30th Day of Gratitude - Just the Beginning

I could write a lot here, but I will save that for another day. Whenever I embark on something, even as small and simple as this, I do hope to come out a little better on the other side. What I do know is that I have so much to be thankful for, both big and small, and if you are reading this, you are a part of that. Thank you. And now, let December begin...

29th DoG- New Shoes!

So, my friend, Susie, has been rockin' November with different shoes each day as a challenge! She has some pretty cool shoes, stories to go along with the shoes, and neat photos to go along with each day! I warn you, though... you may want to go shopping! That's what I did!!

I needed a new pair of shoes, but my feet have issues, so I am really limited to styles and brands. I always look to see what nurses and hairdressers are wearing! When I was getting my haircut the other day, my hairdresser told me about her shoes, and after going to check them out... I had to try them...

The brand is Alegria. They are a little chunky and funky, but that suits me just fine. Plus, the nurses love them! I hope they work for me as well... They are certainly comfy to start out with...

Days 27 and 28 - Thankful for Random Little Things...

It's always a little exciting when you get a good deal, right? Especially if it is something you needed anyway. Well, Saturday I checked my e-mail and saw a couple of stores had a sale on-line for some clothes for the kids. The kids need new, warmer pants (not for Christmas, for right now!) so I was thankful to take advantage of all the deals going on, and get free shipping too!!! No picture for that, so I am cheating a little and combining yesterday with today.

Today, as with most Sundays, I am just full of gratitude to spend it with my family and enjoying our time together. Every once in a while I think I might get a job that takes me away on the weekends, but the truth is, I would hate to miss days like today. All four of us together... not always doing something together, but just being around... I know soon enough, they won't always want to do that, so I enjoy it now.

and Ross and I made homemade eggnog lattes... yum!!

26th Day of Gratitude - Gray Friday!

And what a difference a can of paint can make.

We didn't want to even leave the house today because of the crowds and shoppers (not really our thing). But, it was cold outside and we didn't have any other plans, and we figured Lowe's wouldn't be too crazy...
So, we decided to tackle a small room to paint! The laundry room. It is the entrance to the house from the garage and often gets marks on the walls from shoes, kids, groceries, Ross, etc. It has a utility sink that we wash up a lot of stuff from projects, and so splatters are everywhere on the white walls. So I figured a darker color on the wall would help that and make it look better altogether!

I didn't get an exact before picture, but this is good enough...


And this is what I am hoping to help hide a little...

You may have noticed that I didn't actually state myself as a reason for the marks on the walls, but I am probably the one who did this! I am so clumsy! So there, I confess.

And a finished room! YAY!


Thankful for the nice change it made and for just being able to do a quick fun project on a Friday afternoon.

25th Day of Gratitude - the reason for the month...

Happy Thanksgiving to you! How thankful I am for all of you that read this! You have touched my life in big and small ways and I am blessed.

I certainly have much to be thankful for. I miss my parents, sister and her kids, but enjoyed talking to them today! Love you, Mom and Dad, Tina, Rachel, Joshua! I am thankful to talk and communicate with them whenever I want to or need to.

We had a nice, low-key Thanksgiving, that in the end was really just the perfect thing. We had Ross' brother's family here for a short time, and then we have just relaxed, just the four of us, for the rest of the day! So many blessings, so much to be thankful for.

24th Day of Gratitude - Counterspace and Pie Memories

I am not a baker. HOWEVER, I enjoy making pies for Thanksgiving, and even look forward to it. It is all tied to the fact that when I was a kid, it was the job I helped with the most on this holiday. Peeling potatoes, too, but that just wasn't fun...

The memory that stands out the most was in a house in Ramstein, Germany and I was probably 9. Just older than Zoey. I made pumpkin pies and pecan pies. When Zoey asked for an apple pie and a pumpkin pie and said she wanted to help, I couldn't wait to spend this day with her doing just that. I don't even care if we end up eating the pies or not. Making it was worth it.

And I have to add... I am also thankful for my kitchen counterspace. We have a HUGE island in our kitchen and I think it is the greatest thing ever on a daily basis! I have had lots of kitchens, most with very little space, so this was top on my list! (I think one apartment had 18 inches... that was the worst).

I thought I would take some pictures of our baking day...






We made the Pioneer Woman's Decadent Apple Pie...


Our finished products! Yum!!


Oh, and hand turkeys! So, So, Cute!!

23rd Day of Gratitude - An Evening Glass of Vino

It doesn't happen too often, but sometimes, Ross and I can enjoy a nice glass of wine in the evening.

day 22 - Nature

This month has proved to be a little challenging for me, I have to say. Irony, I guess... I did mention at the beginning that it was on the hardest days that this would be at the same time the most difficult, but the most rewarding.

