Be Grateful...Everyone's doing it.

SO I have been "reflecting" (that sounds so smart and deep) on being grateful lately. Lots of talks, songs, conversations, etc. revolve around that at this time of year, so I decided to make my own Grateful list. I am grateful for lots of things in my life....wanna hear them? Hear they go...

I am grateful for grandparents and uncles and aunts who support my kids in all of their sports and activities.
I am grateful for modern medicine and how it changes a life for the better.
I am grateful for friends and that I can count on them for anything.
I am grateful for DVR and Tuesday Nights.
I am grateful for strong, confident children whom I ADORE!!!
I am grateful for Sonic Ice and Chili's queso.
I am grateful for BSU Football and that my family loves to watch the Broncos.
I am grateful for sisters and a mom who are my Best Friends.
I am grateful for my Young Women at church. They bring me such joy!
I am grateful for a hard-working husband who brings me Iceberg shakes when he knows that is all I really want.
I am grateful for my dad and that he loves to take his grand kids on outings.
I am grateful for good books and People magazine.
I am grateful for neighbors who aren't really neighbors, they are family.
I am grateful for weekend cheat days.
I am grateful for Hailey's laugh...it's the best.
I am grateful for my church and the peace and happiness it brings to my life.
Lastly...
I am grateful for grateful lists and "reflection" times...:)

Too funny...

This was the conversation between Hailey, my niece Allie and our buddy Cole this afternoon while they were all playing...

H-Allie, please don't touch my diarrhea. It's only for me.

A-But Hailey, I want to play with your diarrhea too!

H-No Allie, it's my private diarrhea. It's special to me.

C-I want a diarrhea

H-I will get you a diarrhea next time I go to McDonalds. I will tell them two diarrhea's please.

A-Will you get me a diarrhea too?

H-Yes, if you will share your diarrhea with me, then I will share my diarrhea with you...

A-Okay, I will share my diarrhea with you

C-I want a boy diarrea

H-I think they only have girl diarrhea, but I will ask.

Hailey meant diary...now all the kids think it's called diarrhea...and I was laughing too hard I couldn't tell them otherwise. They crack me up!

Catching up...

Since my blog is also my journal for the year...(yes, I am admitting how lazy I am about writing), I needed to post some pictures that I missed in the last month. They are older, but ones that I didn't want to miss putting in our family book. So bear with me :)
Playing Dress up
Yippee, scouts!!! Briggs is so excited to be in scouts and LOVES his "Akelas" aka-leaders...one of them is my really good friend who I enjoy calling Akela any chance I can :)
Hailey got all dressed up and went to see Beauty and the Beast with Grandma and Grandpa Ranstrom. Her cousin Lucas went too and they had a great night!
Briggs all dressed up for baptism invite pictures

Decorating Halloween cookies with our buddies Luke and Alexis...love those sugar cookies!!
Briggs at his first basketball game. He LOVES basketball!

Free Haircuts!!!

So the other night Chance, our 4th child, decided it would be fun for all of the boys to give themselves haircuts. Is this a guy thing or what??? Chance reasoned that since he is getting ready for a mission, he will be going to the Buenos Aires mission, that he needs a "missionary" haircut. Of course the boys thought it was a great idea. SO they all cut each other's hair. Drew opted out, but the 3 of them cut away. So then of course Hailey wanted a haircut, and since there was NO WAY I was letting her brothers or Chance near her hair, we waited and went to a salon instead. She picked her cut out and was pretty sure she wanted to go really short. I think it looks so cute on her! So, if anyone is feeling the need for a haircut, the boys would be more than happy to do it for you :)

Baptism Day, with a little Halloween mixed in

Briggs turned 8 a couple of weeks ago and chose to get baptized. This wasn't a hard decision for him, but it was a bit of a sacrafice. His first basketball game was at 3:00, and he had to be at the church at 3:15. But he knew that there would be plenty more games, so he was ok with it! It was such a great day! We feel very blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members that live close and were able to be there to support him. And we know that there were plenty of other people who couldn't be there physically but were supporting him too. We are very lucky and also very proud of Briggs and the wonderful kid that he is! SO after his baptism, we came home, had some soup with everyone, and then the kids were off trick-or-treating.


The boys were out of here so fast, I didn't even get my usual pictures of all of them...:( But Hunter was a "rapper", Briggs was a Boxer, Allie was a spooky spider and Hailey was Annie...and yes she did sing "Tomorrow" for people. It was a fun night and of course they got WAY too much candy, candy I don't need :)Oh well. What a great day! Congrats Briggs!! We love you lots!!!!!!!!!

Santa Cruz Girls Trip

Wendy and Beth practicing in the ocean for Beth's swim...those little dots are them, out by the sealions :)


My neighbor/friend/adopted sister Wendy went to Santa Cruz to run a relay in the Big Kahuna Triathlon...so me being the good friend that I am, volunteered to go. Well, next thing you know, my sisters volunteered too, and it became a big old party. Wendy, Beth(our new friend and swimmer of the relay), Jami, Ashlee and I all met up in San Jose and rented a SaWeet mini van for our trip. We had a great time walking on the pier, eating lots of yummy food, laughing and of course cheering! Seeing all of the athletes totally made me decide I am going to start running to the mailbox instead of strolling out there on a daily basis. I am pretty sure it will help...little steps people, little steps :) It was a great trip and we are already trying to convince Wendy that next year she should run somewhere in Hawaii. And of course, being the good friends that we are, we will TOTALLY go and support her. It's tradition, we have to! Thanks girls for a great trip!! Love you all!!

Watch out America's Next Top Model...

You've got Nothing compared to THESE beauties!





THESE GUYS THOUGH...YOU PROBABLY HAVE A SHOT!