Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are celebrating a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.  I know we are!

A few weeks ago I started a list of one thing I was thankful for, for every day of the month.  I stopped at 9, so here are the rest to catch me up to the big day...

10-Our dad's.  It is no accident that LouLou and Honey are able to pack up and leave Tyler and come here every other week.  Pop and Papa work very hard to keep life running smoothly in Tyler and graciously share their wives with us!

11-My part-time job.  Hospital part time jobs are not the easiest to come by, especially not day shift in the NICU.  I am so thankful that I get to work part time, doing a job I actually love, and spend the rest of my time with the boys. 

12-Our out of town friends.  It is so fun to have very special friends in places like Houston and Tyler and so many other places that we can always just pick up where we left off.  We may miss seeing them more often, but treasure the time we get with them. 

13-The Fisher Price Aquarium! (Come on you didn't think they would all be sappy did ya?)  They are a life SAVER.  Both boys loving pushing the button on their "shish" as Avery first called them and chilling in their beds when it is time to sleep and they are having trouble.  They make going to bed or waking up in the night no big deal! 

14-The Pioneer Woman.  After we nailed down our menu for tomorrow, not quite the traditional Thanksgiving, but not totally off either we realized almost all the recipes were from her.  Thanks Ree, we love ya!  And, I know she would want to be my best friend if she only knew me. 

15-On-line shopping.  I am proud to say that while we do NOT decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving because we are busy being thankful, I do start my shopping.  This year I am almost done!  I am loving the deals I have found this year, I get to be much more generous.  :)

16-Our house.  I was a little frustrated with some pest control issues this week, but then got thinking about how grateful I am to have a house at all, AND how much I truly love our house.  I think it is so fun that we get to live in a older home, with our remodeled stamp on it.  It is even more fun that so much of the work done to the house was completed by friends and family, it makes it extra special. 

17-DVR-Holy Cow.  One of the best inventions for a TVaholic like me.  I can miss all my shows for weeks at a time, then get caught on folding laundry and Grey's Anatomy all at once.  How did I live without it?

18-Kindle-Oh how I love it!  I tell Michael all the time I probably use this more than any gift he has ever given me.  I love reading on my Kindle for so many reasons, I love the dictionary feature, I love that it is light and easy to hold with one hand when feeding little friends, I love that it is easy to lay flat and eat and sandwich while you read.  I adore that you finish one book and download the next in minutes, never having to drag your small children out first thing in the morning to get the next book in The Hunger Games series, it is awesome.

19-Big kids that are sweet to Avery.  Avery has always loved "big kids."  He always wants to follow them and do what they are doing.  Most of the time he is even content just to follow along even if they aren't really playing with him.  But, I really appreciate the special big kids in our lives that take the time to include him in their games, let him have a turn, and even boss them around some times. 

20-Avery's grown up friends.  There are several people at church that are so good to always invest in Avery.  He loves seeing them, talking to them, and sitting with them (all by himself of course.)  It means so much to us and to Avery that they have taken time to make a little friend out of our little guy, and I know they will do the same for Hank.

21-I get to have girl time.  I like to stay busy.  Michael is a little more of a home body.  I really appreciate that he doesn't ever complain about me going to lunch, book club, play dates that are more for me than they boys, movie nights, etc.  It makes me a much better mom and wife and I really appreciate it.

22-Our church family.  I love that it really is a family, the good the bad the ugly.  No matter what we really do love it, and feel like we are all working hard to be the best people we can be.  I like that we are challenged and that we get to participate and serve.  I like that we are loved and fed as well. 

23-A great family photographer.  I am not photographer.  I wish I was, but I am pretty awful, plus half the time I forget to take pictures.  I am so glad for someone to help us record the precious moments that are changing all too fast.  I know I will cherish those tangible memories when my babies are all grown up.

24-Chips and dips.  Hands down my favorite food/snack.  Everyone else gets pumped about Thanksgiving meals, I just want the snacks! 

25-TODAY!  We had such a great day with family and friends.  I wouldn't change one minute.  I am so blessed to have SO much to be thankful for!!!!


Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hank's First Flight

I almost forgot to show you about Hank's first flight. It was a great one. I have a recipe for a fabulous flight with not, one but TWO little people.
Preseat the plane with 1 seat FUN Aunt Linde with 1 seat CALMING LouLou then place two little boys in the appropriate laps. Sprinkle liberally with ipad and books, mix in one back pack filled with treasures to unwrap every 15-20 minutes. Bake at 5,000 feet for 2 1/2 hours and you have happy boys arriving in North Carolina to visit the BANKS!

Mother of the Year Part 534

I would say that my mothering skills were about at a 2 at the end of last week. 

Thursday morning I was just a grouch, plain and simple.  I was tired, no excuse, just telling the truth.  And on school mornings I pay for my raising, Avery will NOT eat his breakfast.  I was not very sweet trying to get him to eat his breakfast and get out the door.  I was ashamed, but not enough to get sweet until it was too late and I hurt his feelings.  I felt horrible dropping him off at school even though he was over it.  

So, Thursday night I did some more great parenting and bought his affection with a craft.  My boy loves a great craft, and I love that he no longer calls it a crap. 

We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and made a butterfly painting. 

Friday was a new day and I thought for sure I would be a great mom after Thursday's highs and lows. 

But, then we were at lunch.  I was trying to get Avery to eat his turkey, so I offered some pretzels if he would eat the rest of it.  So, he crammed every last bit of it in his mouth and kept cramming even while coughing and gagging until he puked.  NICE!  So, then I gagged and coughed and told him that was disgusting and to quit "cramming it down his throat when he was choking."  (I guess Michael is right, you do have to weigh less than 5lbs. to get sympathy at our house.)  So now every time I tell him to take a bite at lunch he promises "not to cram it down his throat."  I am such a great mom. 

