Giving Thanks

I am THANKFUL for:

• being married to my best friend and the love of my life
• my crazy, beautiful, healthy, and wonderful little girl
• being a mom
• having my own little family
• the best parents in the world
• siblings and in-laws who I would hang out with even if we weren't related
• girlfriends who are like sisters
• those warm fuzzy things called Scottie Dogs
• a home all our own
• jobs we enjoy and pay our bills

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Penn State Visit

Time for a road trip. She was so good for the combined 14 hours in the car. She hardly slept at all but kept herself entertained and overall was pretty happy. The weather also cooperated and it wasn't too bad getting there. Thank God.

We figured out that Pennsylvania was the 6th State Grace has been to in her young life! MI, OH, NY, VA, NC, and now PA.

At the Penn State game. Unfortunately we watched our Spartans get killed. Oh well, it was fun to be there anyway.

We had a great time with Chass and Jeremy. Went out to dinner, watched some football, and got caught up. Definitely worth all that time in the car!!

Leave You With a Smile

What a cheeseball! Where does she get this attitude from? Okay, okay stop yelling "YOU" at me. There is nothing wrong with a girl with a little spunk :)

We are off to State College, PA today to visit Chass and Jeremy. This will be Grace's first road trip and the weather report is not looking good so wish us luck! It is supposed to be 7 hours but we shall see. Being stuck in a snow storm with a toddler would be a disater but we have been so looking forward to this trip that we are going to brave the elements. Chass got us tickets to the MSU vs Penn State game on Saturday and she and Jeremy are going to watch Grace while we go to the game. How nice is that! We are so excited to see them, their house, and just hang out and catch up.

15 Months

Grace had her 15 month doctors appointment last week . She weighs 22 lbs 10 oz and is 31 inches long! She continues to be in the 50th percentile for weight and height. She still hates Dr. Tim and all hell breaks loose when he comes near her with that stethoscope. The doctor went over all sorts of milestones with me but one question he asked was how many words she is saying. I had to think about this one and said, I don't know- 10-12? He said that was quite a few for her age and to expect that to dramatically increase at 18 months.

That got me to thinking about her words. She says uh-oh, mama, dada, dooley, nana, papa, more, all done, baby, night-night, eye, doodledoos, bye, and ball. And her newest one she said last night- pizza. Clear as day, lol. She also says baba for her sippy cup, Ally is Ayee, Luke is Bookie, and honk-honks are the geese.

What a chatty little girl we have! She has the funniest little attitude too. She will act like she is going to kiss you and then at the last minute shake her head no and laugh. She is also feeding herself using utensils and gets this big cheesy grin on her face because she is so proud of herself. She loves her babydolls and gets her purse over her arm and puts her baby in the shopping cart and tells us "bye!". She sings in the car and dances all the time. She loves to be chased and when you jump out and scare her- she squeals in delight. Adam calls her a diva- you never have to guess what she wants as our little diva makes sure all her demands are met!!

Its a National Holiday

It's like Christmas morning around here. Yup, that's right, opening day of gun season. Adam spent the night at his parents last night so they can all go out together and do whatever they do. They come back to Adam's grandparents house for a big breakfast, go back out, then back in for a big lunch. You get the point. I just think it it so funny. They are so excited about going out and sitting in the cold ass rain waiting to shoot something. Everybody needs a hobby, right? I am sure he doesn't get spending 6 hours scrapbooking either :) Or as he calls it, "scrapbook loser land". HAHA

I bought this organizer tote at Michael's this week and organized my scrap tote so that I could fit everything I need for a crop in it. It works so much better! Today I have a bead class at 3 where I am making this and then tonight we are going over to Stephanie and Drew's for dinner and game night! Fun times!!

Have a great weekend!

TFT: Thanksgiving- The Forgotten Holiday

I was at the mall this past weekend and I couldn't help but notice something that really bothered me.

It seems we have forgotten Thanksgiving.

Halloween is bigger than ever. It seems the celebration goes on for weeks. September hits and people are decorating for fall and Halloween, stocking up on candy. As soon as Halloween night is over, out come the Christmas decorations. Maybe it's because you can't really sell Thanksgiving. There are no costumes, candy, or gifts. There is just turkey and a day off from work.

