Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 I've been gathering up the art projects as they come home from school!

they make excellent "decorations"!!

from left to right: Zoey's chicken, Liam's painted turkey, Liam's colored turkey, Zoey's hand print turkey,

 Zoey's corn wreath, Zoey's circle turkey, Liam's colored turkey, & Zoey's finger painting!

 yesterday we got started with cheese balls (pics & recipe coming) and pumpkin pie!

here's Liam and I - he was my helper for the pumpkin pies!!!

can you believe I didn't take a single pic of the Thanksgiving food?

well, I didn't!

instead, I enjoyed it ... and I enjoyed all of us sitting around the table eating together!

we had ham, mash tators & gravy, dressing, green bean casserole, corn casserole, sweet potatoes,

rolls, & pumpkin pie!!  we also had cheese balls for snack while watching the parade!!

I was so surprised how into the parade Zoey would get!

we haven't even watched the last half hour ... because I know there's stuff Liam will really like - 

and he was too absorbed in a game to want to watch the parade (I called him in for the

teenage mutant ninja turtles ... but coming up are minions, which he'll LOVE!)

but of the two and a half hours we watched, I'd say Zoey actually watched about 45 minutes

of it!  it was adorable!  she danced and sat there mesmerized!

she also played candy thrower, since Annicka & Jericho couldn't get the concept

of a parade without candy - lol!  (but Jericho ended up being very into it, too)

so, that was thanksgiving ... we had fun, we were lazy, we ate!

hope yours was great, too!!!

thankful, day 27 ...

I am thankful for answered prayers! 

I know that can be a long topic ... but I guess I mean that I am thankful for

prayers that are answered in the way I expect - for instance,

praying you'll find something you've misplaced, then finding it!

(which is exactly what happened to me - I needed to locate an important document and couldn't remember where it might be since the move and everything!!)

and, especially, I am thankful for those prayers that are answered before you

"officially" pray for them ... God knows!!!

thankful, day 26 ...

I am thankful to be a stay at home mom!!!

I really could write and write and write on this subject, but I'll try to keep it short & sweet!

I am thankful that I have never had to face adversity, negative comments, or harsh attitudes regarding this choice ... I always hate hearing what some moms have gone through, it's so wrong!

I am thankful that I get to be here for my kids!

If they're sick and need to stay home from school, I'm here.

I get to witness the milestones!

I get to kiss the boo-boos!

I get to be school teacher to my oldest!

sure, I miss things that happen at school (for my younger three) ...

but I'm here for them when they get home!!

I am thankful that I have a hubby who supports this decision and appreciates it!

sure, more money would be nice - really nice!! - but realistically I'd be lucky to find something

that would even pay me enough to pay for daycare ... and I've never wanted

my children to grow up in daycare, anyway!  I'm so glad that my hubby respects that!

He works so hard to provide for us, he's such a good guy!

I am also thankful for the many family members who support me and see the benefits!!

and, of course, I am so thankful for my four beautiful, amazing,

you-make-me-wanna-rip-out-my-own-hair-and-then-do-something-so-adorable-that-I-melt kids!!!

thankful, day 25 ...

I am thankful for change. this past move was my hardest - it was the first time I really felt like I didn't want to move ... I wasn't ready.

 I was so attached to my zumba classes (don't laugh) and I hated the idea of leaving my awesome friend - one of the best friends I've EVER had (that's Jill and I miss her like mad).

 we've been here a little over two months now, though, and I am ready to say I am thankful for change. change is good. we can resist it and we can resist accepting it, but - as in my case - I believe God has a way of showing us all the positives! 

 so, thank you Lord - for showing me! I am thankful for this change and will 

remember to be thankful in the future ... I hope!!! 

thankful, day 24 ...

anyone who has read much on my blog would probably know that for me,

it's really the little things ... you know the saying?!

well, I am thankful for Christmas movies!

yah, no joke!

I love that my favorite Christmas movies give me warm fuzzies!

I love that they make me wanna curl up and relax!

I love that they make me smile and laugh and maybe even cry a little!

I love Christmas movies and I've been on a roll

lately ... wanting to watch them almost every day!!!

