Thankful Tree

A I plucked the colorful construction paper leaves off of the stick branches, I couldn't just throw them away.  We've been doing a thankful tree for a few years now, but this year I decided to record all the thing we're thankful for.  It will be a good tradition.  It will be good to look back on all the blessings and all the things we're thankful for...especially when hard times come...as they always do in life.  It will be good to have these lists!

 

ELLA (her list will be the longest, because every night she would ask for multiple leaves.  And even then she would end up having us write multiple things on each of those multiple leaves.  What a joy it was to see gratefulness so cultivated in her little heart!  We did not prompt ANY of these answers, and wrote them down verbatum.  And I LOVE how many there are about her baby brother.  I have been praying since he was first in my womb for a wonderful sibling relationship.)

1. Our family, pets, food, baby brother, rocks, leaves, sun catchers, bicycle and tricycle.
2. That I can plan on the new grass.
3. A nice yard to play with the ball.
4. That I have a new bouncy ball.  And babies.
5. These nature collages.  And my blanket.
6. My salamanders, my fishies and my caterpillars.
7. for lots of sunny days.
8. For my glitter lip gloss and these chocolates.
9. Friends (Claira, Lauren, Emma, Maggie)
10. That the tank that my fishies are in is pretty.
11. For nice weather.
12. That we have such a pretty house.
13. For my kitchen set.
14. I am thankful that I have such a lovely baby brother.
15. I love baby Josiah.
16. For baby Josiah.
17. I love baby Josiah because he plays with me, sleeps very much and doesn't cry very much.
18. For baby Josiah and that he sleeps better in his crib and doesn't cry when he goes to sleep.
19. That baby Josiah is fun to play with.
20. That we got to paint with apples and paint on the windows.
21. That we have a pretty house to play in with a lot a lot of stuff.For my body.  And stickers.
22. That I'm going to get a bug eyed fish!
23. For snow, a good swingset, and that I can climb up the slides.
24. That I get to play with my friends.
25. For the gift I am giving Nanny and that I can give it to her.
26. For Nanny and Grampy coming over.
27. For our fish.
28. Mom and dad because they play with me.
29. My school.  Our woodstove and a nice warm house.
30. That we are going to have lots of space to play in.  And warm hot cocoa.
31. A big open house to ride my tricycle in.

 

SARAH

1. Rain and sun helping our new lawn grow.
2. Snow on 11-8-12
3. Games
4. Two healthy children
5. That people think to ask us when they are raising support.
6. Miss D. and a great library
7. Ella's awesome preschool and two great teachers!
8. A wonderful time at church this morning.
9. An amazing, helpful husband.  xoxo
10. A wonderful husband and daughter who like to suprise me.
11. For electricity and running water that so many others in the world don't have.
12. For our home.
13. A God who loves me no matter what.
14. Reconnecting with Stef. K and also for her heart for fostercare and children.
15. Warm fire, awesome hubby and a great deal on a W/D for mom!
16. A visit from Krissy.
17. For soldiers and freedom and days off and sunshine.

 

JASON

1. For good family time at the park.
2. For a car that gets me where I need to go.
3. for my family.
4. good coworkers
5. for other people's generosity.
6. our friends
7. our good health.
8. for a nice home where we can have company stay and visit.
9. for a big yard to run around in.
10. having good friends!
11. for a warm, dry home during "hurricane" Sandy
12. for a good job.
13. beautiful fall days.
14. For time to spend with my family.

 

GUESTS
Baby smiles, ella playing, feeling better, sewing machines.
for this family
for two healthy grandchildren and one more on the way.
many beautiful birds outside my window. ~Grandma

for the outside ~Claira

Having good friends who feed me dinner ~Krissy

Can't Leave Well Enough Alone!

My mom would say we can't leave well enough alone.  I would say we have vision and are go getters dedicated to making our home the best it can be!  But really, we can't just move into a home a leave it be.  Nope, we change things.  I'm not just talking paint colors and decor...I'm talking ripping out  cabinets, building closets, and most recently....knocking down walls and rearranging floor plans. 

The kids and I headed North with my mom a day earlier than Jason.  I left him home alone to do some major demo on our house.  What was once a long, skinny, odd, not so usable and definitely not fitting living room for our large house....is now a big beautiful open concept.  Yes...it's still rough...but you get the picture!

Please excuse the condition of the house.  VERY unlike me, but I did NOpicking up before I snapped the picture.  The wires are still hanging, the paint doesnt match, and the sheet rock dust is still settling but I couldn't wait to share!  :)  I LOVE IT!!!

BEFORE
Knocking down the wall means getting rid of the master bedroom downstairs.  No fear...we have 5 more bedrooms upstairs.  And we like being on the same floor as our children MUCH better!

AFTER
AMAZING I know!  Look at the space...look at the sunlight!

BEFORE
View from the inside of the former master br.  I almost forgot to take a picture!

AFTER
So wonderful!  Now the woodstove won't sweat us out of the smaller living room space!

BEFORE
View from dining room entrance into living room.

AFTER
I am IN LOVE!!!

Where DOES Time Go!?

HOW is it MID November ALREADY!?

Every single bit of my Christmas shopping is DONE.  And that's late for me.  But NOW I can sit back and SAVOR the SAVIOR, which is what this season is all about.  I can play my Christmas tune, bake with my little, craft to my hearts content and focus on what Christmas is all about!  Oh how I love it!

I've celebrated another year of life and I feel fabulous.  I have a whole blog post about that in my head but it'll have to wait.

I feel like I'm hitting my stride in this mother of two game...ya know...sorta...for now...until things change...which they always do with littles.  But really, we're doing well, and I'm doing well, and I do plan to share more about this journey...but again it'll have to wait.

And my BABY boy is 4 months old!  He's still a mello jello, lazy little love.  He still hates tummy time, but will oblige me and pick his head up off the mat for a few seconds.  He has found his tosies and loves to grab them.  He grabs at toys with vigor, and while his coordination is still not the best, he manages to get them clumsily to his mouth and hang onto them for a bit.  He gets quite excited when he succeeds and kicks and flails his arms...which makes him lose the toy he was just celebrating obtaining :)  it's cute.  He occasionally will roll onto his side, but not much really.  Unlike Ella, he shoves everything into his mouth, and drools a good bit.  I realize this is normal, but Ella was unusual.  She did not drool much at all and almost never put things in her mouth.  He's a little fussier these days.... probably because he's backslid on the sleeping...not going for as long of stretches.  That is NOT to my liking.  But he's still quite a happy little guy.  And I thank God for this happy, healthy little love and I will choose to be grateful to have him to wake up to in the night and nurse and snuggle.

HE IS the MOST amazingly handsome little man EVER if I do say so myself! Check him out!

Happy Halloween!

This is not just an obligatory Halloween post.

I don't remember thinking Halloween was anything special when I was growing up.

But I have to admit...I kind of love Halloween now that I have kiddos.

Forget the spooky, leave the loud.   No thanks crowds and good-by gore.

 I couldn't dislike those things more!

But chubby little munchkins all dressed up in cute, cozy costumes?
Yes Please!

Preschool parades and goodies gifted?

Makes me smile.

Pink dino tail bobbing as she walks?

You betcha.

Tiny little voices timidly saying trick or treat and thank-you?

So sweet.

Good friends, hand in little hand, trapsing about a friendly neighborgood?

Makes my heart happy.

Adorable little pumpkin all bundled and smiley?

Who wouldn't love that!

Little toddler fingers sorting through tasty treasures saying with such innocent and genuine appreciation, "Look Mom!  Look what I got!"

 Yup.  Can't get enough of that!