Thanksgiving

Unbelievable how quickly time is marching on. Children are growing, seasons are changing, and we are in the midst of the holiday season. We are trying to remember to be thankful for all things we take for granted and to keep Jesus as the center of our holiday busyness. Meanwhile, I am adjusting to looking over at Violet and seeing her in an upright position. I never know where I am going to find her and at times, I need to run for the camera to catch those funny moments. Violet holding on the banister made me laugh, simply because she was there laughing all by herself, I suppose she was pretty proud she accomplished this feat. The laughter is what drew my attention to her and then of course I said, "don't move, let me get my camera!" This caught my sentimental self, when I saw Jacob reading to Ashley. How kind he is to read a book to Ashley at her level of reading. Jacob is into reading chapter books that don't always have a lot of pictures, so it is nice to see him pleasing his sister.

We started out Thanksgiving with a Thanksgiving feast at Ashley's school, which I was able to go in and be a helper. I love helping at the school, and wish I could do more, but..... Ashley dressed as an Indian with a beautiful costume. Then the class had a wonderful feast of popcorn, grapes, apples, trail mix, and a turkey cookie. I believe they all had a wonderful time.

We have begun to pull out the Christmas decorations and all the beautiful Nativity scenes which I love the most. It was really neat to talk about the birth of Jesus with the children and to hear Rachel say "I want to hear more about Jesus" Rachel, I hope we do continue to keep this as a center of our conversation, and yes, I do think we will be talking more about Jesus.

It"s two o'clock.......

It's two o'clock, and the pressure is on. I have the Violet and Rachel sleeping, which hopefully will occur more frequently. Now, I have an hour to race around the house and get some things done, and here I am at the computer. However, the apple pie is in the oven and the main dish is made for supper, so I feel like I can splurge and spend a couple minutes on the computer. This past week was busy with Ben visiting family in NY, and leaving me parenting by myself. We did good and Jacob really helped me a lot. He was the man of the house and he would do what I ask him willingly and without fuss. Ashley also did not fuss in the mornings prior to school, and just did so good! I was so proud of them. Friday eve we spent with our small group from church making gingerbread houses. We had a lot of fun, and it helped the evening go by so fast. I feel so blessed to be a part of a great church with people my age, and in my stage of life. I am surrounded by young families and my children have other children to play with and to feel safe. So for this past week of thankfulness, I am so thankful for my friends. Those who listen, who share, who call me, who support me, who love, those friends who are just so special to me. I am so thankful for you! Your friendship means so much to me. Our gingerbread house.

My four children, whom I am so very thankful for.

Party time

All week I have been thinking about my Thankful Thursday theme. The kids and I have discussed being thankful for my car which we rely on to carry us to all different places, thankful for our beds that feel so good when we fall into them, thankful for the food that we can afford to buy and then eat, and thankful for the jobs that we have to help meet our needs. I decided on Thursday to focus on being thankful for our health. So many people around us have health struggles and different viruses are causing young people to be ill. Thru all of this, our family has been relatively healthy. Yes, we have minor complaints typical of the season, but overall we have maintained our healthful condition, and I am so truly thankful for that. Focusing on being thankful is such a healthy exercise for our minds. It has helped my children in directing their thoughts. I really should do this throughout the year and not just one month.

Friday night was the great, anticipated party night in Ashley's room. Ashley prepared by making a list of activities and collecting craft items for her planned events(food was not permitted). Jacob pitched the tent in her room, sleeping bags were arranged, and the door was closed to adults. They had one hour to "party" and then we settled them down and this is what they looked like. It was so fun to hear them giggling and having a good time, feeling so grown up without adults! Before we went to bed, we peeked in, and of course had to capture the moment.

What fun they had, and now they are planning the next party!

Thankful on a Friday

I wanted so much to do a Thursday Thankfulness, and I spent all day thinking of all the many things I am so thankful for. Thursday sped by and I did not get my blog written. However, I had a wonderful thankful day thinking of the many wonderful aspects of my life. I am so thankful and so blessed with my family. My children and my husband fill my heart with happiness. Laughter, tears, chaos, noise, all emotions from all extremes fill my house, but I am so thankful for each and every one. I can't imagine my life being any different, and God has truly blessed me. An update on Violet, here is her new skill. The stairs are like a magnet to her. I put her down and she will change her direction to head for the stairs. Yesterday on my thankful Thursday she bumped down the stairs not once, but two times. And yes, I was thankful she did not get hurt too bad.

Oh, she is so proud, look at her laughing!!

Oh look, here is a new discovery. What fun it is to unroll the toilet paper, what a mess she can create. She has even started emptying the bookshelf with our many books--didn't take a picture of that one, it was way to messy to forever remember.

We have been listening to children's worship music and yesterday while I was focusing my thoughts towards thankfulness, this song started playing and I thought how appropriate. Remember this song? Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One, Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His Son....And now let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich, because of what the Lord has done for us......Give thanks.

Oct 31st

Yes, I am a couple days late here. Someday, I plan on catching up with my life and having everything under control. Back to reality, some days I feel like life is spinning wildly out of control, and I am grasping to catch a hold and keep up. Oh it's not as bad as it sounds. However, I am posting this blog several days late.
We look forward to Halloween so much. We anticipate dressing up in our outfits and visiting my paternal grandma. I just love going to visit her and sadly we just don't visit enough. Halloween is a must. She loves seeing the children all dressed up and watch their enthusiasm as they talk about their costume. All the other elderly folks love to talk and visit with them as well. We just love visiting her. This Halloween we spent all day at our soccer tournament. I was so thankful Ben spent the day with me and helped me with the children all day. Usually I am going to soccer games by myself with all four children, so this was a wonderful treat and a great day as a family. Here is a picture of the kids at their Great Grandma's.

(Rachel is going through a stage of sticking her tongue out when getting her picture taken, I hope this passes soon!)

After visiting Grandma, we head on to the church to have supper and planned activities for the children. When all the events are over, we head home happy and tired, dreaming of next year.

Birthday Bash

On Oct. 27th, we celebrated Ben's birthday together as a family. Birthdays are so very special. We make a big deal out of birthdays! Ashley was a little disappointed that she did not get to go shopping to get daddy a special gift, so I suggested she make something for him, like a picture or a painting. Ashley said she wanted to make choc chip cookies, so after school, she made a batch of cookies. I enjoy working in the kitchen with her, she is such an eager learner. Here we are with Ben's special request: a pumpkin pie made with real pumpkin. (I baked 4 pumpkins earlier in the day for pies)

And opening presents. It is so fun to watch the kids give daddy their gift. They are tearing off the paper before he gets his hands on it. (he doesn't mind, of course)

Later Ben pulled out his trombone that he had when he was younger. This was a special request of Jacob's and they all took turns trying to make some sound with it. We had such a good time together. I realized that this is the 15th birthday I have celebrated with Ben, wow, does time fly. 15 sounds like a long time. Our we that old???

We've had some fun in the leaves, I'm sure we will get out there again for more fall fun. This was our first leaf pile of the year.

I caught this picture of Ben and Jacob playing ball together. It is fun to have some beautiful fall days and being outside together. We have so many things to be thankful for. Some of these memories I hope to treasure forever and capture some on camera. I do believe as crazy, at times stressful, this season is the best one of all. I love my kids, my little family, and I am sooo thankful for each and every one of them. I can't imagine my family being any different.