This weekend was CRAZY. We had a really good weekend but I am glad it is over. I had a billion and one things to do so it went SO fast. On Friday Kaiden had his sing-around at school at 1 so I left work to go to that. I LOVE going to Kaiden's school things and haven't missed one yet, but it gets a little crazy at times, especially if I am going from work to his school and back to work and home again. I knew that the storm was going to be coming and thought hard about just taking the rest of the day off but I still had tons to do, so Kaiden and I headed back to work after the program. Just before we were getting on the freeway I was talking to Paul and he hadn't been able to stop for lunch so Kaiden and I turned around and took him some pizza. I was So nervous that we were going to get caught in the big storm. I HATE driving when it's blowing and snowing. If I were the only car on the road it would be fine but since there are other cars driving on the road with me, I HATE IT!!

As we were leaving the job site Paul was on, THE STORM HIT. I so wanted to just drive home and forget about work but all my stuff was there and I had told my boss that I was coming back. SO, we raced back to Provo with the storm blowing right in behind us. I must have been complaining out loud or Kaiden overheard me on the phone because he was so cute and said, "Mom I would drive for you because I know it would make you feel better, but I can't" (I'm really not sure if that would have made me feel better, but that was cute that he thought that)

I wasn't sure if I was making him nervous by what I had been saying, so I told him that I could drive in the snow. It was just a lot harder and you had to pay a lot of attention to all the other cars.

I'm thankful for.....

I've really been slacking on my posts lately. I have tons of pictures to add but it seems like I can't find enough time to get them posted. Anyway, my point to this whole post is that I never wrote about all the things I am thankful for, around Thanksgiving. I think I take a lot of things for granted especially when I am going through tough times and seem to forget all of the many blessings I have in my life. I have so many and I am going to try a lot harder to remember all the great people, experiences and other blessings I have. I know I am going to forget A LOT of things but here are a few of the things I am thankful for........
The priesthood I am so grateful to have the priesthood in our home and to have a husband who honors his priesthood, who is so humble and is such an example to me.
My calling in RS I love all of the ladies I serve and serve with. My great neighbors and visiting teachers are part of this too. I have the best ward ever!
For our kids I love being a mom! I think being a mom is one of the greatest blessing I have been given.
My family I have the best family ever! I am especially lucky to have some of my family as my best friends.
Paul's family. They can also be considered as my own family. They have made me feel like I have been part of the family forever.
All of my friends I have been blessed with some of the best friends ever! If you have ever heard the saying about people coming into your life for different reasons, I totally believe in that.(Sorry I don't know the exact quote) I have friends that I have known since I was growing up. Some that I don't talk to a lot but that I can go to lunch with or talk to once in a while and it's like we just saw each other. Others, it seems like I have known forever. Some you would swear we were the same person, because we have been through so many of the same things. All of my friends no matter how long we have known each other, are such strengths to me. I love all of them. (Wow, this wasn't suppose to turn into a friends post, I just have some great friends.
Last but not least is Paul I have alot to write about Paul so I will get back to this.
I have so many other things that I am thankful for . Maybe I will add some more later...

Black Friday

Yes I was one of the crazy ones that was out this morning before 4:00 a.m. JJ's girlfriend, Debbie and I hit the after Thanksgiving sales. AND then I went into work when we were done. I was pretty loopy the whole day but I got A LOT of great deals.

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving break! On Thursday afternoon we went to the Warner family Thanksgiving, at the Aults beautiful home. Thanks to the Ault family and everyone that decorated, set up tables, brought yummy food and everything else that was involved in the wonderful day. I think there were over 70 of us there. Crazy I know, but it's fun that Paul comes from such a big family. It turned out really nice!!
After semi-stuffing ourselves there, we went right over to my mom's and dad's to stuff ourselves some more...We missed having Brayden and Kaiden with us but it was still a really good day. JJ's girlfriend Debbie came and of course the rest of us were all there. Hopefully that's how it will always be, since all of us live so close.
All of the kids went and played football with Paul and JJ. Debbie was even out with them for awhile.

On Saturday we had another Thanksgiving with my dad, at my sister's house. This time Kaiden was there but Brayden had to work (sorry Brayden, we missed you!)

Battle of the (5th and 6th grade) Bands

On Tuesday I went to one of the best Rock Concerts that I have been to in a long time (and I have been to some great ones, back in the day) Kaiden's class had a lip-sync battle of the bands for a project in Geography. Isn't it cool that they can incorporate a rock concert into learning?? It was pretty funny, because all of the groups of boys did songs that were popular when I was younger. Kaiden's group did a Bon Jovi song and I think they were one of the best ones. Two of the guitarist's (including Kaiden) even jumped off the stage onto their knees and did a guitar solo. It was cute (or cool to a 5th grader) All of the kids did a great job, it was a lot of fun!!

