Pack Family 2012

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Mom's Manifesto

Today I am fed up.  I spent the morning working while the kids sat around doing nothing and Tim slept.  I understand Tim's need to catch up on sleep since he get so little during the week but I must admit as his nap approached 3 hours I was getting miffed. I asked the kids to put the cushions back on the couch and the girls started whining-- last straw!  I blew up and yelled that I was going on strike-  The nice thing about my yelling was that Tim finally woke up....
While Tim dealt with the whining that accompanied him making the kids clean up their mess I sat and wrote my manifesto--

From now on I will be cooking meals for myself and Daddy and doing only our laundry.  I will not do any children’s laundry or cook their meals unless the following conditions are met

1-     All laundry must be sorted into the proper colors in the laundry hamper in the bathroom or in the bedroom.  Any laundry that is on the floor will not get washed.

2-     I will wash bunnies and blankies every other week even if they are not in the hamper.  If they don’t get washed and are deemed too dirty by Mommy, they will be confiscated until the next regular laundry day.

3-     I will not cook meals for any child unless their messes are picked up throughout the house.  The family room, living room, and kitchen floor must be free of toys and all cushions must be on the couch.  Any child that does not participate in the clean up will be provided bread and peanut butter to make themselves a sandwich.  Once the rest of the family has started eating the opportunity for that meal has been lost. No other foods will be consumed for that meal or until their messes are picked up.  -- NO EXCEPTIONS!!!  

4-     The upstairs bathroom is to be used by mom and dad only (except at bedtime.)  The downstairs bathroom is for child use.  The floor should remain free of clutter and the sink should be wiped down at least once a day.  The toilet must be cleaned on Monday by Alix, Thursday by Miriam, and Saturday by Bethany.   Anyone that does not take their turn will be fined  $.50 for Mom’s labor.  This will be taken from piggy banks or deducted from weekly allowance

5-     Anyone using inappropriate words will get their mouth washed out with soap and be fined $.25   Inappropriate words include poop, poopy, jerk, meanie, stupid, and sticking tongue out at parents.

6-     NO friends will be invited over  unless the family room and kitchen floor are clean.  If they are messy and you ask to invite a friend over the automatic answer will be no.  If you whine about it you will be fined $.50 for the cost of headache medicine. 

7-     Alphabet Summer activities will be carried out when the house is clean.  If you want to do something fun, clean up your messes first.

8-     There will be NO MORE than 1 hour of TV.  If the family room is messy, the TV stays off.  If you whine about it, you will be fined $.50 for headache medicine.

I reserve the right to change these rules as I find necessary.  I will let you know off changes in advance.

The faster you figure it out, the more fun we will have and the happier we will all be.  I love you all and I love being your mom, but I am not teaching you good things in allowing you to completely take advantage of me.  The lesson changes NOW.

Love, Mom

Alphabet Summer Plans

I was asked to share our plans for Alphabet Summer this year.  This is what I have so far....  The books aren't filled in because I just go to the library and see what is available.  Right now I have a bunch of books about airplanes, jellyfish, and tea parties sitting in my kitchen.  Once we do jellyfish I will take them all back and get the books I'll need for the next few themes.  

Alphabet Summer--- letter plans --------- Most of the spots don't have the names of books yet. I will fill those in as I make trips to the library and see what is available.

Airplanes

Book--                                                                       Make ahead:

                                                                                            airplane tickets for van ride

Art – Coloring airplane pics in car                                          travel games and info packet                       

Physical – walking museum

Field Trip- Museum @ Hill Air Force Base

Food – peanuts and pretzels in van

Birds

Book – A guide to backyard birds

Supplies- Duck bread

Art-- Hand print birds Hostess Snowballs

Colored paper Candy fruit slices

paint Circus Peanuts

googley eyes Mini Chocolate Chips

Toothpicks

Physical-- Bird Tag

Field Trip- Wheeler Farm to feed ducks (check on price for Tracy Aviary)