I guess I need to broaden my selection for that, though, lol!!!

thankful, day 23 ...

lazy again, lol!!!

this is what I posted on facebook!!!

but, I will throw a couple pics from my days out on here!!!

 

Annicka earned a free donut by answering the trivia question at Krispy Kreme!

(what species of bear is only carnivorous: Polar bear) ...

Liam got a hair cut and then we roamed around Toys R Us for over an hour - so much fun ...

Zoey and I spent an afternoon at Costco ...

Jericho and I grabbed a bite to eat, at Sonic, before grocery shopping!!!

 

thankful, day 22 ...

yah, so I'm being lazy and just copying exactly what I wrote on facebook!  ha ha ha!

but I don't have any pics, so it works - right?!

right!!!

a BIG day for Annicka!!!

can you believe she is a teenager?

I can't!!!

 she just was itching to open presents!!!

we let her open her gifts from Grandma, Uncle Kris, and Katie!!!

Zoey helped - too fun!!!

 my creative artist!

love this beautiful girl!!

 we made a lemon cake - her request!

we found fun stuff to decorate her cake with and we found some fun

candles that have colored flames!!!  too cool!!!

and this is definitely one of my favorite pics of the day...

it's the spontaneous pics like this that just delight me!!!  ha ha ha!!!

13.

I just can't believe it!

where has the time gone?  

don't blink!!!

thankful, day 21 ...

 I am thankful for palm trees!

I know this is another one of those more random things to be thankful for,

but I'm thankful for anything that puts a smile on my face -

and palm trees, for whatever reason, do that!!!

I love taking pics of palm trees!

I have lots!

I love the way they look,

I love the way they sway in the wind,

I love them in the foreground of a sunset!

palm trees are beautiful!

I am so happy to be in California, where palm trees abound!

sound funny, but when preparing to move this is actually something I thought about:

will they have palm trees still?

we don't have as many here as our last place - but they're still around, thank goodness!!

thankful, day 20 ...

I am thankful for the peaceful moments, like these (above)!

kids that are getting along - maybe even playing or doing an activity together!

with four kids I am learning about sibling rivalry - it both

shocks and horrifies me at times ... and I still totally don't get it (I was an only child)!

so when it's relatively quiet and everyone is either getting along

or doing their own thing, it's true bliss!!!

thankful, day 19 ...

I am thankful for rain! 

a lot of people might think I'm a little crazy for this one,

but it's true - I'm thankful for rain.

this isn't just about the real necessity for water - I mean, we do need it for

our plants and such - but I'm also just thankful to see it and feel it and smell it!

I grew up with a decent amount of rain and living in California now,

I definitely haven't seen much of it ... for like, five years!!!

so, when it does rain - I kinda like it!!!

thankful, day 18 ...

terrible pic, I know ...but, I am thankful for progress.

now, people who know me very well know that I love, love, love stuff from days past!

the 1930s, 40s, and 50s are my absolute fave!!!

however, I would not have been a good "housewife" back then, lol!

I can't imagine doing all the house work without all the fun and "make it easier" gadgets

we have these days!!!  recently I purchased a ninja and finally tried it out - love it!

it helped me make a quick (and yummy) fruit puree to put in little 

pouches for my boys' lunches!!!  here I was all worried about how to make anything

besides applesauce - and it was really as easy as hitting a button!

anyway, though many things are a drawback - I think progress is important ...

and I am thankful for all the progress that makes the day to day stuff a little easier!!!

thankful, day 17 ...

I am so thankful that my boys have made friends!

of course, they have school - which does help in the making friends department!

but when we moved here we quickly found out that our neighbors had

three boys (and one on the way) ... one of their boys is the same grade as Jericho,

one is about a year younger than Liam and the other is about a year older

than Jericho!!!  how perfect is that???  it's cute, too, that they have a Liam - and he

even has long hair like our Liam!  so we have to be sure we say something

to distinguish who we're talking to (usually by using the last name)!

Jericho was very accustomed to playing outside with friends ...

and this was a big move for him!  he really doesn't remember too much from before

California.  it was his first time to be changing schools and leaving friends!

