A Thankful Heart and a Big Appetite!

Like most people I spent most of the day cooking up pies, rolls, salads and just simply trying to stay sane through it all. Luckily I have 3 wonderful people to walk me through my day...My Mom, my Sister and on of my BFF's Lisa. Speaking of lucky or should I say blessing because of the time of year, I have so much to be grateful for.

For FHE this week I made a box and we (meaning Emily and Mom-mostly Mom) went through a magazine and found pictures and cut them out and glued them onto a box. The purpose of the box is for us to write things we are grateful for throughout the week and put them in the box. I think we have done fairly well and it has brought on a lot of thought. I had to ask Emily what things made her happy instead of what are your blessing, obviously because she is 2 and the answer was simply "Cabie" (meaning Caleb). It was so cute. They are top on my list for the things I am grateful for!!! Man, they can make me mad one minute and then have me rolling on the floor the next. We were driving in the car a few days ago and they were in the back seat cracking up at each other, it was so funny! I wanted to jump back there and join them!!!

Next or equally on my list would be my sweet hubby! He amazes me! He also can make me mad one minute and them make me smile from ear to ear the next! I love that man, more than I can express!! He is so thoughtful and is so willing to help me with the kids. He works 10 hour days and usually only gets 4-5 hours of sleep at night and is always willing to get up in the middle of the night with either of our kids. He has taught me so much over the past 4 years of our marriage. Mainly to laugh, I think I inherited my dad's dry sense of humor (sorry dad)--I honestly have a hard time laughing, but Ben has showed me how easy it is and there is more to life than living and dying.

Also on the top of my list would be The Gospel. That includes our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. What comfort I receive from praying and attending the temple and learning more and more each day of how I need to be living my life. I love President Monson as well. He is so wise!! Period! He speaks and I know I need to listen...carefully! What a great man!!

I guess I shouldn't say also on the top of my list anymore because everything on my list is number one, including my next blessing...my family and friends! My mom and sister and friends (especially Lisa) listen to me and help me through my day. I love them so much and feel so blessed to have their love and friendship in my life.

Anyway this became a really long post, but I could go on and on with the things I am grateful for. We truly are blessed. I can't wait for Christmas, it will be so much fun this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I hope you each eat wonderful food and are surrounded by the people you love.

Twilight...ho hum!!!

So on Thursday me and some of my friends went to the midnight showing of Twilight. I haved so many mixed feelings about the movie. It was good, it really was...BUT it was also so cheesy!! There was of few really good scenes, like the running scenes were done really good. There was also some beautiful shots. Edward's hair was tacky, but his voice and smile fit to a T. I love most of the other characters except Carlisle. He totally looked make-up caked! Yuck! Anyway overall, it was alright, I am glad I read the book first. I will go see the next movie. AND the best part I had alot of fun with my girlfriends!

My two little turkeys

On Wednesday it was such a rainy, dreary day, we decided to make a little craft. I found this cute idea online and went with it. They turned out really cute!!! My 2 babies are the cutest little turkeys I have ever seen!!!

This picture makes me laugh because Emily was making such funny faces at herself. She thought she was so cool!!

Caleb looked so cute! Unfortunaltley, later that night he ripped off the right red wing and ate it...poor turkey!

In the leafy treetops (Or they were leafy before they landed all over my lawn!!!)

We have so many leaves on our lawn because of our 2 huge maple trees. I love the trees in the summertime because they provide excellant shade, but in the fall they have so many leaves that fall and cover our lawn. Last year we fill up our truck 3 or 4 times before the leaves were gone. It is a chore but add a little sugar and the job becomes a game. I obviouisly wasn't working too hard when I was taking these pictures of Emily, but had could I resist?

The other night Ben and I were watching Journey to the Center of the Earth and he fell asleep (not unusual for a Willoughby). But I watched him and thought about all he does for our family and I just wanted to cry. He looked so handsome and peaceful. Although the peace ended when I started taking pictures of him...oops. I am so thankful for his good job and for all the things we are blessed with. I am thankful that he makes so many things possible for us. Today in our RS class we discussed the Joseph and Emma letters and in one of them he says "Remember that I am a true and faithful friend to you and the children forever. My heart is entwined around yours forever and ever." I loved that and feel the same way about Ben and my children. I am just so grateful to be a wife and mother!!!