Food – Snowball Turkeys

Chef

Book--

Art-- Chef hats and Aprons - Use white tissue paper and a strip of poster

board to make chef hats- let kids decorate

Physical- Recipe Treasure hunt (hide ingredients with markers

around house with clues)

Food – Kids will help make dinner as activity--

Potato Mice (baked potato with chives for whiskers, olives for eyes, bacon bits for nose, sliced

radish for ears)

Apricot Chicken (bake chicken with mixture of 1 cup apricot jam, 1 cup french dressing, and 1 packet onion soup mix)

Crepes with mixed berry filling

Chocolate pudding

whipped cream

Dieckmanns

Book – family history stories

Art – make a picture family tree for the Dieckmann and Glasgow sides

Physical – walk around cemetery to find graves of Great Oma and Great Opa

Field Trip- Cemetery

Food- German Hotdogs and Bratwurst, Red cabbage, sauerkraut, Stollen

Engines

Book – Find book about the transcontinental railroad-- big book of Trains for Jon

Art – Cardboard box train cars

Physical – walk around the block as a train

Field Trip- Promontory Point (Golden Spike Monument)

Food- Graham Cracker Trains

Graham Cracker for body

Oreos for Wheels

Marshmallow for stack

Pull n' peel licorice for tracks

frosting to stick it all together

Flowers-- exploring flowers

Activity- Exploring flowers with a magnifying glass (buy at dollar store)

Book-- The Empty Pot

Planting a Rainbow

Art-- Flower pounding                     Pressing Flowers

white or cream fabric                       waxed paper

     flowers                                        flowers

     hammers                                      books

Physical-- swimming with floating flowers (add roses and bachelor buttons to swimming pool)

Field Trip- Discovery Garden at Thanksgiving Point

Food-- cupcakes with frosting flowers (or find pansies and other edible flowers to decorate)

Garden

Book

Art-- Collages made with plant parts or beans

Physical – Neighborhood Scavenger hunt

Field Trip- Gardens at Temple Square or Community Garden at SLCC

Food – grilled vegetables and fresh berries with whipped cream

List to find--

zucchini                       sunflowers                  tomatoes                     yellow squash               puumpkins

cactus                          red tree                        green tree                   purple tree                      orange flower

red flower                    yellow flower              blue flower                 white flower                   purple flower

spiky plant                  soft plant                      fruit tree                    berries (any kind)          rhubarb

Helpers (police, firefighters, etc.)

Book –

Art – coloring

Physical – training obstacle course (cones, rings, ropes, ladder)

Field Trip- Fire station

Food – firehouse chili and chocolate cake OR Firehouse Subs

International Fest

Book – Portugal book (from mission), Spain book, etc.

Art – make a pinata

Physical – dancing! hula, salsa, samba, hat dance, tango, waltz, polka, etc.

Field Trip- Dinner party at home – Marlene (Peru), Hannons (Mexico), Us (Germany and Portugal)

Parsons (have bring pics from last months trip to Europe)

Food – feijoada, leite creme, fried rice, pad thai, pad woon sen, german lunch meat, rye bread, sauerkraut, enchiladas,

Jellyfish!

Book- Jellies:The Life of a Jellyfish (Twig C. George)

Art- making Jelly fish and tunnel book (both at blog below)

         supplies- blue paper (large)

          white gift tissue

           gray yarn

           glue (stick and elmers)

Physical- jellyfish tag in sprinklers

Field Trip- Aquarium

Food- White Grape Jell-O Jigglers with pull n peel licorice tenticles

great idea source http://deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com/2012/05/jellyfish-art-write.html

Jelly fish

Kennecot

Book – Guest speaker- grandpa: have him come to mine with us OR get a book on minerals from Dad

Art – metallic paints on different colored papers

Physical – Hot Lava Tag (use rug sample squares as “Safe” spots)

