We were up shooting family photos when I stopped to enjoy the fall scenery.

Mount Timpanogos from Timpanogos Park.

We are excited to host Thanksgiving dinner at our home this year. This has only happened one other time, and then only by accident. We learned one year that a lot of people choose Chuck-a-Rama for Thanksgiving celebrations. The line was much too long for all of us, so we rushed to the grocery store, picked what we wanted to eat, and come to our house for the afternoon. thanks goodness I had cooked a turkey already.

This year we will have the White family joining us--7 of them. It shall be cozy.

What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?

Here are a few we enjoy:

1. Martinelli's Sparkling Cider in a lovely glass with a maraschino cherry. Each person gets to say what they are thankful for from the past year, we all toast, and then the contest is on to see who can tie the stem into a knot first.
2. Stuffed mushrooms

3. Blackberry pie

4. Movies and games after dinner
5. Eat more than you should with no guilt

6. Lots of family around

7. We usually put up the Christmas lights during Thanksgiving week.

And now we are at the end of another blog moment. Hope all is yummy for you this Thanksgiving.

It has come to my attention that many people were upset with Sister Julie B. Beck's talk delivered during General Conference this month. WOW!!! What a shock. I absolutely loved her talk--cried and felt the Spirit of the Lord testifying of the truth she was speaking. Perhaps at another date I will feel at ease to share my own thoughts and feelings about her message.

Can I just say that despite the daily challenges associated with homemaking and motherhood, this is truly where I get the most fulfillment in my life. Making something beautiful does fill me with joy. But, to watch a child choose the right in his own life and know that I had part in helping him learn about God's will for him, that is a joy that is overwhelming to my soul. The boys asked me not to long ago if I had served a mission. I said I had not gone on a "traditional" mission the way they thought of a mission. But that I had chosen instead the mission of wife and mother. I am busy each day -- or shall we say 24/7 -- teaching the gospel to 6 young men and supporting my husband the "mission president".

Recently a dear friend and I came to the realization that we hardly ever have deep gospel discussion with other people. On the other hand when she and I get together we tend to only discuss these things that are deep within us. We jump right in with both feet and get right to the heart of what is pressing on our souls. She is a lifeline for me. I have the need within to talk about spiritual matters, but it can be hard to feel safe discussing spiritual matters with others. We are vulnerable as we share our testimony and we don't want to get hurt. As I think about it, I discuss these things with 2 friends and a few family members. No wonder I feel like I don't get enough opportunities to dwell on the matters of my heart--and I don't mean "what's for dinner?"

Why do you think it is that we don't talk about gospel matters more often than we do? Do you desire to do this as well as I?

Life is good. I got the car back today. I am exercising again, and my body knows it. Lunges and squats are great. The burn is back. I still need to get in my walk today. The outside temps have been just right for recharging my desire to exercise. Off we go to Tae Kwon Do.

Have a great one.
Stacie

10 Things That Bring a Smile to My Face:

1. Jeff's face
2. A hug from a child
3. The warmth of the hot water bottle on my cold toes
4. Sitting in the sun reading a book
5. Ice cream
6. Phone calls from my Mom and Dad
7. Vacation days
8. Dinner or lunch or breakfast eaten out at a restaurant
9. Fillet Mignon dinner with asparagus and soft rolls--white or wheat
10. Flower gardens

These are some of my favorite things.

Take the Quiz here!

Wow! I always did relate to her. Take the quiz. It's fun.

Then be sure you take the time to read a Jane Austen book and watch a movie--or 2 or 3 or 4 of each.

If you are looking for some other good "girlie" reads try these:
A Lantern In Her Hand or Song of Years by Bess Streeter Aldrich
A Girl of the Limberlost or Freckles by Gene Stratton Porter
My Antonia or O Pioneers by Willa Cather

Have a great one. You know I will.
Stacie

We went up the canyon for our last day of vacation and took our anual fall photos of the boys. I thought I'd share a picture taken in the boys' favorite spot. They set it up and just smiled so nicely. Perhaps I am biased, but they are the best looking bunch of boys I've ever seen.

