this week

 

We have lots going on here.  Some fun, and some not so fun.

 

A sick kiddo with a 103/104 fever for 3 days meant a mile-long-to-do list got put on hold.  While I held her.  (and squeezed in some work here and there when she stopped crying miserably).

 

 

New clothes shopping. For Dave, not me.  I surprised him with an afternoon of shopping just for him.  He hardly ever buys new clothes, and I knew he's been needing some.  So I got a sitter and we headed to the mall.  On our way out he said "I feel like Pretty Woman".
Ha!  I think he had fun.

 

 

Getting ready for our traditional "Thanks" Dinner.  (it couldn't be "thanksgiving" dinner because that's what we have on Thursday with other family. This tradition is one we've started for Thanksgiving Eve, just at our house.  This is our 3rd year, look back at 2010 and 2011 if you want to.)

 

 

Our baby is about to have his first birthday party.

And he is officially walking, all over the place.

 

 

Our sick girl, was feeling well enough just in time to make it to Grandparent's Day at her school.

 

 

And we've been focusing on what we are thankful for (something we should definitely do a lot more throughout the year), with a few fun activities.

 

I loved the gratitude garland  from Somewhat Simple.  Super easy and quick to prepare and do with the kids.  And they loved it.

 

And wouldn't ya know, it was somewhat simple :-)

 

 Download and print the free printable, and then cut.  We printed on white cardstock.

 

The kids wrote on each one.

 

They put a strip of glue down.

 

And folded it over the twine.

 

 

It's so easy, you could print it now, there's still time before Thanksgiving. And even if there wasn't, you can be grateful any time of the year.

 

We have also been loving our new holiday countdown box from DaySpring.  Thanks Jess for the great deal!  We got ours for $7.50, but they still have a great deal on them for $15 (originally $25).

You can see this post over at The Macs for a great description of them.

 

 

And before all the Christmas cards start coming in the mail, I finally got around to organizing the last 3 years' worth that I've saved.  I loved the idea of putting them all into a book.  It will be fun to pull them out every year with our Christmas decorations and browse through them.  I originally saw the idea from Eighteen25 , plus there's a free printable cover!

 

 I might get the covers laminated so they hold up better.  I might add some ribbons tied to the rings, or some other embellishments, but for now they are sitting out and the kids have probably browsed them 20 times each already.

 

I also decided to include any birth announcements we received that year.  I never really knew what to do with these in the past, and this is perfect!  We'll be able to look back at all of our little baby friends through the years.

 

 I think Dave and I are headed out for just a tad bit of Black Friday shopping...on Thursday night.  I'm still not sure how Black Friday is now turning into Thursday.  I've only gone a few times, and although it was kind of fun, I'm also ok not having anything to do with it.   But there's one gift we need to snatch up at a great deal!

And then I'll probably finish up most of my shopping online.  I've already started that way, and it's just so much easier to not have to leave the house.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you!  Hope you enjoy some great time with family and yummy food!

 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 

 His love endures forever."

Psalms 118:1