Field Trip- Kennecot Copper Mine

Food – copper pennies (marinated carrots)

snacks for trip

Lyndall

Book – Make picture book of kids with Lyndall

Art – make a book- What we love about Lyndall

Physical – Make up a dance

Field Trip- Deliver a care package to Lyndall's house OR have surprise party for her at our house

Food – Make and decorate sugar cookies

Museum

Book – Curious George goes to the Museum

Art – Collage with museum handouts or draw pictures of experience

Physical – museum activities

Field Trip- Discovery Gateway

Food – Granola bars

Fruit snacks

Water bottles

Neighborhood

Book

Art – collage with things found on walk

Physical – treasure hunt with map of neighborhood

Field Trip- ↑

Food – Taylorsville Taters (tater-tots), Home Hamburger, Cabana Cake

Outer Space

Book--

Art—glow paints on black paper

Physical-- bath with glow water and highlighters and UV reactive markers black light

Field Trip- Sleeping outside with telescope

Food-- Rocket ship sandwiches

For the Rocketship:
• 2 slices white bread (use thin bread for best results)
• 1 slice whole wheat bread
• Radish
• Cheese slice
• Assorted pepper slices
• Cucumber slice
• Cheese for star
• Sandwich filling of your choice

Trim off crusts and cut bread slices into a rocket shape. Fill with sandwich filling of your choice. Ham & cheese? Turkey and mayo? Cut rocketship legs from whole wheat bread and fill. Make cheese slice and orange pepper legs to add to the top of the whole wheat legs. Cut three, thin radish slices for rocketship windows. Make flames beneath the rocketship from yellow pepper. To finish, cut a star from a cheese slice or orange pepper. Make a “moon” slice from cucumber. This will delight kids of any age!

This idea came from another blog and I can't find the source again.  I will keep looking and add a link if I am able to find it again....

Packs

Book – A Bit of Pack History and family history binders from Aunt Lilia

Art – picture family tree of Pack and Mellor sides

Physical – walk around family history sites

Field Trip- Kamas with Grandpa to see where Great Grandpa Wehrli grew up

Food – recipes from Lilia's family cookbook

Quilt

Book

Art – paper piecing ( I will cut shapes out of fabric and let kids glue on paper-- I will make a quilt block out of their design)

Physical – none

Field Trip- Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum OR Quilt Museum at This Is The Place Monument

Food – quilt block cake (two color

Red

Book

Art – potato stamping with red (and white) paint

Physical – Red hunt

Field Trip- Walk around neighborhood taking pictures of red things

Food – Strawberry Shortcake (color cake red before baking) and red punch

Service

Book

Art –

Physical

Field Trip-

Food

Tea Party

Book-  The biggest Tea Party in the World (My Little Pony)

Art-- Tea Party Invites for Friends,  Making tiaras at the party

Physical-- Have a tea party with 2 guests each

Field Trip- None

Food-- Kool-aid in multiple flavors

cookie cutter sandwiches

cheese and crackers

bite-sized brownies

mini muffins

Utah

Book

Art

Physical

Field Trip-

Food

Village

Book

Art

Physical

Field Trip- build a village in the back yard

Food

Water

Book

Art -- water color painting

Physical -- Hike Donut Falls (waterfall up Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Field Trip- Jordan Conservation Garden at the Water Treatment Plant

Food – snow cones

X-rays

Book

Art -  Paper plate skeletons

Physical

Field Trip-

Food – Veggie skeletons

Young

Book

Art -- 

Physical -- hike to Ensign Peak

Field Trip- Beehive House and Brigham Young Park

Food -- buttermilk doughnuts (Lion house recipe)

Zion

Book

Art

Physical

Field Trip- This is the Place OR DUP Museum

Food

A is for Airplane

Last year I heard about some people that were doing "alphabet summer" -- themed days to keep kids occupied and learning throughout the summer.  We did quite a few activities and had a great time.  We really focused on the letters.  For example, we did "P" day.  We had a P picnic where everything we ate started with P.  We ate Pizza, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Pineapple, and Purple Punch.  After our picnic we played with peanut butter play-dough, and made little Princess storybooks.  We had lots of fun.  The kids have been asking me for months now when we get to do alphabet summer again, and always got impatient when I told them we had to wait for summer.  


