never have to do it again.

Apologies in advance to my loved ones that have to digest my bird.


p.s. also totally grateful today for GIVE-AWAYS!
Click here for a fun one!

i love to see the temple...

I am so grateful today for the saving 

ordinances of the temple.

I am grateful for the peace that

washes over me in this Holy House.

I am grateful for the joy felt here

that can be duplicated no where else on earth.

I am grateful for eternal families.

I am grateful for my "home" away from home.

Missing you...

Today I am grateful for my sweet grandmothers:

Granny (who wanted to be called Nana but we never did)

and my lovely Mutti.

I love my Granny so so much and miss her even more.

She was there for every important event in my life.

She came on many family trips with us.

She taught me how to be a card shark.

I especially treasured the times when I was in 

college and I lived in AZ and could go visit her 

on weekends.  SO SO awesome!

This is us after my high school graduation in TX.

 I am so fortunate to have had close relationships

with both of my grandmothers.

This is Mutti and I at her home in Arkansas 

a few months before she passed away.

I have wonderful summer memories of Mutti - 

playing Backgammon and Yahtzee.

Drinking Mountain Dew and eating cinnamon toast.

She would read to me each night and we'd have

peanut M&M's as our snack as she read.

Swimming/floating/talking in her pool for hours.

I love and miss her weekly emails to me. 

 I am grateful to have known and loved

these beautiful and amazing women.

Their righteous examples are forever with me.

You've got a friend in me...

Heavenly Father has put the most amazing

friends in my path throughout my life.

Today I am grateful for all of these gals that have

been a listener, laughing bud, example, and bosom friend.

I was fortunate to go to Women's Conference in 

Provo a couple years ago with my friends since

SEVENTH GRADE!!!

How awesome is that!?!  I thought Jr. High me

had disappeared - but much to my delight (and horror)

dorky, seventh grade me is still around!

Still as crass and candid as ever.

Thanks for bringing her back for a few days, girls!

 I was also blessed in college with the bestest 

roommate EVER!!!  

This is Bonnie-lee and I celebrating our

birthday and a quarter :)

I know you're jealous of my hair - so stop it.

 Since I've been married sweet friends have helped

me along in my life's journey.

I have no doubt that Heavenly Father placed them there

just for me - just at the time I needed them.

These are my Washington girls. 

Boy do I love and miss these gals!

Kristen, Melinda, Amie....

 and a precious few others not pictured.

I wish I had pics (or could find my pics)  of all of the

girlies that have changed me for good.

There is a tender spot in my heart for each one.

I am so grateful for the many women I have

crossed paths with in my lifetime. 

They have been shining examples and helped mold

me into the awesome 39 year old before you today! :)

Thinking of them makes 

My Heart Smile!

Bwahahahaha!!!

I'm grateful today for my shows that make me laugh.

Yes - I watch WAY too much TV.

Community!!!

Totally love this.  I'm living it in my own way.

 Modern Family.

Needs no explanation.

Awesome.

My NEW fave - Raising Hope.

So white trash.

So love it.

Second child syndrome

Second borns seem to have 'extra spunk'.

Kyle is NO exception.

My gratitude for Kyle was my first post this month.

So maybe this is redundant but I

LOVE this crazy kid.

 I thought it only fair that I share

his school pic, too.

Kyle is the extreme in every way.

He is the happiest/ maddest.

He is the most excited/ most mellow.

He is the most generous/ most stubborn.

He is the loudest...okay he's always the loudest.

He added an element of surprise and challenge 

to our home that I truly treasure.  

Great things are in store for this awesome kid.

Love you, Kyle!

My Ty

Tyler (few days old) with Grandpa Bubs
and the famous FIRST licorice.

Tyler is truly a blessing and I'm so grateful for this boy.
Not only is he so cute, but he is GOOD.
He has a kind heart, he is hilarious!,
& he loves his family.

Below - I guess his love of cows began
at a very young age.
Ty aspires to be a rancher when he grows up.
(Hey Blanding gang - may be sending him your way this summer!:)

I don't think he loves this school picture -
but it's the most current I have of my oldest boy.
Thank you, son, for being such a
stalwart example to your brothers and sister.
(most of the time anyway :) 

Love my Ty!

Heaven's gift to me...

I am so grateful for this girl!
My girl.
She is beautiful in every way.
Her spirit, her smile, her attitude, her peacemaking aura.
I love her and am so humbled and grateful
that she chose our family!

This girl loves the outdoors & animals.
She has never been shy about getting dirty.
I love this pic of her playing in the rain in Colorado.
I can almost see heaven's light in her eyes.
I'm so in love with my Maddie.

Arry Pottah

Just bought tickets to the 

12:01am showing of Harry Potter

for Thursday!!!!

Not to seem too dramatic, but these books 

changed my life! Ok. Maybe not changed my life, but I

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

Grateful today to have something so fun to look forward to with my two big boys! :)

Joe Jogger

I am so grateful for nike+ipod.

I actually LIKE running when I can see

how far/ how many calories burned/ & hear

the beautiful voice of Glenda (so named by me)

tell me "two miles, current pace ____ per mile".

