Exponentially Better

I think my blog posts are getting exponentially better.  It seems like each time I post a Sunday Smiles, the exponent that goes up there gets bigger and bigger.  Sometimes it is squared, sometimes it is cubed, and sometimes it is an even great number that I don't know the word for.  Anywho, today is another Sunday where I have happy moments to blog.

To start off, I smiled when Julia and I were able to catch these cute pictures of Martie doing her business one Sunday Morning.  I'm sure some may think it is inappropriate but I think they are darling so poo on them.  No pun intended.  :)

My most recent smile was when I logged on and saw that the Wahlquist blog has been updated and a friend of mine is doing at least a little better.  She is an amazingly strong woman who has been through hell (I try not to swear but there is no other word for it), and continues to inspire us all.

This weekend I had tons of smiles as Julia, Brigham, and Porter went to stay with their grandma in Provo.  They had a great time together and while they each got a little home sick, it was the sick to their stomachs that was worse.  They are a little sick, Porter and Brigham throwing up, but they still say they had a great time. 

Smiles when I turned my back on Martie for just a minute and then saw that Porter had given her a marker to color with.  He did explain, a little late, that it was just for paper.

Peter and I smiled as we moved furniture into the spare bedroom in the basement.  Every room is finally done!  Peter was uber fast and he did an awesome job. :)

Smiles as Peter and I got to speak on a gospel principle we are grateful for in sacrament last week (I was grateful for repentance and Peter was grateful for gratitude).  I have never seen anyone put as much work into a talk as Peter did and I learned so much from preparing mine. 

Bigger smiles this week when we didn't have to speak in sacrament. 

Smiles when Martie rolled herself over to the "mini trees" by the fireplace and stole someone's candy countdown. 

Smiles when Lisa Evans fed seven couples a five course meal at her mother's house.  It was delicious.  She is a fabulous cook and she made us dinner as our Christmas gift.  I thought it was a great idea and I know my vote is for making it a tradition.

Smiles when we called the kids in to deliver the neighbor gifts and Porter walked in saying, "So, am I driving this time?"  just as casual as ever.

Smiles when I heard the testimonies in sacrament today.  There are such strong people in my ward.  Brother Gordon did a great job and so did Brother Hambleton. I guess it sounds silly and trite to say they did a good job so perhaps I should just say I enjoyed hearing about the strength that they have and their faith in the plan. 

Oh, super big smiles on Thanksgiving when Clint, Katrina, Adam, and Amanda came over. We had a great dinner and then played some Tetris.

My kids smiled when they made turkey place cards for everyone at the table.  Disgusting but cute.

Chuckles and smiles when Peter put this carcass in front of Martie for Thanksgiving. 

Smiles when my kids running in from the car shouting the name of the Hot Wheels cars they go from a trip to Uncle Clint's house.  He gives them one every time they visit (he gives them out at Halloween too) and they think it is the coolest thing.

Grins all around on my favorite day of the year.  This years Black Friday started at 3:20 am when I showered and picked up Summer and Emily.  We hit Wal-Mart and then Emily went home to go back to bed.  Not Summer and me!  We continued on to KMart, Walgreens (5 different stores one of which we hit twice), Kohl's, Downeast Home, Payless, Dollar Tree, Fazolli's, and Joann's.  We called the day at 2pm when the husbands noted we had been gone over 10 hours!  What did we get, I don't know and I don't care, I just know I was out with everyone having a great day.  (Peter's talk in sacrament a few days later made everyone want to return whatever they had purchased but I got past that).  Of course I missed LeShel on this wonderful tradition but it was great to know she was out with her sister Katrina doing the same thing. 

Big smiles when we got our Christmas stuff up.  I like to have it up early and down late so that I can check it off.  It is also a fun change that makes the house look really fun or really clean.  Both of which I like.

Smiles this afternoon when Peter said he wanted some "Cookie Crisp" and I saw this when I looked over.  We did have the cereal kind in the cupboard but apparently this version is better.