Thankful Thursday

As I'm trying to get back into the swing of things...I thought I'd have some input in my Thankful Thursday post. 

Lucy is thankful for visiting 2 parks this morning and painting outside with "liquid chalk".

Murray is thankful for Ginny and presents. They had a surprise last night that Nick brought home from church and this morning we let him open an early birthday present from Grammy and Pop Pop that arrived in the mail yesterday. (More on that later...with pics to come...he's getting WAY too big). 

I'm thankful for fun with my kids. It's nice to feel like we're settling in back home and just having time to be together enjoying the warm weather and the company of our own little family. It's truly amazing to watch them play and grow together. 

Ginny just crawled over and wanted to thank me for putting a clean diaper on when she got up from nap...so she could create a lovely present in it for me...I better go take care of that!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet Lucy. 

6 years ago you arrived into this world, into my life and things have never been the same. You turned your daddy and I from a couple of newlyweds into a family. You've brought us more joy and more work than we could have imagined. I remember it like it was yesterday, but I look at you and the infant I held in my arms in complete awe seems so far away...

You're 6! I can hardly believe it's been 6 years, but here you are, turning into a young lady before my eyes. So much about you is the same as that wonderful day 6 years ago...those blue, blue eyes! I would have bet those would have faded, but they're just as bright as they were that day. 

Your HAIR! It may be lighter, longer and "styled" a bit different, but sweet Lucy girl...your hair has been a trademark since the day you were born. 

You're independent and stubborn...both to your benefit. You don't give up...you get an idea in your head and you work until you get it just so!

You're my baby girl, my first sweet baby. That will never change. You Lucy girl, gave me the name Mama. A name I cherish and always hoped to have. You teach me and challenge me daily about  being a mom. You send me to my knees in prayer to help me do this job right. I oh so want to be the best mom I can for you.

Some things are the same, but you've also grown and changed so much! You're crafty, artistic, strong, flexible, energetic, thoughtful, kind, loving, and getting so tall and so mature. You make me smile. You're starting to show interest in "big kid" things. You're starting to shadow me in a new way. You're not just wanting to be under my feet and near me doing the things I do. You're watching me to learn so that you can do things yourself...for real. You're not satisfied with "washing your baby" while I wash Ginny. You watch closely and want to help me with my chores.  You're practicing for being a grown woman and I am aware of it Lucy. I'm aware that you're learning from me and I'm praying that I'm being an example worth following.

You're growing into a young woman right before my eyes. As much as I want you to slow down, to pause, to stay small and innocent forever...I am SO excited to watch you grown. You're an amazing, silly, cuddly lovely lady Lucille Grace and I wouldn't have you any other way!

From this...

To this...

I couldn't be more thankful for the past 6 years of being your mom! I love you Lucille Grace!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for my wonderful, sweet, mischievously smiling little boy. 

We visited the ENT today to have Murray's ears diagnosed further. Basically today I learned that everything the Dr. originally said is true...and he can sit amazingly still and quiet while someone cleans his ears out. He also looks amazingly cute while getting a hearing test done. Sitting in the sound booth by himself smiling proudly as he says "BEEP". 

We'll get an x-ray and I have to monitor his sleep once for 10 minutes and then we'll go back at the end of April for a follow up where it will be decided for sure our plan of action. Looks like we're headed in the direction of tubes.

I'm thankful to be able to take my son to his dr. appointments. I'm thankful to appreciate his smile and see his achievements. What a great blessing to share my life with this amazing little man!

Thankful Thursday

The baby is sitting on the wood floor in between the living room and dining room...put there by herself...learning to scoot to find all the treasures left behind by her big brother and sister. 

The biggest is creating a masterpiece with a paintbrush, glue, sparkly poms, and some pipe cleaner. 

The boy is coloring with markers...treasures of toys on the bench next to him...

Crumbs are under the table...evidence of lunch just eaten...

