Thanksgiving & shots

We had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving with my family, and we were supposed to celebrate the day after with Curtis' family, but everyone was sick, so we had to postpone that one. Thanksgiving day, we slept in (McKenna included...which was very nice!), then we had an amazing dinner with my family. The food was delicious, and the company delightful, especially since we haven't really socialized a whole lot since McKenna was born. It was awesome to get out of the house and be around people again. We were surprised and happy with how well McKenna did, since there are 9 little kids in my family (nieces and nephews) who range from the ages of 11 months to 5 years (8 of which were there for the dinner), and McKenna in the past has gotten upset and anxious around little kids...especially screaming ones...and there was a lot of that at Thanksgiving. :) But she did really well, she was happy the whole time, and everyone loved seeing her. We ate too much, talked and played a lot, and then came home and relaxed. It was a really fun day, and I was so glad to have celebrated this year. I was so looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner this year (last year Curtis and I celebrated both Thanksgiving and Christmas by ourselves... which was a LOT of fun, especially since all we ate was stuffing and pumpkin pie.). It was the perfect day. We missed you Francks & Nelson families!

McKenna with Auntie Carrie

My niece Miriam

My niece Madelyn

The kids at their kiddy table

McKenna got her first set of vaccination shots today (3 shots, and one sugary drink that contained vaccintation for 3 other diseases... I was SO glad she didn't have to have all 6 shots, like I thought she would!!!). She did VERY well, and I was so relieved that she did much better than we thought she would. She did cry when the first one went in because the nurse accidentally stuck her with the needle in the wrong place before she took the needle back out and stuck her in the right place to give her the shot (I think she was nervous because Curtis is somewhat intimidating...and right before she gave McKenna the shot he asked her to be careful and gentle since the nurses at the hospital were not so gentle). McKenna cried hysterically for the first few minutes, and for 20 seconds her face was red and she forgot how to breath, she was crying so hard. But the nurse did the rest of the shots quickly and without any problems. McKenna finished crying, and almost instantly fell asleep (thanks to the Tylenol we gave her right before we went...and due to the fact that she's such an awesome baby!). She took a very long nap afterwards, and we will see how she does the next couple of days. I am SO glad that part is over and we don't have to do it again for another 2 months! Yikes! I can't tell you how long I have been dreading that doctors appointment. Well, actually I can, and it was almost from the time I first found out I was pregnant. Seriously!

That's us for right now... hopefully we'll have more to post soon! Until then, here are some pictures for the grandparents... since we know that's why you read our blog in the first place. :) XOXO

Count your blessings...

I feel like I have so many things in my life right now to be thankful for, and I never take the opportunity (until this time of year when everyone else also takes the opportunity) to sit down and really think about those things. So yes, I am sharing my list of things that I am thankful for with all of you...but they are not in any particular order.

1 - A beautiful, happy, healthy daughter who we absolutely adore and who makes our home and family complete. I know that sounds totally cheesy, but seriously, she is awesome and makes me laugh SO hard...and she doesn't even really do anything yet! I honestly don't know how we lived without her.

2 - An amazing husband who works so hard to provide for our wants and needs. I know that he will always take care of us and that I will never have to go without anything. He takes care of me when I am sick, he adores our daughter, he makes me laugh like no one else can, and for all these things (and more) I am so grateful to have him in my life.

3 - The gospel of Jesus Christ. It has always been hard for me to publicly bear my testimony, for some reason, but I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that families are eternal and can be together forever. I am thankful that the church and the gospel are so constant, and I have been so blessed through priesthood blessings and the atonement. I am positive my life would be very different had I decided to take another path, and I am glad that I didn't. I feel truly blessed to be apart of this church.

4 - My family. I have the most supportive and loving family in the world. If I call last minute needing something, it doesn't matter what, or that there was absolutely no prior notice, they are always there to lend a hand and take care of us. I have no idea how we would have moved this last summer while I was 8 1/2 months pregnant, and Curtis was busy doing last minute projects on the house, or how I would have taken care of my new baby on no sleep and fed my poor husband dinners at night...I realize people do it all the time, but it takes practice for me. :) They have done so much for us, and I cannot thank them enough. They are truly my best friends, and I was definitely sent to the right family.

5 - On the same note, my in-laws, aka my second family. A lot of people complain about their in-laws, and I always feel so bad for them. I am so lucky to have both a mother and father-in-law that I love, but also to have so many of my closest friends be my brothers and sisters-in-law. I gained 7 really amazing friends when I got married! Who could ask for more than that!?

6 - Friends. Although my friend group these days consists of my family, my husbands family, and pretty much a few friends from highschool, some that I gained and become close to since meeting my husband, and places I've worked in the past, I LOVE my friends. I don't stay in contact with many of them, but those that I do, I am so grateful to have in my life. They make me happy! 'Nuf said. :)

7 - Freedom. I am not much on taking a strong political stance these days. I have my views, beliefs, likes & dislikes about government and those that run it. But one thing that I do love and am so grateful for are the freedoms that they can't take away from us...as much as they may be trying. :) I feel blessed to live in this country... I have been to other countries that don't enjoy the same freedoms, and it makes me want them to have what we have. We enjoy so many things at the cost of other people's lives, and we never really give it much thought. But I am grateful that I enjoy those freedoms, and for those who continue to fight to defend those for me.

8 - A warm home & bed. There is nothing better than a warm place to sleep and to feel safe doing so.

9 - A healthy body that allows me to get from point A to B everyday, to run, drive, play with my daughter, see, hear, and just enjoy the simplicity of life. Honestly, I admire people who function on a lot less, and absolutely love life.

There are so many things and people I could add to this list that have blessed my life in so many ways, but for time sake I won't. I love my life. I couldn't imagine it being any more perfect than it already is, and I know I have my Heavenly Father to thank for that! I hope anyone who reads this today will take time to think of the things they are grateful for and realize just how blessed we really are. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!