Gratitude a Month Early

So, yeah.  I blogged a lot then I missed a day and then missed a lot.  Jeremy's been spending a lot of time on the computer working on his time lapse video of Balloon Bag End.  Blogging hasn't been as high a priority on my list of goals, but I've been keeping busy with other things.
I thought for this blog post I would catch up on some of the things that have happened lately and why I have so much to be grateful for, even though Thanksgiving is still almost a month away.

Jr. Jr. turned 2 recently.  We had a simple celebration with cake and present opening since I had Super Saturday that afternoon and Jeremy was working that night.  But the 2-year old was perfectly content with that.

Last year we did a bit more with his party, with a balloon pit, presents, and cupcakes.

A friend invited us to a Halloween party.  We got there late since it was down in Springville and after Nichole got home from school, but we still had fun and I was able to make it back in time for a meeting that evening.

 At the party, I brought a game for kids to play.  String Racers.  You attach a toy (we've also used balloon animals in the past) to a piece of drinking straw, put a string through the straw, and race however many you have from a higher point to a lower point (we used a chair as the lower point and the kids held the other end of the string in their hands).
Nichole was amazing.  She helped me through most of the party.  She taught the kids who came over how to play the game, demonstrated for them, and raced with them if there was only one child at a time.  She is such a good teacher and helper.

We got our first real snow fall.  Nichole's boots from last year were too small this year, so she had to go to school in regular shoes and I gave her a piggyback ride part of the way to school.  It melted quickly enough, though, so she did alright, and there wasn't much new snow the next day and we had time to get her some new boots after school.

We also had some kid friends visit us that day, and Jr. Jr. and the boy his age had so much fun together.  When Jr. came home from school, he threw snowballs at the window for them, which they absolutely loved.

Jr. had his first field trip and got to ride on a school bus for the first time.  They took two buses so I got to ride on the bus, too.  I'm glad I went.  We went to a local farm to run around, see animals, go on a hay ride, play in corn, go through a corn maze, and pick pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.  We had a big group of kids since we combined two of our groups, but one of the moms had the kids following her in a train and that was a great way to keep the kids together as we went to the different areas.

I also had some really important reasons to be grateful recently when Nichole got sick.  I don't want to go into too many details since I'll start crying if I think too much about it.  So I'll focus on the things to be grateful for.  There are so many, but here are a few:
First of all, a loving Heavenly Father who knows us each individually and answers our prayers.
Worthy priesthood holders, including my husband, who were able to give Nichole a blessing.
Jeremy taking the car seats out of the car before going to a show that day.
Our Relief Society President who was willing to listen to me cry over the phone and assuring me that since I wouldn't be able to bring dinner over to the sister I visit teach, it would be taken care of.
The Relief Society President's son who sacrificed his time away from helping at his sister's baby shower to drive us to Instacare and then the boys and me down to the ER.
The Relief Society President's son remembering to bring his cell phone with him so I could leave messages for Jeremy to hear when he finished his show.
Nichole enjoying her first, and hopefully last, ride in an ambulance.
The new stuffed animal Nichole got in the ambulance to help her be brave, a bunny.
The medical people who took good care of Nichole throughout the day, in Instacare, the ambulance, and the ER.
My husband's show getting out at a time that allowed him to get to the ER before they even let me in to see Nichole.
The fish tank in the waiting room of the ER which entertained Jr. and later Jr. Jr. when he woke up from his nap he took in the car ride to the ER.
The kind woman who brought me water and crackers as I spent hours with Nichole in the ER.
Disney XD, which kept Nichole and me entertained while at the ER.
The Magic School Bus, which previously taught my daughter about strep throat, and my daughter who retained that information so she could share it with me and show how smart she is.
Modern medicine.
The grocery store pharmacy that was still open when I needed to pick up prescriptions for Nichole.  Sales on Gatorade and popsicles at the same grocery store.
Our Primary Presidency who is flexible when I told the Primary President I probably wouldn't be able to conduct in Primary today.
Ward members who checked on us.
Prayers from many sources.
Kind people to whom Jeremy was going to deliver balloons, but volunteered to come pick them up instead so he could pick us up from the ER, who payed him extra for the balloons, and who brought Nichole a bubble blower to keep her entertained at home while recovering.
My sweet boys who were such troopers through the whole experience and were so good at following instructions while being carted all over the place.
Volumes 1 and 2 of Animaniacs which have been keeping my kids entertained while at home.
Popsicles, which feel good on Nichole's throat.
Nichole's strep throat is getting better and she isn't having trouble with her breathing now.
Nichole is such a blessing in my life.  She is the best oldest child our family could have.  She is such a great big sister.  She is a cheerful, friendly, helpful, smart, brave, girl.  I love her so much.
And I'm grateful to know where to direct my prayers of gratitude.