Tim and I started our list about a month before school got out so I could get things organized.  I decided instead of focusing SO MUCH on the alphabet this year we would just use it as a jumping off point.  For example, our first day of alphabet summer was last Monday.  We did "A".  Rather than doing a bunch of random things that start with a- we did airplanes.  I went to the library and got several books about airplanes.  I made airline tickets and "information packets"  for their flight.  I made snack bags full of pretzels, almonds, and craisins.  We strapped the kids into the van and I gave them their boarding passes.  I introduced them to "Captain Daddy" and they were so excited!  They just giggled as I gave them the information packets.  They were actually travel bingo games and a list of all the cities we were going to pass through on our little trip.  Since only one of the girls really reads I made a little picture of something that they would see in each city so they would know when to cross it off.  Then we "took off".  

We drove about an hour north to visit the Museum at Hill Air Force Base.  This is totally going going to sound like I'm bragging, and I guess it is.... but honestly, making the list of places with the pictures was one of the best ideas I have had in a long time!  It was great!  I didn't get asked how much longer we were going to be in the car until we were almost there. And, my response was super easy.  I asked them how many more places they had on their list.  There were three left.  They knew as soon as we crossed off the last one we would be there.  An HOUR in the car and I only got asked ONCE!!!  It was amazing!  They really enjoyed looking for each of the items!


We went to lunch and then to the museum.  The kids were fascinated by the gigantic planes they had outside the building!  They loved walking around each plane and looking up into the doors opened to let out landing gear.  On some of the planes you could see up into the body of the plane.  A few of the larger lower planes were low enough Tim and I had to duck under them and the kids thought that was funny.  They made a game of standing underneath the planes and jumping up, trying to hit their heads on each one.  Miriam was the instigator on that one, and was super excited any time she was able to do it.  She got especially excited when we arrived at a MASSIVE plane that she didn't even have to jump to touch.  Eventually the heat got to them and they wanted to go inside.  

We went in and the kids really enjoyed it but they weren't quite as excited about the inside planes since they couldn't touch.  In fact, Jonathan DID try to touch.  While Tim and I were looking elsewhere for a second, he climbed under the ropes and halfway up a ladder...  he wasn't too happy about being strapped into the stroller after that, but he'd already used his warning...   The coolest part of the whole museum was being able to introduce the family to my Uncle Clif.  


Clif Jolley was my Dad's brother in law, and one of my favorite people ever!  He was a pilot for the National Guard during the Korean War.  He was the first Ace of the war for the National Guard and ended up with 8 confirmed planes down and 13 probables.  (actually the family knows that two of those probables were confirmed, but the since he took the film from the plane's camera and sent it to his family instead of turning it in....)  There are actually three different locations in the museum dedicated to him.  His medals and his story are displayed in the section about the Korean war, then there is a large plaque with  lots of pictures and a more in depth look at his life and service in the Utah Avaiation Hall of Fame Exhibit.  (the girls were there when he was inducted, but the twins were only a few months old so none of them remember it).  The one that really captured their attention was a replica of his plane-- the Jolley Roger.


After we left the museum we went to see my sister Jana and her family that live just 10 minutes from the museum.  The kids had a great time with their cousins.  Over all, it was just a fun day!

CLEAN Again- it's a first for us...

