Gratitude

I was reminded in Ward Conference yesterday about how important it is to be grateful for all of the blessings we enjoy. I've admitted here before that I tend to be an Eeyore. It isn't my most attractive feature. I know this. I'm a work in progress:)
So of course, I prepared a family night tonight about gratitude; mostly as a reminder to myself. After the required scripture/quote/story reading, we all took pen to paper to make out our own list of what we're grateful for.
Tyler complained that he's had to do this about 6 times this year in various classes.
Ryan went to work and to make it more interesting to himself, wrote his in Chinese.
Andrew was too tired from working so much and not sleeping to even be able to write.
I was able to write a few things (in between fielding Ty's snarky comments) and was mostly coming up with things like:
1. husband who replaced our water heater (didn't have to hire a plumber! S.C.O.R.E! He's very handy this way. It's one of the things I love about him. He's saved us huge money Doing It Yourself! I tell him that I saved us at least that much in formula/food by breastfeeding for a total of almost 10 years....)
2. husband who works so hard (I'm feeling bad that he's so tired)
3. house
Then I'm fielding more snark from my oldest son, we're all laughing 'cause he's so funny and witty even when he's being a pain in the butt.

Then we notice my baby. She's still writing. She has filled an ENTIRE. PAGE. Three lines of stuff. Here is some of what she wrote:
Bran (brain:)
skills
body
mom
dad
Jill
Ryan
Tyler
kartweels
bones
piano
music
dove chocolate (my girl!)
math
homework
school
world
time
arms
legs
words
lite
flowers
water
coke
ice
songs
hymns (she spelled this right!?)
church
temple
beds
pillows
lafter
langwiges (she's learning Spanish and Chinese)
red
pink
teeth
green
It goes on for 3 columns. I love her so much. What a blessing to have her little spirit constantly reminding me of what is really important in our short time here on earth. I think I'll add that to my list:)
Edited to add: notice the train of thought in her list. Songs led to hymns led to church led to temple...I was just looking at the list again and noticed "water, coke... ice." Hee. On the rocks with a straw, please.
Then I noticed, "pillows, bed...laughter." It instantly occurred to me that this is because Ryan goes into her room EVERY NIGHT after I've tucked her in and tucks her in again himself. They always wind up laughing about something. She clearly, subconsciously, associates bed and pillows with laughter.
What a great life she has.

Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti......

Tyler tried out for his High School "Show Choir." Like a lot of schools, choir is pretty popular at our school. The "Encore" show choir is the elite of the group. (It was called "Madrigals" at my High School.)
Well, after the grueling try outs (solo, sight reading, dancing, interview etc.) we waited for over a week for the decision. He has a beautiful bass voice, but it's hard to tell how you did on the other tests!? Last week, they came and dragged him out of bed and to school in his jammies to celebrate his acceptance into the group. He had to wear this sign around his neck all day. Of course, he refused to let me document a single moment of the experience with the camera. I was lucky that he saved the sign for me. Sigh. He's going to be sorry someday when there are NO pictures of him. I'm guessing that he'll be sporting a selective memory and will undoubtedly blame me for favoring the other kids over him. Right.
So his Senior year is going to be a blast! Way to go son.

I Love My Brothers

See those 2 handsome boys on the end of the couch? Those guys are my older brothers. My 3rd brother, the baby, isn't in this picture. Money must have been tight, because there aren't a whole lot of pictures of us.
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about our family. I am so grateful for my brothers. My oldest brother went with me when I bought my first car at the age of 18 (he was 26.) We found the perfect car, a blue Nissan Pulsar, and he wrote a check out for it so I could drive it away right then! I of course obtained financing and payed him back, but really. His cool factor has never wavered from that moment on.
Bro #2 is three years older than me. He is my gentle, sensitive, wonderful guy who also happens to keep me technologically up to date. He is wise beyond his years, and always sees sides of a situation that I don't. His advice is always right on target.
Bro #3 is 16 months younger than me. I have a special spot in my heart for him. He and I kind of raised ourselves together. He would give me the shirt off his back even if it left him naked and starving. Even though he's younger than me, for some reason he's always felt like he should be my champion; my protector.
It's nice to have these guys in my life. It's nice to know that with just a phone call, any one of them would be at my door in about 6 minutes. They've bailed me out of more than one kind of jam or another. They would do anything for me. I know this. I try not to impose upon them a lot, but it's nice to know they're around. I love you guys!

He is 17 going on 18....

My brown eyed boy turned 17 today.
I almost didn't get to see him come into the world. The epidural wouldn't work, and they were getting impatient and wanted to just put me to sleep in order to cut him out. It was a close one, but I was able to hear his first little angry cry. My sister got to be in the operating room with me and Andrew, and witnessed his entrance as well. He was a chubby 8lb 4oz; my biggest baby. His dad was so happy to have a B.O.Y!
You are loved, son.

I'm a lucky girl

I've been away from blogland for quite a while. My laptop has been desperately ill. The good news is that I've been blessed with an amazing brother who takes care of all of my technological needs, and once again has come through with a miracle and saved the day. And my hardware. Or software. Or whatever. Thanks, Dan. You're my hero.
The good news is that we'd JUST BARELY backed up my hard drive. It was not the tragedy it COULD have been. Note: if you haven't backed up your stuff lately; DO IT. Now. Go. You'll be sorry if you don't!