Thanksgiving Pictures and some rambling...

Here are some pics of the kids Thanksgiving shirts and from Thanksgiving.  It was a long day for the kids and they were so exhausted.  We stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's until 8:00 last night which is much later than we normally stay but I guess as the kids get a little older it gets easier.  They were so tired when we left and fell asleep on the way home and are still asleep. 

Making our shirts.  

 

 

Our turkey handprint shirts. 

 

 

 

Andrew, Jayden, Sarah, Aubrey, and Grace.  All the little cousins!

 

The cake we took for the kids dessert....bought it at Super Target.  I thought it was adorable.  They have really cute cakes there. This one is a pull-apart cupcake cake.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family.  We had a great time and are looking forward to going back for Christmas Eve. 

This morning at 3:15 I left my house to go shopping.  My awesome father-in-law met me at the mall so I didn't have to be there alone and carry my stuff out to the car when it was still dark.  I went to JCPenney's first and it wasn't too bad.  I got a couple things in boxes that would have been hard to carry on my own but fortunately I had Wayne with me.  Then I went to Target by myself.  I knew there would be a lot of people and a line so I wasn't worried.  Man, was there ever a line.  I've gone to Target the last 2 years and it was never like this.  Even the people working were a little surprised.  It reminded me of Walmart last year.  I got some good deals but only had to buy 2 Christmas presents so most of what I got was just because it was a good price.  Were any of you brave enough to go?  Next year I need a plan and a friend to go with or maybe I should just stay home!  Today I'm going to be super tired but David is only working a half day so when he gets home I can crash if I want and then we are going to start dragging out all the Christmas decorations.  I'm really excited to begin to transform my home into Christmas.  The problem is doing it so early and the kids asking everyday when it will be Christmas.  Ha!  I'm so excited that they are old enough to do more things with this year.  We already made a gingerbread village (pictures still to come) and next time we plan to buy the gingerbread train.  The kids had to pick one this time and next time I told them they can choose one more to decorate.  Happy Black Friday!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The kids colored these turkeys at the library on Tuesday and made the "I'm Thankful..." paper plate turkeys also.  Andrew is really coming along with his coloring and staying in the lines. 

Grace:

Andrew: (he wrote all of his own words, I just spelled them)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I am thankful for many things but especially my readers because you are why I get to have this blog!  Have a wonderful day!  God Bless You!

Christmas before Thanksgiving???? and Andrew is Thankful

Yes, this is what it looks like!  I wrapped most of my Christmas presents this past Saturday.  I only have a handful of presents left to buy and I will be done.  Actually I only need 1 more thing and David is in charge of a couple people.  It's kind of a relief but also sad because it will all be done.  I have a lot of baking to do this year.  I already have my list ready to go and need to start buying everything.  The only thing is I won't start baking for a couple weeks.  I am taking a platter of goodies to church for the workers on Christmas Eve so I don't want to bake too early.  Some of it I will make and freeze.  This weekend after Thanksgiving I will be baking 8 dozen cut out sugar cookies to take to church for our volunteer appreciation night for Children's Ministry.  I will probably keep a dozen here for us.

And now what Andrew is thankful for: Papa (both), daddy, Grace, toys, Nicholas, pinecones.  Interesting combination of things and I might be a little hurt that he isn't thankful for me but that's ok, he's only 4.  I bet if someone else asked him what he was thankful for he would say mommy.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Floor Fun

The other day the kids were sliding around on the new floors on a blanket.  I tried to capture it on my camera although I probably should have captured it on video. They were having a lot of fun.  I originally told them to get on the blanket and I tried running down the hallway but it was hard for me to run down the hall without falling in my socks.  David is much stronger than me so he ended up pulling the blanket instead. 

Today Grace said she is thankful for the bible (I didn't help her with these answers), Jesus, mommy, bubba, daddy, and papa rick and me and grannylou, and papa wayne.  Ok, maybe I did help her figure out the papas since she still just calls them each papa.  I really didn't help her with the other answers.  Stay tuned tomorrow to read what Andrew is thankful for!!!!