Today is my birthday.  Tim has been asking me what I want for a long time, and everything I could think of that I really want (or need) is really more than we can afford right now.  But I came up with something, and I am so glad I did!
Last week I was in the bathroom helping one of the girls.  As I was sitting there on the edge of the tub I looked around and saw dirt.  Not the surface stuff that gets cleaned away regularly, but things like purple lip gloss on the wall under the mirror, and light bulbs with a thick layer of dust.  It has been driving me nuts for a little while now, but it seems like the only time I have to do the deep cleaning is in the evening after everyone has gone to bed.  By then, well, I am just to pooped to care about deep cleaning anything!
SO here comes the birthday idea.  I told Tim what I really wanted was a day with NO ONE home so I could get stuff done.  No meals to make, no fights to break up, no entertaining to do, and MOST importantly-- no TORNADOES messing things up faster than I can run behind them!

Tim and my mom both agreed to my plan.  Monday is Tim's day off work, so that is when we decided to do it.  I thought our plans might be spoiled when Alix spent the entire weekend with a toothache.  I called the dentist Mon morning and they said they could get us in at 9:00, but there was no way I could send Tim to the dentist by himself with all the kids.  My mom came to the rescue and said she would watch the kids so I could still clean.  Whew!  That was close!

Tim left with all the kids at 8:30 am.  Due to the dentist appt I did have to stop for a little while to get the girls from my mom's and take them to pre-school, but it was really only about 20 min out of my time.  Tim called me to come to my mom's for the dinner he'd made about 6:00, and then they all stayed until almost 8:00 while I went back home.  So really, I had about 11 hours of kidless cleaning time.  BEST PRESENT EVER!!!!

I only got 4 rooms done, but they are cleaner than they've been since before we moved in!  I moved furniture and washed walls, cleaned floors, cleaned blinds, cleaned ceiling fans, did the fireplace, did windows, and even cleaned the jet on the jacuzzi tub.  And, I cleaned the lip gloss and dusted the light bulbs that had prompted the whole thing.  I decided I should have the kids help with their room and the playroom, so I did everything else.  It feels SO NICE!!!!  As I sit here a few days later, my house is no longer perfectly straight (they did come home after all) but it is CLEAN :)

The Alphabet

We were sitting around the table, tummy's stuffed with hot chocolate and french toast with strawberry syrup.  Tim tried to hug Jonathan from the side and Jon freaked out.  "No!"- so Tim let go.  "Real hug" ...then he turned and gave Tim a HUGE hug- the kind where little arms are trying to reach all the way around a big neck and end up putting a shoulder into an adam's apple kind of hug.
Bethany was across the table playing with a little "laptop" doing an alphabet game.  Tim decided to do the alphabet with Jonathan.  Tim would say a letter and Jon would repeat.  A-A-B-B-C-C-D-D-E-E-F-F-G-G-H-H-I-I-J-J-K-K-L-L-M-M-N-N-O-O-P- soap word
Tim- "say P Jonathan"
JJ- "soap word"
Tim- "P"-
"soap word"
Mommy- "P isn't a soap word Jonathan, it is a letter...."

In case you can't tell we've had some issues with "dirty words" at our house lately.  Nothing too severe, but we've been hearing far too much use of poop, poophead, poopyface, etc.  They have become soap words- the kids get a squirt of watered down dish soap in their mouths to wash away the dirty words.
---Good thing we don't live in Florida!  

Gratitude

**  This post was originally started in November as a Thanksgiving thing- I obviously haven't gotten it finished until now- in January but I still wanted to get it out there since there really isn't a statute of limitations on gratitude.


I fully intended to write a post every day this month  listing things I am grateful for.  However, many of the things I am grateful for have a tendency to keep me pretty busy....  so instead of a post a day, I am going to make a numbered list- one for each day of the month.   They are numbered, but not necessarily in order of importance....

