Thankful for November

I think Emmy's Birthday has been sufficiently celebrated. On her birthday I took Emmy, Joseph and two of Emmy's friends Alex and Aylssa to sizzler to celebrate. Emmy also had a party at our house and we recently got back from a concert in San Francisco. I loved seeing Emmy's many smiles. I'm excited for a lull in activities before Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for m y family especially my supportive and loving husband, Brian. I love our dat4 nights, time talking and raising these wild Indians together. I'm grateful for a bed as Emmy and I saw homeless sleeping on the sidewalk after the concert. I'm grateful for my voice. spencer has been vocalizing a little more lately and it is exciting. Celia can talk and I'm so grateful she has learned as much as she has. There was a misunderstanding at school and she didn't talk about it to the principal so we here we are at home because she was suspended. It is a lovely day though and Celia and I got to go for a nature walk after the much needed rain. I'm grateful for fall with it's colors and coziness. I can now use my many jackets and hats and scarves to stay warm and cozy. I went to Big Lots today too and the thanksgiving décor was on 90 percent off clearance. All the stores and malls are pushing Christmas purchasing. I'm still holding on for Thanksgiving and not rushing past Fall into winter.  I'm grateful for a fulfilling with life. There are always challenges, but the beauty of the world, the love, and the positive points in life make me happy and grateful.

Little Get Away

Time to get away is unusual, few and far between. 'm glad Brian and I have date night sometimes with a few of our children to catch up on each other's lives. Otherwise I fear we might grow apart because of our daily tasks that are so different from each other. Our children bring us together and also take time from us as a couple. Needless to say I was pretty happy going to a wedding reception with just Brian in a beautiful place such as Calistoga, California. I was surprised by the beauty of the Napa valley. The vineyards, shops bed and breakfast we passed wall so beautiful. The leaves were starting to turn and the feeling was Autumn cozy which is one of  my favorite feelings. There was however a smell of fermenting fruit as we came closer to our destination. We toured a cave at the winery when they store all their fancy wines in barrel and wait for just the right time to bottle. It was interesting to hear from a winemaker of the chemistry timing and allure of the business. There is definitely a prestige of the Napa valley for wine I wasn't fully aware of since I am not a consumer of wine.

The salmon and salad were my favorites, but all the food was excellent.The view at sunset was beautiful and the tram ride up the hill was delightful. The castle winery across the way was impressive and others said it was as authentic as they could make it as a England castle, materials being imported from there. Maybe I can get a feel for England by visiting there and I wont need to travel so far. I miss my family when I'm not with  them. I feel tried to them and my great duties for them. They are so much fun. As they grow older I've noticed their personalities and likes and favorite things and I begin to appreciate them too. I cant believe Emmy will technically be all grown up at Eighteen years old tomorrow. I remember thinking I'd be pregnant forever as the doctors and I expected her to come for Halloween. We all are so blessed to have  her in our family. She keeps me young and I love doing things with and for her.

Where Has the Time Gone?

It is surreal to read an old journal entry from long ago and have the perspective you wish you had then. I loved reading about my realizing I was pregnant with my first child. I wrote of all the things I wanted to teach my children. As my oldest is soon to be eighteen, I hope I have taught her what I yearned for all my children to know. Which is that The holy ghost will guide you in the right paths and choices to make in life. Keep a journal, it helps record your thoughts, good deeds, intentions, and makes for a great story to remind yourself of later. Family is more important than the trials and mundane requirements of life. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. Most hard experiences will work out. Even pain, and financial woes can pass.. Death and change are part of our existence, but we can endure to the end and hopefully well.

Life right now is barreling forward it seems as Emmy approaches the second half of her senior year. We have been filling out applications for colleges and all that is required for her to make an informed decision. It will take some adjusting for all of us as our oldest transitions into adulthood. She was away to University of the Pacific for a speech and debate competition and the rest of us had family time. We walked on a bridge. Spencer smiled right before he threw his toy off the bridge. I was cracking up. Never a dull moment with these kids even as they grow older!

 I'm glad Emmy is still willing to dress up for Halloween and spend a lot of time with the family. She is loved and we always want her around. Joseph will be in High School next year, I don't know how that happened so quickly. He was a sport for Halloween too. At our ward trunk or treat, he decorated the trunk with Emmy and he was on passing out candy duty. He ran around after to get a few handfuls of candy. Celia enjoyed running around with her friend that was in a bumble bee outfit. It made it nice to spot her friend's costume and know Celia was close by. We had date night and Bri and I had fun shopping and going for frozen  yogurt at yogurt time, one of Emmy's favorite places. I imagine we will do that kind of thing more as we adjust to her going off to college if she chooses to go out of state. In the meantime we will keep teaching and loving spending time with each of our precious children.

Sibling Rivalry?

Anaheim Concert

After a wonderful day at the beach we hurried home and ate dinner with my folks and Emmy and I went to Downtown Disney for the concert. The kids in the line were e\wearing black and I was a little worried about what kind of other bands were playing with yellow card. The first band was okay and then the lead singer turned funny. He was cracking jokes and doing disappearing acts and jumping in to the crowd. I was cracking up, it as fun. There is standing the whole time for these concerts, but we got there at just the right tie to have a guardrail to lean on which helped for the first two bands. The next band was Memphis  May Fire. I heard later they're a Christian hard rock bad. They put on quite a show with smoke and lights. The few slow songs they sang were really good. The other rock songs had a bit of screaming in it. I think these alternative folks are sensitive and deep and try to sing for the angst teenagers may be able to relate to. I feel like I got a whole new perspective on that style of music. It was contradictory to see the tattoos and hear them yell one minute and encourage and uplift with kindness the next. Overall , I enjoyed the openers which was an answer to my prayers.  Yellow card was good too. I feel like I know this band well after having seen them four times with Emmy, but this performance was different. It seems like they want to make a difference with their music and have a purpose behind it with their dedication of the song one bedroom to benefit a charity called invisible children. The lead singer's wife is paralyzed and the violinist is still battling cancer and everyone in the band was singing and paying together as if there was no lead among them. I found it interesting and endearing. Emmy of course loved everything about it and was close by wen all the bands came for a group picture at the end. It was quite the concert to attend, very nice. I was grumpy because my feet hurt at the end of the night, but over all it was worth it. I'm glad I'm getting some great time in with Emmy as she is on the cusp of adulthood and leaving the nest for college in the coming year.  I hope that our relationship will continue to be great and grow as she matures.

A Day at the Beach

It was a great weekend trip with my girls to L.A. I had ben wanting to go visit Laguna Beach and it seemed Celia did too, she loved it so much. She wants to go back to the shell store next vacation and she swears she had been to the restaurant we went to before or had seen it in a dream! We were blessed to find great parking and walk right to a wonderful restaurant with a view. The food as excellent. I loved he coconut shrimp and salmon with quinoa and roasted vegetables. I felt great after this healthy meal. Celia had a ice cream sundae with her kids meal which she loved and I loved seeing the sail boats in the background. The waiter mentioned yellow card after seeing Emmy's shirt and she was happy to mention that we were going to the concert that night. He was jealous he said and now I know why Emmy loves to wear band merchandise, to have people talk t her about her favorite music! I don't remember this area having such blue water, but it was a lovely day and even Grandma said she enjoyed the beach for the first time. I love the tide coming in and the rocks and many colors of rock and cave around the bend. It was relaxing and memorable.