Turkey Necklace

I am part of a co-op that orders from Oriental Trading.  We get a lot of fun crafts to do and one of the ones from this kit was a necklace with a turkey and beads.  Andrew and I made these one day while Grace was sleeping.  I try to let her make all of the crafts with us but this time I really just wanted some time with Andrew to do a craft.  We did this a couple days before my surgery and I was trying to stay distracted.  Here is a picture of the kids with their necklaces. 

And here is a close up of their necklaces. 

Hopefully tomorrow we will get to make our handprint turkey shirts to wear on Thanksgiving.  Grace has been a little sick again this morning so we can't go out and get our shirts.  I hope you all are thinking about what you are thankful for this week.  Just for starters I am thankful for my husband, my kids, and our health. 

Giveaway-Pay It Forward

So a while back Cindy at 5 Silly Frogs hosted a giveaway called Pay It Forward.  We got our box yesterday and the kids were super excited!!!!! (Please excuse the pj's in all the pictures...after Grace having the stomach flu the previous night I opted out of getting everyone dressed-grace did get new pj's). 

We opened the box and found all sorts of wonderful goodies!!!  The kids insisted on doing something right away and while they were coloring the snowman, I quickly put away the other items so we can have something to do tomorrow (and hopefully for a few days!)

Opening the box....so exciting!!!!!

She let me take a picture but couldn't take her eyes off her brother to see what he pulled out of the box!

Butterfly stickers and a 3-D dinosaur puzzle.

The goodies!

Our first activity.....coloring the snowman!

Of course, I think Andrew had the most fun playing with the paper that they stuffed the box with.  He opened each paper and looked at the pictures and then made a "tower" with them and then used his foam sword to knock it down.....oh the things boys will do!

Thanks Cindy and D at 5 Silly Frogs!  We love everything!

If you would like to participate all you have to do is leave a comment and the kids and I will send the first 3 people a package!  You don't have to have kids to participate but you have to have a blog so you too can Pay It Forward!   The only rule is that YOU have to Pay It Forward and send a small package to your first three commentors.  Not sure if I have any overseas followers but just in case I will only be shipping in the U.S. 

Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!

Andrew's Award

Andrew received this award in preschool yesterday for being able to count to 100 (with very little help).  I had only worked with him counting to 30 and he only goes to preschool 4 Wednesdays a month for August, September, and November.  I'm very proud of him for catching on so quickly.  I don't care if he needed a lot of help since he is still only 4!!!!!  Go Andrew!

He also received all these stickers that say I can count to 10!  I can write my name! I can say my ABC's!  I know my ABC's! I know my colors!

Today

Ok, so as you can see I changed the background and at least on my computer, my blog loads immediately.  I guess it was just the background.  Not sure what causes that but I was really starting to feel crazy.  Anyway, it's a little busy with that picture and the new background but I don't really have time to work on it so I hope you can all handle it.  The new picture is of my kids and their cousin back in IL.  They had such a blast that day.  We have so many good memories from that trip.  I'm sad that it was probably our last trip there in the fall but thrilled that the kids got to experience it. 

Well, I can't really stick around because Grace woke up from her nap sick and I really should stay out there with her and make sure she doesn't get sick again (especially on the new carpet).  I have blankets and sheets all over the new carpet so at least I can just wash the blanket.  Poor thing kept telling me her tummy hurt and she just wanted to go nonny (night night).  I put her down and she slept and slept.  About 3 hours into her nap is when she got sick.  I sure hope this is very short lived and no one else gets sick.  Is that even possible?  Once someone gets it, usually everyone gets it.  Although last spring Grace, David and myself all had a stomach bug and fever but Andrew never got sick.  Well, I can't wait to share with you about how awesome Andrew is doing in school.  He came home with a certificate and a bunch of stickers.  Bet you can't wait til tomorrow! 

