Night-Night

Jeff had a sinus infection leading up to Christmas.  WIth his early bedtime, Melanie would tuck him in and read him stories.  She would typically pick three stories to read him each night - ones that she had memorized and could read to Daddy.  She would then kiss him, tuck him in, and leave him in his room.  How do I sign up for that plan???

Attempt at Christmas Pictures

New Christmas Dress for Melanie that she refused to wear, opting instead for last year's dress.

Can of Pam that is in the best picture of the two of them.

Melanie claiming her hand-me-down shirt from Grace that features a deer-hunting theme is her "reindeer shirt"

Joey's crazy-red cheeks.

The equivalent of a roll of film, with no viable Christmas card photos....

Reindeer Shirt

Melanie 2009

Joey 2011

Two different shirts, two different kids, two different years....

Monkey Joe's

Melanie and I spent Saturday (12/10) at Monkey Joe's.  We both agreed Joey would love it there - he hasn't yet been.  But, Daddy had no interest in going, and Mommy had no interest in herding both kids.  Mel had a blast, was VERY independent, and agreed she needs to go back before she turns four, since there are two areas she can't go in after that, and they are areas she wants to show Joey.  After M.J.'s, we went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch and more indoor play time.  We both had a good nap after that!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Julie!

With the girls at the Frankfort Christmas parade

Lovin' from her two favorite girls

Despite how the day, and subsequent week(s) went, let's not overlook that my Julie turned her FAVORITE number - 33 - on December 3!  As I said on her Facebook wall early that morning,

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, talented, strong, BABY sister. I hope this year is filled with many blessings. You're not only a great sister, you're the most amazing Mommy I know. Thank you for being such a good one to my beautiful niece. Happy, happy birthday little sis. I'll give you 33 "Indian Burns" to celebrate your favorite birthday!

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!