The Neal News: Thanksgiving

Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving

Olivia with neighbor friend and her horse.

Brittan with her friend Kelly.

Where do I start? I have so much to be grateful for! This Thanksgiving was especially great because we spent it- just the six of us in Central Oregon.

Off the top of my mind here are a few things that I am grateful for:

-down time so that I can blog!

-Central Oregon weather

-a husband who is mistaken for Matt Damon

-children that have helped me discover every emotion possible

-siblings that I love to be with

-parents that love me

-friends that I cherish

-hair clients that teach me who I want to become

-sunshine

-cooking for my family (only if they rave of course)

-when all of the kids are asleep and I can connect with my hubby

-diet coke w/fresh lime (should actually be toward the top of the list)

-boating

-my puppy (who would have thought I was a dog person?)

-Natalya (Can't live without you)

-sitting in church with my family

-Country music

-watching something new "click" with a child

-watching movies (and falling asleep on Michael's shoulder)

-star gazing

-hot cocoa on a cold morning

-letting my big kids stay up late so they can tell us secrets

-laughing so hard my stomach hurts (need more of this!)

-watching my kids enjoy each other

-ping pong

-burning candles

-a clean car

-all of the seasons (a little less rain please....)

-new beginnings (I stole this one from Michael)

-freedom

-to be a woman

-that I have sisters

-that I have fun brothers

-napping after church on Sunday

-excedrin

-my MacBook and iphone (sorry...can't live without)

-all of my precious nieces and nephews

The list goes on. I think that it is important to always have a list going (whether it is in your mind, or written down somewhere). Its amazing how more things pop into your mind when you are thinking grateful thoughts. I love you all. Thank you for being a part of my life, no matter what part you play. Happy Thanksgiving!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Love your list! I need to create one because we've has a hard week. We all have been deathly sick with sore throats and throwing up! But, we are on the mend and remembering the things to be thankful for. Love you Shan!; November 29, 2008 at 9:23 PM

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Funny things kids say:

Isabelle: after a discussion about grades she said "Ya, i'm not really into A's...its just not my thing!"
Olivia: "I love being a girl...you can share your secrets and laugh about them!"
Brittan: the neighbor girl confessed her love for Hayden to my girls and made them promise not to tell a soul. Brittan's response "Don't worry, my mom doesn't have a soul!"
Isabelle and Ximena are constantly cooking and after awhile it makes me crazy! Today I got the kitchen all scrubbed up and then ran an errand. When I got home I could hear clanking noises in the kitchen so before I reached the kitchen I yelled "you two better not be making cookies" to which Isabelle replied "No mom we're not, Xime's just making a cake!"
Isabelle: after being bribed..."Hey dad, is there any way I can pay you back for that popsicle I just ate so I don't have to wakeboard?"
Brittan: With a loud squeal in the car "Oh no!" Dad: What?????? "I forgot my bangles"! Dad: "What the heck are bangles"? Brittan: "Bracelets Dad..".
Isabelle: "Dad, do you know how to use a cash register?" Dad: "No". Bella with a very sassy tone: "Then why are you checking me out?"
Olivia: Bella, what is the opposite of hot? Isabelle's response: Cute?
Isabelle: "Olivia...it says no smoking in here! Put out your cigarette!"
Olivia: " Hey dad look...its a priest. Wait...i actually think its a nun....hum...I can't really tell!"
Hayden is preparing to get his wisdom teeth pulled this week and said "Mom, you really need to pick up those seduction pills for me". Of course I busted up laughing. Sedation, seduction- its all how you look at it!
I have been encouraging the kids to speak Spanish as often as they can. The other day we were in a shoe store buying shoes for Brittan (now a size 8!). There were two hispanic girls running around the store and I bribed Isabelle with the shoes that she had her eye on to go introduce herself to the little girls in Spanish. She was shy but very awkwardly said "Hola, mi llamo Bella". This experience gave her the courage a few days later to do the same thing at Hayden's wrestling match. A couple of kids were playing under the bleachers so she took it upon herself to go introduce herself to them in Spanish. "Hola, mi llamo Bella!". Again, and again and again with no response. She kept reporting that they weren't responding. Finally she approached them a final time and said "Hola, mi llamo Bella". The little boy looked her square in the eye and said "I'm African!"
Hayden: "Mom, I really need some new church clothes! I think this time around I want a black suit with a black shirt!" Mom: oh ya that will look really good when you pass the sacrament". No no no...that is serious Stake dance material!"
Olivia: "Mom, I've set a goal for myself!" Mom: "Oh ya, what's that?" Olivia: "I'm going to try really really hard to cry on the last day of school!"
Olivia: "um...Mom....you smell just like Grandma! Ya know, all lotion-y!"
Olivia: Hey dad- is there such a thing called "video-shop? Ya know, like photo-shop?"
Isabelle while playing Yahtzee: "Brittan...go with your 4's! I'm really feeling it!!! And...I was wrong!"
Dad: "Brittan!!! Stop wearing mascara!" Brittan: "Dad..get used to it! It's really working for me!"
Neal family Christmas wish list: Hayden- an iphone (ya right) Brittan- World peace Olivia- ipod Isabelle- A bubble gum machine
Olivia: "Mom, I've never noticed that my hair color is so beautiful!"
Hayden: in a sarcastic tone- "Mom I forgot to bring my coat to the cabin, but don't worry- I did bring my singlet!"
Isabelle yelling from her bed in the morning: "Mom, the tooth fairy forgot to come again!" Mom: "Oh shoot! I was worried about that when I turned the house alarm on last night that she wouldn't be able to get in without tripping the alarm! Go back to sleep and I will turn off the alarm. Let's give her another chance!"
Isabelle with her bloody-murder scream came running into my bathroom as I was trying to take a nice relaxing bath- "Olivia punched me (on accident) in the face and now I am bleeding!" I took one look in her mouth and saw a tooth dangling- through the tears and screaming I told her to look in the mirror. As soon as she saw the tooth she said "Oh... thanks Livy- I wanted to loose that tooth!"
Hayden: "I will NEVER make my kids take piano lessons!" Mom: "OK, that's cool". Hayden: "I'm not going to make them do chores either!" Mom: "Ok, that's cool". Hayden: "I'm not going to make them wake up early on the weekend's either". Mom: "Ok, cool- are you going to let them sleep until noon?" Hayden: "Yep!" Mom: "I can't wait to meet your kids, they sound terrific!"
All of my girls decided that they are tired of their long locks and one by one have all ended up with a bob. I was cutting Olivia's hair tonight and said: "So what's up with all of my girls wanting short hair?" Her reply: " Come-on mom...didn't you know that short is the new long!"
Isabelle was crying in her bed last night. She was so tired and couldn't fall asleep. I asked her what was wrong and she replied "i can't get my yawn out!"
Isabelle: "What do you mean I have to play in a soccer game on Saturday? I hate soccer- I only like practice-at the games people watch you and stuff!"
Olivia: after telling a super big lie she said "I keep praying for an answer to my problem and Heavenly Father won't even let me finish my prayer! I just keep getting the feeling that I need to come talk to you!"