Saturday, November 16, 2013

Give Thanks...

#10...I am thankful for friends.  I have some wonderful friends.  I have made so many new friends since becoming a mom.  One more reason to be thankful that God allowed me to be a mama.  I am thankful for my friends who are also mama's and who go through similar challenges, trials, joys, and fun as I do and that we can share that common bond.  I am not always an amazing friend because I often get caught up in my world and all that is going on that I forget to encourage, reach out, help, or just invite over.  Even when I am not at my best in that area I am so grateful for friends who love me anyway and encourage me still. 

#11...I am thankful for my church.  I have literally been a part of Bethany Baptist Church for 30 years.  I actually had to tell a small group of people this recently for a "get to know you" activity at a church leadership meeting and a couple of them thought I was joking.  I was born into this church and have never regularly attended any other church.  I love Bethany and the people in it.  I grew up in this church and have seen it change and grow so much.  It's a little strange to have so many roles in the church...child going through Sunday school, awana, etc, then a youth in the youth group, then a college student trying to figure out who I was, then a young single working gal still trying to figure out who I was, and then a wife and now a mom.  Bethany isn't perfect, but no church is.  I am thankful to be a part of this church and so thankful that they have welcomed and loved my husband like they do me. 

#12...I am thankful for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This time of year is really special to me and brings me great joy.  There is just a warmth about this time of year that brings family together.  I love decorating and listening to Christmas music.  I love picking out special things to give to the people we love and I love spending time together.  The movies are fun and the food is good too. 

#13...I am thankful the my husband is in the medical field.  This may sound silly but it gives me a huge sense of peace knowing that he knows quite a bit about medical stuff and can usually make great judgment calls on whether or not our kids need more attention then what we can offer them at home.   

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Pumpkins!

My kids actually got to go to a pumpkin patch four times this year!  I took the kids to a little pumpkin patch in Jefferson with a friend of mine and her three kids.  Then while we were in Spokane we all went to a pumpkin patch together.  Then right before Jay and I went to California we took the kids to Bauman's for a family day at the pumpkin patch and then while we were in California my mom went with Carter to Bauman's for his preschool field trip.  Very sad to miss his very first field trip ever.  What is even worse though is that while we were in California I accidentally deleted every single picture that was on my camera.  This included our family trip to the pumpkin patch and the first day and a half of Disneyland.  I was pretty devastated.  But I got pictures at the Jefferson pumpkin patch and the one in Spokane.  Since I didn't get to go to Carter's field trip we don't have any pictures from that either.  But here are a few from one of our visits and then carving our pumpkin too.  Pumpkin patch season is a favorite of mine!
 

Carter and his buddy Owen.  They had lots of fun playing together!
 










Carter's friend Grace in the background.
 


Pushing their own wheel barrows to pick out their pumpkin.
 






He found the perfect pumpkin.  And it was my perfect one too because it was only $.50. 
 

Then Carter and daddy had fun carving our big pumpkin.  Carter actually helped this year and pulled all the goo out!  I was proud :)  He wouldn't touch it last year.
 

 








 

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Thankfulness

#8...I am thankful for my parents.  They have loved me my whole life, supported me and my decisions, and provided a happy and healthy environment to grow up in.  I am so thankful that my parents faith was a priority for them and they passed that down to me.  I am thankful they made it possible for me to go to college and come out of it debt free.  It was because of them that I was able to teach for five years and start a career in a field I love.  It was because of my career and the school I worked at that I met my husband.  It all leads back to something my parents made possible for me.  And today, with two young kids, I am so thankful for who they are and what they mean to my kids.  My kids adore their grandparents (not just my parents, but all of them).  Carter calls my mom Grandma with no turtles (because she doesn't have turtles and another grandma does) and he calls my dad Grandpa who loves the Giants.  He came up with these names completely on his own and they have stuck.  Most kids come up with names like nana and papa...nope, not my kids.  :)  I am so thankful for my mom and how often she watches our kids.  She makes it possible for me to sub and bring in a little income which in turn makes it possible for me to be a stay at home mom.  What a gift!  She has also been so helpful with my master's program and watching the kids so I can do homework.  I know what a true blessing that is.  I know I would be capable of doing my Master's without help but it would have been a nightmare!  I am thankful for my dad and stepmom who love to watch the kids so Jay and I can go out on dates frequently.  What a blessing!  I know what a gift it is to live in the same town as my parents and have so much help in raising my kids.  I am very thankful and I am sure I don't say it enough to them. 

#9...I am thankful for my new family (of almost five years) that were gifted to me through marriage.  I am thankful for Jay's family who have taken me in as their daughter.  Sadly, we don't get to see many of them often enough but yet I know they love me and love my kids.  Jay's mom is always willing to spend time with our kids too and loves them very much.  And our family in Iowa may not get to babysit much but they too adore our kids and bless and spoil them as often as they can!  We are blessed with family.

Forgotten Post...The Zoo!

My mom had one request for her birthday this year...a trip to the zoo with her grandkids.  We were easily able to provide that for her.  And then went to dinner after in Portland as well.  We had a great day at the zoo which is by far one of Carter's favorite places to be.  It rained on us a couple times but only really poured as we were leaving.  Not too bad.  It was a great day!
 














Madelynn could not stop staring at the elephants.  It was precious.  Those were by far her favorite animal at the zoo.
 

Trying to get a picture in front of the elephant with my girl...she could not stop looking at the elephant. :)  Love this girl!
 


Grandma and her grandkids.
 

Madelynn kept wanting to give Grandma kisses.  Such a sweet girl.
 

 




This boy makes me smile.
 


 



They were so excited to ride the train!  This was a highlight for them!
 


He melts me.
 









 
Um, hello...LOVE!
 


I loved how she kept looking out the little open window and watching everything go by.
 








The down pour as we left the zoo.  Good thing we brought his rain coat.