(for Liam it was not such a big deal, as he was homeschooling and the friends he had

had - had moved from Vandenberg ... plus he didn't really see them regularly)

I was a little ... concerned, let's say.

I knew he'd make friends at school, but I wasn't sure if he'd have

neighborhood friends and get to have his outside "friend time" like he was used to!

right away he hit it off with the boys next door, it was wonderful!

I love that they come over and ask if he can play ...

I love that gets to go out nearly every day and has several friends to play with ...

it's fun to see them all running around together, being boys!

thankful, day 16 ...

what happened to my little photogenic girl?

these days I get bored, silly, or annoyed looks ... open eyes optional - LOL!!!

I am thankful for this beautiful young lady!

to say it like that is crazy ... I can't really believe that Annicka will be 13 soon ...

not even "soon" - she's gonna be 13 this week.  it's a matter of days.

I'm about to have a teenager.  scary.

I am so thankful for you, Annicka - the little baby that made me a mama!

you and I are very different and sometimes it is hard for me to relate to you - and that

only gets more challenging as you get older.  but, I try.  I really do.

one day you will read this, maybe you'll be a mom by the time you do ... or maybe

you'll re-read this as a mom, and you'll understand!  being a parent is not

for wimps.  you have always ... "kept me on my toes" - so to say!

I pray you keep your strength ... though it makes parenting you a bit overwhelming

at times (you may have heard the term "strong willed") ... I know it 

can and will come in handy for you in your life.

I love that you make up your mind about something ... and that's that.

again, this way of thinking could come in very handy for you as a growing girl!

I am trying to be careful about what I say here - as it is out there

for anyone to view.  I only share to be truthful and to show you (some day) just

how far you have come!  I still remember the little girl who would

throw herself on the floor -in the middle of the store, mind you- when I wouldn't

buy you what you wanted.  yah.  that happened.  more than once.

but look how far you've grown, even in just seven years.

I can't imagine another five years, you being 18 and me thinking back to these

days ... 12/13 is a difficult time.  so much is going on and so much

is changing.  I am so glad to have you at home with me.

I know that homeschooling has been extremely challenging - for both of us ...

I know that it is something you want to continue ...

I pray that you truly realize that it takes effort and self discipline,

if we can get that (both of us) steadily, then we're golden!!!

I feel like I'm just rambling.

I think I have about a thousand thoughts racing around, jumping over each other,

doing back hand springs in my brain - lol.

but, the important thing so say is:

I am so thankful for you.

I am thankful for you how you are and thankful for who you are ...

and I am thankful that I have you and that I get to watch

you grow into a young woman (even though it makes me want to cry)!

thankful, day 15 ...

no pic today ... but as I was sitting in the social security office, I realized

just how thankful I am to have the gift of patience -

in those type of circumstances!

I'm not trying to make a saint of myself, there are certainly many times I have

lost my patience ... and there are plenty of "situations" in which patience is not something

that comes easily!  but, when it comes to waiting in lines or waiting

at places, I seem to have plenty of patience ... and I'm certainly happy that I do!

not to say I may not get bored and maybe that's apparent on my face, but I was

pleasantly surprised that 40 minutes seemed to go by pretty quickly today!

thank you, Lord, for granting me patience ... today!  lol!!!

thankful, day 14 ...

I am thankful for this kid!!!

so, obviously this is also a "throw back thursday"!

it's Jericho at about a year old and Jericho today!!!

love this kid - he always has me cracking a smile (or hiding a giggle) with his humorous

ways!  somehow kids never cease to amaze me with what they come up with, 

and with this one it's almost always funny!

when Jericho was a baby, I used to say "if they were all like him, I'd have twelve"!

he really was the BEST baby!!!

even as a young toddler he was just so sweet and such a pushover, I remember I was always

worried for him at church and mothers day out ... fearing he'd get hurt or upset - just letting other

kids push him around.  it's safe to say - he grew out of that - lol!!!

