Thankful 29

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty-nine I am thankful for Cooper! Sir Cooper is our famous dog, just ask our boys. He is the best dog ever! I am so thankful that we have him. He always knows when you've had a rough day and will come cuddle with you. He is so good with our boys. Cooper loves checking on everyone throughout the night. He will start in one bed and gradually work his way to everyone's room. We love you Cooper!!!

Thankful 28

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty-eight I am thankful to be an auntie. My nieces and nephews are the greatest gift. I am so thankful for each and everyone of them. I don't get to see all of them, some of them I've never even gotten to cuddle with. Each and everyone of them are always in my prayers. I get so giddy when I get new pictures of them to see how much they have all grown. I am so proud of them all in all that they do. Each one with their own personality. I am so thankful that they all have wonderful parents raising such beautiful children. I am so thankful for my nephews that are close by. I get to cuddle and kiss and hug on them and soo excited for the new additions to come! 

Two for Twosday

Two for Twosday: two thoughts/ updates/ photos/ something that I don't want to forget or am flat out oober excited about.

So this two for twosday has a theme to it :) Yay for themes! Supporting your local businesses. Josh and I both grew up in a family business. Josh's family had a hard wood flooring company. My family had a music company. Something that I learned from the family business is the dedication that is put into building that business. No matter how young you are that family business is somehow your baby too.

I really want to focus on supporting our local businesses. BUY LOCAL! Some of the businesses that I am going to tell you about are from my home town. Some of them will be from the town that we live in now. When I think of a local business to me that means... it's a local family or person that has invested time and energy into building up their dream. Not a chain, not a store that you can find in every state on every other street corner, even though yes, I love Starbucks and they did start in the NW.

So today I give you two local businesses that I can't get enough of.

1. Gray Day Creations
I went to college with Leanna. She is a very talented crafter. Check this out, she makes original crochet hats, booties, onesies, tutus, the list goes on and on. If you have an idea and wanted it hand made, you can email Leanna a picture and she will make it for you.

   

Also she has some of the CUTEST kiddos!

2. Studio on Main
Fabulous place to get your work-out on. Walking in you feel... well... peace. All the things you really want to feel when you are trying to make a better you. The facility is beautiful, makes you want to re-do your house. The people are truly there to teach you and help you along. I LOVE taking Zumba classes at SOM. Their prices are reasonable, they have GREAT class options and different times. So working Momma's can get their grove on too.

Thankful 27

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty-seven I am thankful for my little brothers. My little brother Wayne came out to Missouri to help with our house renovation. My youngest brother Alan is always asking when he came come help or what he can do to help. Coming from a split home with some shaky times and being one of the older sisters sometimes I felt like I had more of a responsibility to my younger siblings. Making sure they are taken care of or being there for whatever they need. The thing is my brothers are there for me too. Just a phone call away to complain about this and that. I can call Alan for a quick recipe idea. Now Wayne is just a couch away and I can throw a pillow at him. I am so thankful for my little brothers. I may not be taller than them any more... but I can still make fun of them and punch them in the shoulder, and they are kind enough to just make fun of me back. 

Thankful 26

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty- six I am thankful for the ocean. I was born and raised on the west coast. I went to college by the beach and then on an island, rough life I know. I have always, until recently been by the ocean. Whenever I am at the beach by the ocean listening to the waves I feel whole. My soul is cleansed when I am by the ocean. When I am in the water I feel like all my worries are washed away. When I see my footprints in the sand, you can see your mark on the world as it is. The beach, the ocean that is where I feel like me. So thankful that the Lord gave us this beautiful gift. 

Thankful 25

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty- five I am thankful for our senses. I am thankful for the ability to taste, touch, smell, hear, and see. I was going to say that I was thankful for music, the ability to hear my children sing. Then I wanted to say I was thankful to be able to see my children singing, because the make the most amazing facial expressions. The thing is... all the senses that I have been given... are amazing. I have the ability to taste the tears my children shed when I kiss their chubby cheeks. I have the ability to hug my children and touch their hair. I am so thankful for these things. I want to admit that I sometimes take all these things for granted. Not sometimes, a lot of the time, most of the time in fact. So today I am thankful that I have all five of my senses.

