Giving Thanks

Thanks to some Seriously over exaggerated 

"Storm Warnings".  

I wasted a personal day and we started our Vacation Tuesday.

A 7 hour drive (with NO Storminess) to the in-laws and we were good to go!

Wednesday was quiet and nice.  

While my in-laws watched my sleeping kids 

all the Adult children headed out to see Harry Potter. 

Thursday there was a lot of cooking and waiting...

ya see Nicks oldest Brother is ALWAYS late, 

luckily most of the Thanksgiving dishes weren't half-bad cold.

I ate a lot of potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato salad, candied Yams and Sweet Potatoes...YUM.  And Coop got a sweet Bruise over his eye while ducking to avoid his curling-iron-wielding cousin.

Friday we drove 40 minutes to find some snow and do some sledding.  

Did I mention that the"Storm Warnings"  Were a little bit over exaggerated?  

It was so much fun, Coop loved the "Deep Snow"  and got soaked. 

 I brought him extra pants but not socks and shoes, so when we stopped at the store on the way home I got the "You brought your child outside in this weather without shoes on "  look from a lot of people.

Saturday we helped clean my in-laws house so they could host the lunch for my new nephews baby blessing on Sunday.  

This Nephew was named Karl after Nicks grandpa, just like Jacks middle name!!

Sunday we packed up, went to the blessing and headed home.  

We Stopped at my parents house for 2 hours .

 And luckily Grandma had snow right in her backyard and Coop got to play in it again.

Then we spent another 6 hours on the road,

 because that "Big Storm" from Tuesday, finally caught up with us.

Jacks was not pleased.... Have I mentioned 

that he HATES his car seat!

I'm Thankful for:

Our Parents

Safe Travel

Snow/Sledding

Nick 

Cooper 

Jacks

29

Today I turned 29.

I was spoiled by my boys.

Cooper got me a pretty necklace that he picked himself,

Jack got me the next book we are reading for book club.  

And slept through the night too!!

Nick got me a double jogging stroller,

 and because he is out of town he had flowers delivered to me 

in First Period!!

29 is pretty old but even if 

THIS 

was all I had to show for it, 

I'd say its been a good 29 years.

I am a lucky Girl!

Silver Lining

I have been spending a lot of time lately thinking about the good things that come packaged in bad experiences.

Today I have a cold... a real doozy.  I was in charge of Singing-time at church, it was more like mouth-the-word -time

But my silver lining is:  I cannot Yell.. Not even when I really want to.... I can't raise my voice or even sound upset.
The difference in our home today has been HUGE.  What an eye-opener.

I am going to Yell less and try to hold on to the stillness of the QUIET times with my Boys.

Thank you COLD-GERMS.

@ 6 Months

Jacks:
Wears size 6- 9 month clothes
Wears size 3 diapers

Has 2 teeth
Eats baby food at lunch and dinner time, but still nurses constantly.
Loves to eat Bread.
Loves to suck on Saltines and Animal crackers.
Does not sleep well at night. Except last night!
Puts everything he can get his hands on in his mouth.
Gets REALLY excited every time he sees me even if it has only been  minutes.
Has developed object permanence and gets really upset if you take something away from him.

Post Edit:
November 17 Well Child Check
Weight: 18 pounds 1 oz (58%)
Height: 27.25 inches (76%)
Head: 45 cm (81.5%)

Fought the Good Fight.

Today is Pink Day at school.  To support this amazing lady.

My first year teaching was hard.  Coop was 12 weeks old when I started and I dragged him everywhere with me.  Sometimes I felt left out and young in the midst of all the amazing and experienced teachers at my school.
Paula always treated me like an important member of our faculty family.  She taught the FACS class so she even had me bring Coop in to talk to her class about new babies.  She invited me back last year to talk about pregnancy.

She is amazing and positive.

Four years ago she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer.  

Last night her journey on this earth ended.  

She leaves behind her young family and our School Family.

Good-bye Paula

Guess What??

Jacks just cut his first tooth

... Right now.... 

This very second!!!!

Crazy