Grateful Sunday

Miles, sleeping with his bear, Josh, on the way home today.

I have so much to be grateful for this week and always. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday, and we had a great time celebrating with family last week. Today, I'm grateful for:

• our large car. We've toyed with the idea of getting a smaller one for me when this one dies, but for now, it's really nice to be able to have room to stretch out and pack it full on long car trips.
• our road trip rather than a plane trip to Canyon. It was a 5 1/2 hour drive, and it would have been a shorter flight (obviously), but the day we planned to leave, I was running about three hours behind schedule. It was all fine, though, because we were driving! No planes to catch, no security lines to worry about. We're saving that for Christmas travel . . . 
• Shelby and Julie, for hosting us in their beautiful new home. They even let us use the guest room, which was lovely. They have a palpable, happy spirit in their house, and we had so much fun.
• sleep. Ah, sleep. We felt so relaxed and time seemed to slow down a bit while we were away. Just what we needed.
• the following quick breads: Cranberry and Pumpkin

All these years.

Today is our anniversary! Neal and I were married November 21, 1998, in the Los Angeles Temple. It was a beautiful day, and we've had many wonderful days in the thirteen years since. This weekend, we took an evening away, went to the temple and out to dinner. Neal gave me a beautiful rose gold wedding band in a pretty blue box and I felt so lucky all over again.

I've posted a few (a lot of) great memories below.

At the Sphinx, 1999.

And the Parthenon, a few days later, in 2000.

On the porch where Neal proposed in Tyler, Texas. This was in 2001.

Dental School Graduation, Houston, 2004.

End of UCLA residency dinner, Santa Monica, 2005.

Family Photos, Houston, 2005.

Eating out with Jay and Natalie, in Houston, 2007.

Dinner out in Maui, 2007.

 Radiohead concert, Houston, 2008.

A friend's birthday party, Houston, 2008.

Endodontic Residency Graduation, Houston, 2008.

My Grampy's 80th Birthday Celebration in California, 2008.

Skagway, Alaska, 2009.

Destin, Florida 2009

Destin, Florida 2010

Central Park, 2011

Blenheim Palace, England, 2011

Grateful Sunday

Audrey, cute and cold after church today.

This past week went by so slowly! I think we were all just anxious for Friday to arrive and for our Thanksgiving break to begin. Today, I'm grateful for:

• our wedding anniversary, which is actually tomorrow, but which we celebrated on Saturday night. A trip to the temple and Italian food seem to be our tradition. It was a beautiful night, and we kind of got a kick out of our waitress' reaction when we said 13 years! We just look so dang young (wink)!
• our kids, for being great. I always thank Heavenly Father for sending me the children that He did. They are just so well suited to our family, and I love each of them for so many reasons.
• a week off from school. No alarm clocks, no lunch-packing, no homework murmurs. It's going to be so nice.
• Julie and Shelby, for inviting us to Canyon to celebrate with them this week. We are excited to see their new house and to relax a bit while being together. And I really can't wait to see the Muppet movie!

Grateful Sunday

Miles and me at 11:11 on 11.11.11. We had to document it! We were in the middle of a freezer meal exchange at my friend, Beth's house.

This was kind of a long week! I am, number one, grateful that it's over. Neal was out of town and my Sunday was busy, and I'm just looking forward to Monday morning, which is kind of crazy, but Monday is the day that Miles and I just stay home and relax. Tomorrow, the only thing we have to do is go buy milk and put away laundry.

I'm grateful for:

• Neal's safe return. He was hunting with his dad, brothers and brothers-in-law in Nebraska and South Dakota. I'm glad nobody got shot and that he's home. I need that boy in my life.
• my fabulous counselors and secretary in the Primary. We put on the Priesthood Preview tonight, after a full day of Primary, no less, and they are just so pleasant and fun to be around, that it just makes all that "work" seem so much easier. I'm thankful, too, for our wonderful Bishopric and the support they give us. They are always there when we need them.
• Miles' summer birthday which meant that I get him for one more year before kindergarten. I was not ready to let this guy go to school all day and I don't think it would have been good for him. I'm grateful that we can still be buddies and snuggle in front of Curious George a couple of days a week.
• Parker's baseball coach, who helped me jump my car when the battery died at practice the other day. I have the cables, I'm just never sure where to hook them up!
• upcoming holidays. I'm looking forward to good food and time with our families. It's such a great way to end each year.

