Thanksgiving Daybook

Outside My Window

It's dark and chilly. I've stayed up late to see M off to work and work on a Christmas stocking.

I am Listening to

the heater run and NCIS LA playing on the television.

I am Wearing

A comfy gray cable knit sweater and black lounge pants. I am ready for bed.

I am so Grateful for

I am so grateful for my family and so much more. I am truly, truly blessed.

I'm Pondering

the role of wife, mother and being a daughter and how they all fit together.

I am Reading

Meridon by Philippa Gregory. It is part of the Wideacre Trilogy. I've much enjoyed reading the series and I am looking forward to having the chance to finish this last one.

I am Thinking

Many many things. Christmas, Advent, an upcoming trip in the new year home for a wedding. About the nature of those we love and that they can the most difficult parts of our lives. Of all the progress Captain has made in his therapies.

I am Creating

A Christmas stocking for my newest niece.

Towards a Real Education

Working with Captain to further his language. Each day he seems to pick up a new word. His speech therapy is going fantastic.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

Prepping the house for Advent season. It's just us this Holiday season but I want our home to glow with joy- even if it is just for us.

To Live the Liturgy

I am prepping for the start of Advent on Sunday and for St. Nicholas Feast Day. I want to bring our faith alive for my little ones.

I am Hoping and Praying

For my friend Cher- who along with her 2 little ones is celebrating their first holidays without Husband/Father.

For M and our family that we hear good news back from the Officer board.

Around the House

It's a mess and in need of organization.

From the Kitchen

Banana bread, apple pies, pumpkin- lots of pumpkin, turkey, rolls....it's the holidays so there is lots of goodness in the kitchen

One of My Favorite Things

Waking up to the smiles of Trumpet in the morning and his warm body snuggling in my arms as we sleep.

Captain this week

He is doing fantastic in his therapies. Some of his new words are: yogurt, more, his therapist name (this makes me a little sad as he hasn't said mommy yet) and purple.

He willingly put a tooth brush in his mouth and brushed his teeth multiple times this week- which is huge for him.

Trumpet this week

He is still working on those top 4 teeth. He has started standing solo- so its only a matter of time before he starts walking. He is a great cruiser and has gotten really fast via crawling.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Thanksgiving Dinner
Ordering the last Christmas present
Working on Christmas stocking
Put up outdoor decorations and dig out Advent stuff.

Home Organization

5 moves in 3 years has taken its toll on our home organization. The other night M asked me what happened to the person he meet who was super organized.....that's a good question. The answer is simple....its hard to be organized when your environment isn't organized. So, that is my goal going into the New Year. I want to re-organize and sort through everything.

Election Night!

It is a great night! I feel giddy with the results that are in so far and have stayed up way later then I ever attended to! Democrats lost control of the house...it won't be a free ride for the Obama agenda anymore!

Christmas Cards!

Well, its that time of year again. We are getting ready to role into November and if I want my cards mailed by Dec 1 I must get started soon. Next week, we are having a photographer come to take family photos. It was suppose to be this weekend but Captain busted his lip and had to go get stitches.

Once, I have the photos I will put together a photo Christmas card via shutterfly I've used them before and love them! We had our cards done there last year and they came out fantastic. Shutterfly has a huge selection of Christmas cards; you can get everything from : religious cards to secular cards.

I haven't figured out what card we are using this year. I really like this one.
Simple but wow! There are tons that I like but until I have our family photos in hand it will be hard to choose which card to go with! Last year I did a play on our last name and used a photo of Captain meeting Santa. This year we'll be doing a family photo.

One of the things I love about shutterfly is that they always have great specials! Currently, they have a special going on. Shutterfly is offering 20% off all holiday cards

I know I will be using shutterfly for my Christmas cards and several photo-themed Christmas gifts. My granny looks forward to her photobook every year!

Fall- Pumpkns and more pumpkins

We are enjoying fall here. The weather is starting to cool (though we still have some very warm days.) and the leaves are turning. I have to say if we do move next fall as we are hoping that is one thing I will miss if we end up back home in Texas. I will miss the vibrant colored leaves.

We have been enjoying pumpkins here too. Pumpkin candles, pumpkin muffins, bread, cakes, bars...you name it and we're enjoying it. I still laugh each time I make something with pumpkin because before last fall I didn't like pumpkin. I didn't like it till I was pregnant with Trumpet and now I can't get enough it of.

Last week we took the kids to a local farm and had a wonderful day of fun. There were hayrides, petting farm, haystacks to play in and a wonderful pumpkin patch to pick from. Captain picked out his pumpkin and later this week he will get to color it with washable markers and in November I'll use the pumpkin to make pumpkin butter.

We are gearing up for Halloween here as well. We have a lot of fun activities next week for Halloween. I am throwing a toddler Halloween party, we'll take the kids to the Y for a festival and then tricker-treating on Halloween night. Captain is a dragon and adores his costume. Trumpet doesn't want anything to do with his.

50 Free Christmas Cards- Shutterfly

Last year I order my Christmas Cards from Shutterfly, as well as several other Christmas gifts. I was very impressed by the quality of the cards and they were a hit. This year I will be using them again as well for our cards. Our Christmas card list is quite long so I was thrilled to read about a promotion they are doing for free Christmas cards.

http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

I can't wait to have our holiday photos done in a couple weeks and be able to start my cards. I am leaning towards this card: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/sweet-chocolate-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&fa=4&storeNode=93479&fe=1

Plans for September

I am looking forward to a new month and a new start in a new home. My hopes and aspirations for this month are to ultimately be a great mommy and wife. However, I will be breaking them down into less abstract concepts and more concrete ones.

Home:
- Get everything unpacked and organized
- De-clutter and either sell or give away unwanted/unneeded items.
- Cook dinner every night other than my birthday
- Find a good cleaning/laundry routine

Religious:
-Help out with RCIA
- Pray a decade of the rosary each day
- say grace at each meal

Kids:
- Start Captain's speech
- Captain's tumbling class
- go to the zoo at least once
- do art/craft with Captain once a week
- Baby yoga class with Trumpet
- sort through kids clothes

Crafts:
-sew niece's stocking
- work on Christmas gifts