November

I can't believe it's already November! I didn't even get a chance to post about Halloween, besides Layla's costume.

We went to a Halloween party at our friends' house and played Body Body in the pitch dark. It was hilarious and so much fun. I'm glad we have friends who like playing silly games as much as I do.

We took Layla around to show her costume to everyone. I was glad she wore her costume as many times as she did since it took so long to make! She looked so cute and I think everyone enjoyed seeing her all dressed up.

I also made bloody eyeballs for our family dinner with the Botts and again with the Miles gang. They turned out pretty cute. I copied the idea from a friend at the Halloween party we went to. (I'm definitely not creative enough to come up with that on my own.) They are pumpkin spice cake covered in white chocolate. They were delicious. Pretty sure they will be a Halloween tradition at our house.

Now that it's November it's time for basketball season to begin! We bought Layla a Deron Williams jersey and took her to ESA to have it signed by some of the players. (We were able to go because we went in on season tickets.) Yes, we are some of the crazies who waited in a very long line for CJ Miles' and D-Will's signatures. It was fun though. I was pleased that Miles and Williams were in the same line because those are the two signatures I wanted; Williams because he's the best player on the team and Miles because that's my maiden name. Ha,ha. So now Layla has a tiny jersey with two signatures on it. Maybe it will be worth something some day. We're going to three games this month and I'm super excited!

Isn't she the cutest Jazz fan you ever saw???

That's D-Will behind Mitch in the red hat. And Miles is sitting next to him.

I went to a Relief Society dinner tonight. The theme was gratitude. They read a cute poem that really got me thinking. I found a version of the poem online:

I am thankful... .. for the husband who complains when his dinner is not on time, because it means he is home with me, not with someone else. .. for the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes, because it means he is at home, not on the streets. .. for the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed . .. for the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have been surrounded by friends. .. for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat. .. for my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine. .. for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home. .. for all the complaining I hear about the Government, because it means we have freedom ofspeech. .. for the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking, and that I have been blessed with transportation. .. for my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm. .. for the lady behind me in church that sings off key, because it means that I can hear. .. for the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear. .. for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard and using those limbs. .. for the alarm that goes off in the early morning, because it means that I am alive.

Isn't it amazing how much better life is when we look at the positive instead of the negative? Suddenly things don't seem so bad anymore. I am grateful for the reminder I had tonight to focus on the positive.