A Birthday Surprise--Sort of!!

My sweet husband made some secret plans to take me to " The Roof" restaurant for my birthday. The restaurant has spectacular views of temple square in Salt Lake. We had a great time, even though I spoiled the surprise! Darren hates that he can't ever keep anything from me! We felt like such adults--we had to dress up and make reservations and everything!! Our great friends Ryan and Kristie came with us. I ate so many shrimp I thought I might start turning pink!! Yum, Yum!! Thanks babe, for a great birthday celebration!

A Birthday Surrounded By Good Friends!

Our women's church group, put on a program about the ten virgins for our Christmas program. The performance happened to fall on my birthday, but it was such a treat to spend the evening with such great and talented women!! Happy Birthday to me--even if I was a "foolish" virgin!!

An Attitude of Gratitude!

Most of you who know me, know I work at our local elementary school. Most of you who know me, also know I do not mind working, but of course I would rather be home. Well the absolute best thing about my job (besides the children) is the people I work with. I have been able to meet so many wonderful people, and I am so honored to count them among my friends. Well one of these wonderful people issued a challenge on her blog--a thankfulness challenge! This is something we probably all think about when November rolls around and then are sorry we did not do anything about when December comes! She is posting one thing she is grateful for on her blog every day for the month of November. Of course you don't have to post it, you could write it in your journal, or on a post it, or in toothpaste on your mirror if you want!! I chose to post mine, because I want my children to see the things I am most grateful for. I am really going to try and individualize mine--hence the first thing on my list!! Have fun with this--and Happy Thanksgiving! Nov.26 I am thankful for "wise" and "foolish" friends!

Cassidy's Cheer Competition! Her Team Did Not Place, But I Have Never Seen Cass Look Like She Was Having So Much Fun! She Looked Great!!

The Only Thing Scarier Than Halloween--Is Halloween at an Elementary School!!

The Office Staff Thought We Would Dress Up Like Our Second Job!! For Every Phone Call We Answer We Put On At Least One Band-aid!!

What Do You Get When You Cross a BYU Cheerleader, a Ninja, And a Big Fat Baby? Halloween at the Forsyth's!

We're In The Play-Offs!!

Wednesday night could have been Connor's last game of the season, but after double overtime his team won the fight and made it to Play-offs!! Connor had three touchdowns, the last one being in the second overtime--which tied the game up again!! Barker saved the day and scored the extra point which kept us from triple overtime!! That is the first time I have seen Connor cry because he was happy! When I tucked Connor in that night he told me that when he thought they might loose he started to look forward to getting his life back, ( I can relate!) but is way excited to go to play-offs!! He ended the official season with 17 touchdowns in 8 games, and mom ended the official season with a sore throat from screaming, and high blood pressure from double overtime!!! WAY TO GO SPARTANS!!!

Opening Day Gift

Written by :Alex Forsyth
This year Alex drew a deer tag for the central region of Utah. He had the opportunity to go hunting with his dad and grandpa. They went on the mountain above Alpine to see if they could see any bucks and not do a lot of hiking, well it ended up being a lot of hiking. Well they hunted for a good 3 hours and weren't seeing anything, but Alex wanted to go over one more ridge and see if there were any deer. Well to their dismay they didn't see anything, however on the way down they heard something on the bottom of a canyon and hurried to get into position in case there was a buck. Tim (Alex's grandpa) saw this buck first and declared it a big one so without hesitation Alex dropped onto one knee and shot him. The buck took only a few steps. It was a good experience to hunt with his grandpa and dad and couldn't be happier with this buck. "momma always said life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get"
-Forrest Gump

Putting Down Roots!

This month has marked the longest we have ever lived in one place! It is so exciting to finally have a tree in our yard big enough to actually have leaves that will change color in the fall! Someday this tree is going to be really big, and I will have swings hanging from either side for my grandkids to swing from! Watching this tree grow and thinking about the time we have spent in this home has left me feeling so grateful. I love when I go to church I can look at so many different people, and remember serving with them in one calling or another--I love that the neighborhood kids I worked with when they were in kindergarten still remember me even though they are in 3rd grade now! I love that my kids get mad when we go to Smiths because I always see someone I know, and have to stop to talk! I love that I remember Candace Gibby's ( our neighbor) 13th birthday party, because her and her friends kept us up all night--and now she is a Sr. in high school! I love that when we moved here Alex was still in Primary and now I watch him bless the sacrament on Sunday! I am not usually one to like change--but I guess I do not mind things changing, as long as I have some constants around me--like friendships, and memories, and children and trees growing up!

Game Day!!

The long awaited day finally dawned!! Our first game as a family!! All week forecasters had been predicting snow and rain and COLD!!! I kept the faith and knew we would witness a miracle--and for once I WAS RIGHT!! It was on the cold side, but who notices that when you are on your feet cheering the whole time!! It was so fun to see the wonder in our children's eyes!! A BYU game, and we were actually there!!!

The Day May Have Been Cold--But Our BYU Spirit Kept Us Warm!

Oh--What A Sight!!

Final Score!

Our First Sleepover With Noah!

My sister finally decided to let us begin to pay her back for all the times she has helped with my kids over the years!! We got to keep Noah overnight so her and Troy could get away for Troy's birthday! We had so much fun--except I did not know what to do when I needed to get in the shower--how I ever handled two babies is totally beyond me!! Here is a look at all the things Noah helped me with throughout the day!!!!

