Thankfulness

I think I'm a pretty "glass half full" kind of girl.  I truly count my blessings every day.  In November on Facebook, there is a trend to post your "thanks" each day of November.  Below are my daily posts - in order - both sincere and with a hint of sarcasm.  I only wish I could add everyone's follow-up comments to each sentiment- they added to the color of the posts!  It was a great way to focus on the meaning of Thanksgiving!
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I'm going to start this one day late....Today I am thankful for getting a sticker at the doctor "not because you got a shot, Mommy, but because you brought me to the doctor"


And to catch up, here is installment number two. I am thankful for the opportunity to know no personal space, not be able to take two consecutive bites of food uninterrupted, and be blessed to deal with two tandem temper tantrums. Really. I worked hard for this.


is thankful for the new iPad that Jeff won at work this week!


Today I am thankful for a good job, great coworkers and a supportive boss


Day Five: I am thankful I married a man who pulls more than his weight as a father and husband


Day Six~thankful for my best friend since fourth grade, for Christal, and for Woodchuck. go colts!!


Day Seven: My kids' ability to make each other laugh uncontrollably. I challenge you to NOT laugh if you hear it!


Day Eight - Thankful for the cutest nephew and two cutest nieces - and for the fact they all live within 40 minutes of me. Their parents aren't bad either.


Day Nine: I am thankful for comprehensive insurance that covers my family's health. Am I willing to pay for this insurance? Absolutely. Thankful my employer offers it to me for a fraction of the cost that other organizations have to pay, with coverage better than others receive.


Day 10 - Thankful for four seasons. I live in Indiana, it's what I signed up for.


Day 11 - Thankful for the men and women who risk their lives to defend my freedom.


Day 12 of gratitude-Thankful for the Great Banquet community


Two kids, two fevers. Today I am thankful for our much-loved pediatrician who is coming in early tomorrow to see at least one, if not both, of my babies.

Day 13 of Gratitude - Thankful for my parents, without whom I wouldn't be having a birthday!

Day 14 of Gratitude - Thankful that both of my kids slept through the night, past 5:45am, and in their own beds - allowing me to do the same.


Day 15- Thankful that while my son takes a bath, his older sister feels the innate need to sit and sing him Bible songs (including the itsy-bitsy spider), tell him Bible stories, and pray.


Day 16 - Thankful for Hotbox breadsticks


Day 17 of thankfulness - Thankful for the healing power of honey, which allowed my daughter to sleep through the night without coughing so hard she threw up (which she did the night before). Thankful both kids slept through the night (which neither did the night before).


Days of Gratitude -Today, I am thankful that I don't care about vampires


Day 18- thankful for 'ow bwessings' that Mel now includes in her prayers. Our blessings abound, indeed.


Today I'm thankful my son isn't old enough to realize that his sister got to go to the football game with Daddy while he got stuck shopping with Mommy. Let's not tell him this later!


Today's thankfulness is for 11 hours of sleep last night coupled with a pre-noon nap. I love sleep.


Today I'm thankful for the wonderful women of my small group, and the role they've played in my life over the last 4+ years


Day 22 - I'm thankful to look forward to the next five days of good family, good friends, and good food. I'm blessed to have Cory Worzala who fits all of those definitions ~ I'm looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with her (at her house, with her yummy food!); I'm thankful to have ordered one of my best friends up to be my SIL and one of my kids' beloved aunts. How lucky am I??


While several days behind on my gratitude, today i'm thankful that my daughter and her BFF (Molly) keep each other so happy that I can just sit here and do nothing while they play. I love this age!


Thankful that if my kids can only be counted on for one thing, it's an early bedtime.

Fun with the Grandparents!

She's such a snuggler... 

The Two Joes

Melanie was playing some kind of game with these plates.  She will probably eventually be a drinking game champ; who knows what rules she was following with this; but it was pretty entertaining to watch her distribute these.

Poppy isn't happy at all with this situation.

Grandma & Mel busy at work on their Gingerbread House.

The Finished Project!

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend with Jeff's parents, who joined us from Fishers Friday afternoon!  Melanie is Sooo looking forward to their move here, and for the first time walked around their "house" (which is being built - the quotes are only because it's not a full house yet - but it's on its way!!)  We got our tree Friday, used the grandparents to help us put it up, and further used them to help lightly decorate the house for Christmas!  We again decided against Christmas ornaments this year, given Joey's age - but at least we have a (real, as always) tree up - with lights.

