We Are Family! I Got All My Sister With Me!

I find it fitting that this, my 100th blog post, is about Thanksgiving! I am grateful for many things, one of them being technology and the ability I have finally channeled to record the important moments of my life. I believe it is a good exercise to "publicly" declare what one is thankful for, so, in honor of this post, here are 100 things I am also grateful for: an omnipotent, forgiving Heavenly Father who loves me; a husband who continues to believe in our love for each other; beautiful, healthy children who make me laugh and remind me of the purpose of my existence; parents who gave me life; brothers and a sister who support, inspire and are my best friends; grandparents who love unconditionally; a best girlfriend who lets me vent and will talk about any and all with me for hours; a cozy house on a fantastic cul-de-sac; ripe peaches off my backyard tree; the thrill of attending a Broadway show; sequins and "sparkles" of any kind; reality TV shows I can live vicariously through (pretending to be a dancer on Dancing With The Stars, or an incredible fashion designer on Project Runway, or a globe-trotter on The Amazing Race); a functioning washer and dryer; Magleby's chocolate cake; long, blond hair; cars that are paid off; Nordstrom (my "happy place"); Shayne's continued employment; caring and devoted teachers who educate/babysit my children each day; MAC lipgloss; chocolate-chip cookies; memories of my babies stretching; vanilla scent; a new pair of shoes; sharp cheddar; the colors of a peach (I decorated my first house based on one!); the smell of a bbq roaring to life; "Jessie's Girl", my favorite song; Sunday Relief Society in the Highland 5th; red fall leaves blanketing the bottom half of Timpanogos with a fresh coat of snow dusting the peaks; American Fork pool and summer heat; millions of things to buy on Amazon; a green, fuzzy robe; shopping on 34th in NYC; watching my daughters dance; airplanes; cold cereal; my laptop; long,swinging fringe; the color hot pink; a healthy body and (sometimes!) sound mind; Amara glitter toes; frouffy tu-tus; my camera; Nothing Bundt Cake marble bundlets; my singing voice; an education from BYU; living so close to a temple; a black piano; digital scrapbooking; movie theaters; the guidance of the Spirit; Twilight series; spaghetti dinner; my ipod; Colgate Total toothpaste; Target; Dear Lizzy cupcakes; a red Mercedes SLK (I hope to own one someday!); the Book of Mormon; heat at the push of a button; ice-cold milk; office supplies (especially post-it notes and a great blue pen); tissues with lotion built in; the legacy of the pioneers; Bath and Body house scents; Photoshop CS4; Snickers candy bar; a gorgeous handbag; black patent anything; Look Ma, New Hands lotion; my children hugging each other; spring flowers; Joseph Smith and his incredible faith; peanut M&Ms; sassy boots; artificial Christmas trees; spandex in any form; school lunch (I hate making lunch!); my children snuggling with their Dad; naked tan lines; Los Hermanos; false eyelashes; a slice of hot, homemade bread; Christmas music; living in a place with more blue skies than gray skies; the warmth from holding my children's hands; script fonts; my cell phone; black sweaters; flat irons; antibiotics; scones from Rocky Mountain Drive-In; prayer in all forms; patterned hosiery; Johnny P. singing; Nicholas Sparks books; Fields of Gold (Sting), mine and Shayne's "song"--awww; acrylic nails; fuzzy slippers; the feel of my children's skin; a workhorse dishwasher; designer jeans...okay, so that's 105 and I'm still counting! I truly have much to be grateful for.

Another moment of gratitude to add to the list was this actual Thanksgiving dinner. In almost 15 years of marriage, I have never made Thanksgiving dinner! I was somewhat panicked over preparing my first turkey ever. But, on the advice of my trusty mom, I bought an oven bag, followed the directions to a "T", and voila! Look at this lovely masterpiece! I was pretty excited. And, as another first, I have never hosted Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Kathy, Kyle and kids, and John helped us celebrate our first Keckley Thanksgiving and we had a blast. We had wonderful food, four different desserts and fun hanging out together all day. At one point, I looked at Kath and said, "Hey! Who needs Mom to put on Thanksgiving? We did a fantastic job all by ourselves!" (wink, wink--we love you, Mom!) But I have to admit, I'm a pretty proud turkey...

'Cause Mama I'm A Big Girl Now!

"Mommy, I want to buy dis! It's sooo sparkly!"

"Fynn, you can't have that lip gloss, baby! It's just for big girls!"

"But, Mommy, I AM a big girl now!"

And so she is! It's been an eventful few weeks for Lady Fynn--three major milestones all within several days of each other.

Number one great leap: Fynnley is potty-trained!! Whoo-hoo! No more diapers in the Keckley household. I can hardly believe it. I bought her a pack of princess panties (her friend, Portia, had quite the collection and Fynn was dying to have some!) and she insisted I put them on that night. In quick succession, she had two accidents. Never mind--I wasn't ready for this step. A couple weeks went by, and she insisted she could wear them and be a big girl now. And she did! She was fine from there on out! That's what I love, a child who trains themselves (after a few threats, and, okay, a mild freak-out from Mom)!

Number two milestone: Fynn was begging for her "princess bed". She would ask every day when her bed was going to come. After months of looking, I finally found one online to order for her (appropriately named the "Cinderella" bed) and after weeks of anticipation, it arrived. While I was off doing a photo shoot, Dad and sibs helped assemble her new bed. Fynnley was giddy with delight! She was in heaven. And she won't let her brothers even sit on it, "They have dirty feet, Mom!" she declares.

