Thanksgiving's (What a day!)

Josh and J.D. started out the day by getting up at 3:30 and going out with some friends duck hunting. Poor J.D. was so tired by the end of the day! Here are some pictures of J.D. with the ducks. These were on the cell phone, so they aren't the greatest pictures, but J.D. had a blast!

He was so tired!

So were Papa and Piper. All that turkey makes you sleepy!

Hey, who is that good-lookin' guy?

Playing the DS. Good thing he asked Santa for one :).

My proof I was there. I was bored, so I started snapping pictures.

After dinner we went shooting. Here is Tyson shooting my shotgun with a little help from daddy.

Tyson and his BB gun.

Running with the targets. He was chomping at the bit to start shooting.

Josh and JD setting up the bottles and targets to shoot.

Me and Piper shooting the BB gun. She was so cute. She wanted to do it so bad, but we didn't dare let here near anything other than the BB gun.

I love this gun. It's a 20 gauge and it's probably one of my favorite to shoot. I'm a pretty good shot with it. There were pictures of me shooting, but J.D. took them and well, I'm not likin' them, so no pictures of me. Sorry.

I love this picture. Piper is so funny and so cute.

It was a great Thanksgiving day. So much to be thankful for. Good food and family! Life doesn't get much better than that.

My Thankful List

I am thankful for so many things!! And each night when I say my prayers, I thank my Heavenly Father for allowing me to have such a life. To be so blessed. To have a beautiful home and to fill it with love, laughter and those I love.

I love this guy! I love him beyond comprehension and beyond any words that I could write. He is my best-friend and I can't imagine my life without him. If not for him, I wouldn't have my three beautiful children, my safe, warm house, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and the ability to do what I love to do best......be a mom. I love you Josh.

My mom! She is an amazing lady. She's been through so much in her life and I admire her so much for raising 4 semi-normal kids :) all by herself. She is just awesome and I thank her for all that she has given up for me and for my siblings. I love you, Mom!

This picture cracks me up. It is a perfect picture to capture one of my kids favorite things at Grandpa's house. Popsicles and Popcorn! Thanks to my wonderful in-laws for raising such a great son. He is amazing, in case you didn't know. Thanks for giving him 3 great sisters, who are all my friends. I love you Scott & Becky!

I am so thankful for my brothers. I don't see them much. Life gets way to busy.

But I love you guys all the same. And I am so thankful for all my Carter brothers. Glad that you don't need blood to be family. I am so blessed in that department. I am grateful today that Aaron is okay and that his surgery yesterday went well. Josh would be lost without his other half :).. I love you all! And for my Carter guy's I love your amazing wives! Some of my very best-friends! Love you ladies!

For my sister!!! I love this gal. Never imagined in high school that we would be such good friends. She is one of my best-friends. Love you sis!

I am thankful for J.D. His sweet little spirit. He is so tender hearted and so filled with compassion for everyone and everything. He is a good kid! I am so grateful for his smile and he genuine warmth and desire to do what is right. I love you J.D.

Our little Trollie. Piper is such a sweetie. She is into everything and there are days when I lose my cool with her, but I love her so much. I can't imagine my life without her sweet laughter and mischievous little grin. I love you Piper!

My sweet Tyson. This kid makes my heart melt. I don't know if it's because he is Josh in miniature or what. I just want to hug him all the time! One of my very FAVORITE things to do in this world is to tickle Tyson. He laughs and laughs and it's contagious. He is so sweet and so fun. I love you Tyson!

And I am so thankful for good friends. I have so many! I wish I had pictures of you all, but then, this post would be unbearably long and you wouldn't read all of it :). I am so blessed to have so many good friends in my life to lift me up and help carry me. You share my burdens and also my laughter. I am blessed and I love you all!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Funnest Thanksgiving We've Ever Had

We had the GREATEST Thanksgiving ever! We got up and took the kids out riding the 4-wheeler and J.D. rode his dirt bike. It was so muddy, so of course that made it that much funner. I love being outdoors and doing that stuff. We need to go and do it more.


Then we went to Josh's parents house for dinner. Lot's of fun and lots of family! Long day though. It's almost 11 p.m. and I have my 2 youngest who are wide awake. Both of them fell asleep on the way home and slept for 2 or more hours. It's gonna be a long night tonight!



Wall E or football?? Wasn't paying that close of attention, but I think since Tyson is right there it had to be Wall E.

We had the feast spread out on top of the pool table at one point. I should have gotten a picture of all the food. TOO MUCH FOOD! I came home with a really bad case of indigestion. Piper's doing a little table dance.

That's my girl! Eating dessert. Who knew pumpkin pie could be so good.

I was trying the Nie Nie thing, but it doesn't work so well for us. At least Josh let me do it. Most the time he covers his face up.

View from the top of big hill that I felt the need to climb. I got us stuck the second time going up. The sand was so soft and wet.

View of us going up the hill. Josh was driving this time from behind me and we made it the second time. Go figure!

Silly picture of me and Josh! I was driving and taking pictures. Not a great one and I can't believe I'm posting it because my tongue is hanging out, but oh well. We had a lot of fun going for a little jaunt all by ourselves. Josh's dad and Uncle had our kids out climbing hills in the jeep.

Tyson was cracking me up with this great big yellow helmet. He did not have fun. He informed me of that the whole time we were riding. He doesn't like to be cold and it was freezing.

Piper was totally content to stay in Grandpa's jeep with Uncle Graig. It was warm in there.

J.D. loves to go riding. He had his riding pants and boots on. I wish we could go out and ride more.

Josh and J.D. We wanted to let J.D. ride by himself, but there were so many people out riding and there were 2 different sets of people out shooting very close by. They had one good wipe out.

Me and Sister!! I had Piper in front of me on the 4 -wheeler, Tyson behind me and I was trying to drive and take pictures. Doesn't Piper look cute in a beanie??

Hope ya'll had a great day! I love a good reason to do nothing, but spend time with your family! And I'm off to take down the fall decorations. Let's get this Christmas season started!!

My Thankful Heart

Thankful. What a beautiful word. I give thanks daily to my Heavenly Father for all of my blessings, of which there are many. With Thanksgiving upon us, it brings with it an overflowing heart and a desre to share those blessings with you. And here are just a few of them and in no particular order.



I am thankful for my family. For being married to my best-friend and for the love that we share. I am grateful to him for how hard he works to support our family. I am grateful for my beautiful children and how much joy they bring into my life.


I am thankful that it doens't alway's take blood to make you family!

I am thankful to live in this great land called America, grateful for those with serve this country and grateful for the freedom's I have. I am grateful for my faith and a Heavenly Father who loves me and know's who I am.
I am grateful for snow and sleds and the happy red cheeked faces it provides. I am also grateful when it melts! I am grateful for my hometown, where it does snow and grateful to come home to the sunny warmth of Dixie.

I am so grateful for technology and digital camera's that made it possible for me to go back and find happy moments like these. I am grateful for good friends and for my sweet brothers and sisters, who are also some of my best friends.

I am so gratful for this time of year and the coming of Christmas, it's my favorite holiday! I love everything about it!! I am grateful for stolen kisses and happy children playing. I am grateful for my home and the happiness that is found within it's walls. I have so much to be GRATEFUL for. I am blessed.

A GRATEFUL heart is a HAPPY heart!! Have a great day everyone!!