Lego love

My six-year-old recently discovered Lego's.  He received some for his birthday. He is in love! When I told him that my little brother had (has) a whole suit case full, his eyes got huge. All he could say was, "Wow!"

Jared, you are now incontestably his favorite uncle!

More to be grateful for

I knew that I had a lot to be thankful for... but on Thanksgiving Day I had even more gratitude in my heart than usual. While the ladies were preparing the traditional meal, the lads were out on the quads. They came back laughing and we asked them to take the littles out for a quick ride before lunch was ready. A few came back after a short while shouting, "Uncle Brett rolled the four-wheeler!"

My two littles that were on with their daddy were brought home in pain, but not too badly injured. After some ice packs and a little first aid for them, my thoughts quickly turned back to my honey who hadn't made his appearance yet. He came home a bit later with a smashed up quad and a limp arm. He looked like he was in shock. First aid for him took longer and was more painful. (Poor man). Happily they are all mending nicely (though Brett's injuries will take a bit).

For me, that day was spent, not only counting my blessings, but thanking the Lord for the lives of my husband and children. (None were wearing helmets. All could have easily been hurt very badly or worse). I know that angels were watching over my little family that day.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and counted your many blessings!

Find my happy place

My sister is in a wonderful place. The weather is fantastic. The sun shines on beautiful beaches. There are palm trees. The ocean is warm and inviting. I am so happy for her.

I have her children for a little while. They are really great children. They are fun and well behaved. However, now that I have become the mother of seven (over night) I am gaining a whole new respect for you with large families!!!! (Ang and Shawna, you are AMAZING).

 I have never been SO tired! I have never had so much noise buzzing in my ears 12 hours a day! I have never appreciated the quiet of nap time more! And date night has never looked so good!

A little" down time"

Any one get a little crazy at times? Oh...Oh, Me, ME!!!
My Down time = chocolate, nap, crafting.. not combined and not in that order but you get the picture. I need  some!

Pull up a chair...

I have just taken a big step in my life... I just bought my first piece of furniture (from a real store). I have some great pieces of furniture in my house (but) they have all come from yard sales, scratch and dent or free. So this is BIG for me. It's a couch and love seat and they are supposed to get here in a week. "Squeal!"

 I have been so torn about this... I have kids. Quite a few. They are VERY... shall we say 'active.' I have been looking for the right couch for about a year. During this time I have been watching my little monsters darlings climb all over my old (free) couch. They have made forts out of the pillows and bounced on the seat (when they thought I wasn't looking). They have sat on the arms and laid on the back. My thoughts: Why get a new one when I still have littles... why not wait until they're... um, older??? But I have (Large and getting larger) holes in my couch. It is showing its age. (I'm not sure exactly what that is). Long story short... it TOTALLY time!

We've moved out all my living room furniture to shampoo the carpets. As we sat on the floor last night for family scriptures and prayers I glanced around the empty room and remembered how it looked when we first moved in. Empty. We didn't have more than a piano and a chair in the room for several months. I also remember being so grateful for that used couch. It was so nice to have something soft to sit on other than the carpet. We've been so blessed! And while I am SO excited to get my nice new couch, it was very evident last night, that it is just 'stuff.'

This was all very random. Conclusions:

1. I love my littles!
2. I love that the house and 'stuff' shows that we LIVE here.
3. I am grateful for the kindness and generosity of others as we started out.
4. I am grateful for any opportunity to 'pay it forward.'
5. I can't wait to have a pretty couch that I don't have to cover the holes with a blanket, coat or my hand. ha ha 
6. I hope you come visit so I can say "Pull up a chair." 

Christmas music

Do you think I'll run out of Christmas music if I start playing it now? I'll have to be sneaky because my honey says it should wait at least until after Thanksgiving. But really it is the BEST music out there and honestly, how can I cram it all into one month? I'm not trying to ignore or hurry through Thanksgiving... I'm just meshing the two and stretching out Christmas. After all... Christ is the thing we should be most thankful for!

Halloween... check!

We had such a fun Halloween!!!! I borrowed my sister's leathers and was a biker. The kids were welcome to pick anything they wanted out of the dress up boxes (so it was a low maintenance one this year). And Brett donned an afro to work. We spent the day together. I did a craft in one of the kid's classes, there was a school parade, some small town fun and then trick-or-treating for just a bit.

The kids had more fun handing out the goodies than getting them. (Does anyone else think that trick-or-treating is the weirdest tradition?! I have a few issues with it, but that's for another day). I threw together some fun lights and out door decor and we sat on the porch chatting as the kids swarmed by. But what I thought was great, was that my kids were in bed by 8:30 and then I had Halloween all put away by 10:00. (That's a first for me... it usually sits out for a couple weeks and then I only get to enjoy Thanksgiving decor for a minute). Brett was laughing at my feverish putting away and decorating... I told him I wanted to enjoy my Thanksgiving decor because as soon as he's finished desert on Thanksgiving, I'm pulling out the tree.