Thanksgiving Day

We ended up having a very nice Thanksgiving. Different? Yes, definitely. Last year we celebrated with my side of the family with about 25 people. This year we cooked at our house and it was just 5 of us (our family + Jon's mom). In a way I love the whole big chaotic family thing, but I have to say in a way it was nice just being able to spend the morning playing with the kids. We actually got locked out of our house for an hour and a half and Jon's mom had to come with her key to let us in. We had gone outside to let the kids play in the leaves (taking pictures in the post below) and acidentally locked the door. The good thing was that it was a warm day outside, so the girls played on the swingset while we waited for her to get here with the key.

Anyways, after we enjoyed a nice meal, we just visited and looked through the sale papers and watched a movie. Judy spent the night so that I could get up and go shopping at 5am because Jon had to work. And yes, I got several good deals and it was well worth it. Anyways, here our a few pics of our Thanksgiving day...

Mia LOVES to wear skirts, so I let her get dressed up (even though we were staying home). And she loves for Av to match her too.



She's getting to be so big...


Juju reading the girls a book while we finished getting the food ready...

Eating our yummy lunch. Averi finished her food and then had to come help me with mine too:)

Wordless Wednesday

Giving Thanks

I am marking out the things that could really frustrate me right now:
*Both of my girls have colds (where they cough every time they are asleep and are not resting well).
*Stressing about (lack of) finances.
*Sad my side of the family won't be here for Thanksgiving.
*Our ongoing car issues.

And choosing to focus on what God has blessed us with:

*FREE FIREWOOD - A gracious friend let Jon come over on Sunday and chop a bunch of firewood that would have cost us at least $75 if we bought it.

*WORK - Jon FINALLY got transferred to the Pelham branch (which is like 5-10 min.from our house). And thankfully Jon's job has not been affected with all the layoffs banks have been having lately because his bank is privately owned.

*FRIENDS - We have had some really fun get togethers with friends lately since soccer season is over.

*FAMILY - I have a wonderful, hardworking, dedicated husband and 2 adorable little girls that have my heart. I also have loving and godly parents and a mother in law who are a HUGE help with our kids.

*GIFT - We received a monetary gift from the soccer team which was awesome.

*HEALTH - I know a lot of people who are much sicker than the little colds that the girls have right now. It could be A LOT worse.

Psalm 69:30 "I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving."
Psalm 95:2
"Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."
Psalm 100:4
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

McWane Center

We went to the McWane Center yesterday with our friends April & Ella. The girls really loved it. They have so many cool new things since the last time I went. Totally thinking about asking for a season pass for Christmas. And we've already planned to go back in 2 weeks with some other friends. It's a great winter activity!



Dancing in front of the blue screen. Mia thought this was hilarious!



The water table was probably their absolute favorite thing in the whole place.




Here's Ella & Mia changing the tire on the car. This was another really cool exhibit.



Playing musical squares. Look at Averi dancing in this one. Too funny!


I love how Averi is off to the side just staring at this little boy. What's up with that?!:)


Me (and the girls) playing a soccer goalkeeper game. Balls are coming at you and you have to block them.

This is what the screen looks like.

Team Party

We had our end of the season soccer party with our U-16 team at Joe's Crab Shack Tuesday night. It was lots of fun and of course our girls got a ton of attention. Here are a few cute pictures of them dancing with the girls (from the team).




They told our waiter that it was Jon's birthday (even though it wasn't), so he had to dress up and do a dance while everyone in the restaurant sang "happy birthday" to him:) It was pretty funny and he was a good sport about it...This is the only group he would ever do this for...lol!


Mia being silly (and showing off a little too)

Wordless Wednesday

Family Pictures - Take One