Thanksgiving

We split up our Thanksgiving as always with our two families.  James left bright and early to go to the annual Turkey Bowl in Brentwood, while the boys and I enjoyed a leisurely morning finishing up our Thanksgiving cards and unfortunately a quick grocery store trip (not as bad as I was expecting).  We got to my sister's house by noon and helped her prep a little bit and play with the kids a lot.  Jackson and Ash were so funny crawling around after each other.  Jacky even attempted to push her on her little bike.  Around three we headed to Sausalito to join up with the Greene and Reilly clans.  Where we enjoyed a delicious dinner, Dylan & Ben ran around the house like mad men, and the boys watched football.  Behold Thanksgiving 2012:

Thanksgiving Part 1 at my sister's house: 

This was the best we could get of our little pilgrim and indian.  

And the winner for favorite picture of the day . . .

Thanksgiving part 2 at the Reilly's:

As aways, the view was amazing. 

Jackson's thanksgiving feast. 

Love my little family.

Doesn't this look familiar? 

Another great Thanksgiving.  And now I'm so looking forward to Christmas.  Especially Jackson's very first one!  Ben keeps saying, more like singing, "It's Jackson's first Christmas!"  I'm just grateful to not be hugely pregnant and tired this year!

Gratitude Days 19 thru 25

Well Thanksgiving is over and what a wonderful Thanksgiving it was, but more on that later.

Day 19: I am so thankful to be able to stay at home with my children.  It hasn't always been that way, and I know that it might not always be this way.  I try to remind myself of this ALL the time, and be grateful for this amazing opportunity.  Even though sometimes the days are long, and sometimes they are tough, I know that I wouldn't want it any other way.  I'm grateful for our seemingly endless amount of time together.  Time for the little things; like park days and bike rides.

  

Day 20:  I'm grateful for great friends.  Especially the old ones.  Our oldest and dearest friend, James Tarbat and his new wife, Bethany were able to stay with us for two days this last Tuesday and Wednesday.  James, James T., and I were like Cory, Topanga, and Sean (Boy Meets World) in high school- great buddies the three of us.  While they were here we were able to enjoy a pre Thanksgiving feast, which I'm so thankful turned out yummy.  Ben was able to thoroughly entertain/annoy them both days.  And we spent a great day in San Francisco, which Bethany had never been to.  

Day 21:  I'm thankful that Jackson gets to enjoy something that Ben didn't get to until he was two- a cousin.  These two are going to be great fun!

Looking outside for Mommy/Auntie Katie. 

Day 22:  I'm always grateful to stumble across a great bargain.  I didn't want to brave any stores on Black Friday, but nevertheless had to because I needed to pick up some items for an event I was helping host on Saturday.  After running my errands for that I was right next to Babies R Us so decided to go in to get formula, when I stumbled across this great deal: buy 1, get 1 FREE on Jackson's baby food.  Score.  I picked up 10 cases.  Funny story: there was also a good deal on Huggies diapers.  The great big cases.  People were carting around the store like 10 boxes.  Crazy!

Day 23:  I'm grateful for relaxing weekends and naps.  James loves to spend his weekends at home, not doing a whole lot.  While I would sometimes like to do a little more with our weekends than we sometimes do- I have to admit the downtime with my little family is always just what I need.  We all do a lot of running around during the week, so the time to rest and just be together is great.  And after this busy week, with house guests, Thanksgiving, and several later nights we all rested, I mean napped a lot.  Even Ben.  Today I enjoyed a nap on the couch with my baby!

Day 24:  I am so grateful to my friend Sandy for requesting my assistance for her daughter's engagement party.  I love planning parties and would love to do it more professionally, and this was my first real job.  I helped out with the desserts, the beverages, and also put together a cute little jar for cards on the entry table.  I'm even more thankful that everyone, including Sandy and her daughter Francesca liked what I did.  Phew!

Day 25:  I am so excited and thankful for the Christmas season which is now upon us.  We spent our Sunday prettying up our house for the holidays.  Tomorrow James will hang the lights.  And probably next weekend we will get our tree.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Love christmas PJ's

Gratitude Days- 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, & 18

I know, I know so much for posting everyday.  Which brings me to the first thing I'm grateful for.

Day 7:  Repentance.  Whether it be simple things like repenting for not blogging everyday like I said. Ha!  Or the big stuff.  I know that because of my Savior I can repent, be forgiven, and try try again.

