Thankful Tree

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been working on creating memories with Savannah. We have been crafting up a storm (she and I share a passion for crafts!). Tonight we finally finished up all of our Thanksgiving crafts. I'm so happy with how everything turned out, and I think she enjoyed all the little crafts and techniques we used. I was reminded of how blessed I am, and she got to think about all the things that she is thankful (or happy) for. Here's a peak at our handiwork...

Thankful Tree! - Free twigs (thanks to a wonderful friend), a vase from a previous arrangement, dirt from our garden, and a few simple craft supplies. Our family traced our hands, cut them out, then wrote what we were thankful for on them. Savannah loved this activity because it was so hands-on (pun intended!) and I loved it because it was basically free! I think this will be a family tradition to make a Thankful Tree the week of Thanksgiving. It just reminds us of the things we should be thankful for...next year Luke can help too...when he will sit still long enough!

Give Thanks - Savannah loved painting these blocks! Honestly, one of the fastest Thanksgiving projects. It took Carl all of 10 minutes to cut 10 blocks of wood from the scrap in the garage, then Savannah and I painted them in pretty fall colors. While they dried we played with Barbies, and then I added "Give Thanks" in gold paint pen. Easy, cheap, and beautiful!

Turkeys! This project was a little bit more time intensive, but not much. We sprayed adhesive inside of two of Luke's leftover baby food jars, then added glitter, then Savannah shook them up. I quickly hot glued googly eyes and a felt nose onto the front. Then Savannah and I traced her hands on several colors of felt...and then I cut a lot of hands out. I mean a lot! I wanted a very feathery turkey! Then I just laid out the felt hands in a pretty way, hot glued them together, then glued them onto the jars. Pretty simple, and again, really cheap! I love how cute them are!

We have been busy, busy this week - but I know we are making memories!

I'm Thankful For...

A recent trend has appeared on Facebook - posting daily what you are thankful for. I considered joining the crowd, but then decided against it. I really think it is important to be grateful. But do people want to see me update my list of things every day? Will the things that I list on the 30th of November seem less important than those listed on the 1st? I just decided to be thankful every day - November or not.

However, I am also reminded of things that I am so blessed to have in my life. My compromise? The following list of things I am thankful for...and why.

(No particular order.)

1. My God. I am blessed to have a forgiving, loving, understanding God. I am certainly not a perfect child, but I am willing to learn and follow.

2. My husband. This year has been rough. It's been busy. It's put stress on our marriage in so many ways I can't even think of them all. But I am grateful to have someone by my side, who loves me for all my nuttiness, list-making craziness, and just the insane whirlwind that I am.

3. My kids. I love my kids - more than I ever, ever thought possible. (Sure there are days I'd much rather be able to sleep and eat at my leisure...I digress.) Some days it feels like my heart will explode with so much love crammed into it. I would do anything for them.

4. My relationship with Savannah. I love that Savannah and I already love to shop together. We have shopping dates. We go to the store and browse together. We love to just be girls together. This morning I was getting ready for work and Savannah was in the bathroom with me...I had just put on a new dress (bargain price for $2 - plus shoes!). I was digging in the closet for my boots, when behind me I heard, "Mom I love it!". She kept gushing about my dress. It was just SO adorable and hilarious all at the same time. She even loves nail polish and jewelry...it is just so amazing.

5. My relationship with Luke. He is my little buddy. He certainly doesn't snuggle like Savannah (By the way - so thankful I blogged about all those cuddles with her. I miss it now!, but he is my little guy. He climbs all over me, giggles at me, grins at me. I know there will be more to our growing connection - and I know he and Carl will have a special bond as he grows up. I love that he is like his daddy, and that he is like me.

6. The bond between Savannah and Luke. If I ever, ever had any doubts about giving Savannah a sibling (and I know I did!), they are now completely erased. It is such an amazing, precious sight to see two siblings who love each other the way Savannah and Luke love each other. I snapped a photo of them playing together the other night...they both were riding the little pirate ship ride-on toy I bought for Luke when he was tiny. Savannah was just holding around Luke and he just leans into her and grins as the ride around the house. He loves her. She loves him. It is just such a magical scene when they play...you can't help but smile because of their unbridled joy. It is just something I cannot describe with words.

7. My job. I love working. I love being a mom. I love having the flexibility to be successful at work and still be present for the important times in my kids' lives. I love making a difference in the lives of young people. I love that I enjoy what I do and it provides for my family.

