30 November

I know God has given me all these extra challenges because he think I can handle them. Some days, I'm not so sure.

29 November

Just an awesome day today.

Spent the morning out Christmas shopping and had lunch with a best friend.

She helped me pick out my new phone.

No, I don't really "need" it, and I'm worried about the extra distraction (and the 80 bucks a month is a little hard to swallow), but It's so fun and it feels so good to be connected with all my people:)....Plus the camera is so cool!

Then I went to the salon for two hours of having my hair pampered and drove home as relaxed as I could be. Merry Christmas to me:)

28 November

Just a few more favorite shots from the Thanksgiving holiday:)

27 November

Today"s Sermon:

Went something like.....Life is continually changing, we only create the illusion that things are staying the same for our own comfort. Think of the one reason that you were put on this earth right now at this very moment. Life is short, we must continually count the blessings of each passing moment. Anyway, I want to remember those words today b/c these things are constantly in my mind, how fast things can change and are changing. AND, on a lighter note our halls are 75% decked (the Santa in the front yard......not my idea). Now, WE just need a tree!

26 November

Today....

My girl and I got all dressed up in our holiday best and attended our very first Nutcracker ballet show. She LOVED it, clapping and smiling through the whole two hours. The costumes were fabulous, the dancers were incredible, and me, I absorbed every minute of special-ness with my favorite girl:)

25 November

"Time is an enormous, long river, and I’m standing in it, just as you’re standing in it. My elders are the tributaries, and everything they thought and every struggle they went through and everything they gave their lives to, and every song they created, and every poem that they laid down flows down to me – and if I take the time to ask, and if I take the time to see, and if I take the time to reach out, I can build that bridge between my world and theirs. I can reach down into that river and take out what I need to get through this world."
~ Utah Phillips

24 November

Thanksgiving 2011. We missed the cousins so much but we feel so lucky that we got to skype with them. We are just so blessed to get to spend another holiday with our grandparents. Four generations of women cooking the Turkey with all the fixins.... with kid-made paper turkey and candle centerpieces........just Fantastic:)

23 November

Look who lost her first tooth!

22 November

Over the River and Through the woods.......

21 November

Love You. Love that your transitions at school are going much better over the last few weeks and love that you are so close to losing that first tooth:)

20 November

Congrats to Josh who just finished the Philadelphia marathon (his third this fall---crazy!!) After all that exercising, I think he's really looking forward to that Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday:)

19 November

I heart Breakfast.

Oldest Boy: Koala Crisp or cheerios, milk, fruit,vitamins and yogurt.

Girl: Honey Sunshine,milk, apple juice,vitamins,sometimes fruit and a cheese stick

Youngest Boy: Whatever his oldest brother is having, and vitamins, sometimes a granola bar and a "warm"V8 fruit juice

Mom: Plain Puffins, Milk and Green smoothie, vitamins, sometimes oatmeal or yogurt

Dad: Eggs, and egg sandwich or a peanut butter sandwich on pita bread and coffee (lots of it!)

Weekends: Sometimes pancakes or waffles.......for a special treat, "real waffles" and bacon or sausage:)

18 November

Yep, it's before Thanksgiving but we HAD to break out the Christmas movies tonight for "movie night" (every Friday). Elf was the kids choice (they love the snowball fight part...). And the Christmas Music, yep, that will be out this weekend as well. There's just so much good stuff to look forward to.

17 November

Lately.....

our game of choice is war, and I'm pretty impressed on how you already knew how to play (including the values of the face cards). And oh, the funny things you say......

"I wish my birthday was everyday and I wish my star could come to me....."

'I love all types of pie except Shepard's..."

"I love riding on planes b/c you get little snacks and stuff."

"You add such a warm bright light to these colder, darker afternoons:)"

16 November

You taught Lucas how to play Texas Hold 'em, and you guys play ALL the time. The other day I think I saw him running for his wallet so he could pay you a penny. Really.

15 November

These origami Yodas and Darth Vaders' are literally taking over the house.

14 November

Love this.

(Lucas 11-11, 4 years old)

13 November

My favorite part of November. The in between. In between back to school, soccer and the holidays. Where we are anticipating and planning the bustling season of many wonderful family times and celebrations that are right around the corner, but life slows down, just enough to do this on a weekend afternoon.

12 November

First game of the season.

11-11-11 11:11

cool.