I think deep down he is still a sweetie (he still gives mom a hug & kiss goodnight)

but he's not so much a pushover ... maybe in certain situations, he can be good at backing down -

like in situations with friends, letting them have their way ... but his little personality

has surely grown with him!  I can actually remember distinctly when

he started to change, it was when he was nearing three ... I was pregnant with Liam, hubby

was in Korea, and all of a sudden my "perfect" little boy became a bit of a stinker!

ha ha - kids!!!

Jericho - my sweet freckle face boy (just like mama) I love you so much!

I love the sweetness you possess and I love your funny personality - always trying to get a laugh!

you're awesome, dude!!!

thankful, day 13 ...

I am thankful for this sight (above)!

it means a sidewalk by our house is getting fixed! 

apparently some sort of spring sprung ...

we noticed when we moved in that the grassy area to the side of our house was like a marsh,

and if you walked through it - it was squish, squish, squish - lol! (plus it's a little hill that we're at the

bottom of!)  so we've been here two months now - wow - and that sidewalk, especially,

has been slippery with slime the entire time!  my hubby has even gone out there and tried to sort

of scrape it all of!  it's really dangerous, I slipped in it - not thinking and walking right 

through it when we first got here ... I didn't fall down, but I sure could have!

anyway, it looks like they are creating some drainage so instead of going to the sidewalk ...

and then trialing down the sidewalk cracks (you can see that there's water all the

way down, to some extents, on the edges of the sidewalk) it should go out to the street and

then continue draining downhill there - which is also already does!

so, looks like there won't actually be an end to the constant water ... but at least it

will be much better, and for that - I am thankful!!

thankful, day 12 ...

 I am thankful for zumba!

my blog really missed my zumba crazy days ... obsession ... love of zumba!!!

I went to my first class in April and by June I wouldn't miss my three classes for much!

 (by this time I only went to the three taught by my favorite teacher, Francisco - his was the first class I attended and honestly, had it been one of the other teachers, I may not have been so quick to go back! ... but I did and I did go to several classes with any one of them instructing!)

from June on I was very dedicated to Zumba!

by the time we left I was going to two gyms and attending a class six nights a week - and sometimes

I'd even catch one on base before going to the gym!  Zumba can be seriously fun!

today, I struggle to make it through the class here on base ... how sad!

but, I'm going and trying to get back to it being a regular thing (it was cancelled for a month

and if three people aren't there, there's no class - sucks!  soooo not what I was used to)

my goal was to become an instructor ... that's laughable these days!

with my weight dangerously close to what it was a year and a half ago (yah, let's not talk

about that - I feel very loser-ish) and my body being so out of shape - and in so 

much pain - I feel ridiculously even thinking I could still make it as an instructor! 

... but I know two months ago I had confidence, so I also know that could return!

it's gonna take some hard work ...

I'm trying to prepare myself for that!!!

still, I am thankful for zumba ...

thankful that my view of "exercise" and "fitness" opened up hugely the 

day I stepped through those doors and took my first class!!!!

thankful, day 11 ...

this is a pic from the spring, when he was home for his mid-tour ... 

I wish my face was still looking thin like this!!

I am thankful for my husband!

I am so thankful to be blessed with a husband who has an excellent

work ethic and takes such good care of us!  I am very proud of him and I strive

to make him proud of me as well!  I could go on and on, but I'd be saying

the same things over and over - in more and more detail!

this guy is such a good daddy, too!

I just love him!!!

I am also thankful for his service to this country, even though at

times that has meant we have to be apart!  

on that note, happy veterans day!!

thankful, day 10 ...

 I am thankful for all these autumn colors!

Autumn is my most favorite season, but where we lived before we saw

very little evidence of seasons ... there were a few trees that changed color & lost leaves - 

but I think here we definitely have more!

I am loving it!

I love taking pics of "nature" anyway, but these were especially fun ...

I took them while on a walk with Annicka - which was nice too (even if she was getting

annoyed with all my picture taking - lol)!  as I took them I realized that it's

also kind of cool that I'm getting some pics of the houses that are in progress - when we got

here they were just being framed, look at them now coming along!

I absolutely appreciate the beauty God gave us in the sky, trees, flowers, etc.

and I am happy that we have more defined seasons here!