So what was the first Thanksgiving all about anyway? Why should this day be celebrated? The Pilgrims came here to escape the dictatorial church of England and to practice their religious beliefs without persecution. The first Thanksgiving was held because they wanted to thank God that they didn’t all die that first winter. It's all about gratitude and giving thanks.

How could we possibly forget a holiday that reminds us of giving thanks for the blessings in our life? Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I take stock of all I have been blessed with and am fortunate enough to be surrounded by those blessings on that day. I love being with my family and enjoying a home cooked meal. It is a very simple, pure holiday and I think that is why I love it so much.

So what is your favorite holiday? What do you love most about Thanksgiving?

She's Very Busy

Nothing particularly entertaining about this video but I thought it was cute and I haven't posted a video of the munchkin in a while. I was trying to get her to dance, she usually puts her hands up and waves them around but of course wouldn't do it on video. She's got places to go, cupboards to get into, sippy cups to drink...

This was this morning, when it is still pitch dark. No wonder I have trouble getting out of bed :)

Amazon is the Coolest

I read on Jenny's blog about Amazon's new frustration free packaging. As you all know I created a Christmas list for Grace and myself on Amazon this year. Here is something else that is new and cool at Amazon: The Universal Wishlist. You can add gifts from ANY STORE to your wishlist. Don't carry it at Amazon? Cheaper somewhere else? No problem. Just download this little button and off the the wide world of web shopping you go!! Everything you want in ONE place.

Productivity Is My Middle Name

HA! Yeah right. More like procrastination but I digress. You won't believe it but I actually (gasp) Christmas shopped this weekend. I bought presents for 8 of the 22 people on my list. Pretty dang good! We have a crazy-busy November coming up and I am having gallbladder surgery on the 3rd of December so I figured I better get a head start. I hate waiting until the last minute. I went to Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi and got some of the tougher people on my list taken care of. My goal is to have it all done by mid December so I can relax and enjoy the holiday season.

I also went over to Nicole's for another scrap night. I finished Grace's monthly collage pages and got one other page done. I spend more time talking, laughing, and eating than actually getting pages done. Now I just need to get some pictures printed out so I am prepared for next time. This is such a great group of girls and we always have fun.

Today we went out for breakfast, a Target run, and enjoyed just being home. Well some of us did. Adam feels the need to go out and freeze his you know what off in the hunt of "the big buck". I signed myself up for Dream Dinners, put together a Christmas list for Grace, and got some laundry done. I feel *almost* ready for week.

Brushin Brusher My Teeth

Grace LOVES to brush her teeth. She sees our toothbrushes and begs to have them and is always taking them out of the bathroom drawer and walking around brushing her teeth . She has her own baby toothbrush but that one just will not do. Mommy and daddy's are WAY better.

Potter Park Zoo

We took Grace to Potter Park Zoo last weekend. I know she is a little young for the zoo but I thought we could take advantage of the winter hours that started Nov 1st and get FREE admission. The weather cooperated for the most part and Grace really enjoyed the animals. It was nice because we could just do what we wanted without having to fight crowds or feel like we had to stay a certain amount of time because we paid for it. Might have to start a tradition of going in the fall!

I get this look ALL THE TIME. By the way, I cut her hair. What do you think?

Oh, there is the happy baby.
In the reptile and bird house. We are standing in front of the spider monkeys (yeah, not sure why they were in the reptile and bird house). She really liked the turtles.
This guy could use a visit to the dentist. Yikes.

Nope, not gonna sit still for a picture. Places to go, animals to see.

A Look Back

Halloween 07. She is such a peanut. Who puts their 2.5 month old baby in a pumpkin? :)

Halloween 08. I couldn't find a pumpkin big enough to fit her in (and I did try- LOL).

Happy Halloween

Princess Ally and monsters Grace and Luke

I love my papa
I love dada too

Cinderella Alexis with her two evil stepsisters Ann and Nancy, Maria as Dorothy, and of course Miss G.

Another Blue monster! Noah and G looking like they are going to keel over they are so tired.

We bribed them with some animal crackers and they look a little more perky.

G was really good the whole night. She tolerated the costume and going from Nana & Papa's to Great Grandma Dawson's, to Grandma & Grandpa Dawson's, to Tylutkis'. She was up until 9 with no complaint happily playing with Noah and all his toys. She really had no clue what was going on but it sure was fun for us!!