Thankful

We made a Thanksgiving triangle in our travels this year. Our first stop was Bunny and Pappy's house. Mandy and Abby were there! We had a great visit. I don't know why I have been forgetting to take pics of the adults..just kids. The kids enjoyed running (not walking) all around Bunny's house chasing each other and screaming!

We also were able to visit with Sabrina too.  (the sweet wife of Hubs's best friend who died in September). This is the second Thanksgiving where we have watched people we love grieve. It is a helpless feeling when you just want them to have so badly who was lost, but you can't.  God is not helpless though. I was thankful to sit and listen to her speak of the ways He has provided for her these last 2 months.  She is an amazing woman; not floundering with a "why me" attitude, but giving thanks for the years she spent with David and relying on God to provide for her in the years to come. Wow, I was amazed. Her kids are precious, and she doesn't complain about meeting their every need day after day without relief many days. Please continue to lift her up.

Some how I my pics are all out of order!  This pic is our routine trip to Deedaw's garden.  This was the day before the freeze, so thankfully a few flowers and beans remained.  My sweet Deedaw. He loves to show the kids around the garden, and you wouldn't believe how excited they get!  I'm so so so thankful for my sweet grandparents!

Mary and Abby (18 months apart) are a PERFECT pair! They are alike in many ways.  Abby is 9 months older than Garrett, but from the looks of this picture, you would think she's Mary's age!

Poor Bailey boy.  I think he just missed Hannibal:) What a great cousin filled, grandparent, great-grandparent filled week.  Thankful.

This week

We started the week off right..with friends.  When hubs and I were in school, we became great friends with a guy named Shane.  We have seen him only a few times since then, so this past weekend was a real treat catching up.  I enjoyed so much getting to know his wife and son.

He's  a handsome, mild mannered little guy. 

It felt like old times....lots of discussion about what else? Football.

Emily turned thirty something on Monday. Being the nice sister I am, I gave her a candle for every year. Mary made the comment that with so many candles, she must be getting REALLY TALL!

I was trying to take advantage of the beautiful colors, and this is the response I get.

What a look.

Mary had her thanksgiving feast yesterday, sweet little indian.

The toothless wonder

Today, at the dentist office, Allie said something that put a proud smile on my face.


What comes with multiple kids, is multiple personalities. I'm sure birth order helps shape their personalities, but I know God gave them each a certain "way" about them. Allie has always been a big helper. Often times she wants to help so badly that it causes frustration for her and for me when the "helpee" (Mary) doesn't not want to be the recipient of her help. For the most part, she and Mary are a good pair because Mary is a follower.

This seems like yesterday!

Allie couldn't read yet, but she loves to talk, so Mary's been hearing it all her whole life.

Today, Allie had to have two more teeth pulled. As we walked into the office, she asked me the following:


"Mama, do you think if I put one of my teeth under Mary's pillow the tooth fairy might leave her half of the money. She's been wanting to lose her teeth, and I know it may be a while, so that would be a big treat for her."


Ahh...so sweet. Some days are good and some days are bad, but I will remember that statement for a while:) It's going to be tricky the next time she only loses one tooth!

The book

I've been slaving over my year book lately which is why I haven't been blogging. Thankfully I have scrapbooked the "big events" as the year as passed, but I needed to fill in all the little things than happened in between. I do one page for each child with something written to them and about them. Tonight I did Garrett's page, and it made me smile. I'm up to page 76...right on track. I am bragging a bit because in every other corner of my world, I'm a bit frazzled. The laundry is never completely done, the house never totally cleaned, but I have something to show for it thankfully! (not that I'm not insanely jealous of all of you who do have all the laundry done and house perfectly in order). This page may be hard to read without clicking on it to zoom in.

Huh??? He got his passy back?? If you read to the end you'll find this to be true.  I confess...I GAVE IT BACK. After 5-6 weeks of crying during nap time, and literally having a different child on my hands because of extreme tiredness....I gave it back....with no regrets. Maybe at 3?? Yeah whatever.

And here is the cover. Last year, I chose to make my book out of my blog header because it was already started, and it made it easier to design.  It also helps me to remember my blog theme for the year, since I do a new header every year.  I think I'll stick with this tradition.

Halloween 2010

We met our long time friends at the Great Wolf Lodge for the weekend.  Five kids in a hotel on Halloween weekend is AWESOME...he he he:) The kids had a blast, and I am still recovering!