1.  I am grateful for an amazing husby! He is so good to take care of us, not just financially which is nice, but emotionally and spiritually which is even more important. I LOVE that he is SO available for the kids and I. He will stop anything to take care of the kids and puts God and our family as his highest priorities. I love him SO much!  He is truly my best friend and I am so grateful to have him!
2. I am grateful that I have four wonderful children with me. They may drive me nuts at times, but they are also the source of most of my "sweetest moments" in life.  
3. I am grateful for a healthy family.  My parents have had great health, and have been able to take care of the problems that have surfaced.  My children have all been amazingly healthy.  Now as I write this I think of all the times we haven't been able to go to the gym or to playgroup because someone has been sick, but those have all been minor things.  Colds, throw up bugs, and sore throats, yes.  Major issues that require ongoing treatment no.  We've only had one ear infection- ever.  That was Alix when she was a year old...Tim and I have both been very healthy as well.  I haven't even seen a doctor for anything other than baby stuff for years (I know, I should go get a physical so I know there really isn't anything else going on...)  Oh, actually- I am wrong.  I have gone to the Dr. twice in the last two years, and both times it involved x-rays....
4. I am grateful for wonderful friends.  I have some friends that I see regularly and I know I can call for an emergency babysitter, a cup of flour, or a shoulder to cry on.  There are other friends that I don't see often, and I don't talk to often...but they are still my wonderful friends.  People that have touched my life in such profound ways that even though we don't live near each other and aren't great about calling or writing, they are still very near my heart.  When we do talk we can pick up as though we had seen each other yesterday...
5. I am grateful for amazing parents that have taught me the most important lessons in life.  They taught me to love myself, to love God, and to follow Him.  They taught me to be kind to others and to keep their feelings in mind before I speak or act.  They taught me to follow through with what I say I will do and to take responsibility when something goes wrong.  They taught me to be honest, even when the personal cost is great. And the list goes on and on....
6. I am grateful for a wonderful family.  My siblings and I fought somewhat growing up (with some more than others of course) but we are now very close.  We are all good friends and enjoy being with each other.  I am grateful for my little family too.  
7. I am grateful for my Lyndall.  I know I already said I was grateful for my family, and I truly have the four best sisters anyone could ask for (and for those of you confused thinking I only have 3 sisters- I have chosen to drop the "in-law" from my sister Julie because she is really more than that :)   I do need to make special mention of my Lyndall.  She and I are only 18 months apart and she has been my best friend from day one.    Growing up she was always the one that watched out for me and kept me from doing a lot of the REALLY IDIOTIC things I wanted to do.    And she never did it by force or even guilt, she lead me by example.  She has always inspired me to want to be better.  This is one of my very favorite pictures of us :)
8. I am grateful for the miracles made possible by modern medicine.  One  friend gave birth to twins at 23 weeks, and both are healthy and well, without any of the ongoing problems that so many super-preemies experience. And they are about to celebrate their first birthday.  Another friend just gave birth this week to twins at 27 weeks, and they have a very good prognosis.  Another friend has a little boy that when he was born 18 months ago with a serious genetic disorder, she was told to give up on him and let him pass peacefully. She found different doctors and he is now a very sweet little boy that has made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds (if not thousands) of people.  If you want to hear more about an amazing family read Kristen's blog.  
9. I am grateful for music.  I grew up in a home where my parents didn't really listen to the radio.  The first time I heard the Beatles was in college.  But, I am very familiar with Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff,  Rimsky-Korsakov, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, etc.  I have expanded my repertoire since then, but I still love classical music.  I  love that no matter my mood or what is wrong music can make me feel better.  It may not make the problems go away, but it can bring peace to my heart.  
