I Am Thankful For Emma

Emma is eight years old going on sixteen and I just love her.  I love her energy and the joy she has for life.  She is a caring girl that experiences everything completely. So when she’s sad, she’s very sad; when she’s excited, she’s very excited; and when she’s happy, she’s very happy. She is a blessing to our family with her sense of humor and her sweet nature.  Emma has the heart of a dancer, or maybe actress, or maybe cheerleader, or maybe veterinarian, or maybe dolphin trainer.  We’ll see, there are just so many possibilities.

Following are photos of her progress with braces.  She did little complaining for a seven year old dealing with discomfort, extra brushing and a list of restricted foods. Now that they’re off, she still has to wear the retainers all the time (except for when she eats) and I’ve been proud of how responsible she has been with them and how she keeps them clean. So without further ado…

Before – June 2007

During

Today with retainers

Today without retainers

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I Am Thankful For Sabrina

My baby Sabrina is a complex little girl.  She’s approaching three years old and getting smarter every day. I am constantly amazed at how quickly her vocabulary is growing and how perceptive she is.  She cannot be summed up in one category, so I found a few pictures that show the many sides of her personality and I’ve added some quotes of hers to go along with them.

“I next to my sister”

“Look, bubbles Mommy!”

“Can I have mac-ownie and cheeeese?”

“Hold me Mommy!”

“Ariel!”

“Can I had a canny?”

“Want to dump it out!”

“No! uh!”

“I not sticky”

“Wanna go ow-side!”

“I shy”

“I Brina Bel”

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I Am Thankful for Hannah

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Hannah has been waiting to turn four since she turned three.  Her favorite number has always been 4, and every night for months she has told me at bedtime, “On my birthday I want a princess cake and chocolate chip ice cream.” Today, she finally got it!

Hannah is a wonderful girl full of happiness and excitement.  She loves giving hugs and being snuggled, putting on talent shows, making up her own songs and dances, playing princess with Sabrina and Emma, and getting piggy back rides from Hunter. She tries so hard to be happy, that even when she gets really sad, I can hear her trying to make herself laugh.  It’s sort of a strange mix of laughing and crying, but eventually she will get herself there.

Hannah’s favorites:

American Girl aka “Merican Doll” -She got the Our Generation (Target) version for her birthday.

Chocolate chip ice cream

Disney princesses, especially Jasmine

“Jasmine’s blue color”

Ballet and tap dancing

The Song Jump in Line aka “Shake, Shake, Sonora”

Disneyland; Disneyprincess.com printables

Preschool

Macaroni & cheese, Hot dogs, Soy milk

Cupcakes

Posing for pictures or in front of the mirror

Being a helper, especially cleaning windows and doors

Her family.  All six. Everyone has their own number: 1=Hunter 2=Emma 3=Hannah 4=Sabrina 5=Mommy 6=Daddy

Thank You Mammy & Pappy!

Thank You Aunt Jeanette & Uncle Dan!

Thank You Nana & Papa

Thank You Aunt Erica & Family

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Where Are Our Elected Leaders?

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU8uuPhQog0

I do feel better about things, and not as sad as I said recently;  Especially after the talk we heard on Sunday that Niki mentioned in her comments.  That said, I still feel that our elected leaders in California need to step up and stand against the acts of violence, vandalism, and hate that we see now. I was encouraged to see this press conference and hope it might help.

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I Am Thankful for Faith

Tonight has been rough for me.  I don’t really feel like writing, but I want to stick with my Thanksgiving goal.  Honestly, right now I am very sad.  I am trying not to take the Prop 8 backlash personally, but it’s difficult when the attacks are so mean spirited and I feel like we have largely been left to fend for ourselves.  I am truly thankful for those who have come forward and defended the LDS church, but I can’t help but feel disappointed in what I thought America stood for and misunderstood by the public. So I think I’ll take a break from reading articles and watching news stories about the protests for a while and try to remember the big picture. I know that all will work according to God’s will and I am still firm in my faith, and for that I am thankful.

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