Today, I am thankful for the warm winds that were blowing and the blue sky above and the ability to capture some nature on camera. I love nature pictures like these and am thankful to be able to capture them on my own.

These are just weeds but I think the cloud in the background and the blue sky help paint a pretty picture.


And berries and a blue sky...

21st Day of Gratitude - Sibling Play

Although we definitely have our moments, Zoey and Max usually have some great play and interaction time. We are thankful for that and just love to watch and listen to them play together, or play separately but near each other.

Here they are running in the yard while Ross mowed the grass for the last time before winter. We had a nice day, and enjoyed the outside time.


And then back inside for some crafts... Max is not a fan of crafty things, but he will hang out and make up his own game with all the materials while Zoey does her thing!

20th DoG- iTunes and Kitchen Dancing!

I don't know how many times I have turned to Ross and said how much I love iTunes. I love being able to just get one new song and not have to buy an entire album. And now with the Shazam App (coolest app, thanks Susie!!) I can hear a song anywhere and find out what it is so that I can have it to listen too. And I just love music, too! Lot's of different kinds. I remember always having music playing in the house growing up. Saturday morning cleanings always included tunes in the background. I still do it today... Have to clean the floor? Way more enjoyable if good music is in the background! Want a mellow mood in the house? Play something calm and soothing! In a funky mood? Turn up the tunes and dance it out... Just wanna have some fun? Play your favorite song of the moment over and over and dance in the kitchen!! That's what I do all of the time. My kids sometimes roll there eyes, but a lot of the times, I can get them to join in, and if the kids join in, Ross does too! So fun and thankful...

Don't mind my outfit, I got distracted in the middle of getting dressed, so I am still in pajama bottoms... whatever, it's Saturday!!

19th Day of Gratitude- Paper Crafts

This just made me smile so big when Zoey brought it home for me to see...



They will grow out of their desire to make things, before I would get tired of seeing them. I just love stuff like this.

18th Day of Gratitude -

I sat down to write this post today about something else, and I looked over and saw this...



It kind of trumps the other thing I was going to write... Some days its the big things, other days its the little things...

17th Day of Gratitude - Yum!

So, today, I am thankful for these guys...
There are five of them...
Some may even call them brothers...

And, they make some pretty tasty burgers...
So tasty, in fact, that this In-N-Out loving girl, can survive in Ohio

And today, these guys saved me...
(Since I went to the grocery store and bought everything for Thanksgiving and forgot my key ingredients for tonight's dinner!)

This picture is out of focus, but cracks me up! Max is practically skipping back to the table with a big 'ole smile! So excited!


Don't get in between man and his meat...


Or this girl either (I asked Ross if I could take the above picture and Zoey wanted to have one of herself!)



I'm also thankful that our resident vegetarian (Max) ate his first ENTIRE cheeseburger tonight! He's not just vegetarian, he is super picky... so we just make baby steps with him and food and this was a big step!


Yay!

16th Day of Gratitude - Empty Schedule and a Rainy Day

Normally I wouldn't be so thankful about a day filled with a steady rainfall, but part of this month was to change my view a little bit. We have something afterschool most days of the week, but thankfully, today, our schedule was empty. I was very thankful to not have to go out into the rain again. I even tried to make it a little more excited for the kids...
They each got to pick something to watch on TV...



And then we did some juicing! We warmed some up with cinnamon sticks, too for cider, but I was the only one who enjoyed it that way!
Watch out apples, you are about to meet your fate behind you...



In action!


And after dinner we made some pumpkin muffins! I was at Trader Joe's today and knew the rain was coming, so I picked up their mix... easy peasy! And both kids have recently started helping out with every aspect of baking. Not cooking, so much, but baking is a hit. I think they like to enjoy the fruits of their labor in the end...





Somehow in the process, Max ended up completely on the island...
This picture makes me laugh.

15th Day of Gratitude - Quality Active Time with Z

Zoey is definitely an active girl. This summer we started walking and running around our loop for fun and as a bonus, exercise. With my stress fracture, I had to be out of the running for a while (ha, ha!), but I am slowly on the mend. I can now walk and even slow jog again. This works perfect for Zoey's pace, so I guess that is a blessing, and along with just getting out in the sun and enjoying some exercise, we get to chat away about everything. And, we finish with a rock star pose! Always thankful for one-on-one time and being outside:

14th DoG- Family Nearby

Being a military family keeps us far from our extended family most of the time. We were pretty excited when we heard that Ross' brother and family were going to move to Ohio as well. They are about two hours away, so it is close enough to have weekend visits and to be able to help out when needed. Such was the case this weekend. They were moving houses and needed some extra hands, so Ross went up to help. We all decided to go, so that I could hang out with their new baby Marc during part of the move. Lucky for me and the kids, we just got to play and take some pictures. Although we aren't close to any of our other family, and we definitely miss that, we are thankful for what we can get and we'll take it.

