I am Thankful...

At this time of year it seems obvious to give you my list of thanks. But especially today I feel the need. My mom's friend just (literally like 4 hours ago) found out she has breast cancer. As I think about her, I think about all the changes that will happen in her life in the months to come and it makes me realize how mundane my life really is and I am thankful for that. I am also thankful for:
-My daughter's prayers at night when she thanks God for her mommy's hard work and that her daddy came home safely.
-My children's hugs.
-My husband's hard work so I can stay at home.
-My family's patience with me as a mother (some days more so than others).
-My children's health.
-Mine and Jason's health.
-My parents: I don't know where I'd be without them.
-My children's laughs.
-My children's imagination (even if it does totally destroy my house).
-My God who provides so generously for me even though there are times I don't deserve His grace.
-The ability to afford my house, groceries, gas (somedays), and to spoil my kids once in a while.

May you all enjoy your Thanksgiving and count the blessings that are right in front of you.

Jason's version

This would probably be Jason's song when it comes time for our girls to date as I wish for the fairytale.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jjO9kX4npVY&feature=related

Stealing Cinderella

I heard a song today called "Stealing Cinderella". I must admit that it really got to me. I was driving down the road after dropping off my kids at my mom's because I "couldn't stand them any longer". The song is about a man asking for his girlfriend's hand in marriage. It goes on to tell how the father lets him sit for a while in their living room looking at pictures of the daughter dressed up as Cinderella, running through a sprinkler, riding her first bike, having pillow fights, etc. And it mentions that he is seen as just a "fella stealing Cinderella". It really got to me and I immediately thought of my girls. My mother instinct kicked into overdrive and I vowed to myself then and there that no man is going to marry my daughters without being totally, utterly, and hopelessly in love with them. I want the guys to know about every little thing that my girls did. The way that they laughed as a child, the naughty things they did. I want someone that is amazed at the person that they will have become. I guess I want my girls to really have the fairytale. I know I'm talking about things that are very far off in my future but being a parent I can't imagine what my parents thought when I started dating Jason seriously. If you haven't heard the song take a peak at the video attached.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HtOy8R01fTA

Pillow Fight

I can't say that this little episode is our nightly ritual but it does happen often at our house before bedtime. After wrestling, we decided to have a little pillow fight. I would say the teams were a little unfair but the kids didn't seem to mind it was us against them. Jason and I perched on the couch and pegged them off whenever they ran in front of us. Then Loryn decided to get daring and taunt us from across the living room. The real good blows weren't caught on tape but you can get the gist of it. Mental note to self: do not buy pillows that are removable from the couch again.

Happy Halloween

Trick-or-treat! The night is always interesting and this year was no less. Jason took the kids trick-or-treating with our neighbors. They got a hayride to a nearby development and filled their buckets and bags until they burst while strolling in the rain. It was a great night by all and I give major points to my husband who did it without me. Although it probably helped that Mallory was overnight at Grandma's. Here are pictures of our little trick-or-treaters.

Maddy dressed up as Aurora from Sleeping Beauty (I think that's the movie). It took over a half hour to curl her hair!

Here are the four munchkins. Mallory is the poodle, Loryn is a unicorn, Logyn is a dinosaur, and Maddy.


These were shots from the hayride.