Good-ness

This past Saturday, we took the girls to paint pottery with their cousins that were in town for the holiday weekend. This girl is a "pro" now.

This one, painted by herself for the very first time and LOVED it. 

Then we went shopping for a bit in the afternoon. Complete with snacks.

A visit with Santa, for one, and a wish list mailed. Brook cried her little eyes out and said "no, no, no" when it was time to go see Santa. This was without a nap, so we will try again. Although, she has a thing against beards. It may not be her year.

Such a good day.

Christmas is here....

This past Friday we stayed home, rested from our full Thanksgiving day and put up our Christmas decorations. This was Brook's first year to actually hang ornaments. She really wanted to hang each one on a different light bulb instead of the tree branch. Maddy is a pro at decorating. She loves to re-live her ornaments from each year. Loved watching her.

They each have a small tree for their rooms and get to decorate them by themselves. Here is Brook's tree:

We bought Maddy a new tree this year {her old one was four years old and broke last year putting it away}. Of course, she chose the pink tree {which looks great in her pink room}!

We attempted to get a photo of the girls in front of our family tree, but we had A LOT of this:

In order to get ONE like this:

Thankful, we captured this moment right before bed when she stopped to kiss her Tiana ornament good night. Sweet little thing.

Thank-Full

I love Thanksgiving. A holiday filled with family and tons of mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, etc., what is not to love? This year though, it was so fun to watch both of our girls enjoy the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, a tradition I remember every Thanksgiving. 

They loved every single second. The floats...the balloons...the Rockettes {practicing their dance in the living room}, they soaked it all in and I just loved watching them! 

To top it off, lots of time with family! 

We also enjoyed a private puppet show at Nana's and our girls were blessed with new "froggie and kitty" hats from their sweet aunt, uncle and cousins. 

I am not missing the fact that TODAY we are blessed with abundant food, clothes, toys, a warm house {especially today since it is in the 20's around here}, a car, family to spend the day with, our health, and most of all Jesus who died and rose again so we could all live and live life abundantly. May I always be humble and grateful, everyday, not just on this day.  

Happy Thanksgiving. We are "thank-full" around here!! 

More than errands

It seems as if we have "errand" running non-stop lately. Brook likes Hobby Lobby, mostly because of this sweet "just her size" nativity in the front of the store. She likes to visit with baby Jesus first and then she takes time to "feed" each animal. Then, she hangs with the shepherds, wise men, angels, Mary and Joseph. She especially likes whomever is in a "sress {dress}." So, do you see her?

Yesterday, while on our way to shop for our Operation Christmas Child shoe box items, one girl was eating powdered donuts and one was wearing her new hat {and yes, it was in the 60's outside}.

Today, more errands - but this time I went shopping with Minnie Mouse. And today, a sweet lady that works at the grocery store gave her a free balloon....just because it matched her dress. Apparently, it pays to go out in your "best" dress-up clothes!

So, what are you up to lately?

Sketch Challenge

Here is my take on this sketch challenge from crate paper. I love these pictures of our sweet, six year old at her birthday party. She is the happiest when she is with everyone, and I do mean everyone, in her entire family. She had just that at her birthday party this year. Pure joy. This photo captures the pure joy she lives out every single day. 

Honestly, how in the world did I get so blessed?

No lack here

One thing my girls have never lacked is imagination. This one, loves to make places and "live in them" a while. Enter...the road. 

She has been drawing "her road" on our driveway for a few weeks now. When it washes away, a new road is added. They vary from day to day. But, they are always traveled on the scooter.

It is curvy or straight, depending on how she wants it. There are always train tracks and sometimes a pond. You must always pay attention while driving it. 

There is always more detail to add {mostly stop signs, stop lights, etc} once you have traveled it once and know "where to add" them. 

This time there was even a carnival to visit. 

I am thankful I get to "visit" them with her. I am always amazed by her imagination. Always. 

Pumpkin Patch

Over here, is a great sketch {sunday sketch 11-07}. I took that and turned it into this:

Have a fun weekend!

70's

This past week, we were blessed to have seventy degree days....in November! Amazing. We were outside {until the whole house came down with horrible colds} as much as possible. 

This little sweetie loves to get the mail....sometimes peeking in all of the mailboxes on the street if I don't catch her in time! 

We had a couple of nice walks together. This is how we do it:

To highlight another lovely, sweet "quirk": here is her chair of choice:

Happy weekend! Cooler weather coming for us and a lovely ladies conference at church for me! Enjoy!!

Six...

Last week we had Maddy's six year pictures taken. Brook did not want to cooperate {it was apparently too early for her to smile}. Maddy, however, is a pro. 

I love my girls. They are so beautiful inside and out. What a gift.

Grateful today....

Grateful for a day this weekend where we could get away, just the four of us, without interruption. A day where we could take the girls to one of our {separate} childhood memories and re-live it as parents. So fun.

Grateful for a chance to visit one of my favorite jewelry stores while on our little day trip and a family that will drive out of the way to take me there. Love this place. Lots of drooling went on and wish lists were definitely made!! I think my girls loved looking at their jewelery as much as I did. {The hubby might be in trouble!!}

Grateful for God's provision and great healing power. Our sweet baby {almost toddler} broke out in hives on Saturday and woke up with swollen hands and feet, in addition to the hives, on Sunday. I spent the morning with her at Urgent Care Sunday morning, while they ran a bunch of tests on her. Grateful this morning that benedryl seems to have taken care of it and the swollen joints are normal again, the hives are fading away and she is perky and happy once again {seems to be on the mend}. So grateful.

Grateful for a husband that will {always} go to great lengths to entertain. {Here he is last night at our pastor's 15 year anniversary party} Does this make me Priscilla?

Grateful for a family that step in and help when we are in need. Thanks mom and dad for helping out last night!

Grateful for another 70 degree day {in November} and lots of time to be outside today {heading out for a walk soon}!! 

What are you grateful for today?