Thanksgiving Turkey

Kaity helped Grandma with the turkey for Thanksgiving. I really can't handle the whole ordeal. 

 Take good notes Kaity, you won' t learn this from your momma. I keep telling Markham when it's our turn to host I plan to buy the turkey cooked. I'm not sure if he knows I'm not joking.

She handled it like an old pro. Thanks Grandma. We will need another few lessons before I can expect Kaity to cook the turkey, ha!

blessings

This time of year is so fabulous. I love to think about all the things that make life rich. For FHE we made lists of all our blessings. Gratitude is so important. I pray we do a good job instilling this principle into our kiddos.

It was fun to hear Kaity and Jackson recite their lists out loud. 

Kaity: My brother and sister, my parents, my grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, my car, my house, my friends.

Jackson: My family - (recited individually) my dog, the Holy Ghost, Primary, my teachers. 

 I am grateful for a ridiculously selfless and infinitely patient husband and best friend who makes this journey through life so fun. I am grateful for our beautiful, happy and healthy kiddos.

I am grateful for food to feed them, clothes to dress them and warm beds to put them to sleep.

I am grateful for the simple things that we all have- electricity, a washing machine, flushing toilets and running water, etc. etc.,  It's hard to imagine life without these things but plenty of people have and still do  manage without. Last Sunday at church, a speaker shared a story about a family who lived before electricity was commonplace. They had a really tough year on the farm and struggled to gather a nice meal for Thanksgiving dinner, but they had electricity and each other. wow. we are so blessed. I feel so gross for ever taking what I have for granted. 

I am grateful to know we have a Father in Heaven. That this life isn't it. That we are eternal beings capable of being with our families forever. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement which makes that possible. This knowledge is true happiness. And for that, I am grateful. 

A little after dinner snuggle.

 

Kaitlyn enjoying those wonderful crunchy fall leaves. She knows of my love affair for everything fall. She collected some leaves and made me a beautiful collage. What a sweetie.

 Little Addie is growing too fast. She is getting more and more independent and doing new things every day. New words are "Momma", "Baba" (bottle) and "Uh-oh." With Kaitlyn, I was so excited for her to do new things and reach the next milestone. It's different with Adelyn. My heart aches a little knowing this will be the last baby I rock to sleep every night, the last little crawler I will have at my feet and the last time I will be folding tiny little onsies.

Savor, savor, savor these moments.

Off Track

Today the kiddos slept in for the first time since day light savings changed back. It was nice. Markham kissed me goodbye while I was still cuddled up in the covers. All the kiddos still nestled in their beds. 

Pretty soon we were up getting our day started.

I whipped up some eggs while cute Kaity cuddled up on the couch with a book. 

Jackson and Addie got started on some bananas and cereal.

I helped Jackson get dressed and made sure his teeth got a good brush. We drove preschool carpool.  On the way home we made a quick trip through the car wash. I love my black van......(shocked gasp). 

Yes I used the words  "my" "van" and "love" all in the same sentence. Let me tell you, I have been choking back some pretty sharp words that came out of my mouth about how I would never ever drive an uncool min-van. How could I? They are so not my style. I have too much self respect and on and on...ad naseum. What a jerk. 

And then I had a big fat reality check after Adelyn was born. The Pilot was not working with 3 kids and carpool. The third baby is a game changer for sure. So we caved and sacrificed style for function and made our lives about 100,000% easier....but it was super tough. Tears were shed by all, even Addie,  but she was always crying back then. I love that van, I get it now. Automatic sliding doors are a beautiful thing. I wanted black, it felt a little less van "ish" and possibly even a little FBI "ish" to me. That's dumb I know, but seriously FBI vehicles on tv and in the movies are always black. But wow, it's no easy task keeping it looking nice. Which I have decided if I have to drive a tube around town, it's going to be a clean and sparkly one. 

Anyway, I digress, there is no point in washing said black tube unless I towel dry it immediately after. So I did. 

With Kaity being off track, we have enjoyed mornings walks while Jacks is at preschool. Today we set out on a long walk to the duck pond. It was an absolutely perfect day. I was bursting with gratitude for the crisp fall weather. 

 

Kaity moves pretty quick on her Hello Kitty scooter. I got a good work out.

 We made sure to take some bread to feed the ducks. 

 They were hungry!

Little Addie couldn't help herself -  being all nested up in the stroller overcame her and she fell fast asleep. 

She woke up for the ride home and was all smiles.

1st Grade

Kaitlyn is loving 1st grade. She is gone all day now and it's tough on mom. She is such a sweet little girl and has lots of friends. She keeps busy with dance 2 times a week and homework and reading. She is a little smartie and loves to learn new things. She is also enjoying learning Spanish at school. She speaks with a perfect little Spanish accent. It is crazy. We are blessed to have her in our family.