The sun is just poking out from behind the clouds.

Today I am thankful...tired, but thankful.

Thankful Thursday

Sometimes it's easy to know what we're thankful for. 

Today I'm thankful for SLEEP!

 A good, old fashioned, almost sleep through the night type of sleep. Ginny is almost 7 months old, and we're still not sleeping through the night. 

It's ok, I don't mind...I enjoy the time I get with her in the middle of the night. Really. I DO.

I enjoy seeing her fuzzy little head illuminated by the night light. 

I enjoy listening to her snort and suckle as she eats. 

These are things I don't always see and hear in my busy house during the day. 

But, sometimes she gets up A LOT! For about 6 days she was up almost every 2 hours...that combined with my sore neck and fighting off a cold = exhaustion. 

Actually....BEYOND EXHAUSTED. 

I was going to bed before 9 and still waking up tired. 

Last night I put a sick little girl to bed. She had a runny nose, a cough (we had just done a breathing treatment) and a low grade temp. I figured I'd be up with her ALL NIGHT!

I prepared myself for another exhausting day.

Then...

it happened...

SHE SLEPT! 

She slept from just after 10 until 2:30 am and then slept again until just before 7 when her big brother decided we should all wake up. 

It was AMAZING!

I am so thankful for a night of sleep. A night that is enabling me to think complete thoughts. To remember the things on my to do list. To enjoy my day. 

We're still fighting colds. We're coughing, my throat hurts and there's lots of tissue using and hand  washing going on here...

But, my neck is better and I slept last night...with 1 very sweet visit with my baby girl!

2:30 am snuggles while we both fought a fever...we were one warm sweaty bunch sitting in the glow of the nightlight basking in the 4.5 hours of sleep we had just enjoyed. 

AMAZING!

and so much to be thankful for...

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for a sense of routine. A few moments of quiet in the midst of the Holiday Season. Lucy finishing her school with me today. The long nap Ginny took that allowed the school to happen so fluidly. Lucy's unique look at things, her love for crafts, drawing and art in general. Her amazing ability to complete her math, and the quick way she does it (I don't think she'd enjoy it at this point if it took her much longer). That I can see her beginning to read. Lucy's love of history...love of learning really. 

I'm thankful for a warm cup of tea. I'm thankful for my nursing baby who reminds me to sit and be still and quiet a few times a day. 

I'm thankful for the cars strew across the floor that show a little boy lives here...

I'm thankful for my husband who comes home in the middle of the day for lunch and gives me a hug and asks how my day is...

I'm thankful for the love of my family...

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

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. 

Thankful Thursdays

The weather is changing, the fall colors are starting to come out...it's cold in the morning, it's rainy most afternoons (or so it seems)...and it can be tough to be thankful!

It's been a tough day for me...a tough day with Lucy, a tough day with myself and my thoughts.  It's in these moments I'm reminded that I'm not perfect and I don't need to be. After a tough math lesson this morning Lucy and I were doing her hair and talking about why it was important she learn her numbers. At the end of the conversation I said to her...

"but you know I love you right?" 

Yes mom, I know you love me lots! 

"and you know Jesus loves you too?"

of course mom!

and that's why I do what I do!

I'm thankful that my children know they are loved. I'm thankful that Ginny smiles and giggles at us and my kids interpret it, by saying "she loves me! she's smiling at me, she loves me!"

I'm thankful that at the age of 30, when my phone rings and I see it's my own mom calling I get excited because she has something to share with me. I still love my mom and she still loves me! You don't outgrow it...the love of your mom (or dad) is forever and endless and wonderful. I imagine that God created this love between a parent and child and said "there...now they'll get just a glimpse of what it's like for me to love them". I just imagine that on my worst days He's looking down and saying, "but I just want her to understand, I just want her to listen to me...oh I hope she gets it!"

I know Lucy will learn her numbers...I know one day she'll see the number 12 and call it twelve instead of 1-2 or instead of Aaron Roger's number...and I know I'll love her until then, past then and through all the life lessons she has to learn. 

Today I'm thankful for the ability to love my kids, my parents and the assurance that God loves me even when I'm not perfect!

Thankful Thursdays

Thankful Thursdays....I really enjoy the focus this Thursday blog gives me. After a rushed morning of getting ready, sending a little boy to preschool on a day when there is no school and then fishing a pair of pants from the potty (after it had been used)...well, it's nice to have a reason to sit down and be thankful for these moments. 

I'm thankful this week for a chance for my kids to get to know their Aunts, Uncles and cousins out west. I'm so thankful for my in-laws for providing their home to create these memories. What a great experience the balloon fiesta was. The kids LOVED seeing the balloons, but I think all their relatives may have overshadowed the balloons just a bit...we can't wait to see everyone again!

I'm thankful for happy kids...they may not be super healthy this week (we're all fighting coughs), but they are all in good spirits and I haven't had much whining (maybe I should learn from them...)

I'm thankful for a warm cup of tea on a cold and dreary fall morning. 

I'm thankful we're half way through October. This month has seemed so overwhelming for so long, and now the overwhelmingness of the month is drawing to a close and I can focus my efforts back on the home front again...I am SO excited to be done with planning big events. 

So...in the midst of crazy kids and not feeling well...lots of laundry and a messy house...I have a lot to be thankful for!

Thankful Thursdays

PANTS!! PANTS!! PANTS!!!

Today I am thankful for PANTS!!!

Jeans to be a bit more specific. You may think I am so excited to wear pants because of the cooler weather (you would be correct)...or that I finally fit into pants that button (that happened a few weeks ago...but it would still be correct)...or if you're following my absurd facebook statuses recently you may think it's because an amazingly new pair of jeans arrived at my doorstep today...2 pairs to be exact!

It has been years and years since I bought a non-clearance pair of jeans. Mostly my shopping since Murray, errr...Lucy has consisted of...these are super cheap and fit, so I'll wear these around the house. Not a bad way to go, but they wear out quickly...or don't fit "just right". (Actually, after Lucy my jeans shopping was usually...hey Greta, do you have any jeans you're not wearing anymore? Stealing from your baby sister is a bit strange...)

Enter baby #3...these jeans just aren't working for me anymore...they're too tight here, or sag a little there...and they're doing nothing for making me want to get dressed and moving in the morning. So, when a 50% off coupon for GAP arrived in my inbox, I couldn't resist and I bought some jeans.

It's amazing to have jeans that fit, and to wear a belt again...so thankful for the USPS and GAP for providing me with some stylish warmth today!

Still Thankful...

I know it's Friday, but I just have so much to be thankful for this week.

School has been going SO incredibly well! Murray has enjoyed listening in on school even when he wants us to think he's not. I often see him peak his head around the corner and he'll ask us a question about whatever we're reading or singing about. Sometimes he's eager to join us, other times he's happy to play on the floor. Next week we'll meet up with our home school group for the first time. I'm super excited (and so is Lucy)!

Ginny is just such a blessing! She's starting to show signs of a routine. Cat naps in the morning and a longer nap in her crib in the afternoon. I keep thinking she would probably take a long morning nap if I swaddled her and put her in her crib, but I like the flexibility of her sleeping in her bassinet in the midst of our morning routine. It makes it easier for me to think of taking her places and expecting her to sleep in her car seat or stroller while we're out and about.

My kids just make me laugh. The things they say and do just bring so much joy and laughter to my days. Murray has been enjoying reading to Ginny and giving her lots of kisses; I think he has finally learned how to be gentle and Murray like with her all at the same time. She certainly loves her big brother and sister and already watches them closely and gives them great big smiles. It's hard for me to imagine when she's able to follow behind. I'm sure it won't be long...she is built like Murray after all!