Halloween Fun

We had a lot of fun this Halloween! I was the mother of Little Red Riding Hood and a Mr. Penguin for the day. With the help of my wonderful mother-in-law, we made Emily a cape that turned out oh so cute!!! And also with the help of my fab sister-in-law Caleb was the cutest penguin I have ever seen! We went to Ben's Grandparent's house and had dinner in a pumpkin and snake bites--it was Yummo!!! And then came the candy. We went trunk or treating and saw a lot of fun, scary and even some pretty risque costumes (mind you this is at a church trunk or treat) I believe the risque ones just saw free candy and stopped on by. But we had lots of fun and I can't wait till next year. Emily has already told me she wants to be Wendy and Caleb is going to be Peter Pan. So cute!!!

Food Storage Update...

Well I think we are finally done buying food storage for awhile. We have accomplished our goal of having 1 year supply of food for 4 people, and it has taken one whole room of our house. I could go in that room and stand in the middle and look around for hours.

Here is a final list:

600 lbs. Hard cracked Wheat

150 lbs. Rice

150 lbs. Quick oats

325 lbs. flour

30 lbs. honey

175 lbs. sugar

250 lbs. beans

3.5 Gallons veg. oil

24 cans evap. milk

24 + cans veggies

24 cans tuna

3 Gal. Clorox

12 cans Spagetti sauce

70 lbs. Non-fat instant milk

48 boxes of jello/pudding

4 bottles ketcup

5 Gal. Laundry Detergant

25 lbs. Instant Potato Flakes

73 Gal. Water

100 lbs. potatoes

5 lbs. peanut butter

40 Cans of cream soup

Panake and Cake mixes

Ramen Noodles---so easy and cheap
25 Quarts of Apples (Applesauce, dehydrated, pie filling)

25 lbs. Spagetti Noodles

20 lbs. Macaroni Noodles

6 lbs. yeast

16 lbs. salt

Holy Smokes..my brain is tired! I will post pictures someday when it is all in 5 gallon buckets and a little more organized. :)

So are the Days of Our Lives.....

We have been busy lately. Ben's family came to visit last week and it has been alot of fun being with them. We are even lucky to have his Mom with us for 2 more weeks. She is so much help and we appreciate her alot! Emily cries alot during the day for "Gramma Sheri". We are also lucky to have a Great Great Grandma in our family. We took some 5 generation pictures and it was fun to see us all together. I have also been using my handy Canon Rebel for some quick pics. My poor kids, I torture them (well not really but sometimes they think so).

Isn't she funny! She makes me laugh so hard sometimes.

She is also such a good big sister! All she has to do is look at Caleb and he grins from ear to ear!

***********

Today I needed some fresh air and it was such a beautiful day I couldn't help but enjoy it! We went to my Piano Lessons and then to the store. While I was waiting for a prescription to be filled we took a stroll in the park. Caleb slept the whole time but Emily and I swung on the swings and went on the slides and sang songs. We have fun together!!!!

My Hubby's Blog

With the Economy going crazy, Ben decided to start his own blog about the Signs of the Times. He has done a really good job. Please read and feel free to comment.

http://benwilloughby.blogspot.com/

Look-A-Like

This is a picture of Ben's Grandpa when he was little. I think they look alot alike (besides the dark hair of course)! I posted this just for fun....what do ya think?

7 Months Old

Today my sweet little baby is 7 months old. He is growing up too fast...as everyone says when they have a new baby! I thought I would write about all of his favorite things: EMILY!!! He loves her! All she has to do is look at him and he giggles. He loves to chew on everything! He even has 3 teeth and 1 coming through. He is such a good eater and eats most everything. His recent favorite is pumpkin bread!! YUMMO! He loves his bathes and will bath forever. He loves his Mommy which makes it hard sometimes, but deep inside I love that he loves me!! He loves his grandpas. He loves his Johnny Jumper. The other day he fell asleep in it and was still jumping, it was extra cute!! He also loves to smile and flirt, no matter who it is. He is such a good boy...spoiled but good! We are still working on the sleeping but I know patience is a virtue!! :) We love you little Cabie and we are so glad you came to our family 7 short months ago!!

Here are some pictures I took today...