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

 

mom, you can only take two.

 

I was snapping away at Gavin's new walking skills the other day and Mason requested I take some pictures of him too.

After I picked myself up off the ground over my anti-picture-taking-boy, I snapped fast while he told me "mom, you can only take 2 pictures".

 



I snuck in a few extra.

 

This sweet boy has been growing up a lot lately.  Maybe it's preschool. Maybe it's a normal age for boys to start maturing a bit.  Maybe it's being a big brother.

But whatever it is, he sure is changing.

 

 

He loves preschool, basketball, throwing the football with mom or dad, wrestling, bike riding, going to work with Dad (a lucky few times), Legos, Skip-Bo, bugs, helping in the kitchen, candy, pop, and not much food.

 

 

He's growing fast.  And already talking about his birthday in February.  Not more than a few days pass before he asks again "what's after Thanksgiving?"  and then "what's after Christmas?" and then "my birthday is after Valentine's Day, right?"

I wish he'd slow down.

 

But since he won't, I'm thankful for moments like this that he stops and lets me freezes him in time.

 

gavin {11months}

I'm a little late on these.  In no time at all this little guy will be 1.

Sigh.

 

 

I'm shocked that we are still able to take pictures outside, with no clothes on.  I'm so ready for fall to get here and stay!

 

 There is nothing I can do to get Gavin to look at me for pictures.  He looked at me only once I think.  I can hoot and holler, cluck, moo, bark, sing, but the little stinker will not look.

But I won't complain too much, because he did lay down on the quilt (not for long, but long enough).

 

 This month we've started to see some changes in his personality. He knows how to throw things that he doesn't want (like food and cups full of water), and throw fits like the best of them.

He's usually not happy when he wakes up, morning or nap time.  I guess he may get that from me??

So I'm attempting a few new things - like a snack and drink right away, Barney, The Wiggles, anything to help his mood.

 

 

Obviously, it works sometimes.

 

 

At almost 11 months on the day, he took his first steps!

Within the last week he's started to walk across the room.  He's not walking all over yet, but getting so close.  The nice mark on his chin is from one of his spills.

 

But boy is he into stuff.  Neither of our first 2 kiddos required locks on the cabinets. But this child does.  He has helped himself to the pantry cabinet a few too many times.

 

 

What a joy it is to have a big brother and sister who love him so much.  They take such good care of him.  Sometimes.  And Taylor does such a good job of babysitting when Mommy is trying to get herself ready without a baby at her feet. 

Mason forgets many times a day that his brother is still a baby, and not another 4 year old he can wrestle with.  But in between times, he is learning to play well with him and watches out for him.  If I'm not the one catching something going in Gavin's mouth that shouldn't be, Mason is my next set of eyes that catches things all the time and fishes them out.  You'd think we'd get all the small stuff in our house picked up.  And believe me, I always think it's gone and then something always appears.

 



 

He continues to be our best sleeper.  Morning and afternoon naps, and I can't remember a night he's woken up since his first 2 months of life.

But surprisingly, he's a light sleeper.  I can't go in and pick him up in his sleep and snuggle him (believe me I try), like I did Mason.  In fact, many times he wakes up when his door comes open.

 

 

He isn't saying any words yet.  Not really even Da-da that he said before.  But he definitely make himself heard.  His screaming continues still.  In the car, at the dinner table, outside, inside, all the time. 

He's a daddy's boy.  He gets so so excited when he hears Daddy walk in from work. And he gets so so mad when Daddy puts him down to go shower.

 

He gives kisses and high fives, loves balls, remotes and barking dogs.  He's a serious little guy, who breaks into silly moods every now and then.  He loves bath time and playing hide and seek, and loves to bite during family wrestling sessions.

 

What a blessing to our family this little boy is.

And soon, he'll be one.

 



rebekah and alice's visit

I'm backing up a bit to some pictures I never got to.  The last few weeks have been a bit crazy.  Maybe a lot crazy.  I was shocked I got the posts in that I did.

 

It was so fun having my sister and her sweet baby Alice here for 5 days for Taylor's birthday.

Our kids haven't been together since July, when we stopped in Kentucky for a visit on our way home from vacation.

Oh yeah, and we didn't tell my parents she was going to be here.  So when they got here the night before Taylor's party, they had quite the surprise!

 

 

It took Alice a few days to get used to the craziness that comes with a house of 3 kids.  She's used to taking naps where it's nice and quiet, and she doesn't have anyone to drag her around and be in her face all the time.

 

She kind of had this "please help me" look on her face for the first few days. 

 

 

But she started to warm up.  And it was so cute to see her and Gavin scooting around on the floor together.

 

 

She got her first Druber's experience, and first donut!

 

   

 

 

She helped us cheer on the Wildcats!

And even got to be a visitor in Taylor's Kindergarten classroom to help celebrate her birthday.



And my sis helped me go through my closet and put together new outfits. I think I came up with 12-15 new outfits with the things I already had, totally eliminating my urge most of my urge to go fall clothes shopping. Whoohooo, closet cleaned out and money saved all in one!  Thanks sis!

Between Dave's sister who helped me clean out my office and get rid of tons of things, and my sister helping me with my closet - I am so thankful for awesome sisters and their services!

 



We love  you Aunt Rebekah and Alice!!! Thanks for coming all the way to Kansas to see us!