Most Thankful...

There are many things to be grateful for this year. My good hair, Sonic ice/foam cups/Diet Coke, my shoe collection etc. Sounds lame, but true.

But this year, I am especially grateful for the gift of eternal families, the gospel, a loving, hard-working, loyal husband, our home, and that I have happy, healthy kids.

This year, we decided to go to California and be with my parents for Thanksgiving. My sister Kim and her family came down from Idaho. It was really wonderful. It was very quiet, but very enjoyable and, most importantly, there was a never-ending abundance of good food.

I am most grateful for this,

this,

and this. Swazye had had a little accident in the car, so we borrowed Grandma's "My nuts are bigger than yours" shirt, given to her by Kim's husband, Eric. Tommy would never do such a thing.

Whenever we get together, my mom loves to have a treasure hunt. Here are the kids waiting while Kim and I hid the eggs.

Auntie Leigh was a little excited to find out there was going to be an "adult hunt" with $500 at stake. After a 30 minute head start for the girls, a few shoves to get Kim out of the way, I walked away with a grand total of $165, not including the egg Eric stole from me. It doesn't pay to cheat Eric. Ha! Ha!

The kids checking out their loot.

Princess Tea Party.

A few weeks ago, the young women in our ward hosted a tea party for several little girls. Each girl was in charge of inviting one little girl, hence, Olivia invited Swayze. Swayze was so excited to get her party on. I think the thing that excited her the most was that she was the only one that was invited out of her siblings. She kept saying, "Just me is going. Not Tag and not Keagan!" I love how loving my kids are to one another :) I don't have many deets on what went down at the party, but she had a blast. Thanks Ladies!

The Lovely Days Of Carpool...

But Holy Moly, the conversations between several 11 year old boys makes it all worth it. Take for insance, yesterday as I'm driving the boys to basketball practice:

Tag: "Hey Hunter, remember when you told my mom she doesn't stand a chance with Raja Bell?"

Me: "I still haven't gotten over that one, Hunter."

Tag: "But Mom, you're married to Dad!"

Hunter: "Yeah, that's just temporary."

Or, try listening to nine 11 year olds sing word- for- word, every Taylor Swift song.

I never knew a kumquat is a traditional piece of wood you bang your head on (huh)?

I had to whip out my inner Dr. Phil and have had to put out a few fires - the latest one, over how one boy was upset at the other because his friend ripped on his "laced" Vans and said he likes the "unlaced" Vans more. Go figure. I'd have thought I had a bunch of 13 year old girls in my car.

I also get to hear about "secret" crushes, mean school teachers, I get the privilege of smelling the most foul odors, I get to listen to burping contests, etc. Trust me, the list goes on and on.

Oh, and one more thing - While driving these boys around each week, I've figured out the appropriate age to make deoderant-wearing a daily requirement. You guessed it.. 11.

I Believe Hell Has Officially Frozen Over...

Well, our boy finally did it! And he couldn't have chosen a better bride. I really do think I was more excited about Paul's wedding than Paul himself was. I felt like a proud parent (I mean, after all, Paul was the one who gave our first born his first spanking). Everything about that day was perfect. It was, hands down, one of the greatest ceremonies I've ever been to. I forgot my kleenexes, I was tempted to use my footie socks. We're so happy for these two lovelies and were so happy to be a part of their day.

Dr. Olson and his lovely wife let us crash at their pad for the weekend. Thanks guys!

82 Days Sober... And Counting.

This was Swayze on her first day of school. Happy as can be. Notice all of her bottles in the Ziploc bag. There had been a lot of hype in the Stapes' household prior to this wonderful, glorious day. Because you see, on this oh, so special day, August 27th, I told Swayze she was going to a big girl going to preschool, therefore, big girls don't drink "ba ba's" anymore. I told her if she gave all her bottles to Miss Nancy, I would take her to Target and buy her ANYTHING her little heart desired. She was game. Until later that night. And the next night. And even the next night... and so on. Talk about bottle detox. Wowzers. I don't think the family slept for a week straight.