These pictures are especially for Grandma Bette and Grandpa Bob...
And Zoey was my assistant, getting him to look up and smile for the camera. She was so sweet and good!

13th Day of Gratitude - A Day at the Museum

We hit the COSI museum on our way to Ross's brother's house, for a little hands on fun!

Both kids (and parents) had a great time. The day was beautiful as well and there is an outdoor part of the museum, so we got some nice time outside in the sun. Perfect.

So thankful for not a big crowd, and for fun adventures as a family.

Here is Zoey using a pulley system to pull herself up:



They had a Progess exhibit where the kids got to see things from two time periods: the late 1800's and around 1950.

Here is Max in a phonebooth. I told him to turn the dial and he didn't know how. He tried to turn it with his whole hand and not stick a finger in.


And Zoey on an old Schwinn..


Another thing I am thankful for is Zoey's desire to try new things. Even if she is a little fearful. Here she is on a unicycle trapeze!
Max didn't meet the height requirement.


And just some more random photos for fun... a part of a table made from gears:


And this is a sculpture out front.


I like the blue sky in this one:

12th Day of Gratitude - Our Kindergartner

Well, we had to head out of town, so I am playing catch-up... But not before having Max's parent/teacher conference. Since I mentioned Zoey's, I couldn't not mention Max's. We have had our ups and downs with him and school for sure, but this conference was nothing but good things and we are so thankful for that and very proud as well.

11th Day of Gratitude- America

On this Veteran's Day I must stop and be very thankful for all those in the military. With a grandfather, dad and husband all in the military, I have had a life surrounded with heroes, and even sometimes I take things for granted. I can only think how often it happens for others as well. On the other hand, it is wonderful to see everyone's comments on things like facebook and such, thanking our military and honoring and appreciating them. I, too, am forever grateful to all who have served. And for their loved ones as well. What a special job that is! God Bless You and God Bless America.

10th Day of Gratitude - Cute Word Pronunciations

Okay, people, first things first... Here is my self-pic after my salon trip- I had to take a picture of me in the mirror! The camera is under my chin and I took 10 pictures in order to figure out the angle to get my whole face in! HA! It's the best I could do...


And for today...
So, our Max pretty much taught himself to read and he doesn't shy away from most words, so that is pretty cool. The other day, he got a new solitaire chess game. We don't play chess here, but he saw it in the store and kept coming back to it (he's a sucker for games with steps/moves) so it was a reward he earned last month. Anyway, when he gets something new like this, he wants to play by himself for a while before letting others in. He read the instructions on all the different moves that each player can make and then sort of played. When I sat down to play I just couldn't stop smiling at the pronunciations he came up for the pieces. I just wanted to document, since I heard him play again today. He knows them correctly now, but still slips up sometimes.

Queen and king were fine, but not the others...

Rook - "ROCK"
Pawn - "POW-NN"
Knight - "KAH-Nite" (I guess he hadn't learned the silent K, yet)
bishop - "BEEE-shop" (my personal fav)

so cute. love that kid.

9th Day of Gratitude- Salon Day

I got to go to the hair salon today and it was a treat. Something that I have been looking forward to for a week. It was just a cut and color, but it is always so nice to sit and relax in that chair for a while and have someone mess with your hair! Plus, you walk out looking better than you did when you walk in, so that is a bonus too! I will try and get a picture for you, we just had a hectic day.

8th DoG- Abundant Sunshine!!

With the beauty of fall behind us and the impending doom of winter in front of us... today we got a gift! Most of you live somewhere warmer or sunnier than here, so this is not as big of a deal, but let me tell you... When I walked outside today and looked up at the sky, and felt the warm sunshine on my face...


I just couldn't help but smile.

It felt so nice.

Any day in November that gets above 60 degrees is definitely something this girl is very thankful for!!



I did a quick bit of research before taking this picture. just fyi... keeping the sun in the corner and doing it with fast shutter speed keeps your camera sensor safe!

Seventh Day of Gratitude - Sunday Morning at Panera

More often than not, we wake up early enough on Sunday mornings to make it to Panera Bread for breakfast before church. It is commonplace enough for the kids now that they get the routine of it and it makes it even more pleasant for me and Ross. They have a book or something to look at so that we can linger a little longer after we eat and just enjoy our coffee and each other. Not quite a tradition, but definitely something that we all look forward to and enjoy. Not so long ago, eating out in any situation was just stressful and hurried... so today I am thankful for the calm, slow pace of our Sunday Morning at Panera...