Happy Thanksgiving!

This has always been one of my favorite holidays! I confess, I just love pie. And Turkey. And pie. And AUTUMN! (although in my home town it usually seems much more like Winter by now). My last 3 Thanksgivings have been a little different, but good.
2006-Shawn was at Officer Candidate School in Pensacola FL, so I drove from SC to spend it with him. It was a joyful reunion after our first real separation. We had dinner with some of his classmates, none of whose name I remember. I ate Creamed Corn Casserole for the first time. Hmmm.
2007-Shawn was deployed, I was living with my family. He flew home from Africa the day before Thanksgiving and I was mad that I didn't have enough notice so I could be with him. I had a good day anyway....my Mom makes a killer pumpkin pie! I saw my family members for the last time that day before my treck back 'home'. (I regret that I have been unable to see them since)
2008-Shawn has duty. SO...we are eating Thanksgiving Dinnre on the ship with 70-something other sailors/families and the Cap'n. Wahooooo!
Actually, it was waaaaay better than I expected. It was fun, the food was terrific, and I didn't have to purchase, prepare, or clean up any food! Gotta love it!

The real reason for the day is something that has eluded me as of late. I have been a prideful little snob. Not at all grateful. Just having my own little pity-party about what isn't going my way. Time for a change of heart. I will list 10 things I'm grateful for, and hopefully by the end of the day, I'll have an attitude of gratitude.

~My Husband. My 3 gorgeous kids.
~My parent's patience and love.
~My in-laws who love me like their own.
~Freedom. and those who fight for it for me.
~Scriptures.~A living Prophet.
~Technology that helps me keep in touch with my loved ones thousands of miles away.
~The Navy. Yes, I am grateful for the Navy even though it takes my sweetheart away sometimes.
~An apartment with a backyard-ish sort of space that has a fence.
~My friends in my ward (and the other ward)
~The chance to serve in YW.

OK. That's 10. I think I need a "10-per-hour" goal for the day. What are you most thankful for?

Snow is falling all around!

I LOOOOOOVE IT! Ok. So I only half-love cold snowy winters, but there is something about that first snow that gives my warm-fuzzies and makes me want to break into song. I guess I wasn't expecting it to get cold enough to snow--at least not yet--because no one in my house owns gloves, hats, scarves, undershirts....yah. Well, it was a hot summer. I am still recovering.

Guess I need to go shopping. Darn.

Funky nicknames...

This post is for my little sister Rachel...

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car-or dream car): Audie Chrysler
2. YOUR GANSTA STAR NAME (favorite ice cream flavor, fav. type of shoe): Chocolate Sneaker
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (your fav. color, fav. animal): Yellow puppy
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (your middle name, where you were born): Michelle Portsmouth
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (First 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name): Calmi
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd fav. color, fav. drink): Pink water
7. NASCAR NAME (grandfather's names): Buehl Lavon
8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Dubois Denver
9. SPY NAME (fav. season/holiday, fav. flower): Autumn Lily
10. CARTOON NAME (fav. fruit, atricle of clothing you are wearing right now): Peachy Jeans
11. HIPPIE NAME (what you ate for breakfast, your fav. tree): Oatie Dogwood

Halloween

This is NOT a very good photo. My camera, and Shawn's camera, were both dead yesterday. Bummer. So, I used my webcam instead and took pictures of the kids while they were talking to my parents. Nora was a pink princess, Alex was a cow, and Grant was a ghost. Shawn took them trick-or-treating around the neighborhood for their first real-life trick-or-treating experience. At one house, Nora ran up to the door and shouted "Happy Birthday." Great fun