Grateful...

I know it's not Thanksgiving anymore, but my heart is so full of gratitude today, that I feel that I need to put it down in writing. I am sure that many of the people I am writing this for never read my blog, so I'm hoping they will feel a gentle "tug" telling them to check in (because they all have access!) As many of you know, Our family is in the process of moving to Snowflake. So, I'm sitting here on my parents computer, waiting for another load of our stuff to arrive. What started me thinking, was a book that I finished reading this morning. It got me to realize that I am terrible at sharing my feelings and expressing my gratitude. I need to change a lot of things about myself, so, I'll start with this.

First of all, I need to thank my "long distance" friends that have offered me so much moral support through e-mail and phone calls these past few months. You know who you are, so I'm not going to name names. Just know that I am forever in your debt and will do anything I can to return the favor if it's ever needed.

Next, I never got the chance to properly thank all the MANY friends that helped us with our move to St. David. To the young women of our ward that came and helped clean the house and made little going away presents for me, thank you so much...I think of all of you almost daily. There were so many people at our house in Camp Verde to help us load up, that I felt that all I did was direct traffic. And then, to top it off some of those families drove several hours pulling trailers to St. David, and then helped unload...that's what I call "going the second mile"! Again, there were so many people there to help us, that all I really did was tell them were to put the boxes. Thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times, THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Now to our most recent move. My parents are angels right here on earth! I will never be able to do enough for them to repay them for all the help they have given to us, especially this year. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such amazing parents, I just know I am truly blessed!

I have so many mixed feeling about this last move. I am so excited to be moving back to Snowflake, but again, so heartbroken about all the friends we're leaving behind. I'm so grateful for our friends that came to help with the packing and loading. It's no small task, as Steve and I are both "pack-rats". I am so thankful for family that traveled long distances to help us out. Steve and I would have been at it for weeks if it weren't for them! Then yesterday, as my brother-in-law, nephews, and dad and I were unloading, friends just showed up and started helping. My mom even made the comment "It's not often that you see a land-lord help move in the new tenants."

There are some amazing people in the world, and I am so blessed to know many of them!

Our daughter, the tortured genius...

This picture is of Jennah at a school concert. When all the other kids were talking and having a good time, there was Jennah, doing her favorite thing...reading! Before I start, I need to tell you a few things. First of all, I'm going to be bragging on my daughter, so if you don't like it, don't read this. Second, I need to make it very clear, that Steve and I, in no way, put any pressure on our girls to get straight A's in school. We just encourage them to do their very best.

That being said, yesterday, when Jennah got home from school, she was looking over her schoolwork that she brought home and started crying when she saw the grade she got on her book report. When I asked her what was wrong, she just got mad at me and said "I told you to correct my book report!". After calmly telling her not to talk to her mother that way, I asked her to let me look at it again (because I did look over it before she turned it in). After seeing what she was upset about, I almost started laughing. She missed only 5 points, out of a possible 200! It took Steve and I a good 5 minutes to get her calmed down, and for those of you who have heard my kids high-pitched cries, you know it was a LONG 5 minutes! What finally calmed her down, was when we informed her that she would still get an "A" on her book report.

On her last report card, Jennah got 100% in math, and most of her other grades were in the 96%, with nothing under 92%. All of her teachers so far have made comments about her academic achievements. We got the greatest comment from her 1st grade teacher (who was BY FAR the best teacher I've seen) when she told us she wanted to be there for all of Jennah's graduations, because, in her words, "I can't wait to see what she does, in all my years of teaching, I can't remember such a gifted student" We're not sure where she gets it from, because Steve and I struggled in school...especially math, where Jennah is strongest. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was switched at birth.

Steve and I have been really blessed when it comes to our kids "smarts". All three are doing so well. Kirstie does great in school also, but she doesn't obsess over grades as much as Jennah (thank heaven!), and Stevie, well, I have a feeling he's going to be a bit more like his oldest sister. He already knows (without the help of pre-school or mom) the sounds of the letters, and is starting to teach himself to read...only two letter words, but still, he's only 4 and won't start school for another year and a half.

Okay...bragging's done!

Going home...

For those of you who didn't hear yet, we're moving to Snowflake the first of the year. As with any move, we have mixed feelings. We're excited about being back home, but once again, we have to leave our great friends that we have made while here.

Things were going great the first 7-8 months while we were here in St. David, but lately work was not going so good for Steve. We tried to tough it out, but funds were getting low, and the bills continued to keep coming in. We considered all our options, moving back into our home in Camp Verde that still hasn't sold, trying to find new work in St. David, or trying to find work in Snowflake while Steve gets his teaching degree. We had no answers. Then last week while Steve was helping my parents, things just fell into place...one of those moments when you just know...THIS is what we are supposed to do!

Trying to be "crafty"

I got this idea from my oldest sister Laurie, so I can't take full credit. In all the MANY places we've lived, we've usually had an obvious place to hang our Christmas stockings (knit by my amazing grandma "Pete"). Well, our new house has some complications that necessitated me making this...

