Thanksgiving

I meant to write a whole month of things I'm thankful for, but where did November go anyway? 

So here's one post with all sorts of thankfulness stuffed in...

I'm thankful for "come on mama, it be fun!" from Liam. And the way he wants to help carry the laundry up the stairs and do the dishes.  (I'm lapping it up while I can..)
I'm thankful for Zelie's sweet heart...like insisting to hold the hand of a grandmotherly friend.  And the way she makes sense of things.
I'm thankful for Hannah's excitement over snow...especially when she says "don't shovel without me!"  as though it's a good time not to be missed.  And her love of learning...which is not to be confused with a love of that awful place where she has to go and SIT all. day. long. That just cuts into her free time.

I'm thankful for my husband...keeping track of what needs to be fixed, snugging up the house, putting up motion sensing outdoor lights.  On occasion rising from bed to make me coffee.  And so many small but very important ways that he is thoughtful.

And today I'm thankful for an abundance of fuzzy sleepers.

Here are some Catholic Thanksgiving facts that I thought were interesting, from Taylor Marshall.

Happy Halloween 2014

I love the way Hannah's personality is coming out.  She designed the pumpkin. She did the decorations for the wall complete with speech bubbles.  She insisted that she was going to be an "Explorer Girl." Liam will dress as Tigger and Zelie will be a pumpkin.  Except for the predicted cold/rain for trick or treating, it should be a fun Halloween!

P. S. Here's Liam's Tigger impression to make you smile:

 

You're gonna miss this

Does anyone remember the country song, "You're Gonna Miss This"?  It's by Trace Adkins and it reminds listeners that with each stage of life there are aspects we miss.  Recently my dear husband looked at me after I listed out my daily complaints and said, "you're going to miss this." 

It gives me different perspective when I look at it from that angle.  There are so many things NOT to miss about this stage.  Temper tantrums.  Spills at every meal.  Someone under my elbow at all times.  Someone HANGING on my arms as I try to push a fully loaded double stroller after a long zoo trip.  You get the picture.  But then, they won't be this little forever.   I will miss so many things about them being little.  Having a "schooler" as she called herself on the way to Kindergarten last year has helped me remember this a little more often... 

A little while ago I looked back at this blog to find some pictures to show that big girl of when she was "in my belly".  I found so much more: videos of her first spoonful of oatmeal, a younger me coaxing her to roll over, #2 super curly baby hair....and it made me smile.  It made me breathe in and breather out and not scream when someone spilled the glitter all over the floor.

Also

We're back....

Love this guy....

Ed warned me that I would fall completely in love with my son.  He was SO right.  He's charming me with his talking, his smile, his love of tracters...