Knitting projects

Here are some knitting projects I've been working on the past few weeks:

Amber's Sweater (she's been shivering in the mornings and getting cold at night - hope this helps her):



































Hats & gloves for Kara & Brooke:

































Soon to come are new Christmas stockings (Brooke's is done, starting Kara's tonight).... pictures will be posted when I'm done with both. :)

I'm thankful for...

St. George sunsets:

Lucky Friday the 13th!!!

Traditionally Friday the 13th has never been an unlucky day for me. My birthday has fallen on Friday the 13th a few times and I was married on Friday the 13th.

And today that tradition continues... this morning I found my diamond! YAY!!!!

Just had to share and be happy (and thankful)! :)

Another thing to be thankful for

Yesterday we had parent teacher conferences at school. Kara and Brooke both had wonderful report cards and both are performing above grade level in every subject.

Brooke's teacher told us that Brooke is "the light in her day". The only thing Brooke needs to work on is that she talks too much. But her teacher said that it's the best problem to have and that she tells the kids that they'll be glad that they are social when they're older. Brooke's teacher also suspects that Brooke's talking has to do with how much she is willing to help out the other kids at her table. Brooke is always willing to help and is very patient with the other kids even when they have a hard time with their assignments.

Kara's teacher had so many good things to say and is starting Kara on 5th grade math to help take care of some of the boredom. She's also given Kara the green light to research anything she likes and then present it to the class. We're hoping that'll help ease some boredom too and also improve her self esteem. Her teacher loves Kara's independent spirit and her thirst for knowledge.

Jeff & I are very thankful that the girls are going to this awesome school and that they both have such wonderful, caring teachers (and small classes).

not so thankful tonight

I guess being thankful didn't last very long. I'll try better tomorrow.

I lost the diamond in my wedding ring sometime tonight!!!! It's nowhere to be found. We've torn apart the sink drains and the couches, checked the carpet (everywhere on the floor). It's gone. I took the remainder of my ring off for the first time in over ten years tonight. It's very strange to be without this ring on. So very sad (and angry and disappointed). :(

Thankful

Since November contains Thanksgiving and the end of the year is drawing near, I will try to focus on being thankful. I need to remember to be more grateful and on counting the blessings we already have.

My father-in-law underwent surgery this week to have a very large mass removed from his stomach. After speaking with my mother-in-law this morning, we know the following: the doctor doesn't even know what to call it - just that it was big and ugly (about as big around as a baseball and appx 8 inches long). Tests determined it was not cancerous (thank goodness!) and it's all gone now. My FIL is getting discharged today and we're all very glad he was in such good health that his body (at 74 years old) has healed so quickly and he's doing so well. If I know him, he's been going crazy being stuck in bed for 3 days (and I'm sure for a few more at home). He does not sit still very easily - he's always on the move, he goes for long walks several times a day, and he's always thinking of what needs to be done next and then gets it done.

Although my in-laws plans to spend a bulk of the winter with us in the warmer weather may not come to fruition now, I'm truly grateful he's on his way home and that they don't have this latest health scare to worry about any longer. Maybe this will get us up to their house at Thanksgiving. And with any luck at all, the girls will have some snow to play in while we're there without us having to drive to/from SLC in the snowy weather. I'll not hold my breath for either.

Brooke with Grandpa Stevens:

Amber's 1st Halloween (with us)

Since I know you're all dying to know what our dog looked like tonight to Trick or Treat for the first time...

She wore this cute little dress! :) The girls said she was dressed as a Hollywood star (we found the dress in the $1 section at Target).

The dress won her a boyfriend - a little boy doggy followed us almost the whole way Trick or Treating tonight. When another boy dog came up to sniff, the first little boy dog chased him away. Brooke made up this dialogue: "Get away from my woman!"