"GRATEFUL"

THANKSGIVING IS ALMOST HERE! This really is the best time of the year! We are all excited for the holidays, and getting antsy. Steve and Jessika (Ryan's brother) already have their Christmas tree up! We've been listening to Christmas music, especially a Josh Groban cd that also has a song called Grateful- just for Thanksgiving! He sings about the many things we have to be grateful for, despite all thats wrong in the world. It's inspiring! I love it! We really are so blessed, and try to acknowledge those blessings more readily. Having a wonderful family and great friends and satisfying job and happy children are just the beginning! We have the gospel knowledge to be all the more grateful for! REALLY! What a blessing to know who we are and where we're going, and that we have help from a loving Heavenly Father who will guide our lives if we but let him! WOW! I think about my life, and realize that I've always had that testimony. But think of those people who don't know these truths! Life could be so much better for them if they could know who they are and how much they are loved, and how truly happy they can be! Thinking about this makes me realize how important my example really is, and why there is such an urgency for missionary work! I mean, don't I want everyone to be as happy as I am? YES!!
Ok, so I said in the previous post that I would have birthday updates and pictures. Here they are!

Ryan made me an AWESOME fresh peach pie for my birthday!

Callie's 5th birthday. What a pretty princess!

Taylor was a jedi for his 7th birthday.

Callie's first day of Kindergarten, and Taylor's first of 2nd grade!

Ryan found a TARANTULA on our screen door one night, so

we made him our pet for a few days. It was the size of Ryan's palm,

and neighbors said that he must have been a baby, because he was small!

Taylor has lost 2 teeth, had one pulled, and has 2 more loose.

This was his first.

Ryan took me on an early anniversary trip to Canyon de Chelly, in Chinle, AZ. It was amazing! It is a "mini Grand Canyon" that several Navajo families still live in and herd sheep there. Thanks to Connie and Brittnie for watching our kids while we were gone!

Can you see the pictographs

in the 2nd picture?

Halloween Festivities:

carving pumpkins!

great costumes, eh?

We conducted an experiment and survey at the school:

Do pumpkins float?

YES! They do!

Just recently, Page's Balloon Regatta was here again! This time, Ryan's hotel sponsored a pilot, so Taylor and I got to go up in Tom's balloon with him!

Taylor and I got "first flight" inductions- drinks on our heads!

Tom and Sue were awesome hosts, and we thoroughly enjoyed our ride!

Had to share the cute kiddos pics!

I dare say our children are stinkin' cute!!!

And that'll be all for now!