Brighton's favorite activity, right now, is playing with water and dishes. He will play forever at the sink and be completely soaked when he's done. The top of that little stool will be completely covered in a 1/4 inch of water. He always tells me when there's a sharp knife in the sink so I can take it out for him. It's really cute and sweet. He does this almost everyday.

Greg has hardly been able to see the kids since he started school. He's starting to find more time for the kids these days, which has been great for them and him. This was the other night. The kids said he was a giant baby and his giant parents died. So they swaddled him in a blanket and put a pacifier in his mouth. It was so funny to see Greg that way and so adorable for the kids to pretend. I just loved it.

The kids rummaged through the dirty clothes and put them on. So funny and so cute. I love them.

I love that Marius just wants to join in whatever the kids are doing- even if he doesn't understand. He just joins along. I think it's the sweetest thing!

We spent Thanksgiving at the Hiatt's with a couple other families in our ward. It was wonderful. The food was all good. Everyone raved about my turkey and even asked how I made my mashed potatoes. It made me feel really good. I enjoyed the praise. Someone even made a chocolate pie that was just like the one I grew up with and it made me feel like my family was there. It was great. I don't think I've enjoyed a Thanksgiving this much in my life! The only ones that compare are the family reunion at Lizzie's when Scarlet was a baby- the food was absolutely amazing; and in Belgium Greg and I threw it together last minute with a precooked chicken, but the whole experience warmed my heart and made me realize how important it was to celebrate American holidays when you're far from home. It was such an enjoyable experience. I was so happy when we were there and I sort of wanted to cry! I was just so grateful I had friends to celebrate with and a place to enjoy it in. I also got a great idea for future traditions! Alma had hung up a string and had paper, pens and close pins on the table and told everyone to write things they were grateful for and hang it on the string. What a great idea! I hope I don't forget! I want to do that with the kids next year. Hang something up every day of the month and have it full by the end. That would be such a great tradition. A great way for them to think about different things to be thankful for. I hope I remember.

The kids have been so amazing lately. They just play all day, everyday. It's incredible. They're starting to not ask for the TV, which was unthinkable just a week ago. I had forgotten until last week that I fasted last month for the kids to play more and "be better" and they totally have. It took a month for them to really get it going, but here we are- and they are living such better healthier lives! They used to watch hours and hours and it's a constant battle between them and me, and it causes so much stress in our family! And it's so much better for them to play! And they're so much HAPPIER when they do! It's my first real experience where I see the immediate results of fasting in my life and it's exciting. I'm quite blown away by it.

I've been changing a lot these days. I've committed to going to the temple each week. By way of events, I had to skip a couple weeks and I could tell. My body and spirit NEED it now. I feel the difference. I was thinking I would go twice a month, because of other commitments, but like I felt the first time I decided to- I need to go every week. I know how much it will help me and it will also help others. I've been trying to listen to better music too. It's hard to do when you listen to the radio, but I finally got my ITOUCH to connect with my car and I made "kid appropriate" playlists of my music and it's so NICE now! I've also been deleting music that has inappropriate language. I don't listen to terrible music- but there are those few songs that have a word or two that I always have to sing a different word really loudly when the kids are around so they won't hear it.

I was finally able to visit a girl's orphanage (one that rescues girls from the streets) and it was so sweet in there. Really nice environment. All the girls just looked great. I went at a really bad time when everyone had just left for Mass and only one girl stayed behind. She was 16 and we talked for almost an hour while I waited. I just got such a good feeling while I was there. The timing of it all is still in the works, but they told me I could come and play with the young kids and cut everyone's hair so I'm pretty excited! I'm hoping I'll be able to bring my kids along with me, but I'll just have to see what it's like the first few visits.

The New Year is approaching and I've been thinking about my goals a lot. Usually I make one big goal. Last year was a big flop- I don't even remember my goal. But the last few years I've been really good about it and accomplished all I've set out to do. One year was adding sides to my dinners and becoming a better cook in general- and I totally did it. Mid year I decided to become NEARLY a vegetarian and I did within 6 months and kept it up a year before changing my mind. I'm not sure what else I've done, but I don't want to bother making a goal that I won't accomplish. I always try to think of what will make the biggest impact. Usually that something is just one action- but it trickles down into so many areas of my life it makes a tremendous difference. So . . . this year . . . I decided . . .

to stop watching TV. COMPLETELY. When I say TV- I mean all forms. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. I'm not going to watch anything that resembles TV for a year. I will allow a movie for a Date Night and I guess the kids and us have a movie night for fridays. But I'm not allowing myself to watch anything regularly. Nothing that can go on and on and on.

I have wasted so much time in my life watching TV. I have 2-3 hours a night and what do I do? Watch TV. I ignore my kids for two hours, trying to sleep on the couch- why???? I stayed up too late watching TV. I wanted to talk with my husband and feel reconnected, but all we said was, "Wanna watch a show?" "yeah". I had a goal to accomplish today and had time to do it, but it didn't happen because why??? I couldn't stop thinking about the last episode and what was going to happen next so I turned it on and then I couldn't stop. I hear crude jokes and Greg sees girls in scandalous clothing because there is literally NOTHING on TV that doesn't sneak it all in at least once in awhile, if not often. The list goes on and on.

Sometimes it's nice to watch TV. But for ME, most of the time it leaves my life in a lesser place and I really want to keep my life good. I can't count how many times I turn off the TV with regret. "Well that was a waste of a night!" "Well, now I'm gonna feel like crap in the morning." "Well I wish I never heard that horrible joke, I wish that camera wouldn't linger on that girl's breasts." There are shows I LOVE- I want to know what's going to happen next. But it's not something I'll regret. But using all my time for years and years to watch stuff that doesn't really matter in the end, instead of doing something that leaves me fulfilled- I will regret that. I already do. So that's my goal.