Thankful 24

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty-four I am thankful for water. It's a simple thing. But I am so very thankful for it. I am thankful that I can turn a faucet on and can control how hot or cold it is. I am thankful that I can give baths to my children with clean water.  I am thankful that my family has clean water. Thankful that we have access to water whenever we want it and as much as we want. 

Thankful 23

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty-three I am thankful for time at home. I am thankful to be able to snuggle with the boys. To be home and get house work done. Or to snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie. I am thankful for the silliness that we have at home. I am just as thankful for no school days as my his are. For that time to share together.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Thankful 22

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty-two I am thankful for Thanksgiving. So thankful that we have a day to be with family, friends, good food, Macy's parade and making new memories.

Show and Share *Holey Jeans*

With three boys we are always looking for cool boy stuff to do. No pink here!

Holey jeans. Pretty much EVERY single pair of jeans the boys have, have holes in the knees. So what do we do with holey jeans... LOTS OF THINGS!

At first it was so daunting to see all those jeans going to waste.  Now we see all kinds of different crafting options : )

1st jean project... patching jeans with jean. Basically you cut up the pair of jeans that are really not going to make it even with patching and use that as your jean fabric. Patch away!

2nd jean project... we made a pockets! So the pair of jeans that you are using for patching fabric cut out both the bottom pockets. Sew those together and you have a pocket patch! The boys get a kick out of it.

3rd jean project... you know have jean fabric to use on other projects.

4th jean project... NO MORE HOLEY JEANS TO WASH!

When I started the jean patching I thought it was going to be just a mom chore. The boys loved helping me pin patches and the pockets together. I guess I just hadn't thought that the boys would want to be involved with sewing. They had a blast helping.

What do you do with your holey jeans???

Thankful 21

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty-one I am thankful for our children's teachers/daycare providers. We are so very blessed with a great group of teachers and daycare ladies and gents. So very thankful for each and everyone of them. I know they don't get enough credit for all the hard work that they do. Samual and Louis have awesome teachers. They do a wonderful job of working with our kiddos. Sam and Lou both have awesome after school program leaders. They do a wonderful job of bringing new projects in for the kids to do. Rian has an absolutely terrific group of ladies that watch him. They have a wonderful program set up. All of the teachers and daycare peeps have an absolutely astounding creative side. Not just creative but patient creativity. I can't imagine trying to do some of the crafts that they do with a full class of kiddos. I am so very thankful for each and everyone one of them. 

Two for Twosday

Two for Twosday: two thoughts/ updates/ photos/ something that I don't want to forget or am flat out oober excited about.

1. The boys came home from a safe hunting trip with some meat! This is Samual's second year hunting and he loves it. He opted out of having a birthday part to go on two hunting trips this year. This is Louis first year of hunting. Louis LOVED it. They came back with stars in their eyes for boys hunting weekend. The rules for boys hunting weekend are little different when Momma isn't around. They had a blast with Dad and our family friends Jacob and Jaxon.

2. Rian got his cast off! He is a little sore and a little wobbly when walking but he has his leg back. They asked us if we wanted to keep the cast. We didn't keep it. Mainly cause it stunk and I wasn't too sure what I would do with it. I'm sure I'll find some awesome Pintrest idea now that we don't have it. I did take pictures of it though.

Thankful 20

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day twenty I am thankful for s'mores. They are an amazing sweet treat but I am thankful for the good times that are had while making them. Think about it... every time I have ever had a s'more there is laughter, fire, roasting sticks, smiles and wonderful memories. I am thankful for that. I am thankful for all the silly times that involve s'more making. What's not to be thankful for... marshmallow, chocolate, graham crackers and laughter.

