Happy Thanksgiving

What a great day it has been! This morning we just enjoyed being together as a family. Hazel and Justin have been a little under the weather so we stayed in our PJ's, watch the Macy's Day Parade, and took a family nap.

We also made this turkey to put our rolls in for dinner later.

Since we didn't make it home for Thanksgiving we decided to gather up our some our friends and have a Williamsburg family dinner. There were 4 families who all pitched in with our family favorites treats. It was very yummy, but mostly lots of fun!!

Patrick showing how it's done.

The mommy pack.

The kids were having a blast playing with all the nursery toys.

This is me and Micah. This is the only way that I can hold

him that he doesn't cry. He is my buddy.

After we were all cleaned up we helped Keegan keep one of her traditions that she does with her family. We gathered in a circle and between the eight adults we named 100 things we were thankful for. Keegan also mentioned that she makes her own personal list in her journal, so I decided to see if I could list 100 things that I am thankful for.

1. A husband who makes me laugh daily.

2. A baby who is mega go with the flow.

3. Watching TV at night to wind down with Justin.

4. My home.

5. Parents that are still married to each other.

6. Laughter.

7. Phones.

8. Possibilities.

9. Riley.

10. Hayden.

11. Isaac.

12. Ida

13. Church callings that give me the opportunity to serve others.

14. Amazing friends.

15. Health.

16. My sister.

17. Hot showers

18. Seasons.

19. A car to get around in.

20. Traffic Laws that keep us safe.

21. The means to buy food for my family.

22. Health Care.

23. Friends that I can complain to. (Thanks Stacy)

24. A bed to rest from the days work.

25. The knowledge that my family can be together forever.

26. The ability to have children.

27. Family Pictures.

28. Walks.

29. Strollers.

30. Yummy Thanksgiving Dinners.

31. New days.

32. The opportunity to improve.

33. Employment.

34. A cool Fall breeze.

35. Luke. He is one of our favorite people. He loves Mr. Justin so much, I can't help but love him back.

36. Blogging - my blog and others.

37. The fact that my brother told me that he loved me on a phone message. I love, love!

38. Kindness that is shown to others.

39. Disposable Diapers.

40. My dad supporting our family growing up so that my mom could stay home.

41. My husband who works so that I can be a stay at home mom too.

42. Kids who still have imaginations.

43. Chapstick.

44. Pajamas!

45. Restaurants so sometimes I don't have to cook.

46. Forgiveness.

47. New discoveries.

48. Hazel's kisses.

49. Laurel. She has been a joy to have has a sister.

50. Freshly shaven legs.

Okay this is starting to get hard.

51. Computers and the way they help keep me connected to my family and friends.

52. Internet.

53. New Recipes.

54. Hot soup on a cold day.

55. Formula and all the convince that it brings.

56. Pillows.

57. Electricity.

58. Family Traditions.

59. Arts and crafts.

60. A refrigerator.

61. Toys for Hazel to play with.

62. Inspiring words.

63. Babies. I love me some babies!

64. Carpet.

65. Caffeine Free Diet Coke. Yum.

66. Quiet time.

67. A clean kitchen.

68. Games.

69. Grandparents.

70. The chance we had to live with Papa one Summer. I time I will never forget.

71. Birthdays.

72. Joe Bell and Patricia and Scott Jimeson, our long lost cousins who showed us remarkable kindness.

73. Time with Hazel. She is my new best friend and just love hanging out with her.

74. Patience.

75. Did I mention, my sister. I love her honesty and her....well everything.

76. Long chats with my mom during the day.

77. Painted toe nails.

78. Memories.

79. Lazy days with my family.

80. Clothes to keep us warm.

81. Walmart. Especially today so that I could get some rolls for dinner tonight, since my homemade yeast rolls were a flop.

82. Tissue.

83. The opportunity to learn new things.

84. River trips in Florida.

85. Being an Aunt Nancy. It is the second coolest job in the world.

86. Good Examples.

87. Reading Glasses. I would be walking around with one big headache all the time without them.

88. The Sunrise.

89. Squirrels. They are busy this time of year and I love to watch them working so hard to store up food for the winter.

90. Bishop Lindsey. He is a inspired leader whom I admire so much.

91. Nap time.

92. Something sweet after nap time.

93. Justin's cuddles.

94. Dreams.

95. Good Teachers.

96. The opportunity we have had to live in Williamsburg. I will never forget our time here.

97. Emotions.

98. Keegan, and for the idea to list all the things that I am grateful for.

99. The chance we have to be home with our families for Christmas.

100. The end so I can join my sick hubby in bed.

I love my life, my family, my friends. I am grateful for my faith and all the joy and knowledge that I have because of it. And for this time of year to recognize how blessed I really am.

Move Over!

Hazel can really move with her walker. So far, she can only make left turns, which makes for some interesting wing-dinkies in narrow places when she really needs to make a right turn.

Pumpkinville

While Mom was in town we were invited to go to Pumpkinville with some of our friends. It was a beautiful day with lots to do.

First we went on a corn maze. It was designed for kids, but honestly mom and I had a hard time figuring it out.

Then we enjoyed a nice hayride with our friends, Stacy and Tucker.

It was a very bumpy, but lots of fun.

We noticed this nice photo op. It was a big tube that I thought Hazel and I could get our picture together in. Again, not being so bright thought it would be a good idea to crawl all the way through it to get to end. Well, Hazel didn't want to crawl so I had to carry her with one arm and do my best by crawling with my legs out of the water at the bottom of the tube and with only one arm. Needless to say it was a site to see. And it top it off the picture didn't even turn out.

Then we moved over for some more picture time. Hazel was being a grump. There were even strangers behind me trying to help get her to smile, and this is all we got. Poochy lips.

She finally decided to play along. I think we got some real cute ones.

Here a good shot of all her teeth. She has 8 of them and her smile is so

cute with them all shining bright.

Hooray!! We are all done with pictures!

I fixed it!

When I was working at HCA we had a saying, "I fixed it." It was always said very cocky and loudly once we would fix a scanner or copier. I find myself saying it around the house too. Justin and I like to pretend that we are super handy people even though neither one of us really are.

Even though time doesn't always allow, Justin really loves to work on our cars. Before we headed back up to Virginia from our Summer he replaced my serpentine belt. He was so pleased, it didn't take nearly as long as he thought and it went off without a hitch.

Justin is so hard at work. I just sat there and watched him while reading a book in the beautiful Florida sun.

The other day our kitchen sink was stopped up. It was a Sunday and we didn't want to call maintenance out on the weekend, so I decided to fix it myself. I knew the process, how I don't know, but I felt confident that I could handle it, so dove right in.

I made the biggest mess ever. I didn't release the pipe slow enough and the water shot everywhere. We were having some friends over for dinner that afternoon and myself and my kitchen had food particles and water all over.

I look so victorious because I thought that, "I fixed it," but no such luck. We just lived with the non-draining sink until Monday when Maintenance could come and really fix it.

Contagious

Her laugh is so Contagious. She is such a joy to spend my days with!