Cousin Mark

My cousin Mark Potter and I connected several years ago through family history research. My great-grandfather Milo was his grandfather's brother. He lives in Minnesota, and though we've never met, we have been in touch since then. He reads my blog (Hi Mark!), and so he is aware of my boys' deep and abiding fanaticism for the Texas Rangers. Imagine their surprise when he sent them a box of memorabilia from his years of loving baseball! Two Nolan Ryan baseball cards and two All-Star Game balls that have Texas Rangers printed on them!

They couldn't believe their eyes, and this morning, Parker asked if he could bring the Nolan Ryan card to school for show and tell. He very carefully placed it in a secure part of his backpack, and when he got home, he put it on display in his room.

Thank you a million times over, Cousin Mark! You have some very happy little distant cousins down here in Texas!

Scenes from the weekend

Saturday started early with Miles' 8:00 teeball game, followed by a baptism for two children in our ward. Soon after, Audrey and I went down to the Dallas Museum of Art for an event while the boys went to Parker's game. You can read more about our artsy afternoon here. Our weekends aren't really all that relaxing, what with busy Saturdays and sometimes even busier Sundays with our church callings. We ended our Sunday by inadvertently taking a walk in the dark last night. I love weekends anyway, despite their busyness!

Grateful Sunday

Playing in the backyard, Friday after school

This has been a great week, made even better by near perfect weather. Today, I'm grateful for:

• forgiving friends. When my alarm malfunctioned on Friday morning, and I woke up a full hour later than a normal school day, the other people in my carpool were very understanding and we were able to joke about it right away. I'm thankful for flexible friends!
• the chance I have to spend time in my kids' schools. I volunteer once a week at Audrey's school and have things to do at Parker's school 2-3 times a week. I love to see them (and other primary kids) in the hallways and eating their lunches. I am grateful that my life (and Neal's profession) allow me to do things like that. I would hate to miss out on all of those hours they are away from me, and I like to get an idea of what their learning environment is like.
• Julianne, my inspiring little sister, who celebrated her birthday in Ethiopia yesterday. I am so grateful for her ambition, tenacity and compassion. I am also extremely grateful that she found Toni, who is her perfect match.
• good teeth. After a successful visit to the dentist this week, I am grateful for the floridated water in Southern California and for the good genetics that have resulted in my mouth being free from dental work! So far, at least.
• the blessing it was to attend Institute on Thursday. I have been wanting to go to the weekly adult religion class put on by our stake since school started, but have struggled to have a Thursday morning free. Last week, I had a wide open morning, and the class just happened to be studying 3 Nephi 8-11, my very favorite chapters of the Book of Mormon. It was so lovely to feel the spirit so strongly on a weekday morning. And now I'm hooked, can't wait for this week's class.

Learning to Read

lately

This time of year gets so crazy around here. I've hardly had anytime to sit down and record life here on my blog! Here are some photos of what's been going on.

The third grade had their musical performance, Tikki Tikki Tembo. Parker had a speaking/narrating part toward the end.

We have spent some lovely afternoons at the park. The weather has been amazing lately.

We celebrated a few Rangers wins with friends. We watched each game with a different set of people, it was so fun. Unfortunately, we also endured a few losses. This was taken during the tense extra innings of Game 6.

Miles and I have been spending time at the elementary school in various volunteer capacities. Whether it's collecting Box Tops, sorting and counting hundreds of cans for the food drive, interviewing children about their literary endeavors, or supervising lunch time, we are all over it. I wonder if I'll be burnt out on volunteering by the time Miles gets there . . . 

Halloween Happenings

Some late October goings-on, thanks mostly to my iPhone, which has an awesome camera!

Audrey played four pieces (in costume) for some residents at a local retirement community. She always does such a good job! I remember being such a nervous wreck when I was young and had to play the piano for people.

Miles got to wear his Ian Kinsler costume to school two days in a row last week! That was awesome.

We sprayed a Rangers T in Parker's hair for crazy hair day. I think I have the hang of it now. It will look better next year. ;)

We had a trunk-or-treat at church, and I got a picture with sweet Brother Hines. He makes everyone feel like a million bucks and I just love him.

That same night, we were invited to a fundraising party at a friend's house. We got there at the tail end of the party, but were at least able to go on a hayride, which is always a treat.

The H family invited us over on a beautiful evening for pumpkin carving and festivities.

Halloween night, we went to our friends' neighborhood for some yummy food, good friends, and illuminated trick-or-treating. (Our street is pitch black, the houses are far from each other and there are very few children. Our friends' street was way better!)

Neal and Pierce, sharing a snack before dusk.