Thankful 19

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day nineteen I am thankful for hunting season. I am thankful for the family time that we have. A weekend away camping with the family is a blessing. Sometimes it's not the whole family sometimes it's just the boys and Dad that get to go. I am thankful for the food that is provided for our family. We use all the meat that we can. If we have more meat that we think we can freeze and use we share that with other families. I am thankful for what our children learn from hunting. They have learned about gun safety, right now at they know not to touch a gun unless they are with an adult. Our boys are learning about the circle of life. I know that sounds very... Lion King but seriously. Samual and Louis have a better understanding and respect for the treatment of our planet, animals and farming. They are learning how to hunt and provide for their family. Day 13 I mentioned that I am thankful for the older way of life. I am thankful that this is something that we learned from past generations and can continue to pass it on to our future generations. Thank you for hunting season.

Thankful 18

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day eighteen I am thankful for art. I am thankful for the beautiful art work that is out there. I am thankful for all the different kinds of art. It makes my soul happy. I am so thankful for pictures, scrapbooking, crafting, knitting, crocheting, painting, drawing, singing, music, dancing, all the art that we are so richly blessed with. 

Claude Monet, thank you for starting the passion of art for me.

Thankful 17

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day seventeen I am thankful for Oregon! I am so thankful for the amazing state that I was born and raised in. I am thankful for the mountains that I learned how to board on. I am thankful for the ocean that I learned how to surf in. I am thankful for the national forest that I learned mountain biking and hiking. I am so thankful for the fishing and hunting. I am thankful for the beautiful state. Most of all I am thankful for my ducks! I love my ducks!!! OOO!!!

*Happy Birthday*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTIN!!!

Typically for birthdays I try to get a nice card. One that really does try to say what I want to say. The thing is sometimes there just isn't one.

Here is what I was looking for:

Josh and I are truly blessed to have such a brat of a brother-in law.

Our boys are  blessed to have an Uncle that truly loves them as his nephews. This means the world to our boys BUT it means so much to Josh and I.

Thank you for being such a great husband to my best friend/sister.

YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR! Don't let anyone tell you differently.

Where do yaks come from? From Siberia. So that's why Eskimos don't have rodeos.

Happy birthday!

As you can see I couldn't find anything. So I got you this card so you would know that we love you.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTIN!

We love you!

Anna, Josh, Sam, Lou, Ri and Coop

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Thankful 16

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day sixteen I am thankful for my phone. I may have a slight addiction to it it's true. The thing is... I am so thankful that I can pick it up and call or text or email all my friends and family. It's a blessing to know that my best friends are only a call away. Not just a call anymore but a face to face call. That moment when you either start pulling your hair out or text your hubby a silly text... I am so thankful for my phone or I would be bald. That moment when your brother blows chocolate milk out his nose because of your hilarious joke... thank you trusty phone camera. So thankful that I have my trusty phone.

Thankful 15

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day fifteen I am thankful for my job. I am so thankful for the company that I work for. It's an amazing feeling to know that I believe everything this company is. I have been so truly blessed by the great people that I get to work with everyday. I am thankful that I get to complain about work every now and then too because that means I still have my job. 

Thank you to this crazy crew that keeps me on my toes. 

Thankful 14

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day fourteen I am thankful for books. I am so thankful for all the books that have been written. Thank you for all the authors out there that took the leap to write. 

Two for Twosday

Two for Twosday: two thoughts/ updates/ photos/ something that I don't want to forget or am flat out oober excited about.

1. Our boys, pictures of them always feel me with love.

2. We got to celebrate two very special birthdays. Samual and Louis

Thankful 13

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day thirteen I am thankful for the old way of life. What do I mean by old way of life... well the best way for me to explain it is... John Wayne, Western, Wagons West, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Oregon trail, pioneers.  Sometimes I wonder if I was born in the wrong era. I am so thankful that I have learned so much from that era. Most of all though I am thankful that I use so much of what our history taught, today, now and always. 

Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder 1948

Thankful 12

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day 12 I am thankful for our veterans. Yesterday was veterans day. I want to say thank you to all the men and women who served and are serving. Thank you to you and your families. 

We went to a very special church service yesterday. I cannot tell you how very meaningful it was to me. When they have the clip up on their site I will post it for you all. 

Thank you thank you thank you for our freedom that did not come free. 

Thank you Gramps for your service.

*SPECIAL* Thankful 11

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day eleven I am thankful for our 7 year old son Samual.

Today is Sir Samual's 7th birthday!
This is your birthday song it isn't very long HEY! 

