End of Summer Update

School is starting soon, hooray!! Honestly, I'm totally stoked. It's been a rough summer without a car, and I think we're all feeling stir-crazy and ready for some structure and routine!

I've been thinking about it all and realized that I haven't been grateful for the things that were great about this summer. Thing is, I'm super great at wallowing in self-pity, and not always the best at being grateful when things are hard. But this summer hasn't been a total bust, even if it didn't look how I'd initially envisioned. I noticed I started feeling really bummed about it after reading another person's blog post about how great their summer has been. I let their good times get me down. I've been thinking about it more today, and spent some time looking through some photos from our summer, and am feeling a lot better about it than I was. I shared a bit about my new perspective on ig today.

I'm still stoked for school to start, though. Ha. 

We're finally in the process of car shopping, which is not the most fun, but I am grateful that we can finally start on the road to finding a new family vehicle. Although I kind of dread this part, I'm also hopeful that we'll find a van that fits our ever-growing family, is in good condition and doesn't totally break the bank. Prayers/good thoughts are appreciated.

And we've sort-of started on back to school shopping, but we have to do it in waves, ha. Over the weekend I took our soon-to-be kindergartener to get some new shoes for school. (Just don't get me started on how I feel about my 4th babe going into kinder.) The one I think all the bosslings are most excited for, though, is backpack shopping. I'm kind of excited to see what each of them choose, I think a lot of their personality shines through when they choose their pack, and it's fun to see.

Are you excited or bummed that summer is nearly (or already - I'm looking at you, AZ) over?? 

grati-tuesday // 1

Weekends aren't usually my favorite. Mr. Boss works most Saturdays, so normally we don't do much. Plus, even after almost a month into the new school year, I'm not  feeling recovered from summer break, so weekends are mostly hard. This weekend, though? It was pretty spectacular. It was very full and busy and so fun.

I want to tell you about our fun weekend, and I want to do that by sharing what I'm grateful for. Actually, I want to  start a new, regular gratitude feature, where I share the things I've been feeling thankful for recently. This idea was inspired by the {gratitude lately} feature on Today's Letters, and kind of goes along with last week's post, as I try to incorporate expressing gratitude in my life a bit more.

I'm so grateful for a sweet friend from church who threw me a baby shower on Saturday. And that my mother in law sneakily surprised me by coming up for it. (Also grateful to her for watching our kiddos Friday night so we could go out for our 10th anniversary. We were only a week late.) ♡

Grateful for temples, that we were able to stop and admire the (tiny) Snowflake, AZ temple on our way to visit my cousin and his family on Sunday. I'm grateful for the time we were able to spend with my cousin. Our kids had so much fun together. ♡

I'm grateful for the time we got to spend as a family on Monday, thanks to the holiday. Mr. Boss wasn't feeling very well, but the fresh air did us all some good. ♡

I'm grateful for the sweet vendor we met at Art in the Park who, after we had moved on, ran over with a little gift for our family. A handmade, wooden "peanut butter" knife. ♡

I'm grateful for the beauty that can be found everywhere, if you just look. (Like the shadows cast on the side of our van as we were loading up to leave the playground). I'm also forever grateful for our van, that made all our adventures this weekend a possibility. ♡

What have you been thankful for lately? 

thankfulness. day 19

Wow, I'm a super slacker. Let's forget about those days I missed. Let's just worry about today, okay?
I am grateful that I was safe as I traveled with my babies today. I am grateful that we get to be in Utah this week.

thankfulness. day 14

I am grateful for warm, sunny November days. I am grateful for picnics with my babies. I am grateful for fresh air. I am grateful that there is so much beauty to be enjoyed in Colorado.

thankfulness. day 12 & 13

Well, I missed yesterday, on account of Mr. Boss and I were up late talking, which was nice. We don't get many opportunities to just chat without children running around being children. Anyway, because I missed yesterday, I'll tell you two things today.
I am grateful for a washer and dryer in my home. I'm glad that I can do laundry whenever I need to, that I don't have to try and manage 4 babies at a laundromat.
I am grateful for water. It is my favorite drink, and so satisfying. I don't think water gets enough credit...

thankfulness. day 11

I am grateful for this character.
He is wearing his Thor costume again today.
He is amazing.

thankfulness. day 10

I am grateful for my sight, that I am able to enjoy the beauty all around me. Likewise, I am grateful for my other senses. I am grateful that I can see, touch, taste, smell, and hear.

thankfulness. day 9

I am grateful for the absolute beauty of today, beginning at 6:20 am with a blazing orange sunrise.

thankfulness. day 8

I am grateful for libraries, and the children are grateful for a fish tank at the library.

thankfulness. day 7

I am grateful that we have plenty of good food, and the means to get more when we need it.

"Thank God For Dirty Dishes"
Author Unknown

Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well.
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us.

thankfulness. day 6

Sara Bareilles :: The Blessed Unrest
I am grateful for music. Especially music that strikes you deep in the core, that makes you want to dance, that seems perfectly fitting for your current place in life.
I've had this one on repeat all day.

thankfulness. day 5

I am grateful for the ability of my body to nourish my babies when they are tiny and to comfort them as they grow.

thankfulness. day 4

I am grateful to have a warm bed and a roof over my head.

thankfulness. day 3

I am grateful for my church. For my specific congregation who I considerbe family, and for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy and peace that it brings me.

thankfulness. day 2

I am grateful for beautiful autumn days, and the way the leaves glow with the bright, warm sun shining behind them.

thankfulness. day 1.

Hi. Sorry for being a crappy blogger and disappearing off the face of the planet. I've felt so behind in all aspects of life lately. I don't like being busy, so I keep things pretty relaxed. ... Well, as relaxed as they can be with four maniacs ruling my life. Plus, this year we've started a somewhat official homeschool attempt.
Anyway, I try to keep life simple, but I've felt like I just kept falling further and further behind. I still feel that way. Life is just plain hard sometimes.

But, I didn't decide to pick up blogging again to gripe about the difficulties of life, no. I'm here to count my blessings with my annual month of gratitude.
Oh, I recently joined instagram so, if you follow me on there, you have already seen this & I'm sorry for that. I'll try not to do repeats every day.

But! For today:
I am grateful for cuddles with my littlest maniac.

gratitude. day 22

Tonight I am feeling incredibly grateful for family. I am far from my parents, my siblings, my in-laws, and I miss them terribly. I am grateful, though, to know them, to be related to them, to have so many wonderful memories of being with them. I am grateful for my extended family, cousins, aunts, uncles. Every one of them has blessed my life in some way, and I love each of them, even though I don't see them often or know them as well as I'd like to. I am grateful for my "ward family", for the many people here who have taken us under their wing, included us, loved us, and made us feel welcome. (And I have to include my last "ward family" from Utah, I miss them, and am grateful for their friendships, and that those friendships have continued even though we're all so far from each other.) There are so many wonderful people in my life, near and far. I hope each of them knows how much I appreciate them, how much I love them, and how grateful I am to know them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

my little turkeys

I'm so thankful for these cuties!

gratitude. day 21

I am grateful to know that I am not forgotten. "When upon life's billows [I am] tempest tossed", though I may become discouraged, I know am not alone.
I am grateful to know that I am a daughter of God. I am grateful to know that He knows me.

gratitude. day 20

I'm grateful for my glasses.
I'm grateful that my children are not only willing, but excited when it's their turn to pray.