But 'lo and behold, we made it. Alive. And Swayze got her cherished prize from Target. A tinkerbell makeup set. This was our conversation on the way home:

Me: "Swayze, do you remember WHY Mommy bought you a toy today?"

Swayze: "Because I'm pwetty?"

Me: "Noooo... Can you remember?"

Swayze: "Because I'm cute?"

Me: "Keep guessing."

Swazye: "Because I wanted it?"

I could tell this conversation was getting me nowhere. Obviously, my 3rd child has my mentality. I use the 'pretty card on Tommy all the time. Works like a dream.

Halloweiner.

I figured I'd better post our Halloween pictures before Thanksgiving rolls around. I have to admit, mine and Tommy's costumes pretty much killed it this year (thanks Laura). Although being mistaken for Little Richard, he was actually Prince and I was supposed to be Tina Turner, but because I didn't decide to try on my costume until Halloween morning, realizing my Fatty McFatty body couldn't fit into Laura's size 0 dress, at the last minute, I had my "personal assistant", Snacky run to American Apparel and get me some liquid leggings. Tommy's quite fond of them (on himself, that is).

Tommy asked if I bought Keagan's skanky Alice in Wonderland costume at Fascinations. Nice. Tag wasn't quite cooperating and wouldn't wear what I got him, so we pulled out the old gorilla costume. Luckily, it wasn't too hot this year. And Swayze was a "Suddin' bayelle" (southern belle).

Home.

This past weekend, I flew home to California and visited my parents. I don't come home very often, but each time I do, I'm reminded why I loved living in this little town. And boy, do I mean little. Like, as in, my graduating class was 54 students. Gustine is a small but beautiful Portuguese dairy town with tree-lined streets, historic old houses with well-manicured yards. The people are friendly, and life is simple. I miss simple. Well, maybe not totally. I don't think there's an eyelash lady within close proximity, the closest mall is 45 minutes away (no Nordstrom either), and I don't think there's even 1 Sonic in the whole entire state of California. But a visit every now and then? That, I think I can manage.

**I need to thank this lovely lady for taking these pictures below for me. It's no secret how much I suck at taking pictures, I needed a little help in that department.**

It was also a very bittersweet weekend. We got word that our dear friend, Ben had finally been found after having been missing for almost 4 years. It wasn't quite the outcome we were hoping for because he is no longer with us, but finally some closure. And for that, we are very, very grateful.

Meeting Barbosa...

A few nights ago, Tag and his basketball buddies had a special treat when Leandro Barbosa came to practice. Tag's coach trained Barbosa in Brazil this past summer, and Barbosa's 2 nephews practice under Coach Joe. Barbosa was so nice to give autographs and took pictures with the boys. I think Tag brought just about everything but the kitchen sink to have him sign. I'm so bummed I missed him, I was having such good hair that day too.

Oh Boy....

It seems as though Tag has a not-so-secret admirer. You'll have to click on the picture below to enlarge the card below. Pretty hilarious. I'm scared for the teenage years.

Happy Wife/Happy Life.

I know it may seem like I'm always making suggestions, but to all the husbands out there that insist on paying the monthly bills, let me be really firm in saying that paying the utility bill ON TIME is quite crucial in the Stapes' household. Our bills tend to get thrown on the dining room table and unnoticed until, let's say, the power gets shut off. Maybe I should be embarrassed to say that this has happend not 1, not 2, but 3 times! And not because we can't afford to pay it. We're not broke. Yet. It just tends to get neglected. On a monthly basis.

Anyhoo, I got one of these pretty little pink papers from a very nice, older gentleman on my door the other day. Might I add, getting these on my door does not promote a happy, healthy marriage, especially while I'm in the middle of putting my makeup on. I'm also not one who was blessed with hair that air dries well. I was not a happy camper.

I certainly don't want to come across as being a nagging wife. I'm not. Tommy's a lucky little booger to have me around, but COME ON!! Enough's enough! Please... I'm begging, AUTOPAY HONEY!! So.....

Payback can be a real beast. In the future, I will be making a shoe purchase for every unpaid electricity bill, water bill (yes, the water was turned off once while I was showering, mid conditioner application in my hair) and speeding ticket.