So in the 'Define These Thr333' spirit we are going to give you SEVEN defining silly-isms of SAMUAL!

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1. Samual is very artistic. He loves to play with all the different mediums of art available writing, music, painting, drawing, anything he can get his hands on. 

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2. Samual loves to read. Do you remember Reading Rainbow? Sam has never seen it before... but when he reads it's just like that. He always ends his reading with a question to those listening. 

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3. Samual is very inquisitive. He likes to think things through and ask questions on everything.

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4. Samual loves to laugh. What's that you say wizards make you laugh, I'll be right back...

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5. Samual likes to care for those around him. If your sitting by yourself, he will sit and cuddle with you. Typically all three boys sit with each other on the couch to read, watch TV or play card games. That's just how they roll. 

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6. Samual is a great basketball player.

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7. Samual is our animal boy. He would like to be a dental veterinarian when he grows up. 

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~ 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMUAL!

We love you to the moon and back.

 

XOXO Momma and Daddy

Thankful 10

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day ten I am thankful for the rain.
Maybe it's my Oregon roots, but I love the rain. The freshness of the air, the sound of it through our windows. Having to run through puddles with the boys. Thank you, Lord for the rain!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Thankful 9

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day nine I am thankful for our son Rian. Thank you Lord for the gift that you gave us. Rian is the only kiddo in our family without a November birthday. So to not let our little dude feel left out. In  'Define These Thr333' fashion... I give you THREE descriptions of Rian :)

1. Rian loves imaginative play. Have you ever seen Toy Story. You know how Andy makes this imaginary world of play with his toys? Yeah, that's Rian. It's so cool to sit back and listen to what imaginary world he thinks of. 

2. Rian is very thoughtful. He tries so hard to do sweet things for everyone. Even if it's doing silly things to make you smile. Please tell me you think he looks like Drew Carey with these glasses...

3. Rian LOVES to talk. He can come up with some pretty amazing things to say. His favorite word right now is 'actually' and my favorite phrase "Oh my 'lanta".
Example: Actually, Mom, that's pretty disgusting.

Psalms 127:3
 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Thankful 8

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day eight I am thankful for coffee. Yep. Coffee! THANK you to all the Baristas out there! Folgers thank you for being a faithful companion all these years. I am so thankful that my hubby and I can enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning together before all the craziness of the day begins. I am thankful that we have had the opportunity to go coffee cupping. Real thing look it up and do it!

This beauty is from our local coffee house Main Street Coffee House. Thank you!!!

Gourmet Coffee Shop and Upper Room
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Thankful 7

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day seven I am thankful for the food that we are able to put on our table every day. With three growing boys that are always hungry sometimes this is a never ending task. Thankfully we have been blessed with good food and a full pantry. 

Vote

Please take a moment while voting and thank those that made it possible for the freedom to vote.

I voted.

*SPECIAL* Thankful 6

November's thirty days of what I am thankful for:

Day six I am thankful for our 6 year old son Louis.

Today is Sir Louis' 6th birthday!
This is your birthday song it isn't very long HEY!

So in the 'Define These Thr333' spirit we are going to give you SIX defining silly-isms of LOUIS!

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1. Louis has one of the biggest hearts. He wants others to be happy, healthy and laughing. He will find away to make all of the above happen.

Louis painting a pumpkin for our family.

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2. Louis has an amazing laugh. It's one of those laughs that you can't help but laugh along.

 

Louis giggling about his Angry Bird face.

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3. Louis has his own style. He rocks what catches his eye. He is himself at all times.

Louis found a cut off sleeve and turned it into a Pirate patch.

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4. Louis has a amazing talent with music. His favorite band is The Beatles. How many six year olds do you know, know all the lyrics to the Yellow Submarine?!

Louis singing Yellow Submarine.

 

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5. Louis is maybe, the best cuddler in the world!

Louis cuddling with Uncle Wayne and his brother Rian.

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6. Louis has a beautiful imagination. Louis can come up with amazing stories and create wonderful drawings.

Louis collecting more information for his next story.

 

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~ 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIS!

We love you to the moon and back.

 

XOXO Momma and Daddy