3 Reasons I Can Be Happy Today...

This view just outside my windows...Heaven right? These pictures do not even do it justice.

Muffin Tin Meals! Although, these are not tin, they are plastic. I got this great idea from my good friend Sharla's blog. There is even a whole blog dedicated to Muffin Tin Meals! This was the answer to all my frustrations for kids lunches! Before we moved here, the answer was "Uncle Donalds'" as Thatcher calls McDonald's, but those kids meals are a tad bit pricey for a student budget. The boys LOVE these, and it is fun for me to find things to fill each little circle to give them some variety! It is great.

This Yummy lunch! Back in the summer of 99 I worked at a little Deli. It was great, and served great food. I learned the art of the The Wrap and The Reuben, and fell in love with Willow Tree Chicken Salad. Alas, my friends, it is only avalible in New England. It is lovely, and this whole meal is 9 points for you WW out there. YUM!

Here I go...

I rarely like to put my political views on my family blog. I usually try to spout off my 2 cents, for what it is worth, on Secondo Me, but I felt as thought this post is worthy to make both blogs. Up coming election = hell on earth. No, but seriously, people are pretty passionate about this up coming election. I would agree that it is an important one. Even though I have joked around about it in the past, I am most definitely not voting for Barak Obama. I disagree with him not only politically, but morally. I wish I could say that I am a happy go lucky McCain fan, but I am not. I do not really like McCain, and in fact I really didn't want to vote for McCain for Senator of Arizona, but I did just because I really couldn't bring myself to vote Democrat. I find myself in the same situation. I am voting for John McCain. He is quite simply close enough to what I would hope a President should be. A man of moral, discipline, and hopefully honor. I also actually really like Sarah Palin. I would have liked Mitt Romney more, but I do like Sarah Palin. I would have liked Mitt Romney more for the republican nomination, but things did not turn out that way. Too bad. It would have been the best for the country.
Anywho...
In the morning I listen to a great radio talk show host here in Boston named Michael Graham. A right wing breath of fresh air in this liberal drenched state. He is awesome. I highly endorse him. Today he said something that I "amen" to completely. He asked his listeners if there was one question you could ask Senator Obama tonight at the Town Hall Meeting, what would it be? He said his question would be, "Senator Obama, if you are elected President of the United States, who are you going to have pray at your swearing in inaugural address? Would it be Pastor Jeremiah Wright? And if not, why not? Why is he not good enough to pray for us in front of the whole world, and not right for you to support in a large mass media congregation, but he is worthy enough for you and your wife to attend his congregation for 20 YEARS???!!!" This is the question I would also ask. Call me crazy, but I cannot get over this Pastor Jeremiah Wright nonsense. The rest of the country on the other hand, is buying this guys fed lines and smooth talking "change we need" hook, line, and sinker.
So what question would you ask Senator Obama??

My Joy Is Full...

This morning while watching the session of General Conference President Thomas S. Monson announced 5 new temples to be built. One of those, and the last one he announcent, was the Rome Italy Temple. I was right in the middle of bite of bean dip and chips. Immediatly I felt as though my heart had burst, I gasped, and started to bawl like a little baby. Oh how I love those Italian and Maltese people! How I have prayed for this day for them! A temple of God will finally be close enough for them to enjoy those blessings on a very regular basis. I remember being a missionary thinking that this day wouldn't come until I was old and gray. It is a testimony of literal miracles. The work is progressing and these wonderful saints will have a temple. Todd and I are going to try to make it for the dedication. It will be a wonderful event to bring our children to. Our hearts and our love will forever be tied to Italy. AUGURI!

One of the Thousand...

Do you know who this is? If you have a child between the ages of 0-5 you do. It is Handy Manny! He is a Disney Channel favorite, especially among little boys. My boys love this cute little show. What is not to love? Manny can fix anything, and his tools are his helpers and they all talk and sing, but not only do they talk and sing, they talk and sing in English AND Spanish!
(on a side note, Thatcher thinks that any other language is Spanish, thanks to Diego, Dora and Manny. He has told kids on the playground speaking Chinese, "Hey, stop speaking in Spanish, I don't understand you!". He also tells Todd and I when we speak Italian or Maltese that we are speaking Spanish. Where did we go wrong? We continually tell him, very emphatically, that we do NOT speak Spanish!! No offense to those who do, it is a beautifully language, but just not as beautiful as Italian. Face it, you know it is true. :) No matter how hard we try, he insists that we do. We are working on it.) I digress...
So, the other day I couldn't figure out how to work the USB port in our computer. Something was stuck in there. I kept asking Thatcher what he jammed in there and he finally told me, "Don't worry Mommy, Daddy will come home and fix it, he is like Handy Manny, Daddy can fix ANYTHING". It was very cute, and endearing. Thatcher has always been amazed at Todd's capabilities to fix anything, and frankly so have I. This is one of the thousand reasons I love my husband. He is such a great handyman. I really do think he can fix anything. Just the other day my blow dryer died, again. I was so frustrated and Todd grabbed the dryer and some cut cords and electrical tape later, it worked! Just as I was typing this post, Thatcher brought a toy to me for me to fix, and I said, "Daddy will fix it when he gets home". I say that a lot. I just love our own Handy Manny!