Story Time

Today the kids and I went to the library for story time.  We used to go every week but then summer came and they did a special program which I wasn't too fond of and my kids were really a little too young for it anyway.  Then we went to IL and the last few weeks have been, well you already know.  Anyway, we went back and Ms. Robin was so excited to see Andrew and gave him a hug and a special treat that she saved from summer.  She is such an awesome librarian.  Of all the kids that she sees throughout the week and summer and she always remembers our names and makes it a point to talk to us and welcome us.  We've only seen her one time since probably July.  We got a lot of new books to read this week and we talked about the letter M. 

After the library we went to the grocery store to grab a couple things for tonight's dinner and more cranberry juice because it was on sale and I love it.  Tonight for dinner I am making ham, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, and crescent rolls.  I was craving ham so I invited the neighbors and my father-in-law for an early Thanksgiving dinner I guess (minus the turkey).  We'll have enough of that next week anyway. 

Hope all of you are having a great week so far.  I'm thrilled to be out and about and getting things done.  Just wish I felt like keeping all the toys picked up.  My back has been hurting so I'm trying to just do all the things I need to do and not a lot of extras. 

Happy to Report

Happy to report that I am feeling much better.  Still having minor discomforts that come along with the procedure but I got up and went to church this morning.  We went to Costco but I waited in the car with Grace.  She had an accident and couldn't go inside since we didn't have a change of clothes.  This evening I went to Walgreens by myself to grab a few things for my meeting at church in the morning and now I can begin life again.  We have a lot going on this week but mainly just driving somewhere and sitting so that's good b/c I'm not really ready for a marathon yet.  Not that I would ever be ready but definitely not right now.  Maybe I will even charge the batteries to my camera and get some pictures of the kiddos.  I actually took a couple the other day but I can't get them off the camera b/c I need to charge the batteries.  Life literally stopped for me on Monday November 2nd.  That was a really tough day to get through and the week and 5 days that followed waiting for something to happen were days of accepting and healing.  I will never forget this but I can definitely move on knowing that God is in control. 

Oh, and to update you on my previous post, my page is uploading immediately on my computer now.  Not sure what the slow upload was all about the last couple weeks but it's better now....at least on my computer.  Have a great Monday!

Loading

Why is it taking so long for my page to load?  I haven't done anything different and I even tried removing some things to see if it would make a difference and it didn't.  It seems like it takes forever to load and it used to come up really quickly.  Maybe some of you that know more about this than I do can help me out....thanks!  For the rest of you that don't have a clue like me, sorry it takes so long.  I know how annoying it is!

Home and Resting

I got to the hospital at 2 pm, procedure was scheduled for 4 pm but my doctor was busy with delivering babies so I was taken back at 4:30.  He had to get back up to L & D after my procedure which ended up only taking 20 minutes including getting me prepped and under anesthesia.  His part was literally only 5 minutes and then off he went to speak with David and back to deliver babies.  It didn't bother me too much that he was rushing off to deliver, stung a little but that's life and how things work.  It will be my turn again, hopefully soon.  I'm home and resting.  I know that God was taking care of me and lots of people were praying because I wasn't nervous at all.  Thanks for that!

Today

Today is the day.  I go in for my D&C this afternoon.  I have to be there at 2pm and am scheduled for 4pm as long as they are on time and no big emergencies come in.  I'm nervous and a little sick to my stomach in anticipation of it all but also a little relieved that today it will all be over and life can move on and get back to normal.  I won't forget this happened but we have to get back to normal.  The kids need it and so do I.  I've stayed home these last 2 weeks waiting for something to happen naturally and it hasn't.  Actually my body has had 5 weeks to miscarry and hasn't so this is what we need to do.  Thanks for all your prayers and support.  I hope to be back on here regularly very soon.  This weekend I will spend getting better and hanging out with my family and I will try to update when I can.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Wordless Wednesday....Almost!

I realize I am a little late with these Halloween pictures but figured today is as good a day as any.  This is how Grace went trick or treating....lying down in the wagon.

These were David's (hubby) first pumpkins he has ever carved.  So proud of him, but he didn't even let the kids help.  He did it while they were asleep.  I was a little upset b/c these were the pumpkins we grew in our garden and they didn't even get to help clean them out.  Oh well, guess there's always next year!