...not bad for a budget of $0!

Mad-Hatter BEWARE... the Self's are in town!

Next to my dad, Steve is the biggest pack-rat I know. The other day, Stevie found a box of Steve's old hats. He, of course, only wore one at a time, but his sisters....that's a whole other story! Keep in mind that most of these hats Steve had BEFORE I married him!

This could be the next fashion trend don't you think?

Our Thanksgiving

We left for Snowflake Tuesday after Jennah got out of school, so we could we could be there to help make pies!

Here's a priceless moment with Jennah and Gramma making pies...and great memories! Thanksgiving day...we had a small group this year, just the Self's, Brent Webb's, and Gramma and Grampa, and Grandma "Pete". It was a quiet Thanksgiving compared to other's we've had, just 14 of us this year.

Here's the "kids" table...Kirstie, Jennah, Chandler, Marissa, BreAnne and Stevie. (poor Kirstie had a terrible ear infection the whole time we were there, so she didn't enjoy her Thanksgiving dinner much)

...and the "grown-ups" table...mom (gramma) Josh (he's officially a grown-up now that he's 18 and going to college), Melanie, dad (grampa), Brent and Suzie

Our "spread"...there was sooooo much food!!!

We have a family Thanksgiving tradition that started back in (I think) 1978. My mom and grandma "pete" made a tablecloth that everyone puts their hand print on. The original tablecloth was at the ranch when it burned down in 2002, so my mom made a new one. It's sad not having the original, but as fast as the family is growing, it won't take long for this one to fill up!

While we were cleaning up, Brent was snoring away on the couch, so I had to get a picture. We had a wonderful time being "home" and visiting and playing with family. I absolutely LOVE this time of year!!!

**Update** On the trip home, while driving through the reservation past Globe, there was a hill with some patches of white dirt showing through the desert brush. All three kids yelled out, VERY excited, at the same time..."SNOW!!!" I had a hard time convincing them that it was NOT snow, and they were so bummed. You know you've lived in the desert too long when your kids see white dirt and think it's snow!

Thankful Tag

I got this idea from my cousin (Thanks Misti), to have my family each list 10 things we're thankful for. We did this last night for FHE, and it was one of the most fun times we've ever had! It was a difficult thing to list just ten! Since it's Thanksgiving time, I decided to make it a tag so my friends and family could join in on the fun!

STEVE: The Gospel, Temples/Temple marriage, Family (eternal family), food, shelter, love, friends, beautiful days, beautiful sunsets, and freedom.

MELANIE: Family, the Gospel, Jesus Christ, our prophet, music, friends, health, vehicles in good condition, beautiful fall weather, and home.

JENNAH: Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, my family, my friends, the Temple, the Church, this world, to be free, and our home.

KIRSTIE: Me, our house, books, family, daddy, mommy, Jennah, Stevie, school, and the world

STEVIE: Heavenly Father, bees (because they make honey), exercising (to get really skinny), people, living (being alive), toys, bricks that we build walls with, paper to color, chips, and eggs with salsa.

Now I tag ten people...Emily, Ryan, Racheal, Joele, Andrea, Natalie, Cherie, Shawna, Jenny, and... everyone else on my list! Have FUN!!!

Steve's 50th

Well, Steve hit the half-century mark this last Thursday. We didn't do much celebrating yet, we're saving that for when we're together with family for Thanksgiving. Steve requested homemade Tacos for his birthday supper, so that's what he got YUMMY! Steve thinks it's not a birthday cake if it isn't devil's food with white frosting. I think he'd shoot me if I ever forgot that. I didn't want to use black frosting on his cake, so I figured that black candles were enough ;) I had a hard time deciding what colors to use, and after I started with the red and blue, I realized that it looked like a 4th of July cake...oh well. Steve's a very patriotic person, so I guess it was appropriate! I had to put this picture of his "old man" face on here...he's starting to show his age!

Friday morning we went to see "Twilight" (he promised to take me MONTHS ago). I'm sure he would have much rather seen the new James Bond movie, but he's such a sweet guy that he gave in. After the movie was over, there was a LONG line of women waiting to come into the theatre. Steve couldn't resist the urge to shout "It was GREAT!!! You're going to LOVE it!!! (I wish you could hear the tone of his voice...somewhat feminine) I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at any of their faces, but Steve said their expressions were just hilarious!! Their audible reaction was enough to make me start laughing hysterically...so hard I had tears running down my face! He's such the comedian!!!

Steve is gonna kill me for this...

...but this is too good NOT to share!!!

(BIG sigh......) I'm taking Steve to go see THE movie tomorrow morning for his birthday, and he's soooo excited!!! Alright, he's actually taking me, and I'm the one who's completely lost their mind! Thank you to Emily, Racheal and Teddy for getting me hooked on "Twilight". (Steve says a very sarcastic thanks a lot too!)