I love Glenda. She's totally there for me.

Sunday naps

I missed my Sunday nap today.  

In so doing, I realized how grateful I am for

that precious, once a week, blissful snooze.

my secret stash

Today I'm grateful for chocolate.

In all it's glorious varieties. 

Candy, milkshakes, cookies, pies, cakes...

I hit the lottery at Target when they were clearing out these HUGE bags of Halloween Reese's the other day.  I totally bought like a thousand bags.  I've hidden them. I have this delightfully evil little satisfaction knowing I can have a Reese's ANYTIME I want. It's my special secret stash.  Spencer, if you're nice, I'll share.

Having been born of goodly parents...

I am grateful today (and everyday) for 

my parents and siblings.

I was raised in a home where I never doubted 

I was loved and supported.

We did many things as a family:

traveled, played games, watched sports, 

jib-jabbered, & LAUGHED a lot!

I am thankful my parents set such a great example

of believers in Christ, our Savior,

 by their words and actions.

I am grateful that I live near most of my family

:(miss you Kati :(

 and that my children are exposed to the 

joy, love, and support that I've felt my entire life.

Love you fam!!

Land That I Love

I am thankful today for these loved ones

and millions of others just like them

that have served & defended & protected

this great nation.

This my sweet Mutti.

(Gigi's mom) 

She's so beautiful.

Some of my earliest memories of

she and my Dado were them talking

politics. Sometimes they agreed,

sometimes they didn't, but they

both shared an undeniable love

and concern for our country.

My dado. (Gigi's dad)

 I come from handsome peeps, eh?

I look at this picture and remember how much 

I respected Dado.  He was quick to smile &

laugh.  I admire, honor, and miss him.

My uncle Bud. He is still vigilant 

about understanding and educating himself

about what is going on in the world.

He is a genius and I love and admire him greatly.

My Bubs!!  Oh, the cuteness!! 

No wonder Gigi picked him out 

at that dance and it was 

love at first sight!

My Uncle J. Scott.

This is a hard day for many in our family.

For as much as we love this country, 

my Uncle J. gave his life defending 

freedom during Desert Storm.

He left behind a sweet wife and three beautiful kids.

It is so bitter-sweet to see his face.

There is no greater service.

 My heart both aches and is filled with gratitude for the men and women who have served, who do serve, and who will serve the United States of America.  I have a testimony to my core that it is a land set apart - the promised land - and so many were inspired in it's development and Constitution. 

Thank you, J. Scott, and all of those who have given their all for me and mine. 

I am so thankful for you this day.

(and thanks Gigi, for the pics!)

Heavenly Father's Pretties

I am so grateful for a beautiful sunset, mountains, 

& all of Heavenly Father's nature wonders. 

 I was driving kids home and this 
sunset filled my

heart with gratitude.

Even in this congested, non-heavenly place

I feel a bit of heaven.

Fi-Na-LLy

I am beyond grateful for this little treasure!

After years of struggling with an aged computer,

my sweet little imac has brought me such peace and joy.

I LOVE YOU iMAC!!

Cuz He's Kool

How lucky am I to have such a cool kid?

I am so grateful for my "second chance baby".

I'm pretty sure I blew it with my first three - 

Rydge is like a re-do.

He was my best friend for the first five years of his life.

Then he started school and I wasn't so cool anymore. :(

I love my baby and all the joy he brings.

He says the GREATEST things!

Like: Shum-bob (for Spongebob)

&  how he is so tired of

all the girls saying he is SO CUTE! 

I am grateful for my Rydger!

He Trusted Me

Today I am grateful for a couple of specific things.

The first is....I don't have to teach RS again for three months.

!!Phew!! is what I say to that. 

 I'm sure there are a couple RS sisters 

in the congregation that would concur.

But today my heart overflows with humility and

appreciation to my Father in Heaven for

trusting ME with four of His precious spirits.

 (Pic taken right after we moved to WA in 2004)

They are little blonde angels and 

I love them with all of my heart.

I have messed up so many times and in so many ways.

We are learning together. Patience is required on both sides.

But with Heavenly Father at the helm - I have 

NO DOUBT we will conquer!

   I love you, sweet peeps!

My Hot Babe

My lover in action.

I was finally able to take a pic of his face

today while he played stake softball.

#6 - I am so grateful for this man!

He puts up with WAY more crap than any man 

should have to put up with from a wife.

 My Spencer makes me happy.

I tell him something he does bugs me and he changes.

He CLEANS the house. How awesome!!??!!

He adores me and my babies.

He supports me with my heavy load.

He is my BFF.

Besides all that he is ToTaLlY hot-stuff!

So grateful for ya babe! Love ya!

I'm straight up grateful!

This is Desi. I'm ever so grateful for Desi today.

She is a therapist, a magician, and just dang sweet.

She listens to me whine about my yucky hair 

and manages to remain positive

and not slap me.

She magically erases my gray and SOMEHOW

forces my hair STRAIGHT! 

(with a little help from Paul Mitchell)

I heart Desi.

 I'm giddy. 

Straight hair.  No gray.

Wish she could work her miracles on those 

face and neck wrinkles....