Happy Halloween!

Such a fun party. Amazing grandchildren and their wonderful parents. The pictures don't represent how cute the kids looked in their costumes. Parents, if you have better pictures, please send them to me, and I will "exchange". Donuts swinging from the ceiling fan, musical chairs, and decorating pumpkin cakes. Chili, salad, bread bowls, and the ever wonderful Nothing "Bundt" cake. Loved it. Thanks everyone for coming. We need a picture of our fireman. He got called away to a fire before we could get his picture!! We sure missed our London, Max, and Spencer. We had a James Bond, Ninjas, a Policeman, a Dinosuar, Fancy Nancy, a Tiger Princess, and we would have liked to see Dash, Peter Pan, and Tinker Bell as well. Love you ALL!

Thanks for our table runner, Gramma!

You are so talented! I totally love this table runner! It is so festive and cute! Thanks for taking the time to make it and send it down here. It means a lot to have something of yours to display on this holiday, something to remind us of you. Thanks again! We love you!

WHAT HAPPENED??

FALLWINTER

What happened to our beautiful Fall. I miss it! I wanted it to stick around for awhile. Some of the leaves haven't even turned into their beautiful colors.....

Celebrating at the Cheesecake Factory

Last weekend we celebrated birthdays at the new Cheesecake Factory out at Fashion Place. We had to wait a long time to get in, but it was fun cruising the mall with everyone while we waited. Happy Birthday to Codye, Tyler, Trace, and Brooke. Thanks everyone for coming and all of your many good wishes. Thanks Bill for being our happy sponsor!! This definitely needs to be a new tradition! Love you all!

Happy Birthday, Gramma!!

G - Generous! Always hooking me up with a Pace's Diet Coke, the kids new jammies, and beautiful quilts for everyone! Also, Giving. She gives her time to everyone, even if it means she doesn't get any left for herself.
R - Republican! And all the good that it entails:) And Righteous. She definitely always has the Spirit with her. She has high standards that she doesn't change for any one or any occasion.A - Advisor! Any problem, she has a suggestion and it always seems to work.
M - Mother! She still takes care of her kids and worries about all of us. Call when you get home!
M - Meticulous! Never a detail left out. If you don't believe me, have her teach you how to quilt;) Such a great quality, especially for Bill and his doctors. She has them spell out the words their using so she can get it right. Smart!
A - 'A' Student. She is so smart, always knows the latest studies, news, and reading the latest books. Which is helpful for me because it saves me from reading them and I can just get the condensed version from her. While she's driving to work.
Thanks for being such a great example, mom. I love you and hope one day I can be just like you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Ally!

Because she's a Lewis girl too!

Adorable! Those big brown eyes, those humongous paws, those droopy lips...
Loud! Those snores are bound to keep anyone up at night!
Lovey! Always keeping close.
Young at heart! Because even though she's nine years old, she's still a puppy to me.

Other words that could have been used: Loyal, Attentive, Beggar, Funny, Fat, Sleepy, Photogenic, etc.

Happy Birthday big girl!! We sure love you!

www.decatastrophize.calm

I guess I have reached the point in my life where I have to conquer my fear of staying alone. I think that in my entire life I have only had to stay home alone once. Bill was traveling, and Liz slept over at a friend's house. I have been raising children for thirty three years, and so someone has always been around. Two weeks ago Bill was gone for two nights.

I was able to utilize some of the strategies that I teach the kids. The lesson that I am teaching right now is about stress. Usually I teach the techniques like deep breathing, tightening muscles then relaxing, and going to that calm place they have created in their mind. This year we are reviewing those, but also working on "decatastrophizing" our problems. Hence, the title of the post "www.decatastrophize.calm"..

The three w's stand for WORST, WONDERFUL, and WILL. What is the worst thing that will happen, and what can you do to avoid it? What is the most wonderful thing that can happen, and what can you do to help that happen? The last is what will probably happen, and how can you prepare for it?

In my mind the worst thing that could have happened to me is that someone would break in. To keep this from happening I checked the doors five times instead of just two. The most wonderful thing is that I would not be scared. Working on this one. What would probably happen is that I would wake up and nothing would have happened. THAT is the one that has helped me.

Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me how much I learn from what I do, and how much it helps me. Sure glad that Bill is home with no travel plans, and I do have a big, beautiful Golden Retriever to keep me company.