For most of the photo shoot Joseph refused to look at the camera, Matthew wanted to stick out his tongue making faces, and Ben was happy. Joshua provided a new camera for the photo shoot this year. Hopefully the quality of the pics will be better with the higher pixels. Chris was my right hand man never once having to be asked to chase after little JoJo. And lastly Nathan just happy to be and experience what we are doing.

We had a lovely week of vacation. I didn't get the skirts or pants finished up, but I did tie up some loose ends and prepare for Matt's baptism. Cousin play day was on Thursday. Thanks to the cousins who came. We love playing during our bi-monthly get togethers. Kari and I perused the bead catalog and should be ready to put in the bead order soon. I finished three more bracelets and a necklace. Tae and Trevor spent the night, and Tae made three bracelets herself. I'd say the week was wonderful.

May Heaven's Blessing be upon all of you this coming week. Thanks to all who came to the baptism service and luncheon. We'll post an update on that event next.

Ooops! Hit the wrong button.

As for the teacher, I would like to take a moment to brag on myself.

1. I cut the extra length off of 6 pair of pants and 3 skirts this past week.
2. Hemmed 2 of the skirts.
3. Got all of the clothes in the house and in storage cleaned out and restored by size. Then I put them all away.
4. I posted a menu for the month for all three meals each day. This is the most wonderful thing I have done in a long time.
5. I finished reading My Antonia.
6. Made it through the hard part of chapter 2 in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I had to write about my funeral, stating what I hoped people would say about me after I was gone. This was a very eye opening experience. This exercise coinsides with the habit "Begin with the end in mind." Now do you see the point of the exercise? It wigged me out at first, but then I really enjoyed it.
7. I made 3 new bracelets this week. Since school began I've made 6 bracelets, 1 pair of earrings, and a necklace.

Now off to prepare for the new week. I plan to finish the rest of the pants and skirt, adding 3 dresses.

Things are going well. We are accomplishing much. Here are the highlights for the past few weeks:

1. Ben is sailing through his reading lessons with great speed and precision.
2. Ben is the best. He gets up, gets his chart, and gets right to work. His doesn't stop, usually, until he has everything checked off. You see, he gets to watch T.V. when all the boxes have a check in them.
3. Ben can count to 21 without missing any numbers now. He can count all the numbers from 1 to 100 with the hundred chart by himself as well. He is very proud, and so is his mom.
4. Matthew is now bored with reading lessons. There is a magical point at which a child surpasses the book. Ah, but mommy is making him continue to the end for his own good.
5. Nathan's handwriting is absolutely lovely. I'd even venture to say "near perfect" cursive.
6. Christopher loves Band and Seminary. It looks like he is right on track to upgrade into symphonic band second semester.
7. Josh has an "A" in each of his college classes, and has repeatedly pointed out to his mom how grateful he is for the schooling she "MADE" him do. He feels very prepared for his courses. he tutors some of the kids in the college algebra course and loves it.

Only 2 days left! School starts Tuesday. Wish me luck getting the rest of the schedule together.

I thought I'd just take a break today and list my "wishlist fo school":

1. I wish we had completed the addition before school starts this year.
2. I wish all the books were already here.
3. I wish I'd ordered science kits because the thought of putting them together now--Ugh!
4. I wish they were all still little and it was as simple as math, english, and a good book on the couch.
5. I wish for a year supply of chocolate: chips, bars, ice cream, etc.

Time to get back to work. Oh, what is that I smell? Maple flavored sausage links?! My husband is a savior today. Off to eat, and THEN back to work.

Here I am again, just lovin' my 6 little men.
Stacie

AGHHHHH!

That's me losing it right here in cyber space. There is just too much to get done, and not enough me to do it all. What with school, housework, Trek preparations, and trying to wean a baby I'm just maxed out.

The littlest man around here has tonsilitis for the second time in 6 weeks. He also had an unexplainable 104.8 F temperature in between the two tonsilitises. He is up every night. Last night it lasted 2 hours again.

Ben has decided to be completely afraid of his room, day and night. He now sleeps on a pad next to my side of the bed. He won't sleep on the bed because that is where babies sleep. He snores and rolls and hits the closet door, which results in "bonk, bonk, bonk" as it shifts back to its resting place.

