Karate Kid

We are so excited that Michael is testing for his purple belt this week- karate has been a great influence on him. I love the self defense aspect now that he's in rough-and-tumble junior high. But I also love the discipline, respect, exercise, and positive role modeling he receives. He is gaining confidence and is becoming more of a delight- despite those crazy teen years we're running in to!

Picture- a pie in the face for his 13th birthday

Katie's Funny Word of the day- Mom, I'm not five- I'm five-in-a-row. Because I'm smarter than just five!

Those Lazy Sunday Afternoons

So maybe this is my new journal- like my journal, no one reads it and I don't have much to interest anyone anyway!
But it's nice to write a bit on Sunday afternoons.
Hmmm, November- gratitude time.
I am grateful, first and foremost, for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom. That is my biggest blessing in my life.
I am grateful for Tony- who provides for our family so I can be home- and for my kids who make it all worthwhile.
I am grateful for my Church, which encourages me to be a wife and mother first.
I am grateful for the temple- which is centered on families being together forever.
I am truly blessed!

Halloween

My all-time favorite Utah activity is Cornbellys (with discount passes, of course!). We had so much fun shooting pumpkins out of cannons, bouncing, watching pigs race, hay riding, and enjoying the fall and each other.
For Halloween, the kids dressed up as a reaper (Michael, of course), Dorothy/Alice (Tori), Ninja (Jake), and Sleeping Beauty (Katie). I'm not sure when Halloween became a week-long event- but we enjoyed lots of parties and are still trying to get rid of the candy. There is so much- and when I ask them to pick some pieces to throw away they find raisins or dum-dums.
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping and having my kids home during December (off track).