Back to Normal

So today we all headed to work and to school. 
I dropped the boys off and headed to the Botanical Gardens.  I had a great photo shoot with a precious two year old little girl and her mom who is expecting twins in February.  They were both so fun to work with.  The pictures were great and I am hoping to stay on top of editing because it is about to get seriously busy.  While there I also was able to add to my alphabet which is always a good thing.  I love having a growing collection.

The boys had a great day at school and after school care was a lot of fun. 

The Trees

We have started to decorate in the house now, well downstairs.  We promised mom we would wait until after Thanksgiving and that is what we did.  We have so much stuff, I seriously have no idea how we ever got it all in the old house.  The good thing about this year is that next year everything will be in the boxes together where it should be instead of randomly spread throughout all of the boxes. 

Iron Bowl Memories

This is the game day that every football fan in Alabama waits for.  It is the Iron Bowl.  Alabama vs. Auburn for those of you not from around these parts.  This year was not the year for Auburn though, the score made me pretty sad.  Especially for the players.  Nobody wants to end their season like that. I am sure that changes are coming for Auburn and I know that they will be for the best.  No matter what War Eagle!
Amy, Terry, Sasha, and Connor came over to watch the game.  I had gotten a Home Depot Gingerbread house for the kids to do.  It was meant to be fun and they definitely had fun doing it.  All of us stepped back and watched and let them have at it.  Smiles and memories are what happened at the kitchen table tonight.

Amy also helped me cut material and make the garland for the railings at the house.  I love the way that it turned out.  Who knows maybe I will start to really try my hand at being crafty.  We will have to see.  I have been thinking more and more about a lot of different things and crafting is one of those.  The garland is gorgeous though and I am so glad that I did it.  I love it and so does everyone.  Brandon even hung it for me tonight which was awesome of him. 

Shopping Anyone?

Usually mom and I or Brandon and I head out for some seriously intense shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.  This year it did not happen.
Poor Danny was up sick most of the night.  I finally gave him a third of a phenogrin (sp?) to help his stomach settle and let him get some rest.  He is so pitiful.  I would not have been anywhere but with him today.  I cannot stand it when the boys are sick, but I am very thankful I was able to take care of him.
Danny and I spent most of the day laying around.  He finally held something down, but he was just tired and still not feeling great.
We were supposed to go to Thankgiving dinner at Teresa's today, but Danny did not  feel like it and we did not want to share anything he might have had.  Brandon and John Michael went though and they had a great time.  They even brought us a plate of food, though after dealing with what we all night and morning food was the last thing on our minds.  The thought was definitely there though.

Happy Thanksgiving

So it is Thanksgiving.  So many people have spent this month talking about what they are thankful for.  It is something that we all reflect on this month.  I am working on reflecting on this everyday and I plan on improving my thank you's to God as I have so much to be thankful for.  So many times we concentrate on what someone else has, or what we do not have, that the blessings that are ours are looked over.  I know I am guilty of this.  Every morning we wake up is a chance to do better to be better, every morning is a new day with new possibilities and so many blessings. 
I complain about time, running behind, having a bad day, being broke, and so many other things that until I stop and think about it seem so huge, but truly they are not huge, they are not even big.  In life we lose focus.  The things that I do have should definitely take up more room in my mind as they are the things that are huge.  I have God and Jesus, I have an amazing family, I have an amazing church and school for my children to attend, I have love, hope, faith, and I have friends.  I have a roof over my head and a wonderful job.  I have so much and this is what I hope to focus on more.
We started this morning with the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. One day I will make it to New York City to watch it live.  I have thought it was so magical since I was a child, and I know that we would all love it. 
This year the turkey was carved and my boys pulled the wish bone.  They were so funny doing it and really thought it was the best thing ever.

Family came over and helped us to celebrate Thanksgiving and we all had a very nice time. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family and friends both near and far.

Thanksgiving Preparations

We are all officially on our Thanksgiving vacation, which is a little misleading since we are not going anywhere and getting ready is a lot of work.  Oh well, here we are, and we are all looking forward to the first Thanksgiving in our new house.
We started to get some of the food prepared.  Even though we were only going to cook the ham and turkey getting the casseroles and desserts ready will make it even easier tomorrow so that most of the day can be spent enjoying everyone being over here.
Brandon is finishing up the lights outside while we are working on the food.  It is looking so good.  I am so proud of all the work that he has done.  It looks great.  So ready to turn them on, I think that is what I am looking most forward to tomorrow night. 
We got the turkey from The Chopping Block in Springville.  And the ham.  I love their meat.  I am slightly biased because it is Pop's but still it is amazing!  They brought it to us today since we have been so crazy busy. 
Brett, Mindy, Hunter, Hayden, and Hudson came over too.  Brett was willing to help Brandon finish up the lights, and some of the positions they had to put the ladder in, well it had me inside.  Thank you so much.  Also thank you Nick and Kiersten for coming up to help.  Decorating is risky business the way that we do it. 

Last Day

So today was Mass day at school, and it is the last day before Thanksgiving break.  I have to admit I am pretty Thankful for the week being a short one.  I am desperately in need of a break.  I think that we all are.  Brandon started his vacation already so we are definitely ready for some family time.
Brandon came with me to Mass today.  John Michael's class did a couple of Thanksgiving songs after Mass and since he was home I wanted him to come, and I know that the boys did too.