Happy Thanksgiving!

This morning I was up at 5:15 getting rolls out of the freezer (I made them on Monday and froze before the second rising) to rise and prepare poor Mr.Bird for his demise. After slathering him with butter, he is nice and cozy in the toasty oven.

I am thankful for so many things. We have some absolute amazing people in our lives, a warm cozy home, abundant food and all the little things that make my life wonderful.

This year we have decided to sponsor a child from Compassion International. Her name is Liggia, and she is from Brazil. Knowing that we can help a child means so much, when we have so much STUFF. The girls will be excited when we tell them.

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for my church. Sometimes it might be a bit over the top (hubs might think that's putting it mildly), as it's a very charismatic church full of people ready and waiting to praise the Lord.

I grew up in a couple different denominations, Lutheran and Methodist. We actually moved to Kentucky for 4 years while my parents were missionaries. So in my years, I have seen a LOT, the good and the bad. Seeing people raising their hands and shouting out in worship doesn't phase me. What I love the most about this church is how they have embraced us. I knew more people in one year from this church that I ever knew in 9 years of attending a previous church.

My girls are thriving in their youth church, and I have met some UH-MAZING women in my Wednesday night Bible study. No one acts holier-than-thou, and even though each of us is in a different walk in our faith, we are all there to learn TOGETHER. I can't tell you how much this has meant to me over the last two years. When I walk into church, I feel like I'm home, and to me, that is how church should be:)

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for being able to stay home the past 10 years raising my girls. Although it hasn't been all roses and bubblegum, it HAS been quite an accomplishment for me. I love knowing that everything my girls learned (and no, no pride came from Alayna telling Grandma Donna that was "damn" good) has come from me. Seeing how well they have done in school, I know that I have had a part in that.

I started doing daycare when Rachel was 10 months old, this is hands down the most stressful, rewarding job I have done. I do have many regrets with doing daycare, how my girls have had to share their toys and things (although it's been a good lesson for them, until a daycare child breaks said toy:(, the fact that I am not able to devote 100% of my attention to them, and of course the stress that comes with taking care of lots of little ones all day everyday. However, I now can see what things they have learned by me doing daycare, seeing how compassionate and loving they are with the kiddos, and just the overall responsibility they have learned.

I know that my journey doing daycare is slowly winding down, but I am so thankful that it enabled me to take care of our girls how *I* saw fit.

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today's post is simple...I am thankful for a warm blanket, comfy chair and the quiet. Mama is down and out with a fever....

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Yes, I am sure that I will be disowned for posting this picture, but I can't help it. Just look at that CUUUUTE baby! Don't you just wanna squish those chubby cheeks?

Yes that is me, with my brother, mom and dad. I love looking at these old pics of us, I was very blessed to have an amazing childhood. Today I am VERY thankful for my parents. I am who I am because of them, and it's fun to see the similarities and differences between them and myself.

I was so fortunate to have my mom stay home with us for most of my younger years. Times were so different back then, we biked everywhere, to the pool, into town, to friends houses. I don't think I had many friends who's mom's worked, so it was always fun to head over to friends house for "coffee". Major playtime for us! We also had my grandparents live close by, so it was always fun hanging out at the farm. Going in the tractor with dad or grandpa was always fun!

In today's world, there are so many parenting styles, and I can honestly say that there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think I am wrecking my kids for life:) But then when I look back at how my parents raised us, I know I'm doing a good job. We always knew they were there for us, no matter what. We were spanked, and have somehow stayed out of therapy for that. I'm sure that they have regrets, as I am sure I will also. But the main thing I can take away from my parents is the unconditional love they have for me. It didn't matter that they got a phone call at 1 in the morning informing them to come pick up their drunk daughter at a party, (love you!) it didn't matter that I made some terrible choices in the man department (before meeting my amazing hubs, of course). Yes I knew there would be consequences, but I NEVER felt shamed, or unloved by them.

I can only hope that I am the mother my mother was to me, she was (and is) my best friend, and I know that she will give me her honest advice if I need it. I know she will always be there for me, and I couldn't have been blessed with anyone better:)

Thanks mom and dad for all your love and support!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for these beauties......

I will never know how I got so lucky to have these three, but I thank God everyday for them. I always wanted a sister growing up (instead I got a stinky, bossy brother, haha!), so I am SO happy to see what kind of relationship they will have.

I never knew how completely different personalities each child can have. Rachel is my very grown up, pet loving, responsible, considerate and outspoken 10 year old. She is a lot like I was as a child. I am so proud of how she is with the elderly...When both of my Grandmothers were in nursing homes, Rachel was so comfortable being there. She would always want to help out, if they needed anything. In school she reads to a young girl who is wheelchair bound, and not very responsive. Twice a week she reads to Dani, I love the fact that she is so comfortable in those situations.

Emma is my little drama queen. Literally. She wants to act in plays, and sing. And can she ever sing! She is auditioning for a solo in their music program, can't wait to hear if she got it! And the girl reads, all.the.time. She typically reads for about 2 hours everyday. She is a very creative girl, loves to create things. She is a very sensitive, loving, easy going girl. But she can also get her valley girl on like no one else I know!!

Alayna has more energy than anyone I know. She is a bear cat to get up in the mornings for school, but then doesn't stop running until she goes to bed! She is absolutely our family clown. She will do anything to get you to laugh, although sometimes that gets her in trouble! She loves to color/craft and has absolutely no time for TV or for sitting reading books.

I am so blessed to have my girls, the fun girly things we get to do make me one HAPPY mom!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Ok, so I might not be the worlds best blogger here, but I am going to attempt doing daily (ahem, as in Monday through Friday) posts about what I am thankful for. So many times I get caught up in how stressful my job/life gets that I forget what REALLY matters.

This post is all about this hunk of love I call my husband.......

This is one of the most amazing men I have ever met. He is kind, considerate, loving, FUN, and an amazing father. He shows me everyday how much he loves me and appreciates me (which I'm guessing he thinks makes up for the fact that I clean up after him non stop...but enough whining...). There is not a day that goes by that he doesn't make me laugh out loud. Together we are truly two peas in a pod, despite the fact that we have nothing in common! If you gave me the choice to hang with him or my girlfriends (which are a LOT of fun by the way!), I would hands down choose to hang with my man. Sitting in the hot tub discussing our future, or playing board games in front of the fire place with the girls, we just know how to have fun.

I thank God everyday for this incredible man that he has blessed me with, and I cannot wait to grow old with him, and watch our girls grow up.

Halloween 2011

Can you believe it is November 1st?? Seriously, WHERE did summer go? Did I miss this?? Christmas is like....8 WEEKS AWAY....I know....

We had a fabulous Halloween, although I might confess that I am glad it's over. I did have fun decorating this year though. We had our group of friends over for a Halloween party and I realized I had NO "spooky" decorations. That's where my favorite store Crafts Direct comes in. They had all their stuff 50-75% off. Mama made a haul!

Here are the girls all decked out....Taylor Swift, Ms. Bumblebee and Yoda.

For supper we had a "mummy" meatloaf....

And snack I made these "monster" faces, the kids LOVED them!

And last but not least, Popeye and Olive Oyl...We had such a fun time with our group of friends!

Hope your Halloween was fantastic!