Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year, well every year! We're thankful for the roof over our head, our jobs, all the material things we really don't need and of course for our Family and Miss Mailey Bug!!! I love this time of year because it reminds me of all that I have and should thank God for! The pumpkins are put away and the Christmas decorations will be put up this week!!!

Coloring turkeys for grandparents

 Kisses for Landon

 Grandma got her a turkey!

 Bit of Wii action

Just dip, no veggies..

Sleep Training...

Obviously this isn't me... BUT I have felt like this the last couple of nights.. When we first had Mailey she slept with us, it was just easier to feed her and I couldn't stand just letting her cry herself to sleep in her own bed.... I have always hated hearing a baby cry, makes me want to scoop them up and sooth them whoever they are!

Well 19 months later and a few nights of being seconds away from being this lady, I realize the importance of letting your child sooth themselves to sleep! The first night was shear hell, I'm not gonna lie, but every night the hours have slowly gotten shorter and Mailey is learning that she can go to sleep without mom or dad rocking her.. ** KNOCK ON WOOD** I don't want to jinx myself :-)

On a lighter note, Miss Mailey is 19 months old today! She is such a blessing in our life! She is learning all kinds of words (every word we repeat...) and asking "This?" over and over until you tell her what it is. Mailey is a busy, busy girl with lots to say about things. Her favorite things are coloring, jumping, reading books and slathering on Vicks vapor rub! :-)

Through the eyes of a child

Through the eyes of a child

By: Dawn Stout

Through the eyes of a child,

I see the green grass and leaves on the trees.

I see the bright blue sky and the white puffy clouds.

Through the eyes of a child,

I see the good in all people

I see the joy in a new puppy.

Through the eyes of a child,

I learn to love again,

The simple things in the world around me.

Who wouldn't love that face!!!

  

As I was driving alone to Eugene the other afternoon for Ivy’s birthday party, the car was quite and my mind was going over all the things I still need to do (pay bills, laundry, find the rotten sippy cup that’s smelling up the car) I came around the corner and out in a field were a couple horses grazing in the field. My mind immediately thought “Look at those horses Mailey!” If you’ve ever been in our car when we pass a horse, cow, or a sheep, Mailey yells out the animal name at the top of her lungs over and over until you say something back to her! Mostly everything is a "horsey"... 

Checking out a horse for the first time with Geegee in AZ

One of the best parts of being a parent is having the ability to see the world through your child’s eyes. Most of us are guilty of not taking the time to truly appreciate it. But, every once in a while things like seeing a group of horses out in a field will bring me back to reality. I realized that night that I clutter my life with “busy” work that clouds my ability to see the beauty in the everyday small stuff!



In AZ on the way to the cemetery, there's a rainbow coming down from the clouds

It’s easy to get caught up in all of life’s “little” things, but I’ve promised myself that I with the new year around the corner I will take the time to stop and smell the flowers and enjoy every moment!! 

An attempt at a fall family picture with a self timer, a dog, a child that never stops moving and a husband who thinks I take too many pictures!

Happy Halloween!

We had a BUSY weekend full of Halloween fun and Candy!!! My little Raggedy Ann kept her hat on most the time, and loved to see all the people and costumes. Thanks for all the candy and goodies, I think this will be the only year I can get away with eating all her candy :-)