Thanksgiving 2012

We enjoyed a typical family Thanksgiving.

Last year Thanksgiving was the day we announced our family would go from 3 to 4! I was 8 weeks pregnant last year. I enoyed the meal this year much more! So thankful a year later we have our healthy, sweet girl here with us.

 

We spent the morning watching the parade. Brady dressed as Captain America for the parade. He got the idea to let Presley wear the mask. I obliged. She was not a fan.

Presley was able to get a good morning nap before we had to be at my parents at noon. So thankful for at least one good nap.

 

My brother texted us this picture from the Macy's parade. He was there working and had a chance to see some of the parade. Brady was very impressed with the Spiderman balloon. We called and talked to him a bit.

 

Brady liked the character balloons, but decided there was too much singing and dancing in that parade. Ha Ha!

 

We had a yummy lunch at my mom's. Presley did amazing for round one. She let everyone who wanted to, hold her. She was so happy and content!

 

She snuck in a quick nap(maybe an hour) before we headed to Caleb's parents house for dinner.

 

She fell asleep in the car, but was woken up when we got there. She was super clingy to me or Caleb. She did well, she just wasn't as content.  She didn't let just anyone hold her. Nevertheless, we enjoyed another yummy meal and fun family time.

 

Caleb and I dropped the kids back off at my parents house for the night. Presley was asleep when we got there. She stayed asleep until about 5am. Girl was tired! Brady was also worn out. They spent the night there, while Caleb and I shopped.

 

It is a yearly thing for us and we really enjoy it. We grabbed some coffee and headed straight to the stores. Caleb is super laid back. If he wasn't I don't think we could do it. We got almost all of our shopping done and got some great deals. We made it home about 2:30am and slept in until going to get the littles.

 

Holidays have changed so much in the past several years. We have been blessed with so many little ones. Both mine and Caleb's family events are so much more fun and entertaining with all the little ones running around. So much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving all!!!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am wrapping up my posts of Thanksgiving today. I realized that I could have done Thanksgiving post for the entire month of November and had plenty of things to be thankful for.

So today I will just list some other things I am so thankful for, in no particular order.

My niece and nephew, my brothers, sister, sister-in-laws, and brother-in-laws, our home, food, vehicles, electricity, clothing, the changing seasons, our church family, friends, Brady's friends, and so so so much more.

More than anything, I am thankful for a loving, forgiving God.

There is just so much to be thankful for, no matter your situation. There is always a silver lining.

I am also thankful for this time of year to set aside time to force us to count our blessings.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The new blog design is up! I love it! It is so simple and pretty! Jenna did a wonderful job, especially since I had no direction and gave her very little ideas. She made it perfect. I just love it! Thanks Jenna! And thanks to my sister for giving me the blog design.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am thankful for...

Caleb's job and my current job of SAHM.

Caleb loves his job and works so hard doing it. I am thankful he has found a career he loves and has tons of opportunities with. It is great to see him proud of his work. It makes a much happier family.

I am also thankful for this season of my life as a SAHM. I am not sure what the future looks like for our family. I don't know if this is just a season or several seasons, but I have enjoyed it and am thankful for it. If I had to or decided to go back to work tomorrow, I would still be so thankful for this time at home with Brady.

You may see some changes around here today or tomorrow. I am getting a blog make-over. I will write more about that after it happens. I am excited. Its the little things.

I am thankful for...

my Grandparents.

 I was blessed with 6 grandparents as a child, my 4 and then 2 more when my mom remarried. Three of those 6 have passed. We gained a bonus grandfather when my grandmother remarried. I realize how special it is that I still have so many grandparents still living. Caleb has none. : ( I think it is a little bittersweet for him. He loves that he has gotten to know and love my grandparents, but he misses his greatly. I am also thankful that Brady has gotten to know his great-grandparents. I need to make more time for them. I will make that my goal today to call them, just because. I am terrible at that, but I am so very thankful for them and need to do better. They are each so special to us 

I am thankful for...

Caleb's parents.

I have awesome in-laws. I know that is against the stereotype, but I do. They love me just as much as they love Caleb. Caleb and I have a joke when we disagree or something, that if we asked his parents they would take my side. Ha Ha! Of course, we never ask them. They are great people and would do anything for us. Good in-laws is a huge blessing.

I have 2 today, since I missed yesterday.

I am also thankful for our health. Every day it seems I hear of someone else diagnosed with cancer or some other sickness. Our prayer list is extensive right now and it really makes me thankful for our health. It is something we take forgranted every day. We are so blessed that Brady, Caleb, and myself are in perfect health.

What are you thankful for this week?

I am thankful for...

my mom and my Gary.

I have wonderful, amazing parents. I honestly don't know what I would do without them.   They love us all so well. They welcomed Caleb into their home and family just like he was their own. The more people I meet and get a glance into their lives, the more I realize how special my parents are. Also, the more I am on the parenting side of it, the more I appreciate them. My mom is the best mom and is incredibly strong. My Gary step right in became my father when I needed one and no longer had one on this earth, even when I didn't want one.  I wasn't very wise at 7. It took me many years to understand how special that was and that he chose to do it. He didn't have to. I am very grateful for that.

Funny story: I never knew Gary knew I didn't like him at first. I thought I kept it a secret. Then several years ago, we were all in North Carolina on a trip to the Biltmore, when I was in college. In a conversation about the past and my parents getting married, Gary said, "That was when Amber didn't like me". I was so embarrassed, because I didn't think he knew that. I thought I had kept it a secret for 10+ years. It wasn't personal, it was just a difficult situation for a little kid. 

Anyway, I love my parents and am so thankful for everything they do for us each day!!!

 

I am thankful for...

Brady, of course.

When Caleb and I learned we were going to be parents back in April 2008, we had no idea how much that would change our lives. We knew it was a blessing, but we could have never guessed how much. I am so thankful God gave me this sweet, energetic, funny little boy. I am so thankful God has trusted me with his sweet life. I learn something from him every day and can't imagine one day with out him. I am simply amazed by him and pray daily that I can be the mother he needs me to be. I know God has great plans for him and I am truly in awe that I get to help him make those come true. I love him more than he could ever know.

Yesterday, I decided to go ahead and put up Brady's little Christmas tree in his room. I am so glad I did. He was so excited about his Christmas tree. We had a lot of fun looking at his ornaments he has collected over the past 3 years.  I think the tree looks pretty cute, too.

Here is a sneak peak. 

Happy Friday!

A Week of Giving Thanks.

Today marks one week until Thanksgiving. I thought I would try to blog something I am thankful for every day for a week. It can be so difficult to remember to be thankful and too easy to get caught up in life, goals, desires, faults, etc.
After Thanksgiving, life seems to turn into a whirlwind until after the new year for me. I love it and this is by far my favorite time of year, but I also want to make sure I take time to really reflect and be thankful for what I have.



Our honeymoon, July 2006
He looks so young.



Today I am thankful for my husband. He is a great husband. He loves, respects,  and supports me in all aspects. He strives to be Christ-like. He works hard and is so dedicated to our family. He is a wonderful father. He rarely complains and is so humble when it comes to his strengths. He is kind, funny, generous, fun, loving, and forgiving. I am certain he would give a complete stranger the shirt off his back, in fact, I believe he has.  I am so thankful for the type of husband women dream and pray for.



Cruise, September 2011