The Gate Will Not Stop Him From Getting Down Those Stairs!!

Noah Is Such A Big Helper--He Helped Me With The Laundry!

He Helped Me With The Dishes!

We Even Did A Little Grocery Shopping!

All Good Things Must Come To An End!

Thursday night Connor's football team had their first lost of the season! Connor had two touchdowns--one of which was called back because of a penalty--but for some reason his team just was not playing like the Saratoga Spartans we have been watching all season! Because of their 5-0 record up to that point-they are guaranteed a spot in the play off's! It was a hard night for Connor--but Darren said he thought it was an even harder night for me!!! At least BYU had a victory on Friday--it wasn't the shut-out I wanted, and they did not play like they should have--but a win is a win, and we will take it gratefully!

Worldly Worries

I have to admit I have been pretty consumed with all the media, this week, about the financial crisis the United States is in. When you hear words like "depression" and " falling dollar" and "banks collapsing"--well it gets a little overwhelming and causes quite a bit of anxiety. This morning I was watching CNN and they had some "Expert" on telling us Americans what we need to do to protect ourselves as much as possible from all that is going on. I watched with eager eyes, as I waited for him to enlighten me with his expertise. These were his words of advice #1--get out of debt, especially credit card debt #2 Save money--spend less than you earn #3 have some cash on hand--do not have it all tied up in one place --Well, because of my membership in the LDS church I have had my church leaders giving me this exact same advice for years and years! I found myself realizing that nothing these so called "Experts" can tell me brings any kind of peace--I want to hear from my prophet--which I will in just two weeks! I remember a Stake Conference Adult Session Darren and I attended two years ago ( I think) and The presiding Bishop of the church, point blank ,told all of us, if any in the company had a sub-prime loan on their home to refinance as soon as possible. It is times like this I am reminded of one of my favorite scriptures--John 14:27--" Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Our savior is always the answer--even when our troubles are as " wordly" as they are in these times. He sends us prophets and apostles to warn us and guide as-- as I look back on financial decisions Darren and I have made in our lives, I can see the hand of the Lord so clearly. Not that we are rich as to things of the world, but we have enough for our needs. When we keep the commanments and have faith we are blessed with the peace that only He can give.

He's A Star!!

I don't mean to brag (but, what the heck--that is what a blog is for--right?) but Connor scored 20 of his team's 21 points on Thursday night! Football fans know what kind of team effort every touchdown requires! Connor has some great blockers helping him make it through the line--and one awesome coach that is really helping him develop his natural talents!! So far his team is 4-0--and mom is having dreams of cheering for one of her own from the bleachers of Lavell Edwards Stadium someday!!!!

GO COUGARS!!!!

For those of you living under a rock--you might not have heard the news that BYU blew out UCLA on saturday with a score of 59-0!!!! After the first fumble I said wouldn't it be great if we have a blow-out and UCLA does not even score--well in "true blue" fashion the cougars delivered!!! Look out BCS--here we come!!!!!

"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself" Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have you ever had one of those days, when everything just feels right with the world? I am lucky enough to be having one of those today! I cannot really even tell you why I am having this overwhelming feeling of contentment. (I did my check-book first thing this morning--and that does not usually result in the sort of feeling I am experiencing today!) Despite my deficit in the check register, I was still filled with this calming peace!! Maybe it was the sweet text I got from my husband this morning--totally out of the blue--but so comforting to know someone out there thinks I am wonderful--he ignores all evidence to the contrary!!
Maybe it is the sweet smell of fall in the air--to drive into town with the window rolled down gave me such happiness today!!
Perhaps it is because I remembered all my errands before I returned home--I almost forgot one--and a still, small voice reminded me to stop at Pioneer Party right as I was passing!
I came home and accomplished something that had been on my " to do" list for so long--it brought tears to my eyes when I finally finished!
I prepared dinner while my children were still at school--I marveled at my kitchen stocked full of all the things I need, plus so much more!! Dinner is waiting in the fridge--and because of busy schedules, that is more comforting than many of you could possibly know!!!
I made cookies for my children--which they could smell as they came through the door--their excitement made me feel like a good mom!!
As I accomplished all that was required of me today, I was surrounded by beautiful music--and the thoughts of good neighbors and friends made me feel far more blessed than I rightfully deserve. ( but I will take it anyway!)
Certainly everything about my life is the same as it was yesterday--crazy,busy,and hectic--but for today at least my Heavenly Father is seeing fit to bless me with a tremendous ability to see my life for what it is--far from perfect, but, Oh, so blessed!!
( I kid you not--as soon as I finished typing this--cassidy came in and told me the car was making a funny noise--my battery is dead--Heavenly Father must have a sense of humor!!)

Friday Night Lights at Lehi High!

Although Alex only suited up for the Varisty game, you would have thought he had made the winning play from the celebrating he was doing!! It has been a good long while since Lehi Football saw a victory, so their win over Springville 25-16 caused quite a frenzy!!! Darren and I were waiting for them to start tearing the goalposts down!!! Cassidy also performed during half time--it was a fun way to spend a Friday Night!!! (Alex is #88)