Thanksgiving Weekend

We had Thanksgiving with Travis' side of the family. What a fun time we had, but it's good to be home now. Here's Max smiling at uncle Chad...

We had 28 people for Thanksgiving dinner, so we just moved the couches out of the living room, and moved three tables in.

Jason enjoying his jello...

Later, we pushed two of the tables together for a big game of Mormon bridge...

And of course we had to balance the babies again. Jaci is getting so big...

On Friday, we put the Christmas decorations up. I think the boys (Travis, Chad, and Jason) just like to have an excuse to get on the roof...

Silly Chad...

Travis and Elora in the famous tree, it wasn't long ago that me and Travis were in the same tree...

Trevor giving Jaci hugs...

Ethan and Ella got new hats...

On Sunday we got to go to new baby Mya's baby blessing and then luncheon. Afterwards we went to go see Tyson's grave stone that just got put in...

Then, on Sunday night before we left, we had a cousin party for all the little kids. Complete with storytime,

(Uncle Dustin told a good story about a snowman) songtime,

snacktime (Max was all business),

(Emma enjoying her snack),

games (pin the nose on the Santa Claus),

And a gift exchange.

Here's all 12 grandkids! (Oldest to youngest is: Nick, Gavin, Brandon, Elora, Trevor, Ethan, Tanner, Max, Emma, Jaci, Ella, and Mya)

What a fun Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving ABC's

I thought this one was cool, brought me back to my seminary days when Bro McArthur had us write down all the things we're thankful for, remember that Katie?

Autumn
Bed
Cookies
Dinners
Elora
Family
Gospel
Home
Ice cream
Jesus Christ
Kitchen -though it's not that big, it works
Little people -the ones I live with, they're so cute :)
Max
Nose -very thankful I can smell and taste the good things of the world
Optical devices that help me see better
Power -As in the kind that powers our house
Quilts
Reading
Sky -I like painting skies
Travis
Universe
V-6 engine -so I can travel down to see family in a week and a half!!
Work -so Travis can earn money for his family
Xacto knives -a must have tool for the artist
Yo-yo's -as in the crazy people that I grew up with and love so much
Zuchini bread -mmmmm

So I tag anyone who wants to join in, and list some of their many blessings that they are thankful for!

Halloween...

For Halloween, I completely made Travis' costume, and Max's costume, bought Elora's, and made up a DI dress for my costume. We went to two Trunk or Treats, a couple houses, and then had pizza and a movie at our friend's house, it was a lot of fun!

Travis was Sully...

Elora was Boo...

Max was Mike Wazowski...

I was Celia...

And Bobby the bear was Mike's bear that Boo carried around...

The whole family...

Me with my "other Mom" here in Ogden, Carmella...

Letting my hair out at the end of the day...

Couldn't resist a few pictures from this morning...

What We've Been Doing...

On Saturday, while I was off sewing by myself upstairs, Travis was in charge of the kids so they wouldn't distract me. Here's Max hanging out outside... What a cool dude...

One of the things I was sewing was Elora's new dress shown here... I think I did a good job if I do say so myself... And here is Max also in new Sunday clothes, but I didn't make them. He looks like a very cute little boy! (Where's my baby Max??)

This is the first time Max is even wearing a tie! (Even though you can't see it very well here) Don't worry, his tie is basically his bib now, because it was covered in drool by the end of church!

Sunday night, we had out family home evening of carving pumpkins! Elora quite enjoyed helping Daddy get all the guts out.

The other evening, while Travis was at school, the kids were playing outside before bedtime because it was a very nice night. But they were enjoying themselves by sitting on the fence. Elora wanted me to take a picture of them. They were even good about both saying "Cheese!" Or as Max says, "Teese!"

We are enjoying our life, but are glad these weeks are going fast, and that we have plenty to do and enjoy!

And Then I Have Moments Like This...

Trying to Stay Positive...

I have the best husband ever! And I'm not saying that to be cheesy, but because it's true, and...

I'm trying to stay positive...

Travis is starting a another night class this week. It's a half-semester class that's on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9. So instead of going to class just Monday and Wednesday, he's now going to class Monday through Thursdays for the next 8 weeks... 8 killer weeks for both of us! So basically he'll say goodnight to the kids on Sunday night and not see them until Friday after work.... Oh man...writing it out like that sounds really horrible... :( Well, hopefully, he'll get to come home for dinner still on Tuesdays and Thursdays... he'll have like 30 minutes inbetween work and school... he could make it.... maybe.... Or maybe it will just be harder for the kids to have to say hello, and goodbye right after eachother.... Ohhh..... But....

I'm trying to stay positive....

