Annie's List

   Every Thanksgiving I have Annie make a list of what she is thankful for.  This is the first year that she wrote her own list (with much spelling help).  I was very surprised and delighted!

   Creation, beautiful days, good memories, fun!   This is the first year that she did not fill her list with "stuff"  Usually dollies & toys were the first things she thought of.  It just warmed my heart!

   I thought I should ask Bo this year, so I did, and he answered,  "Jesus."  I was sooo happy, he hasn't really shown understanding yet of Jesus.  Then he said, "Jesus is bad.  Jesus is a robot."  Well that sure dashed my excitment quickly!

   It is so against what I believe that it was even hard to type that!  I have so much to thank the Lord for that I will make my list & spare you from reading it but just know...I am thankful for you!

Couldn't Resist

My husband rarely takes a lunch to work, but last night he mentioned that he hoped he remembered to take a lunch today because it was going to be a crazy day today (hint hint).  Well, I remembered BUT I don't think it was quite what he had in mind...PB & J, golfish crackers, applesuace, a pear & a Fiber One granola bar!  We are much lower on groceries than I realized!  So since it was a lunch fit for a kid...I couldn't resist & I cut his sandwhich into the shape of a heart and threw his goldfish crackers into a princess baggy.  I am kind-of expecting a lunch time call (and hoping he eats alone).

Marie...you won!

Yeah!  Marie from Spun By Me won the "My Peeps"  address book!  So happy to be sending it off this week to a new friend!  Thanks to everyone who entered!  I am already in search of something new & cool for my next giveaway...I have an idea...but I am not telling :)

Congratulations Marie! 

It has been such a busy weekend I have missed visiting all your lovely blogs!  I can't wait to catch up on my blog reading tomorrow!  Good night!

Rocco's Blanket

I have mentioned my mom maay times...but have I mentioned how talented she is?!

This week she finished Rocco's baby quilt.   Rocco was born in May and his cousin Calvin was born in March, so that means she finished 2 baby quilts!  Here is Rocco's!

It is so perfect that it is hard to believe she does this by hand!

She uses so many different textures.

And here is one of my favorite parts...she made him a matching monster!  Isn't he cute!!!

Rocco loves it!  He has already spent a lot of time with his quilt.  These are his first sitting up pictures!  He has been pretty good at it for a few weeks but poor third child I haven't taken any pictures of him sitting up until now...so bear with me :)

From your first day Rocco, Nanna loved you very much!

Thank you Nanna!

Love it 4

There are a lot of cute reusable bags out there these days but this is my favorite design right now.  I like it because the earthy colors & it doesn't have huge store logos all over it-just a little one :)  Walgreens! $1.99

Funny Kid Post 6

Here is the culprit...my 2 year-old Bo.

   I tried to sneak on to the computer to blog while he was happily watching his morning dose of Diego.  I heard a few noises in the kitchen but wanted to finish what I was typing before I checked it out.  This is what I found in the kitchen:

I knew he couldn't be far...I snuck up on him.

He froze when he saw me waiting to see what I would say.

When I just quietly snapped a few pictures he decided it was safe to resume eating.

Can you blame the boy for wanting a little pumpkin ice cream in the morning?

Saturdays at the Farm

   Every Saturday I get this little gift...alone time, well almost alone...a day with my baby Rocco.  Saturdays my husband takes our older two to his parent's farm in Red Wing, MN.  It is just little under an hour away.  It took me a long time to get used to it, but now I NEED it!    Today my husband wasn't able to go so Aunt Trish even came & picked them up!   Thank You Tricia!

Saturdays in the summer are filled with gardening at Grandma's side.

When the work is done Annie & Grandma go on walks.  There is a lot to see...

...starting with the hummingbirds.  This tree is always full of them!

Then it is time to relax & play with the dogs.

Rainy days are cozy & spent indoors with lots to do.

In Fall & Winter wood needs to be cut for heat.  Everyone helps out.

My kids look forward all week to Saturdays at the farm.  They get exhausted & I get recharged.  Thanks Paul & Karen for all you do!

Brought to you by Bridesmaids ~ Rachael

   This is the first of a new mini-series.  I treasure my friendships.  I have the most amazing friends!  I want to bring some of their amazingness to you, so I thought I would start with my bridesmaids!  I will be highlighting my 7 bridesmaids & my little flower girl (who is all grown up now).    I am gonna highlight the girls & then bring you an idea from them.  They are all so different from each other & all so cool.  Once you read about these girls...you'll want them in your lives too!

I was married 11 years ago.  So these pictures will probably make them squirm a little.  That just makes it more fun for me :)

Here is the Gang!

Since you already know Kate I am finally going to introduce you to our baby sister Rachael first!

   Rach & I were very tight growing up, she is the sister that I played Barbies and dollies with.  I was actually pretty bossy to her but weirdly enough she never even seemed to mind!  She was just happy to tag along & go with the flow.  Even as a little girl she was full of compassion for others, gentleness, & tons of love. 

   Now we are really raising our families together.  We each have three kids & two of our due dates were about a month apart! 

Here we are with our 2nd babies (one month apart):

And with our third babies (two months apart):

Here are all our kids together...

That is a lot of kids between us!  They really do act like sisters & brothers!

Last year her Christmas card made me laugh soooo hard!

   I don't know if you can see it, but there is a lot of lotion in their hair too!  But when you opened the card up it had the sweetest Christmas message:

   One Day, Isaiah was telling me about how much fun he had playing with a friend's toy semi-truck.  Thinking 'what a great present idea,' I told him, "You should ask Santa for a semi truck for Christmas."

   Isaiah paused to think, and then he said, "I think I'll ask Jesus instead."  I know his response sprang from his huge fear of Santa combined with his knowledge that we can ask Jesus for anything, but his words had great wisdom!  I've had many humbling moments in my life, but none as humbling as that.

   It's a great thing that Isaiah has chosen to believe in Jesus over Santa.  Under Santa's 'clause' my little ones would probably be due for coal this year (see exhibit 'A' on the front of this card for more details).  Instead, they will be enjoying the grace they receive through Jesus, new clothes & toys, and of course, a new semi-truck.

   May you too be enjoying the grace we recieve through Jesus this holiday season and throughout the new year. 

Then she closed it out with this picture of her angelic kids.

I don't think I will ever recieve a more precious card.

   This is the time of year when I start fretting about "the perfect Christmas card!"  I hope this gives you inspiration to send a card that sends the message of Christ's birth and love.

   I have many more ideas from Rach but I think I will stop this post right here.  We have lots of time later to share her decorating tips and recipes!  Thanks for sharing Rach!

Thankful for sisters!

Lib