Todd fixing the USB port, with both of the boys watching intently. So cute.

Hello Fall...

...I have missed you...

It has been a long time since we have been in crisp chilly weather! It is great! We have been buying lots of sweaters, coats, and cold weather gear. Here we are on the playground which is pretty much a daily event...

Running across the "troll bridge"...

Changing of the leaves, have not seen this in far too long...

Had to wear the hood...and his Diego pocket knife, "just like Daddy", he says.

Here he comes!

"What is this thing?", not used to long sleeves or a coat!

I love to watch him playing and eating his Ritz Crackers at the same time.

Tag-a-lag!

"Oh Boy, I've Got JOY!!!!"

Thatcher is LOVING Joy School. I love the program and Taggy loves the time alone with me. At least I think he does. I mean, he gets two and a half hours two times a week where he isn't getting pounded on, so that is probably nice. Thatcher loves to learn and is a smarty pants, he gets that from his smarty pants Daddy.

Thatcher's first day of Joy School!

Showing off his Cars backpack...

Taggy about to get his head mashed by Thatch.

Joy school at our house, cute little kiddos!

Nie Nie

I don't know Stephanie Nielson. I just heard about her horrible accident where Stephanie and her husband Christian were in a plane crash and have sustained horrific burns all over their bodies. I spent a lot of the day yesterday reading her blog. I love how through the blogging world you can get to know someone who you have never met. She seems like a wonderful person, who really loves life. I am deeply saddened by this terrible accident and will keep tabs on her hopefully speedy recovery.

It's Baby Time!

Congrats to my bestest friend Jill who had her second baby girl yesterday, Penelope Ann. (Did I get some of you? :) ) Jill deserves an award for pushing out an 8 lb. 14 oz. bundle of joy! Welcome to the world little Penny!

Tagg Turns Two!

Little Taggy LOVES cars (the movie and just cars in general), so for his birthday we had a Car Bash! I spent all day on his cake, but I am really happy with the way it turned out and I am so happy I can now make cute cakes for our kids since taking the Cake Decorating Classes I took over the summer! We had a BBQ and birthday cake and presents at Grandma and Grandpa Monson's house. It was really fun, and the birthday boy really had a blast. I cannot believe my baby is TWO! Yikes! Where has the time gone? We sure love our little Tagg-a-lag! He is such a good happy boy and adds so much fun and sunshine into our lives.

The Big Birthday Boy!

Race Track Cake

The Loot!

BBQ Dinner with Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Dave

Daddy and Taggy

Playing with his presents

The Wedding of the Century...

...or at least that is what I was calling it. Jon and Rebecca got married on August 23rd in the Salt Lake City Temple. It was a jam packed week long of events. First off Rebecca's sister Kristin, me, and my cutest craftiest cousin Jessica through Rebecca a shower at Gardner Village. It was really fun to do. I absolulty LOVE planning and throwing parties. I would love to be a wedding and party planner. Jessica made the towel cake and the place cards, both of which turned out BEAUTIFUL. It was a fun time.
The wedding was wonderful. Jon and Rebecca were so happy and it was wonderful to be in the sealing room to witness this special event. Of course I was bawling like a baby as I saw my little brother get married. As he sat there all I could see in my minds eye was this little mischievous kid running around with skinny legs. "Rachael, watch me run so fast", he used to say. I am so proud of him and the good choices he has made in his life to get him to this point. We are so happy for them!

Decocrations at Rebecca's Shower

The cute place cards Jessica made...thanks again Jess!

Ummm...is this not the cutest, craftiest, most beautiful thing you have ever seen??!!
Jessica is the cutest girl I know.

Mr. and Mrs. Monson!

Ahhhh....

Taggy and Caden

It was a hot day, and the boys were getting tuckered out!

Me waiting after pictures to go to the O.G. (Olive Garden)

The Cutiest Boodiest!

The happy couple

Loved her dress!

The cutest little boys on the block!

Thatcher

The whole Monson Clan...
my we have grown in just a few short years...

Cutting the cake

Cute!

To be a young bride again...ahhhh
The boys loved playing at "the park" at the reception.

Bishop Bonanza!

While we were in Utah for Jon and Rebecca's Wedding, we stopped by for an afternoon to visit with the 'other' Bishops! Todd's three brothers all live in Utah now, and his sisters were up in Utah for a little while. We went to Chuck E. Cheeses' and had fun visiting. Thanks to the 'Bishop Blessing', as I like to call it, we have four little boys and no girls yet on this side of the family. Kaylor, Dallas, Thatcher and Taggy had a fun time running around and playing. It was nice to see everyone.

The Whole Lot of Us!
Audrey and Dallas, Mark, Todd, Tagg, Me, Thatcher, Brindie, Kaylor, Julianne, Eddie.

Uncle Mark and Taggy

Do they sell home versions of this? :)

Nothing like Chuck E. Cheeses Pizza! Yum!

Aunt Julianne playing Air Hockey with Thatcher and Todd

Stair Step Boys, all nine months apart.

Thatcher and Kaylor

Do these boys look alike or what?

The four cousins.