What's a Honkey?

So we decorated for Christmas tonight...at least we started. It actually looks like we just moved in b/c of the boxes all around. I won't share too many details but my favorite part of the night was when my three year old and I were reading a book about Jesus' Birth. We were talking about each page and the different parts of the story when I asked her what animal carried Mary all the way to Bethlehem. In all seriousness, she says "That's a honkey mommy." A honkey!!! How cute is that?

I didn't correct her yet. It was just too wonderful. The wonderful that only a little kid with a sweet little voice creates.

She also sings Jingle Bells like this (while shaking her hips back and forth):
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way.
Oh more fun it is to wide on my old roller blades.
(Again, she really thinks these are the words)

Don't you wish you were three so that when you were singing a song and you used the wrong lyrics you would be cute - instead of kind-of dumb sounding?

Here are two pics from the night. One is of the littlest "honkey" lover.



The other is an ornament that I gave my husband in 9th grade:). He is now a basketball coach. Cute huh?



Have a great week!

Check out the contest

Two of the photographers blogs that I read regularly hosted image contests over Thanksgiving. They were looking for images that show us why we are thankful. I entered both - not with the photos that were the best technically - good lighting, composition, etc. - BUT I picked ones that had the most meaning. It was a great exercise, because I felt like every single photo I looked at had at least one thing I was thankful for. It made me even more aware of how blessed I am - even in the mundane of life.

One of my images was chosen as a finalist for a contest held on Me Ra Koh 's blog. You can check it out - it is number 5. I learned of this photographer and her husband at a workshop I attended. She is very generous and does a lot to teach moms (And dads:)) how to take better pics of her kids. She has also been through a few rough times and written a book about it. She is an inspiration to me.

Jessica Claire is the other photographer who held a contest. She is one of the most amazing photographers out there. I love the color and clarity of her photos - and she is extremely creative.

So here are three of my favorite pics I saw as I was looking through my archives.

I am thankful for JOY. It goes deeper than happiness and is rooted in the true love of Jesus Christ. It isn't dependent on it's circumstances.



I am thankful for INNOCENCE and pray that my children will retain that as long as possible.



I am thankful for the toys that lay all over the floor and drive me crazy. They are a reminder of the little blessings God has given our family.



Check our Me Ra if you get a chance.

Raking the Leaves Part 2

Thankfully - we had more leaves fall:)! This time, they weren't wet, and it was so much more fun. This is more of how I remember raking leaves!

We had a great time and the process was a reflection of our family. Dad went out working earlier than anyone else, never took a break, never complained, and stayed until the job was completed and cleaned up. Mom went out after a while, raked for some time, got distracted and took some pictures, raked some more, helped the kids with something else, took some more pictures, etc. Both kids jumped and played in the leaf piles for a time and then the oldest child didn't rake at all and rode her bike through the leaves. The youngest child literally helped for a long time with a joyful spirit.





the leaf boogey - getting the leaves off

Raking the Leaves Part 1

The entire day before Thanksgiving and the night before it rained. No - let me change that - it POURED! We have four very big and very old trees with lots of leaves. They seem to fall last in our neighborhood and hadn't fallen yet. However, the rain forced almost all of them to the ground. So we were greeted with muddy, wet, heavy leaves that lovely morning.

When my husband suggested raking the leaves, I wasn't thrilled to spend several hours on Thanksgiving, in the very cold weather, raking slimy wet leaves. But we did.

Here is the bright spot - the part I am thankful for....Every once in a while, my rake would uncover a brightly colored red or yellow leaf. They were gorgeous! and brought a smile to my face. Just being together with family should have made me thankful - many people don't have that.







Our daughters only lasted about 20 min. It was really cold and the leaves were hard to move. I see the girls peeking out the window and go over to see what was up. My oldest - in typical fashion for her - says "We didn't really want to get dirty and cold so we decided to come inside and have makeovers!" So funny...

Thankful

Just a few of the 1000s of things I am thankful for...

lollipops and messy smiles

tinkerbell and being free

walks on the beach in your jammies with daddy

fleeting moments like this


I hope that you can have a Happy Thanksgiving today!

Today's peace

EDITED 11:00AM: Praise God - everything looks good!

Today I go in for a mammogram and an ultrasound. Yes I have had a mammogram before – 5 months ago actually…a screening mammogram since I am high risk - a screening mammogram at age 31. Now I have a lump. Yes – I have a lump. Like millions of other women I have a lump. It is probably nothing. The doctor isn’t worried – I am really not worried – It seems to come and go with my cycle. Not extremely abnormal – for the most part…except that my mom had a lump. My aunt had a lump. Both of my grandmas had a lump. The doctors thought it was nothing. But it wasn’t – it was something. My mom’s something was hidden by a cyst…one that was hormonal…one that the doctors thought had been there for possibly 8 years. 8 YEARS! So, today I go to the doctor to find out if my lump is nothing or if it is something. And I feel God’s peace – the peace that passes all understanding and I am thankful.

Our 1st ballet recital

The girls were determined not to participate - the youngest fell asleep in the car on the way there. She woke up once we walked in and plugged her ears for the first 5 minutes (she does that when she is scared) The oldest was sucking her thumb like crazy and holding her bear - but thankfully they both had about 30minutes to play around before the recital and loosened up! Also, we were sitting in the front row and I think that really helped. Here are a few pics my mom so graciously took for us! It was really dark and hard to get a good shot, but you can get the idea:)

Princess dresses, hair bows, makeup, dancing...a little girls' heaven!



the sisters



mentally preparing :) ...



she actually did a really good job!



she didn't really want to let us take her picture - but she was soooo sweet!