Thankful Thursday

***I've started this blog post several times and am just now getting around to posting it.  Christmas pictures and stories? I've got a million. But I'm so far behind on everything else so I'll have to get to those later.  Stay tuned!

I'm thankful for a lovely holiday work party last weekend at Kent's boss's house.  Also thankful for a new (unbeknownst to me) blog reader.

I'm thankful Kent's uncle let Kylee paint his fingernails at a family Christmas last weekend.  Kylee was over the moon.

I'm thankful for a lazy day at home on Monday. Temps were dangerously cold and I couldn't have been happier "stuck" inside with my kids watching family movies of Christmases past and making homemade potato soup. 

I'm thankful for a little help down the stairs from big brother in the (very, very) early morning hours.

I'm thankful Kent won his neighborhood Fantasy Football League! Honestly, I was tired of being the only winner around here. ;) Ha. I love to tease that I played once, years ago, with some football buff co-workers, forgot to change my lineup every single week, and much to everyone's dismay, somehow ended up winning the league. I vowed never to play again. But I was so psyched for Kent that he won! 

I'm thankful that Kent is *fingers crossed* going to start framing our basement soon. It will be years before it's totally finished, I'm sure, but it definitely feels good to get the ball rolling!

I'm thankful some friends let us borrow this desk for Kylee's room. She loves it!

I'm thankful my parents hung out with my kids this afternoon so Kent and I could go returning/shopping.  The mall ranks up there as Kent's Worst Nightmare and going the weekend after Christmas...well I wasn't sure how he'd handle it.  You guys, we were in and out of there in less than an hour! After that we went dream shopping at Homemakers.  And wolfed down more cookies than I'd ever allow my kids to eat. It was awesome.  Kent and I so rarely spend time out alone without the kids (we are guilty of "saving" babysitting nights for times that we have plans with friends) and it was so nice.  Mentally adding that to my Must Do More Often in 2014 list.

I'm thankful Kent shares my attitude about "tearing down" Christmas as soon as it's over.  Kent laughed at me on Thursday morning (the 26th) when I was pulling the tree down around 6:00 AM.  "No one, Laura." he said, shaking his head.  "No one takes down their Christmas tree the day after Christmas at six in the morning besides you." He's probably right.  But he didn't waste a second pitching in and helping.  By mid-afternoon all our work was done and we spent the rest of the week enjoying and playing with the kids and their new Christmas toys.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful, yet again, that Kent has a few days off this week.  It is so helpful having him around this time of year!

I'm thankful the kids didn't see the package that was put in our garage last night.  I ordered a gift for them a week or so ago, and yesterday afternoon I walk out to find it sitting in my garage.  ??? I am close enough with all my neighbors that if it had accidentally been delivered to them they would have let me know they were putting it in my garage.  I was home all afternoon and there was no knock or doorbell ring from a delivery man.  Is it normal for them to just put it in our garage with no notice? The garage door was open because the kids were coming home from school and they come through the garage since that's where our mudroom is.  Otherwise my garage is shut during the day.  Either way, I was kind of creeped out that someone was in my garage in the middle of the day without me knowing!

I'm thankful for holiday treats delivered my neighbors and friends.  My waistline is probably not so thankful.  Eh.  I'll start in January, right? #storyofmylife

Speaking of Story of my Life....I'm thankful for the crazy loud dance parties the kids have in Kael's room to that song.  Seriously we are all singing at the top of our lungs.  It's hilarious.

I'm thankful that the holiday celebration craziness has officially begun! Today is a party with the babysitting kids, tomorrow are the kids' school parties, Saturday is Christmas with my grandparents, Sunday is Christmas with Kent's grandparents.  I think I used to be overwhelmed with the sheer number of Christmases we celebrate but anymore, I LOVE it.  So much.

I'm thankful for unseasonably warm temps yesterday.  I like snow, but a warm, sunny day every now and then is just good for the soul.

Happy Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that our first Christmas celebration is near!

I'm thankful everyone has stayed healthy.

I'm thankful Christmas break is little on the long side this year.

I'm thankful most of the gifts I have ordered have safely arrived.

I'm thankful for visits from Santa at the library!

I'm thankful my kids love to read.

Happy Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that Winter Break is only two and a half weeks away.  I am sooo looking forward to family time.

I'm thankful I'm not outside right now. Brrrrrr!!!

I'm thankful that most of the purchasing is done...now on to the wrapping of Christmas gifts!

I'm thankful that there are already some fun New Year's plans in the works.  I heart my neighborhood.

I'm thankful someone has a 3-D TV.  #itsnotus

I'm thankful for older brothers who help read the tricky words on family game night.

I'm thankful our elf is back!

I'm thankful for a fun weekend baking Christmas cookies.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful pen washes off easier from chubby little legs than it does from shirts.

I'm thankful for the paper mistletoe Kylee made to hang downstairs. I have always wanted mistletoe in the house! I love how she stands under it saying, "Hey Mom can you come here for just a second?" I totally play along and walk over to see what she needs. "Ha!" She exclaims as she points up then plants a big smooch on my cheek.

I'm thankful that I remembered the cup of coffee I put in the microwave.  Reheated coffee isn't the best thing in the world but my throat was so sore and I reached into the microwave to heat up something else when I discovered the coffee I had put in there this morning! Tasted so good.

I'm thankful that Kent found humor in my unusual early morning grumpiness.

I'm thankful for my helper putting up the Christmas tree.

I'm thankful for the season's first snowman in our yard.

I am thankful I have my voice back. 

