Thirty days of Thankfulness {30}

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

Day 30- technology. I am thankful for technology. Don't get me wrong it's a love hate thankful. I am so thankful that when I need to hear my husbands voice we are just a phone all away. I am thankful that friends are just an email away. Family are just a text away. You get where I'm going with this? Yes it can be a hassle but for the most part technology is just another platform of keeping us all connected. 

Thirty days of Thankfulness {29}

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

Day 29- Decorating. I am thankful for being able to decorate the house with my family. Sometimes... Most of the time it's a pain but I am thankful that we are all together decorating together. 

Thirty days of Thankfulness {28}

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

Day 28- Together. I am thankful that we have today together. Thankful to spend our time laughing and smiling and arguing and laughing. I am thankful that I get to cook and make a meal with my family. I am thankful.

The Storyteller

The Storyteller
By: Jodi Picoult
FIVE out of FIVE stars

my thoughts:
Jodi Picoult never does give you a straight black and white choice. There is always a twist in how to look at the everyday. She doesn't disappoint in this book. Sage, the main character, is asked by her new friend to kill him. The twist, he was an SS guard. Not enough of a twist, her Grandma is a Holocaust survivor. The more Sage tries to tell the story to an investigator the more she isn't believed until she is able to show the real story. That's just me trying to not give away too much of the story.

the run down:
Sage Singer befriends an old man who's particularly beloved in her community. Josef Weber is everyone's favorite retired teacher and Little League coach. They strike up a friendship at the bakery where Sage works. One day he asks Sage for a favor: to kill him. Shocked, Sage refuses…and then he confesses his darkest secret - he deserves to die, because he was a Nazi SS guard. Complicating the matter? Sage's grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.

What do you do when evil lives next door? Can someone who's committed a truly heinous act ever atone for it with subsequent good behavior? Should you offer forgiveness to someone if you aren't the party who was wronged? And most of all - if Sage even considers his request - is it murder, or justice?

Thirty days of Thankfulness {27}

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

Day 27- cookies! I am thankful for standing around a kitchen with family and friends and baking cookies. You get a sweet treat and good company.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {26}

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

Day 26- Art. I am so thankful for art. I know it's vague but I am so thankful for all the different palates of art out there. I am so thankful that I get to see the art that our children create, to be able to view things from their eyes. I am thankful for photography, being able to capture moments. I am thankful for drawing, painting, crafting, DIY, working with your hands. Thankful for the beauty of art.

Show and Share

Three boys plus one craft loving Momma... let's see what we get into!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! A few things that I have learned about Thanksgiving with kiddos. Did that just give you a little anxiety reading it? It gave me a little typing it. Here's the thing holidays and kids... they're just so excited that waiting to do anything is agonizing. So this year I've found a few printable sheets that we are going to take with us to the table while prepping for the meal.


If you haven't visited How Does She, you need to. Sign up for their email subscription while you are there. How Does She put together a Thanksgiving Mad Lib. Yeah, we're so doing that!
How Does She, Thanksgiving Mad Lib

Visit Pinterest and search for 'color by number Thanksgiving'. There are a ton of ideas on there of different printable sheets there.

I found this one from Reading With Kids. It looks like they have pages to color and puzzles that you can make.

Keep it simple.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two for Twosday

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

1. Had an absolute blast running in the Turkey Trails Run over the weekend. It was a little chilly (28 degrees) BUT I had some great cheerleaders there.

2. CHIEFS! I got to go to a Chiefs game! It was a blast. Sadly, we lost BUT once a Chiefs fan, ALWAYS a Chiefs fan. PS... I got to meet The Dude.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {25}

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





Day 25- Medicine. I am thankful that we have access to medicine. I am thankful that we have access to doctors. So very thankful that when the boys are running a temperature we can go to the store and grab medicine to help them.

{this moment}

{this moment} -  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.

Thiry days of Thankfulness {24}

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

Day 24- Sports. I am thankful that we can enjoy playing and watching sports. Thankful for the fun banter and joy of the game. GO CHIEFS!

Thirty days of Thankfulness {23}

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

Day 23- Health. I am so thankful for my health and my families health. This past year I've pushed myself to do triathlons, 5ks, bike ride journeys. It's been a blast. I am so thankful for each step. I'm thankful that our family is staying healthy this year too. 