10. I am grateful that I can not only appreciate music, but that I can create it.  I love to play the piano and find it functions as a great stress reliever.  There is nothing quite like playing Rachmaninoff to calm anger, or Kenneth Cope when feeling disconnected from the spiritual.  I also love to sing.  One of my favorite times of the day is song time.  After all the chores are done, teeth are brushed, and Jonathan is in bed- the girls and I all climb into my bed.  We read a few stories together (and lately at least one chapter from a Junie B. Jones book) and then we have song time.  The girls all snuggle into me and I sing.  Sometimes when we're running late it will only be two or three songs.  Other nights, I sing the entire time Tim is showering and getting ready for bed, and then he helps carry three sleeping little bodies to their own beds.  
11. I am grateful for a very supportive husband that always builds me up.  He doesn't criticize me when the house is a mess or when I am ornery with him or the kids.  He figures out what he can do to help and does it.  I love that he helps around the house and that he recognizes that my being a stay at home mom means that I am more than a full time housekeeper.  
12. I am grateful that my money "problems" mean that I can't go buy a new outfit or make a trip to the fabric store whenever I feel  like it, not that I can't feed my children or keep a roof over their heads. 
13. I am grateful for laundry.  I know that sounds nuts-  and contradictory.  I complain about having to do laundry, and especially about the sheer amount I do!  I have a super capacity washer and dryer.  They do loads almost twice the size of a normal machine.  And I do between 9-12 loads in a normal week.  But did you notice what I said a few sentences ago?  I have a super capacity washer and dryer!  I was reading stories about my Grandma this week.  She had nine children to take care of and a heart condition.  She would do laundry once a week and it was an all-day, back-breaking process.  It involved a washing machine that only did a small amount at a time and then the clothes had to be manually fed through rollers to wring out the water.  Then they had to be carried up the stairs to be taken outside to dry.  My grandma had a hard time walking up the stairs due to her heart condition- something made much more difficult carrying baskets of wet laundry!  Also - the fact that I have that much laundry to do means that my family is clothed. 
14. I am grateful for water.  More specifically, I am grateful for clean running water.  When I lived in Portugal, we bought LOTS of water!  We were not allowed to drink the water since we weren't native and used to the things found therein... If we were being exactly obedient, we even used bottled water to brush our teeth.....  I am so glad I don't have to worry about that.  I turn on a faucet, and there is water. No wells, no pumps, it is just there,  safe and exactly the temperature I want it to be.   Our water heater went out this summer and we were without hot water for five days.  I am very  aware of how wonderful it is to have one now :)
15. I am grateful that I am a good cook.  I do not mean that to sound arrogant in any way, but it is one of my gifts.  I can take a few ingredients, play with them a bit, and come out with something great, either from a recipe, or just messing around.  Have I ever thought something would be great and it isn't?  Yes.  Does it happen often?  Nope!  I am also grateful that I enjoy cooking, especially since I spend so much time doing it...
16. I am grateful for A furnace to keep my family warm.  I LOVE my fireplace (and that Tim sealed the hole in it so we can actually use it this year) and we have really enjoyed the fires we've had lately, but I am glad they are just for fun, and that we don't have to rely on the fireplace to heat our whole house.  I am also grateful that we don't have to chop a ton of wood or go outside to get it :)  I am very aware of my pioneer ancestors that crossed the plains in the cold of winter with their families.  I am so glad they were willing to do it, and at the same time I'm very happy I don't have to!
17. I am grateful for my Aunt Lilia and her interest in our family history.  She has spent countless hours this year putting together books about our family.  The finished project is 5 binders full of information.  Oh, and did I mention they are 4 inch binders?  The finished project is almost a thousand pages, all about my progenitors.  She graciously gave me a copy and I have been able to make copies for each of my siblings.  I have LOVED reading through the information as I've put the binders together. I have gotten trapped reading more than once... I just wish I had known I was related to some of these people while I was still in school-  I probably would have paid more attention in history class when we talked about Charlemagne, Henry the Conqueror, Alfred the Great, etc.  if I'd known they were my ancestors.