We have to save these!

On Saturday night, I drug myself out of bed to hang out with the kids while David went to pick up his new-old car.  We were sitting on the couch and I was letting them eat cookies on the couch....no, they are not allowed to have food in the living room since we got new carpet but my mind was not really in the moment and I wasn't paying attention.  They weren't getting hurt and all the crumbs were on the couch and I didn't have to think...something my mind hasn't been good at lately.  Anyway, I look over and they have like 30 or 40 cookies on the couch and Andrew is holding all the little paper cups they came in (early christmas cookies from our neighbors).  Anyway, I had just crumpled one up and he said, "No, mommy!  We have to save these b/c Bill said when they are all gone he will fill them up and give us more!  So cute!  Bill did say he would fill the tin again when they were all gone but I guess Andrew thought he meant the little paper cups so we are saving them and will take them to Bill when the cookies are gone! 

As far as me, things really haven't changed.  Still waiting for insurance and the doctor.  I am definitely doing better this week. Just ready for things to move forward.  David has been really good about dealing with the house, laundry, and cooking.  The only thing he has asked from me is to pick out the kids clothes....he has a really hard time, not sure how he gets dressed every morning.  This week, some wonderful ladies that I work with at church are bringing us dinners.  So thoughtful so I can focus on feeling better and not worry about what I am going to make for dinner.  We are very blessed to have such wonderful people that are ready to just jump in and help us out.  I know how hard it is to fix a meal for your own family, let alone for someone else.  I have done it many times but now I truly know how great it is for the family that needs it.  I may never skip the opportunity to prepare a meal for a family again.  Usually I just don't live very close or don't have time to deliver but from now on that will be my priority b/c they are driving out of their way to deliver to me.  I hope everyone is having a great week.  I haven't really been too concerned about anything outside of my house for the last week but I feel like I am on my way to getting out of the house and feeling like being around people again. 

Life

Life has been hard.  I know I posted that yesterday and I'm sorry for the dreary and depressing post.  Those of you that already know what has happened might as well stop reading.  No point in dragging yourself through the news again.  I found out Monday that there was a problem with my pregnancy.  Sorry that so many didn't even know I was pregnant and you are reading it here.  I was told it was a blighted ovum and was sent for another ultrasound to confirm.  The other ultrasound was today.  Turns out it's not a blighted ovum but a miscarriage that my body didn't recognize.  There was a baby devoloping that did not continue for some reason and we don't know why.  My doctor is going to get the results of that ultraound this afternoon and then most likely schedule a d & c.  My body has had 4 weeks to recognize this happened and hasn't so most likely it won't.  I'm doing good, actually.  Sad, yes.  I just needed to get today over with so I could focus on what will happen next.  The wait from Monday til today was so long but now that I know for sure, I can focus on what comes next.  My friends have been so supportive and helpful. My director at church coordinated a babysitter for us today so David could go with me and so many have been praying.  Thank you so much for that b/c God has been my strength.  I haven't been the best person to be around but without God holding me up I would be much worse.  Thank you Heather for the encouraging verses...you are always so good at that.  If you ever need hope, call on Heather to find you a verse that will speak to you.  Anyway, life will go on and there are so many people out there with heartache that sometimes I feel silly for being so upset but for now this is my heartache, even if others just don't get it.  Thanks for hanging around here!

Rotten

I am having a rotten week which means David and the kids are also having a rotten week.  Please just pray for me and my family as we are going through this rough time. I will give more info later when I am ready but God knows our need and right now I just need strength, peace, and understanding.  I think we all need that right now. Stay with me as I am not keeping up on my blog very well.  I promise I will be back soon and ready to tackle it all and share everything with you again.  I will put a few cute pictures on here to brighten up this post a little.

Of course it would be even better if they would look at the camera and actually smile.

My New Floors

Our new floors in our house.  While I was gone visiting family, we got new carpet in the living room area and laminate wood floors in the kitchen/dining room and hallway/entryway.