Simply Thankful.

Who has the right words on days like these? There are so many things that we could list that we are thankful for, but they always seem generic and overdone. I am thankful, extremely thankful, for all the typical things we write about on thanksgiving, but I am also thankful for things that we don't normally talk about.

                                I am thankful for the trials and tribulations that this life sometimes offers.

We never wish for hard things to come our way. Really, if we were given the choice, we would probably pass. But I have learned a valuable lesson; those things.... those really hard things in life that break us also make us stronger. They build character and strength within us. They make us become a person we only wished we could become. Those hard times draw us closer to a Savior who never leaves us; who becomes our strongest anchor in the midst of the storm.

Yes, hardships cause us to change.... GROW... and for that, I am extremely thankful.

I will take a good dish of trial over a life that stays stagnant and stale. I would rather spend weeks, months, and years battling hardships over a lifetime of complacency.

So, yes.... I am thankful for those things in life that cause extreme heartache...for long nights spent in tears. My God is so good at turning muck into something clean and pure. Something incredibly good. Who would I/we be without that promise?

Montana

My first big trip with two kiddos (alone... for the flying part) was a success. We were gone six days, 3 1/2 of which were spent traveling. I am EXHAUSTED and have spent the better half of today in my pjs. Addi is in mismatched clothing and my bed is covered with dirty clothes. Brandly is the only one who seems to have it together in this house.

My Dad had been planning on visiting his folks in Montana for awhile and when I mentioned that I would love to go, he quickly bought a plane ticket for Addi and I. I was thrilled and all to nervous at the same time. Thrilled to see my Grandparents and spend some time in BEAUTIFUL Montana, but extremely nervous to be confined to a flying tin can with two small children.

The kids spared me extreme embarrassment and behaved themselves on the plane, getting compliments from the neighbors surrounding us. I am sure they were as nervous as I when they found themselves trapped at the back of the plane with two small children who had the capability to make their plane ride very miserable. BUT we made it to Montana and back with few road bumps and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

View from my Grandparent's front yard

 We had planned to have a picnic and then hike up to the falls but it was FREEZING and snowing so we ate in the car and marched quickly up the mountain (where we were met with ice patches). I think the poor kiddos were frozen by the time they got in the car.... they are Texas babies! Therefore excuse the blurry pics.. my hands were frozen.

I had planned on making cute little Halloween costumes, but once I found out we weren't going to be in Houston, I just threw something together. I think they were still pretty cute!

.... and of course a photo shoot :)

If You Need A Laugh

This is my daughter....



I did not tell her to shove her little finger up her nose... she did that all on her own. We are so lady like around these parts. (please excuse the nasty bathtub).

Merry Pumpkin Season

Have you ever heard of the book Spookley the Square Pumpkin? It is super cute and has a good moral to the story. Anyway, we have the book, movie (book is a hundred times better...as usual), and toy and it has basically filled Addi's world this October. Anytime we see a pumpkin she sings "Spookley the square pumpkin!". I knew she was going to die and go to heaven when we hit the pumpkin patch this season.  As soon as we pulled into the parking lot at Dewberry Farm and she saw all those orange pumpkins sitting out in the field "SPOOKLEY!" was being shouted from the back seat.

 Houston is still pretty warm in October and this year has been even more so. I think it was like 88 degrees the day we went. Yeah, there are no cute sweaters and boots in these parts, but we sweated it out and had a great time.

How cute is a skirt with pockets??

... and if these pictures aren't cute enough, check out these pictures from last year :)

Makes my heart melt and ache at the same time. That was only one year ago and look how much she has grown and changed. She isn't a baby anymore. Next year at this time Brandly will be one and I'll be saying the same thing about him. Oh my...sigh.