Grateful.....

I looked and looked for a picture that would work with this topic. A lot of blogs I read focused this weekend on what they are grateful for. With Thanksgiving last Thursday, I can see why. I find I am grateful for the same things as many others... my family, my friends, a healthy family, a nice house, plenty of food and a wonderful church community.

But I will take it a step further and look at the little things, things that make a difference in my life. I am blessed to live in a place with wonderful, mild weather. My kids have friends they can count on. My parents and brother live near by. Many stores to chose from nearby. A great farmers market most of the year. Health Care is a biggie! Schools where my kids are safe. Massages.
Working from home. Daily opportunities to learn. The internet. A van that works. Washing machine and dryer.

Little things that add up to big things. I feel like we sometimes allow ourselves to get too busy. And it is nice when we take time to slow down. We have been in slow down mode for a while. Things are about to get more busy.. Steven is starting Basketball. Jackson is still doing Karate -in fact he has his belt test in less than 2 weeks! Both are starting Hard 90 Baseball academy sessions to prepare for their upcoming baseball tryouts in February. Plus school and friends and family --it's a lot. But I am grateful to be a part of it and to be here.

My Christmas shopping is done. The packages that need to be mailed will go tomorrow. The holiday season is upon us and we intend to spend time together at home, instead of me running all over the place looking for the best deal. I am pleased with the deals I have gotten so far and will accept them as final. I am ready for a stress free, easy holiday. And for that I am truly grateful.

Final Weekend Photos

Papa and his sister....

The boys outside... Jack was trying to get the shot -but his camera wasn't fast enough.

The kids and Maggie

Cyn & Ciera

More pictures from the new camera...

River ... he didn't even flinch since there was no flash!

Ciera & Maggie snuggled in my chair....

Jackson was taking pictures right along side me, the showing them to his grandma.

New Camera and the Long Weekend...

I got a new camera! It is a Canon Rebel and I love it. It isn't too heavy or too light. I only have one lens right now, but another is on order. I wanted to share some of the shots I took with it this weekend. Maggie was here visiting and it was great to capture that
on film too! We had a great weekend... lots of visiting, shopping, deserts and fun. Ciera & Logan even had a sleepover with us on Friday night --everyone had a good time.

Steven and Logan --playing basketball out back

Logan didn't object to the pictures at all -which is unlike him....














River loved Maggie ... she took him for walks and let him up on the bed with her.. they are lifelong friends now.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful day. I am typing this on my new computer (without Picassa to load my pictures into) so the photo's will have to come later....

Maggie is here visiting and we spent most of the day at my parents house. Kids, great food, shopping ad's and family time... there is nothing that could be better.

Relaxing, relaxing day... now I have to head off to bed as I am shopping with my mom & Cyn at 4 am!!!! I can't really believe stores are opening that early, really I can't. I know they wouldn't if people didn't come, and I am going to go... but still.....

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Finally home. We had a great trip...

Finally home. We had a great trip to New Jersey. Steven, Jack, and I enjoyed going to Coney Island and the acquarium, also Central Park with Grandma and Papa. It was a real neat trip, the boys are so amazingly old in the way they do things now. They played hard with their cousins and visited with lot's of relatives. Travelling with them is actually a lot of fun now. I can't wait until our trip to Ireland in March.