Fly

I'm joining in on Lisa-Jo baker's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

It doesn't happen nearly as much as we would like it to.
Typically once a year.
That time together though is so special to everyone.
It's that moment that no matter what time of day it is, it turns into Christmas.

That moment when the boys clamber out of their beds at 2 in the morning because they heard their Nina's soft giggle. They turn the corner sleepy eyed and brighten immediately.

Hugs.
Kisses,
Giggles.
Tears.

This year we get two visits!
This will be our first Thanksgiving in seven years together.
This is special.

There's always a goodbye though at the end of the visit and we have to take Nina back to her airport.
Where she flies home.

She will fly home to the ocean and the mountains.
We stay here in the flat fields.
Waiting for our next visit.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {22}

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

Day 22- My faith. I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. No, I don't like to put a religious title to it because that's just humans putting their stamp or box around what God can do. I accepted  the Lord into my life when I was five at a Billy Graham crusade while Johnny Cash was playing in Portland, Oregon. I was baptized years later in a river in Stevenson, Washington. It's a journey that I am so thankful to be on.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {21}

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

Day 21- Grandparents. I am so thankful to have and had outstanding Grandparents. We learn so much from them. I'm not only thankful for my Grandparents but the boys Grandparents. They are amazing people! So blessed to have them in our lives.

Nina, Gigi, Papa and Travis thank you!

Thirty days of Thankfulness {20}

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

Day 20- Music. It's good for your soul. I am thankful for music because without it... life would be so quiet.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {19}

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

Day 19- Imagination. I am thankful that our kiddos have an amazing imagination. I love hearing the stories that they make up. I love watching them play games that they've made up. Imagination. I am thankful that we have it.

Show and Share

Three boys plus one craft loving Momma... let's see what we get into!

Thirty days of Thankfulness. It's November and a lot of folks are posting what they are thankful for each day. I did this last year and had a blast with it so am doing it again this year. There is an awesome correlation of how life is when you have something to be thankful for in the day.

I wanted my family to be a part of it this year. So we made thankful leaves.

What you'll need:
Crayons
String
Duct Tape
Pen
Paper
Scissors

Steps:
-To create the thankful leaves you can either find a pattern. I used Rebecca Ludens' leaf sketch or have the kiddos draw them.
***You can do this on colored or white paper. We did white so that we could color in the leaves.
-Printed or drawn cut them out.
-With a hole punch punch one hole in the base of the leaves.
***Once we had our leaves made, keep them in a spot that everyone can get to. I've been keeping ours in a mason jar.
-String your string wherever you'd like your thankful leaves to be displayed.
-Tape the ends with duck tape or masking tape

Each day you need to pull out a thankful leaf and write what you are thankful for and color it. Once you have that done, take one end of the string and slide your leaf on.

Ta-dah! Thankful leaves!!!


It's so awesome to watch what the boys are thankful for.
Louis on one of his days said that he was thankful for Samual. Samual was so touched by this that he cried "happy" tears. It's a great project for everyone in the family.

Two for Twosday

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

1. HUNTING season is in full swing! We have a few hunting trips planned and super excited to head out. We plan on trying a few new recipes with the deer meat. Deer jerky is on the list. Do you have any that you use?

2. Thanksgiving dishes are being planned. So excited that we are going to spend Thanksgiving with my Momma and both my brothers! This is the first time in seven years! We plan on making a feast!

Thirty days of Thankfulness {18}

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

Day 18- Work. I am so thankful for my job. Yeah, it pays the bills but it's more than that. I am very thankful for all the goofy, awesome people that I work with. I am thankful for all the opportunities that it has provided for me and my family. I am so very blessed that the last year I've been able to work from home. I am thankful for our amazing team. Through every season of sports baseball, football, basketball. Every holiday Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. I am thankful that we get to celebrate all of them. Yeah, you all can make fun of me when we get together.

{this moment}

{this moment} -  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.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {17}

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

Day  17- Hunting. I am so thankful for everything that hunting provides for our family. Yes, it does annoy the boogers out of me that our boys birthdays sometimes get skimmed over, or that Halloween events don't get to be had. I am thankful that my husband has a hobby that his sons enjoy with him. I am thankful for the coming together that hunting brings. I am thankful for the food that is provided for us. I am thankful that there are still responsible hunters out there. I am  thankful for all of our hunters coming home safely because sometimes they don't. Sometimes they get to go onto bigger and better things while they were enjoying what they do best. So tonight I hug each of my hunters as they come home. Thankful for the hunt. 

