Giving Thanks: My Husband

What a guy!

Giving Thanks: Apple Pie

I'm starting to forget her.

Your mother, she could peel an apple in one long strand.

Sleepless in Seattle

Giving Thanks: Playmates

I remember praying earlier this year that the Lord would bring some nice young neighbors.

 

He answered those prayers with a renewed friendship, playmates who moved away about 7 years ago but have returned, even if temporarily.  The Spring Valley Gang is in full force most afternoons.

Giving Thanks: The Little Things

Lest anyone think that I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel, let me elaborate:

there are onions and there are Publix onions.

 

I've always bought onions in 3# bags.  Probably because my mom always did, but we do use that many.  I go for the cheapest - no hoity-toity organic things unless they happen to also be the cheapest.

Then I picked up a bag at Publix.  What a surprise when I opened the bag!  Small onions, even tiny onions; not one gigantic monster of an onion in the lot.  Not that there aren't times when you need lots of onion.  It just seems that I always end up with half an onion sitting on my counter for several days until I use the shriveled thing or toss it in the compost.

No waste with these babies, though.  Not too big.  Not too small.  Just right.

Yes, it's the small things in the life that make my day.

Giving Thanks: Church Dinners

Five dozen rolls fresh from the oven, a crock pot of chicken and Spinach Maria

 

 

'cause my mama raised me right.

Giving Thanks: Clean Things

Never underestimate the power of clean.

And while my standards are far below perfect (case in point is the state of my kitchen as I type - there is literally nowhere, not one single spot on the counters to set anything!), I tend towards tidiness.  On a whim I picked up this cleaner, mostly because it was just plain cute.  Turns out it is great for scrubbing those stubborn stains in my kitchen sink among other things, and the container just makes me smile.  Win-win!

The Birds & the Bees....and Butterflies

I took all the kids to the aquarium this morning for a fun adventure.  We all love the butterfly exhibit and there's always a fuss over who gets to hold one.  I happened upon a unique site - a siamese butterfly.  We oohed and aahed over it until it was time to move on.  When I mentioned to a docent about finding the two butterflies attached end to end, he explained that they were mating.

Oh.

Andrew said, "I read a book about butterflies but it didn't say anything about that."

Stephen said, "It's a shame that humans don't do that."

I am not ready for this.

Giving Thanks: Neighborhood Adventures

What a blessing to have so many different fun places to explore, all within walking distance of our house?

 

 

 

 

God is good.

Giving Thanks: The Bug Whisperer

For a while it was a penchant for slugs.

 

 

But really, anything creepy and crawly will do.

 

 

Ladybugs & spiders, slugs & snails, grasshoppers, crickets and daddy longlegs.

 

 

They are all fascinating to our resident entemologist.

Giving Thanks: Storytime

My right-hand-man at it again,

 

 

this time buying a little time so I could cover a math lesson with Andrew.

Giving Thanks: Success!

It was a rocky start, to say the least: shortage of fabric, unclear pattern, tempermental pleater.

After one really late night and numerous problems, this dress is finally beginning to take shape.

Giving Thanks: Laughs

At our fortunate pre-Halloween thrift store shopping experience, we also happened upon a rack of wedding dresses.  Andrew said, "Wow, those must be for someone who is really tall."  I explained that they were just hung on a high rack because wedding dresses have a long train in the back.

 

Jonathan must have been processing the conversation.  A couple of days later he told me, "When Iget married, I'm going to wear pants that drag the ground."

Giving Thanks: My Parents

Thanks for gladly entering the chaos that we call everyday life!

Giving Thanks: A Special Girl

Giving Thanks: A Bumblebee on Lavender

Because, really, we need to appreciate how dependent we are on these busy, little creatures!

Giving Thanks: Outdoor Games

 

 

A swing, a stick and a ditch - the perfect recipe for play!

Giving Thanks: Help in the Kitchen

It is wonderful to have enthusiastic helpers.

 

And while there can be too many cooks in the kitchen, one assistant is usually just right.

Giving Thanks: Unexpected Surprises

Bearded iris in November?

 

 

Wonders never cease.

Giving Thanks: Gingko Trees

My absolute favorite week of the year is when the gingko tree changes its leaves and then quickly drops them all like a melted puddle of butter.

Giving Thanks: Something Missing

Who knew that losing something would be so much fun?

 

 

 

And he pulled it out all by himself.

Giving Thanks: The End of the Day

All good things must come to an end,

 

 

 

and I certainly love a beautiful ending.

Giving Thanks: Brothers "Reading"

Giving Thanks: Post-Halloween Snack Time

Oh, the hard decisions of life: what candy shall I eat next?

 

 

I'm not sure Andrew labors over it too much; he simply dives in.

 

Instead of being one of those moms who carefully doles out a piece or two a day and thus stretching those sugar bugs out 'til the start of the Christmas season, I say eat it all now.  Gorge yourself.  Then it's over and done with and the begging ends lessens.

 

Andrew's afternoon snack:  1 package of M & Ms, 2 snickers, 2 Reese's Cups, 1 Reese 's Fast Break, and 2 Kit-Kats.