Halloween

I LOVE Halloween, it's one of my most favorite holidays (Besides Christmas) We had a crazy day......... First, Paul had to get Kaiden up early to spray him blue (He was one of the Blue Men from the Blue Man Group) I went off to work, picked up donuts and extra blue paint because Paul used 2 cans on Kaiden's face, hands and swim cap.

Halloween is a big deal at my work so it is always a lot of fun. There were tons of great costumes. I missed our company party because I had to race back to PG for Kaiden's school parade. I heard that the party was great though..... Raced back to work for a few hours and then back home for the nights activities to begin....

The night before, Paul cooked up some homemade chili. It was suppose to be my job but I was busy trying to make some blue paint for Kaiden's costume (which didn't turn out) so Paul took over for me. What a great husband I have! So when I got home on Halloween, the chili was heating up, I put some biscuits in the oven and we had a great Halloween dinner. (Thanks Letecia for the "Winning Chili recipe" it turned out great) We had tons of places to go so we headed out as soon as we could.

First stop was grandma and grandpa W's house. My mom always has fun Halloween treats for the kids and this year was no different.... Next, we decided to do some trick-or-treating in our own neighborhood. The weather was great, besides a few sprinkles of rain. Kove LOVED going from house to house. He kept saying, "This is SO fun I love this, I'm having so much fun." It was so cute.

Maci was afraid of Paul so she wouldn't take a picture with us.




Paul's sister and brother-in-law were doing a "Midnight Carnival" at their house so that was our next stop....... They did such a great job. There were a bunch of clowns dressed up, walking around, giving out popcaorn and cotton candy and running carnival-type games.

Flag Football

Kaiden has been playing Flag Football since September and his team played really well. Tuesday was their tournament games. His team was in the top four so they played two games, the first game was for third or fourth place. If they won they would play the second game for first or second place. The first game was back and fourth with 2 over times and Kaiden's team getting the last point, for the win!!! It was so exciting! The second game was against a bunch of Kaiden's friends from school, a team we lost to, by one point in the regular season. Both teams were doing so great on defense that the score stayed 0-0 until the last few minutes when the other team scored 2 points for the win. It was sad for our team but it was great to get 2nd place. Way to go Kaiden!!

Deer Widow's (Scrapbooking) Weekend

This past weekend Paul took Kaiden and Brayden hunting with he and my dad so I had a WHOLE weekend to do WHATEVER I wanted. It's been a LONG time since I've been able to do that, so I made the most of it. On Friday night, some of the girls from work, their friends, my mom and JJ's girlfriend Debbie had a p.j./scrapbook night at my house. We cooked breakfast for dinner, hung out in our p.j.s and scrapped the whole night. It was a lot of fun. I have great friends and family!!

On Saturday I slept in, went shopping and then went to the movie with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. We saw Nights in Rodanthe. I'm still not sure what I think about it though. It was definitely a chick flick and yes, I did cry (I'm such a baby) The girl sitting next to me me was just sobbing and couldn't control herself. I would have handed her a tissue if I had one because I felt so bad for her. It was good and without ruining it, that's all I will say.

Sunday I went to church and found out that I have to teach the RS lesson this Sunday. ( That was never in my description when they called me to be the secretary two years ago) and I am FREAKING out. I can teach anyone under 18 (maybe 12) with no problem BUT I AM NERVOUS enough having to ask someone to say the prayer in RS, LET ALONE TEACH THEM SOMETHING!!!!

To make it even worse, I was getting my newsletter ready for church this last Sunday. I was looking over the lesson that we were going to have, trying to find some songs that would go with it. It was Love letters from Joseph to his family and was pretty much all letters, nothing else. I thought "Wow, that looks like a hard lesson, I wonder how A is going to present it" When I got to church and found out that I was teaching the next Sunday, I also found out that the lessons were switched and I am suppose to teach the letters from Joseph lesson. Aaaaaahhhh!!!

I did go home and try to get some ideas together so hopefully this coming Sunday goes well. I think I am going to pretend the ladies are 5 year olds and see if that works......

Camping

My Baby turned ELEVEN!!

(Don't tell Kaiden that I called him my baby, he hates it.) Yesterday was his 11th birthday!! I can't believe that it has been that long since my 3lb 13 oz baby boy was born, 7 weeks early. It's still crazy to think about all that he went through when was born. Not only was he early and under 4 lbs but then to almost die, have surgery and be in the hospital for over a month. I knew that he was a fighter and there was a big reason that he was suppose to stay on this earth. If it was only to help me, that was a big enough reason. He has helped me become a better person, to want to be a good example and to be strong for him. I love being his mom, it's one of the biggest blessings in my life. I don't know what I would do without my little Kaiden....

He had a party with a bunch of his friends at Nickelcade and then all of them came back to our house for pizza, cake and ice cream..