Thirty days of Thankfulness {16}

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



Day  16- Pajamas. Sometimes all a day needs is pajamas. I am so thankful for sweatpants and hoodies. The other thing I'm thankful for on pajama days are no photos.

The Fault in our Stars

The Fault in our Stars
By: John Green
FIVE out of FIVE stars

my thoughts:
Such a great book. Get this book. Can I say that I laughed and cried when I read this book... ab-so-stinking-lutely! There are a few twists in this book but the conversations that are had between Hazel and Agustus are fabulous. Must read!!

the run down:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {15}

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

Day  15- Being an Auntie. I love being an auntie to the growing pack of nieces and nephews. I am so thankful for each and everyone of my nieces and nephews. I am thankful that they all have such amazing parents. I am so thankful for that I get to be a part of their lives. Some near some far, some older and some so new. I am thankful for each of you.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {14}

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

Day  14- Reading. I am so thankful for the passion of reading books. It's something that has been passed down the last few generations. I am so pleased to see my little ones pick up a book and fly into the imaginative land of literacy. To get lost in between the words. To create the scene that is unfolding. I am so thankful for the time that I get to snuggle up and read. Read to my sons. Read to myself. Read and discuss. Read and pass the book along or not pass it along. I am so thankful for the new technology that we can get a book at the touch of a screen. Or walk into a library and quietly look for a new adventurous book. Oh, I am so thankful for reading.

Tree

I'm joining in on Lisa-Jo baker's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

Bark.

Branches.

Leaves.

Health.

Living.

Breath.

Life.

Growth.

Season.

Home.

Strength.

Family tree.

Tire swing.

Hunting stands.

Deer rub.

Forest fires.

Forests.

Lumber.

Marker.

Jumping in leaf piles.

This tree has seen my husband grow up. It has seen his Mom grow up. It has seen her Dad grow up and his Dad before him and his Dad before him and his Dad before him and so on and so on. It's seen many many generations grow up before it. It stands there. Rooted into the ground that has been it's home for so long. Taking in memory after memory. Some sweet, some extremely painful. But it still stands there. Time after time. Tear after tear. Joyful screams after joyful screams. Tag games played under it. Many a hunters climbing into it. Deer rubbing on it. This tree stands there for all the family to see. Generations look to it. It's a constant. It is there. It is the family tree. Always growing season after season.

Thirty days of Thankfulness {13}

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

Day 13-  Fireplaces and wine. I am so thankful that I get to sit down next to the fireplace and sip on wine while talking to my hubby. Nights like this... I am so very thankful for.

PS

Do not set shoes this close to the fire. They will melt. 

Show and Share: Star Wars Birthday

Three boys plus one craft loving Momma... let's see what we get into!

November brings birthdays to our house. This year Jedi Louis wanted a Star Wars themed birthday. So with a little help from Pinterest we went to town!

The Grub

Setting up the table

7 Leia Dip

Obi-Wan Kabob-ies

Wookie Cookie

Ewok Edibles

Vader Veggies

Storm Trooper Scoopers

Vader pizza

Yoda pizza

***To make the pizzas: order a cheese pizza and get black olives, mushrooms and green pepper to decorate with.

Jedi Juice (capri sun) R2D2 is a cooler for the Jedi Juice.

Jedi attire

Light sabers

***To make lightsabers: Pool noodles and duck tape! One noodle makes two lightsabers. Also we were told that the lightsabers cannot hurt anyone. We (my brother and I) tested out the light sabers out on one another just to make sure... We can absolutely confirm that you can hit each other as hard as possible and it does not hurt. They are noisy, but not hurtful.

Jedi robes

 ***To make Jedi robes: Cheap brown cloth, cut it in one long sheet and then notch out a piece in the fold for the head. Rope to tie at the waist.

Games

Pinata

 *** To make a Death Star pinata: We bought an eyeball pinata that was on sale, wrapped it in foil and black duck tape. Also we let the kids use the lightsabers to hit the pinata... doesn't work so well... unless they hit the pinata off the string and start stomping on it... then they work :)

Go Louis!

Jedi Training Room

Storm Trooper

Imperial Guard

 *** To make training room: White, red balloons, a black sharpie, black streamers and tape.

Be ready for wild squeals!

We had an absolute blast with all the friends and family that came to celebrate Jedi Louis' birthday! Thank you thank you to everyone that came to celebrate with us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIS!