Thanksgiving in Pictures

M's place cards

The decor: 

 (Ashleigh helped them make these.)

 
The special cups that were mine as a kid:

The story of teaching M to ride a bike with training wheels is a long one.  But he can do it now! 

It was a blessed day.  And we had so much to be grateful for.

This is Pretty Much What Church Looks Like for Lil' D too.

Except Cabe and I (and pretty much anyone else that will hold him) are the playground.

I've had enough of McDonalds for ages.  We spent way to much time there while the house was on the market.  It is not a relaxing place with the Lil' guy around.  Actually nowhere is relaxing unless I can find a place with a padded, empty room.

My Advantage

Lil' D is a busy body. 

A serious busy body. 

It's exhausting. 

It's more than exhausting.

I keep wondering if I can use this to my advantage somehow.

I've yet to figure out how.

Sometimes I set him to work, or rather, he sets himself to work.

 And everything will seem fine.
Until he starts jumping on the dishwasher door.

 Or emptying out everything he has just put in.

 Or  he falls flat on his hiney...or worse.
We've been debating whether he will be an acrobat, a football player, long distance runner, anything that requires a lot of endurance and stubbornness.
Whatever he chooses, I'm sure he'll be good at it!

Reasons #491, #492, $493, #494, #495, That I am So Happy My House Sold Quickly

You may have heard...our house sold really quickly!  Yay for a good market here in Midland.  We feel very blessed and thankful.

Surprisingly once the house was actually up on the market, it was easier.  Once I had all the major cleaning caught up and just had to keep it up, it wasn't so bad.  But I'm sure it would have gotten frustrating and old really fast.

I've loved having a really clean house.  At one point in time (post-mission, pre-Miss L) I was a clean freak.  I gave up on it when I realized how much my kids drove me crazy when I tried to keep it spotless.  I was totally reminded of this with D.  I complained to Caleb and my parents several times, "I love a clean house but I'm starting to hate my youngest child."  I know, harsh words.  But really I was frustrated by him constantly.  For example we were home for an hour or so at one point in between appointments.  In ten minutes or less, Lil' D had done this:

The older kids were awesome.  About a half-hour before we had to walk out the door we'd all three go room to room and look around and what needed done.  They were so helpful.  I was so very impressed and pleased. 

Something So Sweet

There was just something about this scene that was so sweet to me.

Entertainment

When the house was on the market I had to get creative to keep them entertained and have a clean house.  When I did let them play with toys we saw a lot of this:

And a lot of screams and tears when Lil' D the destroyer would burst into the room at full speed and attack the towers.  He's good at that.

One night, in order to keep the house spotless in case of a call, we played with my new cell phone for an hour.  We checked out all the ring tones over and over.  We called the house phone and the cell phone several times, all taking turns.  We called Grandma and Grandpa and then Daddy.

Then Mr. D yanked the cell from my hand. So I had Mr. M call it.  D held it up in wonder and awe for a second or two.  Then he screamed and squealed and turned it over and over in his hands.  Then he laughed and did a little bouncy dance.  Mr. M, Miss L, and I were laughing hysterically.  Apparently it got to be too overwhelming because he burst into tears.  It will forever be burned into my memory as one of my favorite moments ever.

We Call Lil' D Monkey...With Good Reason

Don't Mind Me, I'm Just the Cutest Lil' Things You've Ever Seen

She thought the stripes on her face made her a cat.  Hm....

Old-School by Miss L

She May Never Tire of Poo Poo

With the house on the market and the kids out of school we've had to be very creative in entertainment. Yesterday there was an appointment was at 4:30.  We came home at 5:30 and they were still here (they finally left around 6).  So we drove around and around and around waiting for them to leave.  To keep the kids entertained I was asking questions. 

I asked them, "If someone asked you what you believed, what would you tell them?"

Mr. M, "I would tell them I believe in Jesus Christ."

"And you, Miss L? What do you believe in?"

"Poo Poo!"

I don't know how I keep walking into these traps.

But doesn't she look so cute and non-poo poo-ish in her curlers?

Photo Card

World Of Joy Christmas

Turn your favorite photos into Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

I didn't necessarily want to share my card yet but I got a discount so I had to do it. :)

If I Only Had Today

My friend Holly sent me a package in the mail with instructions to call her before I opened it.

When I called she told me she thinks I'm the most incredible mom and that this gift she sent is to remind me, whenever I need it, that I am a great mom and that I am an example to her every day.

That, my friends, is really something because this girl sees all sides of me. 

(Holly and her family a couple of years ago - she has another little guy now who is one.)

She and I met our freshmen year of college, twelve years ago.  I tell Holly EVERYTHING. I hide none of my terrible parenting strategies or insane blow-ups.  She sees my good, my bad, and my ugly.  She listens and never judges. She knows sometimes I'm a little crazy and that at some point I will come to my senses.  She knows my insecurities and my pridefulness. And yet, she still thinks I'm awesome.  How cool is that?  She too is an example to me of oh so many things. What a blessing the Lord provides in friends.

Inside that package was a cd with a video she had made.  It was my family and I spending time together put to a Hilary Weeks, If I Only Had Today. I sobbed the whole way through.  I love my little family.  I'm thankful for them and still in shock that the Lord saw fit to send me these little people.  I have a renewed energy to appreciate as much as I can.  With so much focus on getting my house ready to sell (it's finally ready and one heavy load is lifted from my shoulders  - but I digress...) I've missed my babies and the relaxed, fun time we usually have together. 

Thanks, Holly, for the love, support, and the reminder.

Family Photos

Mr. D really wanted nothing to do with our family photo session. 

I think this is the winner.

But I change my mind all the time.

Thanks to Scott Laing for being out photographer!

Model Knight

Mr. M was a Model Knight for citizenship.

Our awesome friend, Shauna, came to have lunch with us and celebrate him.

Thanks for coming with us, Shauna.

Here they are discussing what an awesome kid he is.

 
Out at recess Miss L took off her shoes (as usual).  Someone picked them up and hid them from her.  Here is her search posse after they finally found them (she's surrounded somewhere in the middle). M's classmates are so sweet to her.  I volunteer on Fridays and it is such a blessing to know these kids.  It's one thing I love about him going to a public school.  I love getting to know these sweet kids.

I'm proud of my boy.  Good job being a Model Knight Mr. M!

"Where's the Tissues?"

What started out as me just getting a quick photo for my mom of how long Miss L's hair is getting, turned into fifty photos.  She was so silly and cute I just couldn't help myself. Don't worry I didn't post them all.  

This girl is so independent.  She wants little to do with me at this stage.  I remember moments when Little D was tiny and I had all three on my lap and the claustrophia would take over.  Now I beg for her to sit with me. Beg. With little result.

This girlie is sooooo funny.  Yesterday we were driving to the library after school.  She is not supposed to get into the tissue box but she has a habit of disobeying that rule.  So she hides the tissues in the leg of her pants. 
"Hey MOOOOMMMM."
"Yes, Miss L."
"Do you know where the tissues are?  Are they in my pants or in my pants?"
"Um...in your pants?"
"Yes!  That's right."
 

 "Where are the tissues? In my pants or in my shoe?"

"In your shoe?"

"No!  In my pants, you silly mom!"

 
Pretty much the same conversation goes on for awhile.  Then she starts the same conversation with Mr. M.
"Mr. M, where are the tissues? In my pants or in my hair?"
Mr. M, "In your hair?"
"No!  In my pants."
 
"Where are the tissues?"
Me, "Let me guess...in your pants!"
Miss L, "Mom!  You aren't supposed to tell him!"
Me, "Oh sorry,"  snigger, snigger.
Mr. M, "In your pants?"
"Yes!  That's right."

"Where are the tissues? In my tummy or in my belly?"

Me, "In your tummy?"
"No!"
Me, "In your belly?"
"No!"
Me, "Um...ok."
 
Sometimes I just can't win for losing. (Now that I write that family-frequently used phrase it sounds a little weird.)

As I listened to her talking and giggling I kept thinking I'm going to miss this.

 

Sassiness and all.