A month of thankfulness

So, yeah, I flaked out there at the end.  :\  Sorry about that.  To make up for it, here are 30 things I'm thankful for (in no particular order).  Hope you all had a great November and are looking forward to a wonderful December.  Happy Holidays!

I'm thankful for:
1. My husband - kind, loving, respectful, gentle, and caring, my better half, my partner, the man I happily give my heart to each and every day
2. My son - sweet, innocent, happy, carefree, and unconditionally loving, my snugglebug, my wake up call, my noisy nurser, the little man who captured my heart before his birth and has never let it go
3. My daughter - loud, rowdy, polite, ever learning, and silly, who plays pretend, my mini-me (for better or worse), my goofy girl, the little girl who has the keen ability to frustrate me and make me want to squeeze her with hugs and cover her with kisses all out the same time
4. Our home - not just the structure, but the life that Michael and I have built for ourselves (with the help of many), the warmth in the winter, the cool in the summer, a house full of light and love and laughter
5. Our family - far and near, seen daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or even less often, they all hold a special place in my heart, good and bad, they make me who I am and ever change me
6. K-State basketball and football - an excuse to get out of the house, get out of town, get back to the place where Michael and I truly feel at home, our teams, our alma mater, we are proud fans and alumni
7. Our roommates - friends close by, live in babysitters and dogsitters, and a source of income that helps support me being a stay at home mom
8. Michael's job - AeTR has been good to us, despite frustrations with inconsistant job review and raises, they are a good company and Michael knows his job is secure, that peace of mind means a lot, and Michael's job also allows me to stay home with the kids
9. My job - a stay-at-home mom is the most frustrating, rewarding, hard, and amazing job I've ever had, there are moments when I love it, moments I hate it, and moments when I just feel like I'm going crazy, but I get to raise three awesome kiddos and that is truly a blessing
10. Family time - tonight we decorated the Christmas trees, drank hot chocolate, listened to Christmas music, and watched the Muppet Christmas Carol, this is just one example of the fun family time I get to have with Michael and the kids (and the roommates) (because I'm now a stay-at-home-mom)
11. Cool weather - as fall begins to come to a close and winter approaches I'm thankful for the changing of the seasons, though I'm not fond of the extreme cold that winter can bring, there are a lot of other things that I'm thankful for in this new season
12. New and first time experiences - Connor's first Christmas is rapidly approaching, Avery went out and truly played in the snow for the first time a couple weeks ago, a new Christmas advent book tradition, Christmas Eve PJ's and a snack with a movie, as my family grows and grows up there are new and exciting things to experience
13. Unending, unfailing, unconditional love - from my husband, to my husband, to my kids, from my kids, from my family and friends, to my family and friends, I'm reminded regularly of the blessings I have and am thankful for all the love I give and receive each day, sometimes it overpowers me, I am blessed
14. Coffee - my sweet amber nectar, refreshing and empowering, even decaf has a way of making my day better
15. Gilmore Girls - yes, I'm thankful for my favorite show, my tv friends, for my 7 seasons on DVD so I have been able to binge watch them for years before they arrived on Netflix, they make me laugh, cry, smile, want to eat, want to drink coffee, and make me want to be a cool and real mom
16. Heat - I know someone who's furnace is broken at the moment, and tonight will be a cold night, I'm thankful for the heat in my home, the blankets on my bed and the kids' beds, and the warm body I cuddle up next to each and every night
17. My car - I've had my car for 5 years now, it's been paid off for a year now, my parents helped me with the money to get my car and someday I'll pay them back for that, I love my car, it's my only car I've picked out on my own, the title was in my name from the day it came off the lot, I'm proud of it
18. Being a crunchy Mama - I use cloth diapers, I breastfeed, I make my own baby food, I shop at garage sales, second hand stores, and consignment sales, my kids don't have solids until they're 6 months old or sweets until they're a year, my two year old is still rear facing in her carseat, I'm proud (for the most part) of the type of mom I am, I believe I'm doing what's best for my kids
19. Food - during this season of overindulging on sweets, snacks, dinners, and drinks, I'm thankful that we have dinner on our table each night, that my mom and I enjoy baking each holiday season, and that my family is never hungry when we go to bed at night
20. Laughter - Connor's giggles, Avery's silliness as she jumps around, on the couch, on the bed, and the floor while she pushes on her Daddy, up far past her bedtime, the way Michael can make me laugh with his puns and nerdy jokes, I am blessed to have a house full of laughter
21. Our dogs - Harlee and Gabby were our babies long before Avery and Connor came around, and while they've taken a backseat since the children arrived, I'm still very blessed by their presense in our lives and I think the kids are too
22. Christmas decorations - we waited until after we returned from Thanksgiving with Michael's family to get things out, but I love Christmas decorations and I love the beautiful festive way our home looks
23. Timehop - trivial though it may be, I'm thankful for my timehop app that allows me to look back in time on this date throughout my time on facebook, I enjoy the peek into the past
24. Bedtime - my fellow young parents can relate most to this, I'm thankful for the time of day when two of my biggest blessings in life are asleep in bed and I get a couple of hours to myself without them at my side
25. Our fireplace - a peaceful center to our living room, a warm and cozy place to gather, a beautiful feature that makes me love our house even more, and best of all, gas, so no muss or fuss with wood or ashes
26. Our photographer - Courtney has captured so many beautiful moments in our family, and I'm sure she'll capture many more in years to come, I am blessed by each session she's done for us, her pictures are some of my most cherished possessions
27. Wichita - though Manhattan is where Michael and I feel most at home, Wichita is where our kids will call home, I'm thankful for the many entertaining activities here, the city always has things going on, and we'll spend a good chunk of our lifetime enjoying this great city, there were many other places we could have ended up, I'm glad we settled on here
28. Quiet moments - with a house in constant need of cleaning and two (or three) babies running and crawling around, with a husband away at work so I can stay at home doing what I love, with dishes and laundry piling up and dogs howling at imaginary people in the field behind us, when I find a quiet moment, I'm truly thankful for the opportunity to savor it
29. My Savior - I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me, in Him all things are possible, He cares for me is ways I cannot see, imagine, or do for myself, I owe Him everything
30. Technology - I watched as computers became a household appliance, I listened as the internet dialed up, I learned powerpoint and microsoft word, I texted and wondered why I'd ever need the internet on my phone, I took my ipod to Africa and added friends on facebook, and now I'm blogging so that I remember years from now what I thought and felt and how life was, and you can read, comment, and experience my life with me through the miracle of technology, that is pretty stinkin cool