Because I have the best husband ever! He sacrifices so much to provide a life for his family. He is so good helping with the kids when I need a little rest, and he still finds time to do the dishes for me once in a while, which I'm truly grateful for, thank you Travis! He is so diligent about getting his homework done, (even if I have to give him a little nudge to get back on schedule) He's started to apply to places to work after he graduates, and started interviewing.... And even if he doesn't get a job, I hope the interviewers see what kind of amazing man they are interviewing!We keep having to remind ourselves that this is only a short while.... Only 192 days left... or roughly 27 weeks.... or roughly 6.5 months..... until he's DONE with school! We will be having a major celebration, believe me!! You're invited to join in our celebration on May 1st, even if you can't come to the actual celebration with us, we can just have a big celebration together all over the country! Anyway, I just have to take a deep breath and get through the next day, week, month, 8 weeks, (then Christmas, YAY!), then the next semester, and then graduation, and then the rest of our life!! Endure to the end, right?

Here are two pictures of Travis being frustrated with homework 4 years ago....

I love you Travis!! Try to not be frustrated, and stay positive, will ya?

The Difference Between Dreams and Reality

"The Difference Between Dreams and Reality" (A Self-Portrait), Oil on Canvas, 18x24 inches, Cynthia Gough-2004

Well, after reading a post by my friend Sarah, I wrote a lengthy comment on her blog. So before you read any further, go there, http://cerrahs.blogspot.com/ and then you’ll understand more about what I’m about to write. And also, here is my comment to her.

"Oh Sarah... You're making me cry now... The best times of my life were when I was in Del's classes painting, was I in that first portrait painting class with you that time? And for a semester, my first at SUU, I thought of doing something besides painting -graphic design. It was the only semester I hadn't taken a painting or drawing class. I took a graphic design class, and I hated it! I thought that possibly I wanted to become a graphic artist, because it would be "easier, "more "stable", or "easier" to find work. But as I took the class, I realized I hated it! During that semester, at my apartment one day, I decided to paint again. I cried, and fell in love all over again... I realized what I really loved. So after that I decided to go for the "useless" drawing and painting BA. And I loved every minute of it. The thing is, all my roommates thought I had it easy... "Oh, she's just an art major," No, it was hard work! Anyway, I don't know why it's been so hard for me to pick it back up... (I think the kids may have something to do with it...) Anyway, I just tell this story because you have inspired me to keep at it. What you have done is truly inspirational, I'm proud of you. I want to be like you. I should shut up, and go finish my painting I've been working on for 4-1/2 years now... Thank you! I want to see your painting up close, It's beautiful, amazing, no words to describe it, that's why we have art... Maybe I'll be put this novel in a post now..."

So, I also wanted to add that Sarah’s painting is amazing! She did everything right! I love the style, the model, the expression, and she captured all that Sarah wanted to about Eve. I also wanted to say that I’m so proud of Sarah. I’ve known her since middle school, so I’ve seen many things that she’s drawn and painted. She has improved tremendously, as you have seen! I remember me, Karolee (my cousin), and Sarah all had this art thing going together. Sometimes it seemed like we were sort of competing against each other… But now, it’s clear that Sarah is “winning.” (Not that it’s a competition.)

I’m so glad for her, but I’m jealous. Not jealous of her talent, but that I know I can do the same thing, but I’m not. Why haven’t I? I wanted to enter the same competition. I had plans, but didn’t follow through… I don’t think it’s because I have two kids, and Sarah has one. One or two, doesn’t make too big of a difference. I think I just lost the willpower when it comes to art, I just always figured that I’d pick up art again once the kids go to school. But thanks to Sarah, I’ve realized that I need to keep at it. Why wait? I at very least need the practice. But I also need to keep going with my talent, to feel all that comes with it on a regular basis. I’ve known this all along, but I lost sight of it.

Art is a journey. I was talking to a friend earlier about her sharing her talent of writing poetry. She said she didn’t feel like she could because her poems are too personal. I feel like art is personal too, but the viewer only sees part of it, or the fruits of it. The other part is the personal journey that the artist goes on, the battle, the good times and the bad times, and trying to get it just right (even though it is never “just right” but always, “almost right.”)

I want to keep this journey in my life. I’ve had the goal of being a working artist, but I’ve known it will take time, especially when I still have kids at home. I can do whatever I want, if I plan for it. There’s precious naptime, and after the kids go to bed. So there are small increments here and there. I love “painting” my masterpieces, my kids, but I have plans for more. I have plans, plans to continue on my journey of art. If I just decide to, and plan for it, I know I can do it. I’m working on another project (that I’m absolutely loving) at the moment, which will earn me money. But I have plans for my art to be part of that project in the future. I will be successful in whatever I dream because I know that, “Do or do not, there is no try”-Yoda. I have dreamed about my successful business as an artist, and if I endure to the end, and just do it, it will become reality. It will take time, but then my dreams right now will become my reality in the future. And my reality right now will turn into my dreams. It just depends on me.

And that, my friends, is the difference between dreams and reality.

Sorry for the novel, I just needed to get this out. And this seemed like a fine place...