Thankful Thursdays

I've been absent from blogging lately and focusing more on getting my life as a mom of three better organized. We needed to move out of basking in new born Ginny and into life as a family of 5. So, we've cleaned out closets, the toy rooms and the kids bed rooms. We bough school supplies, officially started kindergarten and have been working on a routine that includes Ginny taking at least 1 nap a day in a bed (usually her bed, but if Lucy wants to nap she'll sleep just as well in the pack n play).

I keep taking pictures, and thinking..."ooh, that would be a good blog thought", but I never seem to get to it...so here's to hoping I get to it today,or tomorrow...but for now we're enjoying life as a family of 5, breaking the habits we of whining and putting things off as we made this adjustment.

So, today I'm thankful for getting back into a routine, for my 3 kids and for the adventure that comes with it!

Thankful Thursdays

Our garden produced SOMETHING!!! This is all that escaped the bunny...we have a few more carrots to pick and a few green tomatoes...I'm excited 1 sugar peas plant survived and is producing minimal peas, but at least it's a taste...I'm thankful for a taste.

Lucy is very excited about the carrots, although she did think they'd be bigger...I was impressed the rabbits didn't eat them!

So thankful for a few tasty treats from the garden!

Thankful Thursdays

Nap time is about to come to end...well, quiet time...no one except Ginny is napping today...

Here's my quick list of things I'm thankful for today/this week...

Today I am thankful for cooler weather! This is only the 2nd time since Ginny has been born that we have been able to open windows....it's amazing to feel a cool breeze coming from a window instead of a hole in our ceiling

30 finger and 30 toes...yep...I'm still basking in new mom thankfulness...I can't help it....I really like my kids...and their fingers and toes! So yep...altogether I'm thankful for 30 of them (well really 50...b/c if I'm honest I'm thankful Nick and I have fingers and toes...but ours aren't as cute).

I'm thankful my first day back to having extra kids around my house is going so well...this is again being thankful for Ginny being such an easy going baby...she makes lots of transitions much smoother by just being content!

A new cake recipe to try and a reason to test it out! I can't wait to see the Rudzinski family coming this weekend to be Ginny's sponsors at her baptism. I also can't wait for the yummy dinner we're having to thank them for sharing this special occasion and to thank the wonderful friends who helped take care of the big kids while I was at the hospital.

This week I'm thankful that my husband is surviving and enjoying Junior High VBS...it's the highest attended year and you can tell by all the extra time he's putting in.

My other thankful is in correlation to this...I'm so thankful that my mother in law and sister in law were able to visit this week. It's been great to have company while Nick is gone at work and even greater to have help with the kids and around the house. My mother in law doesn't like to sit still very long, so that means my floors have been washed, the garden has been weeded (a bit...seriously no one can tame my beast of a garden) and the kitchen cupboards have been wiped down...what more could a new mom ask for!?! All this a midst special activities for the kids and lots and lots of playing with Grandma...

All in all...a lot to be thankful for this week!

Thankful Thursdays

We certainly have a lot to be thankful for this week.

I'm thankful for Ginny's arrival and a successful acclimation to life at home as a family of 5!

I'm thankful for all the family and friends that have shown us so much love in the past few weeks.

I'm thankful I finished these adorable shirts in time so my 3...yes 3...wonderful children can wear them and be oh so proud.

I'm thankful...

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful for an hour of quiet I had this morning. I thought the clock said 8:43 so I got out of bed, got dressed and went downstairs to make myself breakfast. I quickly realized it was actually 6:43 and my entire family was sleeping. It seemed a little silly to go back to bed so I enjoyed my breakfast in silence, folded some laundry, started another load and just enjoyed the peace of the morning. I wouldn't mind if this became a regular routine once my new little one arrives...although I know I'll enjoy sleeping once she's here as well.