Number three never-thought-I-would-do-this-to-my-little-girl moment: I took Fynn to get her hair chopped off! For three years, I have begged, willed and prayed for it to grow. And, as genes would have it, Fynn just wasn't blessed with the hair of her sister. I have loved putting it in piggy-tails with flowers, but inevitably it would start to sag and look messy. I just couldn't handle her fine little locks any longer. So, I talked her Dad into not killing me for calling my friend, Tara, and asking her to give Fynnley an adorable little bob. I had my doubts as to how it would turn out, but I am thrilled! She is absolutely adorable and the "scragglies" are a thing of the past.

As I sat with Fynnley in bed kissing her goodnight, I paused to contemplate the continuing changes in our lives as my baby grows into a big girl. I cried when Shayne started to take the crib apart...heck, I'm tearing up now as I write about it! For many years caring for several little faces has comprised my day. I thought I'd never get to this point. And, now, I just wish I could remember it all so much better! I have valiantly tried to soak up as many "moments" as I could, but, time marches on, days are busy and full, and we go on. It truly is somewhat surreal. I have loved this little girl from the second the doctor placed her in my arms. I remember thinking she would be such a sweet, peaceful addition to our family. Ha! She is definitely sweet, but full of flash and fire! Fynnley Brooklyn, you have filled my heart with so much joy. I love the little lady you are becoming, but I will surely miss you, my darling baby...(as tears cloud my vision).

Feliz Cumpleanos, That's How They Say It In Spain...

39 years, er...um, 'scuze me..., 29 years and counting! Happy birthday, big guy! Can we cut the pie now?? Yum...let's do this again next year!

Thrilller! Thriller Night!

Loving Halloween on a Saturday! Plenty of time to get the kids dressed and snap a few hundred pics! (Just kidding...kind of!) Poor Fynnley wasn't feeling well, so trick-or-treating was short-lived for her. The rest of the kids tromped around the neighborhood to their little hearts' content! Shayne even managed to keep up with Connor. We were so excited for the sudden nice weather (after a couple of blizzards this week!) It made for a great Halloween! And, I must say, these are some pretty darling lil' spooks!

I Know You, I Walked With You Once Upon A Dream...

Anyone who knows me well knows I am addicted to US Magazine! It's a pleasure I 'fess up to willingly. I am star-struck, what can I say? Every year I watch the Oscars, then pore over the magazine to check out in close detail what each star debuted as her gown for the evening. I have dreamt of evening gowns (literally!) since I can remember. Too bad I don't know how to sew or I might have been tempted to be a gown designer! The flowing chiffons, the shiny satins, the bedecked and bejeweled--love them all! So, it was with great excitement that I learned Shayne and I had received an invitation to attend the Governor's "Moonstruck" Gala--and the dress required? Black-tie! I didn't even get to wear a long formal gown for my prom! Needless to say, I was stoked! After searching all over for a dress (a little less fun when you realize modesty isn't exactly "red carpet"), I was really happy to find a beautiful black dress complete with ruffle and rhinestones (my two favorite fashion obsessions of late!) Throw in some incredibly blingy shoes, smokey eyes, long, curly hair and voila! I felt like a cross between Cinderella and Rapunzel!! And, oh yeah, that big guy who was my date wasn't too bad either in his snazzy penguin suit! An added bonus was that Mom and Dad also attended the event for Mom's company, so we had a great time mingling with them and others throughout the evening. To my delight, the program for the evening was performed by local dance and music celebrities that I was thrilled to see "live" on stage. I had a fantastic evening and only had to chastise my honey at the end as we exited the venue: "Shayne, don't walk so fast! This may be my only chance to walk the red carpet!" (Okay, it was only the carpet leading out to valet parking, but, hey, it WAS red!!) So much fun...

It's A Dead Man's Party, Who Could Ask For More?

S-T-R-E-S-S! Yep, that's what I feel every year when my two lovely friends, Emily Horsley and Marisa Skousen, deliver their annual invitation (and might I add, it was spectacularly clever this year!) to their joint Halloween costume party. It's not that I don't really enjoy going to their party and seeing what fabulous theme and decor they've come up with each year, but I just hate finding the appropriate costume to go with the theme! There, I said it! Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but I love those two girls and am always impressed by their effort and creativity (and am happy to be included!) This year's theme was to come as a literary character. I raided Mom's costume closet and came up with this little ensemble as Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby. And what did Shayne choose to go as? Little surprise--Superman (the boy does love a good comic book, after all!) The party was held at Rick and Emily's new bookstore cafe in downtown Provo. It was really fun to see everyone's costumes and I have to say, Walbruchs' Three Little Pigs and Horsleys' Things were pretty dang funny. But for me, the "costume of the event" was none other than the hostess herself, Miss Marisa as Julia Child was hysterical! I could not stop laughing every time I looked at her. So glad to have such great friends as pictured (l. to r.): Marisa as Julia, Emily H. as Thing, Kristi as Moby Dick, Jessica as Hester Prynn, lovely me, Emily W. as the hottest strip of bacon on the block! Thanks girls for the great party!!

Hee-Haw-Haw!

In light of my mothering laziness of late, only one child got to experience the yearly trek to a pumpkin patch! Fynnley's pre-school class scheduled their field trip to the new Hee Haw's and I went along as her chaperone. 'Though she proved pretty grouchy throughout the morning, I think she still really enjoyed all the activities: hayride, potato sack slide, petting zoo, tire-horse swing, hay-jumping, and, of course, posing for her mother's incessant picture taking! Maybe next year the rest of my offspring will fare better!