So there, 30 things I'm thankful for.  So much more exists, but I'm sleepy and have a long week ahead of me.  Wishing you all a very happy holiday season.  :)

Day 19 - I'm thankful for my beautiful family!

We got our pictures back from Courtney of our family shoot a couple weeks ago!  I love her work!  :)

Day 18 - I'm thankful for all the things that make my morning easier

Day 18 - I'm thankful for my coffee, my blankets, my comfy couch, my hoodie, my slippers, and my oatmeal/banana/chocolate chip/strawberry muffin in the microwave defrosting.  Michael and I didn't get home and in bed after the basketball game last night until after 1am.  It's a sleepy start this morning.  :)

Day 17 - Today I'm thankful for snow. :)

I started this yesterday, but never got around to finishing it...

Ok, now hear me out before you think I'm crazy.  My absolute favorite time of year is October 1st-January 1st.  I love this time of year because it covers lots of great holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, the greatest season, the fall, and just enough of the winter to enjoy without getting sick of it. 

This is the time of year when I'm thankful for the snow.  It hasn't been around so long that I'm sick of it.  There's not enough of it yet to build up and accummulate, causing problems on the road.  It just blankets the yards with white and makes everything quiet, clean, and bright.  And while I prefer to stay indoors and drink my coffee, my sweet daughter has taken a liking to the snow.  :)

When Avery looks outside and sees the snow, she calls it either a snowball or a snowman.  It started snowing while we were in Topeka last weekend.  Glenn picked Avery up, opened the door, and they poked their heads outside to see the first flakes falling.  He had a hard time convincing her to let him shut the door.  On Saturday Avery and I took some time to go out in the snow and play together.  We ran around Glenn and Linda's yard, kicked the snow and leaves, made snowballs, and played.  I had a hard time convincing her to come back inside, but the promise of hot chocolate, key word being chocolate, won out.  On Sunday, in Kansas City, Avery went into Nick and Maggie's backyard with their niece and nephew Ella and Austin.  She loved playing with the older kids and being outdoors in the cold and snow.  Ella taught her again how to make snowballs.  It took the promise of food, including chips, to get her back inside.  She even went out with the kids a second time while we were in KC.  She was pretty cold when she finally came in, but only sat for the briefest minute to cuddle before running off to chase Shadow and play with Ella.  After a long car ride home from KC Avery saw the snow in our own yard for the first time this season.  She and Michael went to the backyard and played and played.  Michael only got her to come inside by suggesting she show me her snowball.  Yes, she came inside, her tiny gloves packed with snow, showing off her "snowball".  She was so proud and adorable.  :)

I have never been a fan of winter.  I like snow, but once or twice in the season is plenty for me.  January, February, March, all the snow in these months is overkill and I'd rather not have to deal with it.  But November and December snow, now that I'm ok with.  After seeing my little snow bunny get so much joy from playing in the snow this weekend, I may have to rethink my hostile attitude towards the season.  When it makes her this happy, it can't be that bad, right?  ;)

Happy snowy Tuesday, friends.  :)

Day 16 - Today I'm thankful to be home with my family!

We have been going non-stop lately!  Last weekend we were in Topeka all weekend.  On Sunday we even took the kids with us to K-State's first basketball of the season.  This week we had Sis and Adam over for dinner one night, and Jason and Ashley over another night (that day I cooked and cleaned all day).  This weekend we went to Manhattan for a basketball game on Friday, then to Topeka late that night after the game.  We spent Friday and Saturday nights in Topeka.  Then, today we went to Kansas City to see Isaac get baptized.  After the service we went to Nick and Maggie's place for lunch and cake.  We have another basketball game tomorrow night.  It's been great seeing the family.  We were blessed to be able to attend Isaac's baptism today.  It's been so much fun getting back to Manhattan for basketball games lately.  I'm also glad to be back home.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight and with Connor in his own room instead of ours.  ;)

Both kids did awesome this weekend.  Both behaved well for Amanda and Blanchard.  It was so nice having them agree to watch the kids.  Avery has decided she likes to sing in the car.  She's been practicing singing her A,B,C's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.  It is the sweetest thing!  We pulled out many of our tricks trying to keep Avery quiet during Mass this morning, but she made it through.  She and Connor had fun over at Nick and Maggie's house today.  Avery played with Nick and Maggie's Niece and Nephew, Ella and Austin.  Connor played with Isaac.  We all had a really nice time!  We're also very glad to be home.  :)

Day 15 - I'm thankful for Avery

Day 15 - Today I'm thankful for my beautiful daughter, Avery.  She's brilliant, loving, helpful, persistant, inquisitive, genuine, sensitive, chatty, opinionated, polite, strong-willed, a constant learner, funny, silly, adventurous, fearless, a good eater, an incredible big sister, a lover of books, an occassional cuddler, and playful, among many other wonderful qualities.  She's my big girl, but still my baby.  She's the one who first made me a mommy, and I'm proud of the little girl she is.  I'm thankful for my wonderful daughter!