Thankful for pink blankets....

I have been pretty darn bad at this Thankful thing. Well, at least bad when I forget to blog about it. Am I more aware of being thankful? Yes, and I have decided that today I am dedicating the whole week of being Thankful to my daughters. Oh, how they have enriched my life.

I can't believe how incredibly blessed I am to have 4 daughters.

There is my oldest Alicia, now a mommy herself, with all the sweetness, humor and beauty allowed. Rachel, my redhead. Smart in things Hebrew and who loves a good recipe and things beautiful. Stacey, the one talented, lover of animals with a heart as big as any. My baby, Emma, who's goodness and kind heart keeps me young and happy.

But today I am going to blog about my oldest daughter, my first little girl friend, my shadow.

She came to us on a cold spring night in the wild west town of Rock Springs. I was so excited that night that I didn't sleep at all. A girl! I had a baby girl. Little did I know what a wonderful life she would bring into mine.

We have been pals for a very long time now. We even dressed alike one Easter...
Even during the "teenage years", this girl was a great daughter.

I won't talk about how it felt when she left home for college. Ever have your arm cut off? Yeah, that is what I imagine it would feel like. Lots of crying and wailing and being very sad.

She let me visit her at the Y and we talked everyday on the phone.

And then she found her prince charming and I let her go again. She really was happy about it...really.

And well let's just say that the laughter has never waned. I am proud of all that she has done. (OKAY ALMOST EVERYTHING...)

But my proudest thing? That she now has a sweet daughter, shadow, necklace loving daughter of her own. And the best thing she can do for me? Love that daughter just like she has loved her mom. Like a Best Friend...

Being Thankful....

I finally got outside this morning. After a big girl weekend, it felt really great to strike out on a walk. And then when I began to look around me, I was a bit sad that fall is nearly done. There is just no time like November for all the amazing color.

I looked down at my feet as I shuffled along and my grumpy bones and muscles complained that it had been too long. But the colors and shapes of leaves was just stunning.

Today I am thankful for the beautiful leaves that Heavenly Father created for me to walk through this morning.

being thankful for....

Sisters. I am grateful for wonderful sister-friends. Who call me on the phone and come and craft and sit in TOFW seminars and take me to Birthday lunch and laugh with me.

Life is good.

thankful...day 14

With having a birthday, I couldn't help but reflect on how much this pair means to me. I was born on a really cold winter night and was a puny, bald little thing. I was also the third daughter born to a farmer that really could have used a boy by now....but never made me feel like I was a disappointment in any way.


My parents are my heroes. They lived and raised us 6 kids in a wonderful, hard working lifestyle. I felt like I was the luckiest kid alive to be raised on a farm and work along side of my dad. I got to do things that challenged me and were fun all wrapped into one. My mom taught me how to be a lady and love beautiful things. Come to think of it, I am STILL the luckiest girl alive, to still have their great influence in my life.

thanks day 13

I have been pondering this being thankful thing. it is GOOD to be thankful every day. And when you are publicly posting it...even better to say these things out loud.
So, today I was thinking how thankful I am for my hands. Lately I have been plagued once again with cracks on my fingers. Not sure if it is a dry skin thing, but it is painful. But as I sat and felt sorry for myself, I couldn't help but remember how many things they do for me. And I am not counting the regular all day every day routine of things. I am counting that when I get an idea to create they are ready to go. They twist and peel, and spray and glue and paint, and sew and flip back and forth when hot glue gets on them! My list is endless and for these two middle aged hands, I am grateful.

Thanks.....day 11

I am thankful today for goodly parents that raised this boy. He is a real gem.

Oh, and I am also very thankful that he is so understanding when I call him by mistake. He answered so chipper and nice. What a great guy!

Thanks....day 9

If my truck goes anywhere,( and I am not sure why everything is underlined....)this girl goes with.....she loves to "fly" in her backseat spot. No matter, rain, sleet, snow or dark of night. This dog LOVES to stick her head out the window.
I am thankful for her sweet nature. I am thankful for her loyalty.
I don't care that she sheds a bunch. She is my sweet canine friend.

What day is this?

Drugs. Presciption drugs. That's it. When you get a tooth implant...you need drugs. Today and yesterday, I am thankful for drugs.

Thankful....day 6.

GOOOOOOD GRIEEEEEEF! The dentist asked me if I needed a card to remember Emma's next appointment...or did I want to just load it on my phone..RIGHT! I was goofing around with it at the time. I laughed and said, "uh, better give me the card...I am not too great at this phone yet!"And when I wanted to download some pics the other night, Emma spoke up that she knew how to do that! COOOOOOOL. SO, I am grateful for my 11 year old that knows how to do stuff.


Like.....dress up the dog like a granny.
Pull lots of cute faces on my laptop.....

and pull off the cutest Aphrodite costume ever. No drama here! HA!

love this little girl at my house.....

Thankful....day 5

Uh, yes they are here!!! Love them oh, yes I do. And the boy that found them at Smiths for me? MY FAVORITE CHILD today...I'm just sayin....

Giving Thanks....day 4.

Today was easy. I looked up and saw this. (the real ones not the painting...) We are supposed to get snow tonight and they will be even more beautiful. They fill me up everyday.

Thankful...day 3

It seems way too easy to just let life sweep you along and then you forget that there are miracles that surround you....
Little Claire Elizabeth Mathias is one.

The other is Thomas Lee Sleight. These two babies are such wonderful blessings in my life. Yup, day three is a big one.

Thankful....day 2.

Day two can only be my gratefulness for these sweet peeps. And the thrill of this picture is that it is incomplete...day 3 is coming....

Thankful....day 1

My sweet daughter had gotten this idea from a friend...and I thought. OKAY. I can do this.
SOOO,
I am first thankful for my sweetie. Who is never home enough. Who works very hard away from home lots of times and hates it.
Who I met during a fall semester at BYU and thought was very funny and oh, yes very handsome.


SOOO , I am GRATEFUL that we are married and best friends.

Can't wait....

I know I am REALLY behind on this blog....don't have any excuses for such poor behavior....but when a major family event happens all the other little things fall short.



I am so happy to announce the newest Sleight....Thomas Lee Sleight. Born on Aug. 30 to Meredith and Steven. Well, and big sister Ella. And to an anxious Mamie cleaning my kitchen like mad when I knew they were in the operating room. And when Steven called and I could hear him crying in the back ground, I sat and cried. What a great day!!







I got to go and help out for a few days. Ella was there at the airport to run and hug me!

And then I got to see the new baby....he's a doll! And you can tell that he is very loved by him new family.
But when I am looking through the camera lens, I see another baby boy swinging there, wait no, that is him being the daddy.


Big sister likes him pretty much....but when Mamie is holding him and Ella wants to play Legos upstairs with Mamie, there is a bit of face pulling and sad faces. I tried to make sure we worked both legos and major baby holding in.










Ella and I decorated cookies and read stories and colored....

Here is shot of Thomas in his newest disney outfit...pretty cute.

And here is a sweet shot at oh let's say at 4ish am. He was sweet to cuddle with on the couch and let me use the dish tv remote. He seemed to be okay with Nanny reruns in the middle of the night.

Then it was picture day at kindergarten. And this girl was ready. What a cutie-pie.

Then it was time to go home. Bah for leaving a sweet baby and little girl and recuperating momma and wonderful son behind.
But we are excited to go back for blessing day....come soon okay and little guy?

Don't grow up so fast......

Sugar and spice and everything nice.....

Yes, it happened again. Another birthday. My baby is turning 11. How did THAT happen?