18. I am grateful for a fabulous extended family.  I have never known any of my grandparents.  They all passed away before I was born, but they were all amazing people.  I am grateful for the stories I've been told.  And I am so glad I've had wonderful aunts and uncles that have stood in for them.  My dad was the 8th of 9 children, the oldest of whom was already married when my dad was born.  Those older siblings stood in for grandparents for us.  I have very fond memories of Sunday afternoons spent visiting aunts and uncles.  Family reunions, parties, and holidays spent laughing and having a great time.  On my mom's side we used to meet in the basement of the shop where my Aunt Dora worked.  Once she retired we didn't really have a place that held everyone and our gatherings slowed down.  Then my amazing cousin moved to town and opened up her ample house to all of us.   She is so sweet to host us all and allow to maintain those relationships!  (thanks Susan!)
19.   I am grateful to know that God loves me personally.  I have had so many evidences of this in my life.  I know that I am truly His daughter and that what happens in my life matters to Him.  I know that Jesus Christ is my brother and that He sacrificed Himself so that I can return to live with God one day.  
20. I am grateful for temples.  They are not just pretty buildings to get married in...Through the work performed in the temple, I know that I can live with my family forever.  Our relationships do not end at death.  This has been a great comfort to me when those close to me have died.  I am not nearly as fearful about all the things that CAN happen because I know that even if something DOES happen, I will still get to be with them after this life.  
21. This is related to the last one.... I come from a great heritage- I know I've already talked about it... but I am grateful that even though I don't know most of these people that one day I will.  I will get to sit down and chat with my "mischievous and spunky" grandma that I am so much like, but have never met.  I imagine we can trade some pretty fun stories. I look forward to asking my other grandmother all about patience and how I can gain some with my children.... too bad we can't have that conversation now.  But I am grateful to know that one day we will.
22. I am grateful for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It has help me decide who I am and which directions I want to take in my life.  It has helped me make better choices, and in short, has helped me be a better person.
23. I am grateful for the struggles we had getting pregnant.  A lot of people don't like to take about it.  At the time we were having problems, I didn't either.  But now, on the other side, I can honestly say that our challenges in starting a family changed my entire perspective, permanently.  It made me far more aware of those around me.  I have a tendency to focus on myself- MY needs (I think we all do) and I would sometimes lose sight that others had challenges too.  They may not be as visible, or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention... but I realized that everyone has difficulties that we may not understand.  We are here on this Earth to learn.  One of the things I believe we need to learn is to lift those around us and help them bear up their loads.  I am still working on this, and hopefully I have a long time because I still have a LONG way to go.  But at least now I'm aware of it....
24. I am grateful for a love of reading.  When I was younger I read to escape my own life.  It was the only time I was happy.  I was very depressed at one point and had a difficult time overcoming that.  One thing that helped me was my reading.  At first it truly was an escape, and then I found some books that didn't take me away from my life, they helped me deal with it.  I still love to read, and have been taught many things through the written word.  Some of the most profound spiritual experiences I've had have come as a result of something I've read and then discussed with others (usually Lyndall and Jeff :) or prayed about.  I have also learned many practical things to help me in my every day life.  
25. I am grateful that my family values education.  I know not everyone feels the same way about education my family does.  I also realize not everyone needs a secondary education for their chosen career.... but I love to learn and I'm glad I had a family that encouraged me.  My "spunky" grandma was forced to quit school as a fourth grader to help on the family farm.  She was devastated, and though she wasn't ever able to return to formal schooling, by the time she died at 47 she was a very well educated woman.  I know her example greatly influenced me and my family.  Of the 7 members of my immediate family, 6 of us have a Bachelor's Degree and two went on for an Advanced Degree.  My sister has her Master's and my brother just graduated a few months ago as a Pharmacist.  Oh, and the one sister that doesn't yet have her degree is only one class away and will finish shortly....  I love school and would go back in a heartbeat if I could :)

  I am  stopping with less than the 30 items originally promised.  Not because I don't have more to be grateful for, but because I just looked back and realized how long this post has become.  I also need to stop to go fix dinner and since it has already taken 3 months to get this far I can't guarantee when I would make it back....