Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that I was able to pull off a great surprise today.
I am thankful that I got to be the first one to see Tom get off the plane.
I am thankful to be in Cleveland with my family.
I am thankful that Tom made it home safely.
I am thankful that Tom served a valiant mission for our church.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that I was able to go to Texas and Ohio to see my wonderful family.
I am thankful that Jed got to go home to West Virginia to see his family and recharge his batteries.
I am thankful that I got to see The Proposal with Emily.
I am thankful for my cute nephews and how fun they are.
I am thankful that I was able to celebrate Father's Day with Amanda's family since Jed was gone.
I am thankful for the changes happening in my calling - it's going to make things much easier.
I am thankful for my dad and the love and support he shows me.
I am thankful that my family lives close to Kirtland and that we were able to go there while we were in Ohio.
I am thankful for Jed and his ability to put up with me when I'm having "one of those days".
I am thankful that our second honeymoon (anniversary) is coming up and I've already started planning it.
I am thankful that we get to go camping with our friends this weekend.
I am thankful to be home.

Monday Memoirs - Texas/Ohio Trip - A Day Late

I recently had a two week vacation - I flew to Dallas (where my sister lives), drove to Cleveland (where my parents live), spent a week and a half there, drove back to Dallas, and flew home.

Here's a little gem that I found in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Arkansas. Classy.

This is my nephew, Nate, navigating us through Tennessee.

My parents live really close to Kirtland (actually in the Kirtland Stake), so Laurel, Emily, and I went on the tour of the Kirtland Temple. I got a really sweet Book of Mormon at their vistor's center that is printed in paragraph form rather than verses.

Pepper loved having the kids there, especially Aidan, because she got to catch all of their dropped food.

If you look closely, you can see that we braided my mom's hair. Good times.

We went to a few markets downtown (German, Spanish, Asian, and Italian). (The Italian had the best lasagna I've ever tasted - if you're in the Cleveland area, go to Gallucci's.)
Eli got this sweet hat at the Asian market.

It was so fun to see all four of the nephews hanging out and bonding with each other. Aidan even got a turn to hold Baby Westley.

I had to post at least one picture with me in it...

We went to the outlet malls one day with all of the kids. That was an adventure. At least they liked the ride. Well, Nate did. I think Eli cried. And Aidan was on the front, not in the seat.

Some other fun things we did while we were there:
-Watching Jeff play baseball - he's really good and plays multiple positions.
-Taking pictures of the grandkids with my parents.
-Going out to a "grown-up lunch" with Emily, Laurel, and my parents.
-Finding a frog in the planter.
-Watching Nate fly down the huge hill in the backyard on a toddler tricycle.
-Playing baseball with Nate and Jeff.
-Nate getting to drive Grandpa's "tractor" (riding lawnmower).
-Holding Baby Westley.
-Seeing The Proposal with Emily - really good!
-Blowing bubbles for the kids in the backyard.

Ohio Trip - Late

Ok here are lots of pictures from Ohio. I'm not going to write a ton about it, but Angela had a homecoming dance that she went to, we (meaning Jeff, Angela, and I) did a photo shoot, we went to Amish country and ate at an Amish restaurant, we went to the Dippin' Dots store, and autumn is really pretty in Ohio, or vice versa. ;)

**Note: Some of these were per request by Laurel, so bear with me.**

Global Warming?

Step outside and tell me that freezing in the middle of October constitutes global warming. I think not.

Monday Memoirs

(I wrote this one Monday, and was waiting to upload pictures from Angela's HC, but we have no way of uploading them here in Ohio.)

We went with my friend Chad and his date, Meg?, to the Hale Center Theater's version of AIDA on Thursday night. I had seen it in San Antonio, and also on Broadway - I love this musical. Their version was a little different than I had seen, a little more "hip"? "groovy"? Anyways, I thought it was pretty well-done and I think all four of us enjoyed it very much.

On Friday night, Jed and I went to see a hypnotist! It was SO much fun!! Neither of us had ever been to a hypnotist show, and we were both a little bit nervous that he might make us come up on stage and make fools of ourselves. Nope, he asked for volunteers and we got to be spectators. :) The show was hilarious! *Too bad you guys couldn't make it, Meals. You would have liked it a lot.*

Saurday morning, bright and early, Jed took me to the airport to fly out to Ohio. I'm going to be here until Sunday. A whole week away from my husband, and we've only been married for two months!! :( It's harder on Jed because he's stuck home alone and still going to school and work, whereas I'm with family and friends, no work, and I get to take time off and do whatever I want. Poor guy. I'm having a great time though. Sorry, hunny.

Saturday night I went over to the Senders' house to help my little sister, Angela, and Haley Sender get ready for homecoming. Then we went over to the Barnes' to take pictures and for their big group of girls to have dinner before the dance. The girls all looked gorgeous and I heard they had a great time. While they were at the dance and Jeff was at the Priesthood session of our Church's General Conference, Joan Sender and I took her son, Zach, out to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. It was good to catch up with her.

Sunday was spent watching General Conference at the Senders' home. We were there all day, and then they had a birthday party for their son, Nathan, who turned 18. During the party Joan and I stayed inside and watched House. I had never really gotten in to it. I still don't think I'll be rushing home to watch it any time soon, but it was entertaining.

Today I got up, took Jeff to school (Angela gets a ride with Nathan Sender after Seminary), came home, and DIDN'T GO BACK TO SLEEP! I totally could have, but I refrained. (Go me!) I worked out and watched some TV, got some homework done. Pretty chill and relaxing - which of course I love! Pepper, our dog, has been keeping me company. I can't wait for the kids to come home so we can play!!

Thankful Thursday- Wednesday Edition

I'm thankful that I get to go out to Ohio for a whole week!! My mom called me a few days ago and told me that her and my dad are going to China for a week with my dad's company and they were going to have my Grams come out and "watch" Angela and Jeff, but her husband made different arrangements for them... By "watch" I mean drive. They are pretty much old enough to handle things for the most part, but Angela isn't quite 16 yet, so they need a chauffeur (AKA me). I can't wait to see Angela, Jeff, and Pepper, visit the Dippin' Dots store, take in the *gorgeous* fall landscapes, go on a drive through Amish Country, and much more! It'll be great to get away from work, but I'll probably take my homework for my online classes and just tackle them. Hopefully I'll be able finish my Excel class while I'm out there and get a leg up on my cooking class.

I'll be out there Oct 4-12. If you're in Ohio, call me so we can get together. If you're in Utah, call Jed and keep him company. :) I will really miss my wonderful husband and I know he will miss me too. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", right?