November

Happy THANKSgiving everyone! This is such a wonderful time of year, a time of year when we often take the time to reflect on the many many gifts and blessings that have been generously bestowed upon us by our loving and gracious Heavenly Father. Gifts and blessing that we often take for-granted until we no longer have them. I hope that we can slow down just a bit throughout this next year and truly appreciate all that we have been given every day and not just at the end of the year, because we have been given so much and if we don't take the time to see it and recognize it, soon it will be too late to appreciate it.

Furry family members...

Mariah's multi-school choir concert...

Oh my goodness, someone had to turn 17! HaPpY bIrThDaY MARIAH!!!! We spent the day in San Fran, Ice Skating and shopping. Love my Beauty!

So life has been a tad bit beyond stressful lately....okay, okay, so I never got into drama, and I am completely under exaggerating here. Lets just say that several doctors (and not just my own have asked me what I am doing to take care of myself during this stressful time). I can literally hear their eyes roll when they sigh, as I honestly tell them that I am going to deliver this cake that I baked to a charity, and I am going to do my best to learn how to lead music (I am a tad challenged when it comes to coordination and am memory deficient). Thankfully they hold back their lectures on how that is not taking care of myself. If only they could see, it really is my way of taking care of me. By serving others, it allows me to get out of my head, not focus on how hard things are, and focus on what is really important, and that is helping Heavenly Father's children. The other thing that I do for me is go to the best place here on earth for peace and comfort. Unfortunately I do not go nearly often enough.

I am so thankful for my faith in Heaven Father and in my Savior Jesus Christ. Without Them, and my faith in Them I would not have the strength to endure the trials that I have been blessed with. I would not be able to recognize the gifts and blessing that are given to me so lovingly and freely. I would not have patience to get through the tough stuff nor the hope for tomorrow. I know that with Them any and everything is possible, I am never alone, I always have help, comfort and peace. We all do, we just have to call out, They are just waiting to answer.

October

Oh boy did October start out with some major rejoicing, hope....followed by the shedding of oceans of tears of worry, heart break, disbelief, and did I mention worry....This has been one crazy month. I guess it is the month for it..after all Trick or Treat right? I say give me treats, I deserve them!

The first Sunday in October Maiya (Mariah's kitty) disappeared. Our Beauties were certain that our ladies (pups) ate her. I felt she was a live, but was not certain where to find her, we looked everywhere to no avail. I was afraid that she had fallen out of MJs window, as the screen had been knocked out of place from the top and was perpendicular to the house. I did not know how she could survive the two-story fall and escape the ladies. Mariah and I came home Tuesday evening and found a HUGE raccoon in our front yard (the size of a tall mini schnauzer), about an hour later Jesse came into my room holding little Maiya in his shirt. She was completely unharmed! About a week later Mariah had her in her shirt and was walking past the ladies, and they pulled her right out of her arms. Oh boy, this little kitty pooed everywhere, yet seemed to be just fine. We did find a small hole in her armpit later in the evening, so off to the vet we went. A shot of antibiotics and a cone later and she was on her way to recovery. Another week goes by and can you guess it? Yep another run in with the ladies. Maiya fell out the window again, cone and all. We went searching for this little flying cat, and thought she was gone for good. MJ was doing her makeup, happened to look out her window and there she as walking on the fence! MJ ran down the stairs, out the door, flew through the back yard and grabbed her furry neice. That CRAZY cat! I think she has used up half of her 9 lives already

Jesse's baby Lucio...

Someone got a piercing that she has wanted for over a year...

Best friends since kindergarten...

Something I think everyone needs to know and hear...

Jason and some friends did a Signal Peak run. 

Jason and Jesse went and saw Bad Religion in San Francisco...

No matter how busy, crazy, stressful, relaxed, or comfortable life gets always remember to stop and smell the roses...

September

What a fun month September was! We were able to go to Stampede to see Jaslin during her B-day camping weekend...a bit of an adventure there, 1st Homecoming Dance for our Beauties, new additions to the fam (one new member and a return of an old member), doctor visits for our furry and non furry family members, and more. It has been a month packed with memory making moments, some sweet and some bitter, but hey that is what makes life so great! If it was all roses, we would not appreciate the gifts and blessings that we receive. 

Jason's first time to Haight and Ashbury in San Francisco. A little shopping, a couple of crepes, and time with 2 of his girls = an amazing day!

 Mariah at her Fall concert.

 My Sister from another momma gave me this beautiful  wind-chime. The glass piece at the bottom says Alaska forget me not. This reminded me of my favorite talk by President Uchtdorf, titled Forget Me Not. Heavenly Father works in remarkable ways to let us know that He is there and aware of our needs and desires. Angie didn't even know about the talk or how much it means to me, but Heavenly Father did. Such sweet reminders!

Jason and I ran the Rubicon with a group of friends. He did the soup bowl for the first time. We had an amazing time! Ran into a few jeep troubles..Thankfully Jason knew how to fix them.

Soup Bowl

Camping!

 

Traffic jam at Big Sluice

 

 Lopez Chicks...why? I say, why not. I am not one that likes to have my picture taken, however I have decided that for better or worse my face needs to be remembered so I have been taking more pics (besides a good example to my Beauties that no matter what we must love and accept ourselves for who we are and how we look). My MJ has been beyond exhausted lately and I loved this picture (brought back memories of nap-time back in the day). Mariah and the bunny, two faces that one can't help but love!

Homecoming Dance fun!

 4 legged family members.....

Newest addition...Mariah bought a kitty, her name is Maiya.

I came upstairs and this is how I found Ella. Love my silly pup!

Anaesthesia is hurt again. she is healing super fast and still her bubbly self. 

 Went and picked up Sariah. Poor baby, it looks like she was attacked, thankfully she healed okay. She has adjusted back into the fam as if she never left :0)

 Some bunny got braces!

"I've wanted braces my whole life"....just look at that smile! (metal on bottom white on top)

Stampede with my Beauties!

Such beautiful sights!

During our hunt for cows, we found all kinds of bugs, a snake, wasps and frogs, frogs and more frogs.

Oh boy! After our walking adventure in search of cows we headed back to the jeep only to discover that we were stuck in the mud :0/ Had to call Jason who thankfully was able to come with Chris and pull us out. Note to self....in the future, do NOT park where there is even a tiny bit of green.

   

Stampede sights through Jason's eyes!

 More fun with the Barney's!