I'm thankful that now when I ask Kase his name he responds, "Cake!" So close. :)

I'm thankful for the days Kent has off.  He has been a huge help getting things ready for the holidays.

I'm thankful that Kylee was as excited as I was to fill our cookie jars with holiday cookies.  We made red and green thumbprint cookies this morning.  So festive!

I'm thankful the kids enjoy decorating the tree.  I love seeing their faces as they unwrap each ornament, remembering what year they got it and how old they were.  My grandma gives all of us ornaments each year and my mom gives ornaments to the kids each year so our tree is certainly getting full! 

I'm thankful for the happy beep our laundry makes when it's done.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you are finding lots to be thankful for today.

Weekend Wrap-Up

What a week (and weekend), guys.  You too? 

Friday  night we all went to my parents to play in the snow.  By "we all" I mean my sisters and their husbands and kids too.  You would think that we all see each other all the time since we all live in the area now, but sadly this is not true.  We rarely all get together besides family events like baptism, or holidays.  I'm pretty sure it took us longer to get the kids all bundled up than we actually got to play outside, but it was a blast.  

I suppose I misspoke (mistyped?) above when I said all of us were together.  Technically Kael wasn't there because Kael was at his...wait for it....first friend sleepover. We had been hearing about one of his friend's plans for a birthday party/sleepover since July but Kael never got an invitation so I assumed he just wasn't going to be included.  Imagine my surprise when Kael came home from school Friday afternoon saying that he was invited to a sleepover.  There was no invitation in his backpack so I tried to figure out how I was going to explain (read: break his heart) that he wasn't invited when lo and behold I got a text from his friend's mom.  "There's no party, but we told our son we would let him pick one friend to stay over tonight and he picked Kael.  Are you guys ok with him sleeping over here tonight?" I died.  You guys, not only was he not excluded, he was the only one included! I was so excited for Kael but also a fair amount of nervous.  We know the family well, but it's not like they live next door.  I called Kent who gave the green light and before I knew it, Kael had his bag packed and gave me the world's most casual good-bye as if he stays over at friends' houses every night of the week.  This is a HUGE deal.  I was a moderate amount of anxious all night but when Kael returned home the next morning with a smile on his face and an even bigger smile on his friend's face, I knew that we had survived a major milestone.  His buddy even said, "My mom said Kael was so good he can come back anytime!!!"  I was so happy for him.

Those of you who have sent your children away for sleepovers before know that they often arrive home overly tired.  Kael was no different (for the rest of the weekend) and I will admit his attitude was a bit trying for us, but I know this is completely normal so I tried to take it easy on him while maintaining some degree of discipline and structure.  

Saturday Kylee had friend over and then also had a birthday party.  Raise your hand if you're surprised with Kylee's double-booked social Saturday.  No hands? That's what I thought.  :) She's always on the go and always up for fun and adventure.  

Saturday evening, when we were all about to collapse, I decided instead of being over-tired, over-stimulated and grumpy at home, we might as well go to Family Fun Night at church.  Kent gave me his best, "Are you kidding? We're seriously squeezing one more thing into this day?" look as we loaded the troops in his truck. And guess what? It was AWESOME.  There was a basketball knock-out contest (that Kael got second place in), pizza, pop, cookies, a craft room with do-it-yourself face painting (how happy was Kylee?!) and a movie in the sanctuary with popcorn and candy.  Then they had extra pizzas and they raffled them off and Kael won one! How happy was he?! Great end to the evening. 

Sunday I was hosting a baby shower here that was super fun.  It also meant I had to kick everyone else out of the house so I could furiously clean/pick up flowers/decorate/host/clean up again.  Kent was so helpful and took the kids to Collins to hang with his family and was even more help putting stuff away when he got home.  The party was so fun.  Loved having some girl time with neighbors!

Another great weekend in the books.  Kent only has to work today and tomorrow this week and the kids are off school after tomorrow too.  I'm looking forward to some serious family time including decorating the tree and doing a little shopping but hopefully tons of down time.  

Here are a few (out of order, unedited) pictures because Kase is waking up and I've gotta go get him.  I cannot handle it when he sleepily calls "mama" over the monitor.  I might die from the innocence and cuteness.

Kase loved playing in the snow with me!

Kylee had fun stacking buckets at church.  Please notice the self-painted green mustache on her face. 

My adorable neighbor! I failed to get any pictures from the day.  Glad my friend got at least one!


Kael won the first round of knock-out but ended up second over all.  A great night.

Today

Today I seriously stocked up on groceries.  Having a pantry and fridge full of food makes me so happy.

Today is the first day this week I haven't gotten a call from the school nurse.

Today I played with the Kinetic Sand the kids are getting for Christmas.  This stuff is COOL!

Today I made scotcharoos and don't regret for a second that I accidentally melted too much chocolate and had to eat the rest.

Today I am having the best time watching the kindergartners at recess. They are all bundled up to play in a half inch of snow.  Too cute.

Today I actually shrieked when I found N*Sync's first Christmas CD hidden behind another Christmas CD.  I have been listening to it all morning on repeat.

Today I took Kase outside to play in the snow.  He was too small to walk last year so technically this is the first snow he's ever played in.  This is why I stay home, folks.

Today I took Kase with me to buy plates for the baby shower.  He grabbed some, sat in the aisle, put the pack of plates nicely on his lap and asked, "Snack?"

Today I started on the kids 2013 photo books making it the earliest I have ever started on this time consuming, "get lost in the memories" project.

What's going on with you today?