 Day 8:  I am grateful to be experiencing all the wonders again of baby's.  Jackson pulled this classic baby move the other day and I just had to yell for James and Ben to come see.  And the look of pure joy on Jackson's face was priceless.  

Day 9:  I am so grateful that Ben has an able mind and that he is observing and learning new things everyday.  His printing skills blow me away (although I still write out many of the letters first for him to copy).  Although he does sight recognize just about all of the capital letters, and we are working on the lowercase letters.

Day 10:  I am so grateful that my baby has a growing and able body.  He's growing like a weed and getting stronger everyday.  He's absolute favorite thing in this world right now is standing.  He stands all day long; crawling from one place to another to find a new thing he can pull himself up on.  He even got brave a couple of days ago and thought he'd see if he could stand on his own by letting go of the couch.  And very quickly found out that he's not quite ready.  Phew!  I can wait for walking.

Day 11:  I am grateful for traditions.  Especially those one's that I remember as a kid.  Of course Ben is already excited for Christmas and was asking me ALL the time how many days were left till the big day.  So about a week ago we made this little classic together, and he loves pulling off a "hook" every night.

Day 12:  I am grateful for family time.  At a good restaurant.  For a good cause (i.e. preschool fundraiser night at Melo's pizza).  Yum!

Day 13:  I am grateful for free entertainment.  I always look up all the free events my city/library/Ben's preschool has to offer and write them all down on my iCal.  Summer is loaded with them, and then things slow down for a while, that is until the holidays roll around.  My calendar is full of things- party's, tree lightings, parades, and festivals.  And being in major savings mode right now for a future home- I love me some free fun.

Day 14:  I'm grateful that Ben has a grateful heart.  And to think that something so small stood out in his mind so much to say he was grateful for it.  Makes me feel like it really is the little things that matter.  And makes me feel bad about turning down his requests to play soccer today. : )

Day 15:  I'm grateful for Ben's preschool.  It is such a loving and nurturing place.  Ben loves it.  And they have really fun events like the Thanksgiving feast last week.  They sang "I'm Glad I'm Not a Turkey" and "What a Wonderful World."  And then we feasted of course.

Day 16:  I'm grateful for wonderful involved grandparents.  My mom joined us at the Thanksgiving Feast like week.  And my mother-in-law came to support Ben, who participated in a Primary Program at church today (more details to come).  I know I already mentioned this in my being grateful for extended family post, but I just had to mention it again- because seriously my kids grandparents rock.  I mean my dad held my baby all night and fed him dinner at my grandma's 70th birthday party last night, danced with him on the dance floor, and sat with Ben and the other children at the kids table.  My mom said "he's nice to have around, isn't he?"  Sure is.

Day 17:  I'm grateful for the beauty that surrounds me.  It only took me about twenty minutes today to drive to this amazing view.

Day 18:  I'm grateful for fall.  Even if it's slim here in California.  I can't get enough of fall leaves.  Ben and I drove around town a little bit today hunting some pretty leaves for our leave turkeys we will be making tomorrow.  And that's another thing.  I love that I have a boy who loves to craft with me.

Gratitude- Days 3, 4, 5 & 6

Day 3:  Grateful for my cute and amazing husband.  I'm grateful that he works so hard for our family.  I'm grateful for date nights with him.  We have had the chance in the last few months to go away on two short vacations for weddings, and another this last weekend together.  It's fun to see other couples start their forever afters, and be in the midst of ours!  Love you hunny.

These arrived on my doorstep today!

Day 4:  I'm grateful that we live close to our families.  I'm grateful that my children's grandparents are a HUGE part of their lives.  They see all four of them regularly.  And my parents are always willing to watch the boys and have them spend the night- to which I am very grateful.  I'm grateful that they have cousins to grow up with.  My adorable little niece, Ashlynn, who is just six weeks older than Jackson.  And their second cousin, Dylan, who is smack dab in the middle of the boys.

My boys are lucky to have these two for Uncles. 

Sleepover with cousin Dylan on Friday night.  Matchy pjs courtesy of Nana Lin. 

Day 5:  I'm grateful for an able and healthy body.  I try not to take it for granted.

Day 6:  I'm grateful for the country I live in, and the ability we have as citizens to shape its future through the ability to vote.  Eagerly awaiting the 2012 presidential results anytime now.