Day 5

I am thankful for the laughter of children!  There is no sound in the world that can melt my heart faster than a happy child.  Listening to my kids play and laugh together brings me such joy.  I think I am a kid at heart too.  Maybe that's why the kids like me.  ha ha  When I teach dance, I love to be silly and goofy and make the dancers laugh.  Children keep us old people young, and their laugh and smiles can make anyone smile!

Day 4

I am thankful for my entire extended family!  Arizona family, California family, Utah family, Arkansas Family, Germany and soon to be Afghanistan Family.  I feel I was raised wonderfully!  I felt love and encouragement from the beginning!  I still feel love and encouragement from all sides of this big family we have!  I am thankful that my family can see past my faults and love me the way I am.  I am one lucky girl to call The Basha's, The McDonough's, The Evans, The Teeters, The Brothersen's, The Warner's, The Pelley's, The Osborne's, The Martinez's, The Longtin's, And a Cox.... MY FAMILY!  I know  Familes CAN be together forever!
And I can't imagine eternity without any of these!

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Day 3

Today, I am thankful for the beautiful world we get to call home!  I am thankful for the warmth of the sun, clear blue skies, and the many varieties of beauty on earth!  I love the oceans, the mountains, the dessert, the rocks, hills, and everything in between!  This is truly a wonderful place to live!  The creation of the world is wonderful beyond comprehension!  Thanks to those first 5 days! 

Day 2

I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ!  He lived his life perfectly and resisted sin so we could live forever with Him after this life!  I am thankful He showed me a way to live.  He loved, He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and blessed all who would believe on His name.   I won't be perfect in this life, ...nobody is.  But I will die trying to be like HIM. 

Thankful Thanksgiving

So I started a little tradition for myself a while back to write something I am thankful for everyday of November leading up to Thanksgiving.  I feel it is good for me to reflect on my own blessings.  So this year, I decided to share some of them with my blogging world.

NOVEMBER 1st-  I am thankful for my little family of 5!  I LOVE them sooo sooo soo much!  Kyle is my best friend and my eternal companion!  He loves me unconditionally! Kaylee is my beautiful, angel, daughter who keeps me sane with all of the testosterone in our house!  Konnor flashes his dimple at me and my heart melts!  He gives me the BEST kisses too!  Kase is so tender and adorable.  He is at a fun age where he is learning to communicate, and he makes me laugh at the drop of a hat!  So, for day one..... I am thankful for these 4 completely amazing people, I get to call my family!

Camping in the fall

 We went camping as the leaves were changing.  And wow, it was gorgeous!  As an Arizona girl, we didn't get too much of the fire colors around.  So every fall it is quite a treat! 

 We went on a few little hikes, had nummy food, kyle went riding his bike, it was all during the elk hunt!  We could hear the elk bugles, and the wind in the trees, the smell of the fire, and the crackling sounds, just melted my heart!

 LOOK AT THIS TREE! 

 We decided after we tore our camp site down, that we would go on a hike to see some pretty trees.  It was a LONG 2 mile hike up and down hills with 3 small children!  And let me just say, they ROCKED it!  Kaylee was the holder of the GPS, Kyle had the camera, and I had the water and snacks.

 A few hunters passed us on our way back to the truck.  They asked us with wonderment and confusion in their eyes, "Where have you guys come from?"  We told them where we started from and they COULD NOT believe we did it with the 3 little happy smiley kids!  They called our kids "troopers".  And that they were!

 Look at that view!

 Green, yellow, orange, and red all in one pic!

Love Utah!

Nebo Loop!

 Family pic - by Kyles trusty tripod work!  Nicely done.

 

We had a picnic and it was nummy. Good times, had by all.

 

Look at this face!

Pics of Rome

 We went on a little romantic getaway to Rome, Italy a couple of weeks ago.  It was spectacular! 

 The Colosseum was a highlight of ours!

 My handsome honey!

 JUMP!  

On the cobblestone roads in ROME!  Nobody thought we were weird Americans or ANYTHING.  (say that really sarcastic in your head)

 A sight to see at night!

 The Pantheon night life!  Who ever said you have to drink alcohol to have a good time!  Cuz we sure had fun!  (and for the record, I am sure people thought we were drunk).  Just happy on life!

 A romantic dinner in front of the Pantheon!  The best spicy penne of my life!  YUM.  My mouth is watering right now just thinking of it.

 Another highlight was ascending the Santa Scala steps.  (faithful Christians were encouraged to go go up the steps on your knees in reverence to our Savior.  It is said that these steps were the same steps in Pontius Pilates house that Jesus ascended for judgement.

 The Vatican!  A neat experience for a girl who was raised Catholic.  I am now a faithful Mormon, but I do respect all religions.

 Then one day we went to Florence, Italy!  It was so pretty!

 I got to see my dear mission friend Sister Ranucci!  Love her!

 And I shall end this blog post with the tastiest part...

THE GELATO!

Wow!  We averaged 2 gelato stops a day.  The first pic is of NUTELLA Gelgato! 

Holy smokes, that was wonderful!

 Look at the garnishing on these!  SOOOO yummy!  Too bad I cant get a hold of any of this heavenly treat here in the states!  I am on the hunt though!