People often ask how I "do it all." Here is the secret, I don't. Here are a few pics to show the mess I was in while sewing. Here is the disclaimer from Josh: We staged them today, but it really was just like this when it happened.






We got 3 new trees for Mother's Day and a slew of annuals. I love all the plants my family gives me each Mother's Day. I look forward to it every year.







I'm going to try to clean all the paperwork from my desk and table out of the basket by tomorrow so I can use it for the laundry that must be cleaned. Have a great day. I hope a peek into someone else's mess will make you feel better about anything you are down on yourself about. Here is a shot of my desk and bookcase. Oh, heaven help me get to the bottom of this.

Life is a challenge each day that we choose to keep going through with hope or despair. Having the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life helps me daily to once again, even when I feel very down, choose that path which is filled with hope.

The car is finally going to go in for repairs, next Tuesday. I'm glad we don't have to pay the bill for a Suburban rental for 4 to 5 days. Wonder what color it will be?

Christopher now has a full set of braces. We have made sure to break him into them by calling him all the names a braces kid gets called--metal mouth, brace face, train tracks, railroad mouth. If you have any others to add let us know. We don't want him traumatized when the neighbor kids call him name--you know we keep them sheltered so.

Josh is lifeguard and CPR certified now. He is going to be working or the Orem Fitness Center and Scera this summer, if he passes the drug test. We have convidence that he will pass.

Ben has a new enjoyment--Yoga. He watched a kids' show with some yoga demonstrated. He came into the kitchen and said, "Mom, I'm a tree. Watch, now I'm a snake. I'm a dog." As he said each of these things he would switch from one pose to the next. Yesterday I got him Yoga Kids from the library and he loves it. I am amazed as each of my children picks something to learn about on their own, and then they have tremendous patience to work through learning about it. He is only five, but he is trying very hard to act more mature by not yelling and reducing his fits to about one every three or four days. I'm proud of my little guy.

Time to go back to the work I love--most all of the time. A baby crying through most of the waking hours of every day for the past 2 1/2 to 3 months has taken a toll. Yesterday was full of despair. But, today, I am feeling quite and hoping--hoping he will nap : ).

I will pray for you and yours.
Stacie

I am drawn today to express what joy I find in being a wife and mother. To see their eyes, share a hug, smile together each day is the greatest of all things on earth.

Little Jo sat on the potty for the first time and thought it cool.
Ben told me he is a good boy who does good things and doesn't hurt people. Also he has movies in his head for dreams.
Matt has turned into a prankster making us all laugh. He is a ray of sunshine daily to me.
Natey is joyous over his understanding of percents. "These are finally easy."
Chris is ever more mature on a daily basis--and the braces just look cute on him.
Josh is getting old and handsome. He'll soon be gone, so I must go enjoy his moments left at home with us as they are precious and few.

My wishes to you all to take a moment to smell your children today. They have to be pretty close to be able to smell them. Breathe in the bounty of love they provide you with. Take them in your arms for this smelling moment. Then end by saying thank you and I Love You.
Life is good when you are a Mom.

I tried to turn these handsome guys around, but they just seem to like it this way

This would be my favorite shot of Josh.

This is Josh's favorite picture.

No pics again. I don't know why. Sorry. I'll try again. Wish me luck.

Busy, busy, busy are we. I am running on a new mantra, "If you can't get it all done, then do less, but do it well." It sure does help to focus in on less. We are enjoying it much better. When we get through the stuff we are working on now, then we'll move on to the next thing.

Josh is taking courses from UVSC through Distance Ed now. He loves it. He is taking Meteorology and Physical Science. In order to attend college these days you need a decent internet connection. OH, darn! We had to get a DSL connection. YEAH! I, personally love, love, love it. There is so much more you can use the internet for when it doesn't take forever to download everything.

All the children are well and growing like weeds. Here are some shots of Josh before the snow hit. I can hardly believe how grown up he is these days.

And then we have the picture of the three recorder players going off to entertain at the care center for a Relief Society meeting. The members of the home really enjoy their music. I think they are handsome, wonderful boys.

Well, got to go help Ben play a game. Have a great day.