Thankful Thursday--Thanksgiving Edition

The things I could list that I'm thankful for go on and on. It's a quiet Thanksgiving this year, out of the norm from what we usually celebrate. In some ways it helps to have a quiet relaxing day to truly think about what we're thankful for.

I can't remember the last time I lounged around in my parent's house with no big plans impending. What a special day for Lucy to sew in Grammy's sewing room and  play with all the Barbies and Little Ponies from my childhood.

I'm thankful for the sweet little boy who awoke crying at 4:50 in the morning looking for his lovie. I wasn't very thankful when I couldn't find it and had to turn on lights searching (Nick eventually found it), but I am oh so thankful for the little boy things Murray clings to. He's getting so big too fast and I know one day I'll turn around and he'll be taller than me, so searching for a lovie in the middle of the night is a way to remember he's still little.

I'm thankful for Ginny's smiles, her snuggles and her cheerful nature. One year ago I began to feel a bit nauseous on Thanksgiving day and it worsened each day after that. Who knew it would last until the day she was born! I look at her each day and am so thankful for all the sickness, tired days and lack of eating I was able to endure to bring such a special girl into our family. I've watched our family grow in love in numerous ways since finding out we were expecting and since her arrival in July, it is truly an awesome experience as a mother and wife.

I'm thankful for Lucy. My parents have so many pictures of Lucy throughout her house and thinking back on her first Thanksgiving when we went and took family pictures, Lucy learned to clap and she was just learning to stand holding onto furniture to who she is today is amazing. A sweet girl who is so bright and sees the world in such a unique way. A little girl who is happy to help with her sister, the bags while we're flying, sewing with Grammy and learning to read. I'm not sure where my wild baby Lucy disappeared to, but I am sure thankful for the young girl who is appearing before my eyes.

I'm thankful for my amazing husband who gets up in the middle of the night (even though he would just sleep through all the chaos on his own) and searches the house for a square foot of fabric to comfort our son. I'm thankful that he shares his passion for the Packers and more importantly his passion for our God with our children. I'm thankful that he's the head of our house and cares for all of us accordingly. I'm thankful that 7 years ago we were celebrating Thanksgiving with our family anticipating our wedding day fast approaching.

I'm thankful for my parents and family who watched me grow from a baby to who I am today and helped me get to where I am. I'm thankful for my extended family who did the same for Nick and continue to encourage us today.

I'm thankful for Kate and Kelly who flew in to celebrate with us a day early and share in a PACKERS VICTORY at Ford Field with Nick and Murray.

A lot to be thankful for today...and I just named the people. We are certainly blessed! Boba and Tommy just arrived...so I'm off to be thankful for their love for my sweet girls as well!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful we live in a connected world. So many times we talk about how "disconnected" our society has become, and it's true. There can be so little true face to face time with people, but in this disconnected society there can come a moment when people are suddenly connected again. You have to remember, there is a real live person on the other side of the phone, email, blog or facebook profile picture.

Sure, it can be a way to have meaningless connections with people you once knew...a way to "keep in touch" with someone you probably wouldn't put the effort into keeping in touch with otherwise. I'm guilty of these things as well. However, on a daily basis I use technology to connect with friends and family that I would otherwise have intermittent communication with. They might call or stop by and catch me in the middle of an awful mess and not know the joy I have in my day to day as a mom...or they might stop by in the midst of a wonderful day and not know that sometimes my house really is a mess or I forget to make dinner or love my family the way I should. Sometimes with technology we're comfortable enough to take our gloves off and show ourselves for who we really are.

Sometimes, technology can join us together in a way that nothing else could.

Twice this week technology has proven itself to me as not a way to disconnect our society, but a way to bring us together. Twice this week I've seen a community of people band together for the common good and reach out to that "real person" on the other side of the profile picture. 

Twice this week a status update has brought my day to a stand still. A stand still that made me choke back tears and spend my late nights nursing my baby girl, hold her a bit tighter and pray, pleading for mercy from our Heavenly Father. 

I'm so thankful that while I can't hug my friends and family far away I can know they're there and share in their daily tasks. Sure...it can be disconnected...or you can just say that the "village" we're living in has changed a bit. 

I'm thankful that even though I'm far away from so many people I love...they're still right here with me living in my "village". 

Ginny at 4 months

Really?!? There is no way she's this big already...

Yep, it's true! We're 1/3 of the way through her first year of life! I've said it before and I'll say it again...it goes way too fast! It feels like she just got here, she shouldn't be this big, but at the same time, it feels like she's always been here...she's the perfect fit to our family.

We're loving Ginny smiles these days. She loves to watch us all and smile when we talk/look/dance/sneeze/whatever at her. Her daddy can get the best giggles from her, with her big brother Murray coming in at a close 2nd. Murray has also shown us that she can get scared...yelling "boo" in her face may make her giggle once or twice, but more often it makes her cry.

She also cries when Murray cries. Her big lip sticks out and she just wails if he doesn't stop quick enough...some days there's lots of crying!

We went to the doctor for her 2nd cold so far...ugh! But, we found out she's 16lbs 1 oz with her clothes on...yikes! What a big girl! We just packed away the 6 months clothes (most of them) and pulled out the 9 month stuff!

You can wiggle your way around in a complete circle or scoot up on your back, but no rolling over....yet...

We still love you over the moon! Lucy and Murray fight over who has had more time with you each day...you are one loved little girl!

Thankful Thursday

I can't believe I missed last week...we did have a busy week, but still...it's November and everyone is focusing on thanks and the lady who is thankful every Thursday apparently just forgot, or missed it...or most likely...didn't realize it was Thursday!

Well, today I'm feeling extra thankful.

Thankful for a warm cup of tea on a cold morning. I'm thankful for it's warmth, the pause it gives me in my day and the hint of caffeine it gives me...we did turn clocks back this week and Lucy doesn't quite seem to get that she should sleep just about 10 minutes longer every minute :)

I'm thankful for homeschooling. I love watching my kids learn and work together. Yesterday we used some letter beads to work on letter recognition. I had planned the activity for Murray, but Lucy wanted to join in. So...Murray spelled his name and Lucy worked on spelling our last name...it can be a bit tricky sometimes! Watching them work together and get excited about learning is absolutely priceless! I'm so thankful that we made the decision to give them/us this time together.

I'm thankful for phone calls with my sisters and friends who live oh so far away. It doesn't make them live any closer, but it certainly makes the distance seem less. I so wish I could meet up for a cup of tea and some Betsy snuggles or shopping or all of the above, but at least I can hear how life in (fill in the blank) city is going. I've had lots of fun conversations this week. 

Wordless Wednesday

Murray Man: It's always nice to have a superhero in the house!

November Warmth

I can't believe how warm it was today! Relatively speaking that is...don't let Murray's short sleeves fool you. When I suggested he put a coat on his response was "It's ok Mom, don't worry about me, the sun will warm me up." I think he's been hanging around Nick too much!


It was a wonderful afternoon to get outside and spend some time with the kids, but I wanted to do more than just sit Ginny in the stroller. Then I remembered the baby swing. So, Ginny had her first swing ride way earlier than either of the other kids. She seemed content...not overly excited, just enjoying the ride.


The big kids and I played pirates and chased the octopus and evil turtle away so thankfully we won't have any invasions during the winter...whew!

Wordless Wednesday

It's always nice to have a little helper!