The quiet was nice and I feel as though it's been awhile since I've had an extended period of time like that. The kids have been staying up later and I've been going to bed "early" so our bedtimes are not very far apart. I also have not had any desire to set the alarm to wake up early...we've all been depending on Murray to wake us up in the morning. So, even though I needed a little caffeine half way through my morning I'll take that with the hour of peace and quiet I had this morning! I had visions of touching up paint, starting projects and all the uninterrupted things I could get done...then I settled back on reality and just enjoyed a little bit of silence before showering and starting the day.

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am thankful my husband is home...well, sort of home. He's at work and has a TON of stuff to do this week/weekend. But he's around, and not over 6 hours away anymore. He can put help put kids to bed and help with breakfast in the morning, and if I were to go into labor, he could be there with me...unless it's while he's preaching Sunday morning...and even then, I think we'd figure something out.

I'm thankful that I feel this pregnancy is going to end soon. Not too soon...but I can tell I'm getting ready. My body is starting to tell me it's time...but I know my body and I know that means we're a week or 2 out...I'm hoping closer to a week...but we'll have to wait and see!

I'm excited that as of tomorrow my hubby will officially be an Associate Pastor. It's just a title change, but it shows that the Elders and our Senior Pastor recognize the growth he's made in the last 4 years. He really has grown a lot and it's exciting to see what God is doing with him.

I'm excited for the 4th of July. It's always been one of my favorite holidays and I'm excited that we may finally see some Michigan fireworks. It's a big maybe depending on how the kids do with a busy day...but if Murray naps, we finally have the potential to stay up and out late enough to see fireworks. It's crazy when I think that Lucy is 5 years old and has never been to a true fireworks display. I'm excited for fun at a friend's house on Monday and a great birthday for Nick on Sunday.

I'm also thankful I'm 37 weeks pregnant as of tomorrow...the baby will not arrive "too early"...now we just need to make sure she doesn't arrive "too late"....

Thankful Thursdays

Sunshine, Cool Breeze....Gorgeous Weather

Picnics outside for morning snack, lunch AND afternoon snack

Kids playing on the swing set, bikes, sandbox, bubbles and games in the yard

Plants Sprouting in the Veggie Garden

(we're ignoring the weeds that are taller than the bushes in other areas)

Having the emergency fund to pay for car repairs that are 3 times as much as we anticipated (thank you Dave Ramsey...for the emergency fund...not the car repairs)

Ravioli and Cheesy bread for dinner

Getting out of Bedtime to have a planning meeting with some of my favorite ladies

Enough Said...Today I am THANKFUL!

Thankful Thursdays

It's been quite a while since I've done Thankful Thursdays regularly...I'm going to try to remedy that. I think it will help with the "cranky pregnancy pants" I've been sporting lately!

I'm thankful for lots of things these days...my weight gain...it's at a good spot...healthy enough for baby, low enough to give me hope I may still someday make that magic goal weight I never quite made and stuck at after Murray. I'm thankful for the "nesting" aspect of this pregnancy. While it can be slightly annoying to always need to clean something...I'm really enjoying the cleaning and organizing that is going on! My hubby is doing his best to keep up, but the poor guy just keeps getting more added to his list while he's at work or finishing up another project. Hopefully he gets a spurt of energy soon too!

I'm thankful for the few days of sunshine we had earlier this week that allowed us in the yard and on the swing set. I am equally as thankful that the storms have been warm and big! It makes it feel like summer to have humidity and thunder accompanying bad weather instead of just cold, yucky rain. I do wish the storms would give certain areas of the country a break though!

Another silly thing I'm thankful for is finding a "new" Christian radio station in our area that plays music all day long! I'm not sure if it's really new or if it just is new to me, but the one thing I don't like about the other radio station is that in the middle of the day they just have talk...and it's mostly on current events and opinions and not very kid friendly in my opinion. It's so nice to just have music in the background at home again and not have to think about what CD to put on.

Hope you're having a great Thursday! What are you thankful for today?