It's Great to be Eight months old!

Or at least Hank thinks so!  Hank is a wonderful 8 month old and we are so glad to have him!  I can't believe all he has accomplished this month. 
The Hankster rode on airplane for the first time, he did great!  Hankapotamus had his first Halloween and was the cutest Bulls Eye you have ever seen.  Hank is army crawling and roller baby like crazy.  I can't wrap my brain around it, the days of immobility are over.  It makes him seem so old to watch him work his way across the room chasing a toy or getting to his big brother and daddy.
Hank continues to LOVE to eat.  I have yet to find a baby food he won't choke down.  I am pretty sure he doesn't love peas or green beans, but if that's his choice he'll eat it. 
We are working on Hanky's tendency to scratch his nails on the pack n play at night while Mamma and Aunt Linde were trying to sleep at Aunt Susan Jo's.  I guess Hank is pretty smart, because he very quickly figured out that he could work me over while we were out of town and ended up spending most of the night in my bed.  It was also a rough night when we got home and had to get back to the real world of his own bed, all night. 
We are also working on taking better naps in the afternoon, he tends to love sleeping for about 45 minutes but I am voting for a little bit longer naps instead of 5 million cat naps.
Hank is also loving baby Bible class these days and we are working on reading books together every day. 
We love our little 8 month old prince!

and Lisa who takes the best pictures ever!

Thankful

You know I love a list and holiday themed lists are even better!

So here are 9 things I am thankful for on the 9th day of November (in no particular order)

1-We are about to buy our first package of diapers since Hank was born.  I am so thankful for all the people who gave Hanky diapers, and that Avery boy doesn't need them anymore.

2-Our Moms coming to watch the boys while I work.  It is such a blessing to Michael, Avery, Hank and me that our moms allow me to work AND love on our boys while I do it.  They give up so much time, gas money, and freedom to make our lives nice and easy!

3-Michael.  He has worked so hard to "build a business" as I love to tease him.  It makes me so proud that he works to be the absolute best he can be for us, his business partners and their clients.

4-2 Happy Healthy boys.  I can't imagine my life without them and it doesn't take being an NICU nurse to know how precious their health is.

5-Living near Linde and Jeff.  It is so much fun to have Aunt Winde, as Avery says, and Jeff close by.  I love getting to see my sister all the time and our boys benefit in countless ways from getting to be near an Aunt and Uncle that truly love being with them every chance they get!

6-Our friends here in town.  I was talking with one of our best friends from church Sunday about how long it took to really have great friends here, probably 2-3 years, but when we did, WE DID.  I love knowing that handful of people is there that I really can call day or night when I need something.  One time we need to call, and they all came....they will never know how much it meant and means to know we can call again. 

7-Avery's school teachers.  Ms. Sharon, Ms. Paula and Mrs. Kathy work very hard to teach our boy and his new friends.  They are helping him learn to love school and I am so thankful.  Avery gets so excited to see his backpack set out for school and has a blast at school every Monday and Thursday.

8-Avery and Hank's Bible Class teachers.  My boys love baby Bible class and more, it is amazing to me what they already know and learn from these special ladies.  I am even more thankful that they are learning to LOVE going to church to worship and learn!

9-Our life in general.  We are just so blessed.  There are times where I think "oh, this is hard" or "I wish I had that."   But, we don't even come close to wanting for anything.  We have great friends both here and all over.  We have wonderful families that taught us to love the Lord, and truly gave us every advantage we ever needed or wanted, and more.  We have wonderful, hilarious children.  We have a church family that truly is a family.  We have a cute, but unloved pug. 

I am thankFULL!

Five Question Monday???

Okay, so I am late, but I liked the questions when I was blog stalking....


1. If you could have any talent and turn it into an occupation, what would it be?

Ummmm, well this is not the question I loved.  I think I would like to be an editor.  I love to read, it would be so great if I had the talent to know which books to chose and to get to read all the time while chosing!

2. Would you rather have a house at the beach or a cabin in the woods?

Beach in a heart beat no question.  I HATE to be cold!  I love to swim.  Besides, I am not really the cabin type.  Unless it is a fancy one.  :)  If we are being perfectly honest, I really want my beach to be a lake beach, not an ocean beach.  I am WT like that!

3. Is there any meaning or reasoning for the names you chose for your child/children?
YES!  I love my boys names!  We often stress about what to do for a third boy name, because we are afraid we don't have another one as special. 
Avery is from Michael, his dad, and grandad Blake after Uncle Blake
Hank is named after Henry Lee my daddy!
4. What is your guilty pleasure? (I know we've done this one before, but I'm guessing people's "guilty pleasures" change frequently. At least, mine do!)

I can't choose just one, guess I am very guilty.  :)
Diet Dr Pepper-I realize my bloodstream shouldn't be at least 50% DDP, but I LOVE it!
TV-I watch too much, I get too involved, you name it I watch it.  Thank goodness for DVR, I am sooo far behind right now...But I am caught up on Grey's and Private Practice, come on Cristina get it together. 

5. Do you live in a house that is deep cleaned or straightened?
I wish it was deep cleaned, but I don't know how to do that with little kids underfoot...most of the time it is straightened!

Father Avery

Avery's been talking to God a lot lately....

and i have to say his prayers are about the cutest thing ever....

but he topped himself last night, here's how the conversation went at dinner 

ABW-I go on the airpwane (air plane) daddy

MAW-you did buddy it was fun

ABW-no, daddy I go on the airpwane again!

MAW-really, where you going?

ABW-to da beach

MAW-oh, what beach?

ABW-a nice one

MAW-who told you this?

ABW-um, God

i'm thinking maybe this blue and white shirt needs to be black to go with that white collar...