Gigi & Poppy joined us for dinner on Friday night.  I keep telling Mel & Joe how extremely lucky they are - to have all four of their grandparents so active in their lives, to have them so geographically close to them, and to have them be such good friends to each other - They don't quite get it yet, but I have no doubt they will.  It's priceless.  Many things to be thankful for this year!

Playdate @ Aya's

Who cares about our play dates??  We are BFF right now.

Mel with her friends and red cupcakes - what can go wrong??

Seriously BFF

I was told later that I looked "tired" at the post-Thanksgiving playdate at Aya's.  Well, yes, there hasn't been a time in the last 4 years I haven't been "tired."  I took both kids to the playdate; Melanie had her typical Aya/Gracie/Ellie playdate (plus Izzy, who has been a staple at Gymboree and other Aya parties)...And Joey got his first playdate with a little boy who will be two in May!  He had NO idea he was on a playdate - but it was fun for everyone, because of course Aya has a bouncy house in her basement!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Hat!

Becky's phone games!

This is our baby cousin.

Check out my cool turkey shirt - I made it with my handprints!

Grandma-pose

These kids are smarter with phones than we are.

Air hockey with Pappaw

Worzala Women.  Strong Women. :)

Rain boots - Umbrella.  It wasn't raining.

Thanksgiving Dinner!

My cousin is giving me the bravery to pet this dog!

Dog??  Mel?? 

It helps to get "high fives" from Aunt Brenda every time I pet the doggie!

Seriously, I cannot get enough of this dog.

Now I'm telling Jen how to take care of the dog.

We are very thankful this year that Uncle Randy, Aunt Cory, Charlie & Sammie moved to Indiana!  It's been fun being closer to them - and even more fun to spend Turkey Day at their house!!  We arrived after Joey's morning nap - and stayed until bedtime (mine and the kids').  It was a VERY fun day with the Fishers Worzalas, Grandma & Pappaw W, Uncle Rick, Aunt, Sandy & Becky, PLUS Cory's family - Brenda, Marshall, Jerry, Brenda, Ryan & Jen - and "family" Angie & Jacob!  And......Bella the Dog!!  Melanie, who is TERRIFIED of dogs, told me, on Friday, that her "favorite part" of Thanksgiving was......BELLA!!!

Boiler Up!

Jeff & Melanie went to her first Purdue game - versus Iowa - to close this year's dismal home season.  Melanie slept the entire first half, but had good stories, such as "Purdue Pete went for a sandwich," "Gigi brought me a blanket too," and "I watched the football players."  "I saw the big drum" was also included in her limited-information recap.  One of her highlights was the donut she ate at the tailgate - which she ate "in the tent with the heater."  Gotta love a 3-year-old recap!

We tried going to a movie again on Sunday.  She did MUCH better than she did in May - but got bored midway through.  We're making progress!

Me & My Shadow

One evening as I put clothes away in Mel's room, I heard shrieks of laughter and excitement in Joey's room.  This is what I walked in to see - both kids in the blanket chest, with all of the blankets on the floor

Dinner Time

Literally everywhere one goes the other follows...

Every night, Melanie reads Joey Bible stories, sings him songs, and generally entertains him while he takes a bath.  It's a ritual they are both becoming quite accustomed to - and which I love!

Joey - 1.5 Years

Joey is getting a LOT of teeth.  I'm hoping that is why he's been so angry lately.   He is quite the little helper at daycare, and his teacher, Ms. Anna, reports that he is the "leader" in the classroom.  He's much happier at school, apparently, than he is at home :)  Joey loves to color, and do EVERYTHING his sister does.  He loves toys that make noise, soft blankets or books (he's been known to carry around a feather, a cottonball, a RUG, or anything that feels good against his skin).  He loves bath time, and particularly loves pooping in the bath tub.

He still doesn't have a lot of words (that we understand), but he does talk a lot.  Discernible words include "mine," (a favorite of his), "nana" (for banana), Gigi, Poppy, mommy, daddy, dog, "all done," and "more."  He will follow directions really well, and is a good helper when he wants to be.  He doesn't like getting his diaper changed, he LOVES having Daddy hold him, and he loves to make noise.  He has lately been seeking out our hand to hold, whether in public or just walking from the living room to the play room.

He loves footballs, baseballs, soccer balls, etc - loves throwing them, bringing them to us, saying "ball," etc.  He is wearing 18 month clothes, size 6 shoes, and size 4 diapers.  He LOVES the camera, saying "cheese" at any opportunity.