8. My house. This year we have considered moving...and it's heartbreaking in a lot of ways. I love our house. We have worked hard to make it just the way we'd like. I love my kitchen, my flooring, my everything! I love the basement space, the yard (although small). I love coming home to my house. I love the neighbors. I love the special feel at Christmas. I think if we do move, I will have a really difficult time leaving. I just love it. (The hill - not so much!)

9. My extended family. I am grateful for the family that helps raise my kids. My mom spends a lot of time with Savannah and Luke...and she does so much for them. I'm so grateful and blessed to have family assisting in the daily needs of my children. I know they are safe and content. I'm glad Savannah has a special bond with each grandparent. She adores them each in their own way...and Luke is learning and forming bonds too. I'm grateful for the people outside of the immediate that care for my children.

10. My church. Carl and I love our church family. We even have talked about sticking with Avery even if we move a little farther from the church building. We love the people there, we love the activities, we love the lessons learned.

11. The Avery UMW group. I am so lucky and blessed to have joined an amazing group of ladies this year. I love having two nights a month that I can get away from the chaos of my house and just fellowship with other wonderful ladies. It is so nice to plan for the future of the church and church family...to raise money to help those in need...to help teach our youth...just to be part of a group that shows compassion.

12. My car. I love my car. I love my car so much that I prefer to drive it over the newer one. I trust it. It takes me from here to there safely. I am grateful to have a safe, reliable car.

13. Avery Preschool. Savannah (and Luke soon!) is blessed to have teachers who genuinely care about her. She is learning so many skills each day she attends preschool. Her teaches are amazing at teaching her letters and numbers and shapes and colors (she can spell her name and is learning to write it, she is pre-reading)...and they are helping her mature socially. Her lead teacher has called the house to tell me little stories about her day - little insights I would never get otherwise. I get little notes about what Savannah's day was like...and she is always bringing home artwork that her teachers help her create. I am so, so grateful for her school. She is already on a path to success in whatever she picks.

14. Savings. I am grateful that Carl and I have worked hard to save money for tough times, renovations, vacations, retirement, college...just to have a little money in rough waters. I'm grateful that we have been able to do so, and that we have the knowledge to do so.

15. Health. I am grateful that Carl and I are relatively healthy. (Of course we both could eat better and exercise more!) We have been blessed to have healthy kids and live in a healthy environment.

Overall, I am grateful for the relationships and people in my life that make every day exciting and rewarding. I hope everyone takes a moment, at some point, to remember the little things that make life the amazing gift that it is!

Decisions, Decisions

As a parent, you are cursed blessed with the ability to make decisions for your children. Most parents make lots of choices, some good, some bad. Some regrettable, some not-so-regrettable.

This story on msnbc.com made me so sad last night. One split decision, to allow a toddler a better view (how many parents out there haven't tried to get the best view for their child?) and it all ends tragically. It makes me heart hurt for that family. It is so, so sad.

As a parent, you make so many decisions...most will, in the end, seem frivolous. A lot of decisions are based on safety. What car seat? When to feed certain foods? Who can be their friend? Who will babysit? Who teaches the driving lessons? Who do they date? What boundaries are hard limits? Can they see just find from behind the glass, not above it?

Part of the parenting process is to slowly allow your children to make decisions on their own...hopefully good ones. You train them with little decisions and hope to goodness they make wise ones when it begins to really count. As a small child we allow Savannah many options, and encourage her to shape her opinions on her own...with a little guidance. For example, she has a favorite pair of Hello Kitty shoes. They are most definitely spring/summer shoes. Her first pair are so worn that they need to be thrown out...so we bought another pair, two sizes bigger. She still wants to wear them every day...even in 30 degree weather...so we are working on teaching her to make that decision wisely...she needs to wear socks. We explain that it's cold and she would want to be warm...so now she is making those choices without us prompting.

Sometimes, as a parent, you have to make decisions that you know will protect your children, but hurt your heart. You have to say "no" to lots of things...all in the name of keeping your children sheltered from trouble or horrible life situations...often parents make sacrifices for their kids...all tied to those important decisions...

**Side note - it's almost the holidays! Savannah is gearing up for one of the most fun holiday seasons yet! She is completely enthralled with all of it...I can't wait to blog about some of our crafting/present buying adventures!!!