I had a little trouble keeping up with my 30 days of Thankful.

I lost my posts two times the other night.

I am going to finish it though.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just had to share this super cute picture of Ariel.  
She was having breakfast but wanted to take a tubby too.  
When I took her picture she did this super cheesy smile!  

I love it!!

30 Days of Thankful - Day 16

I am thankful for our vehicles.  

I am thankful that we are able to have two vehicles.  We went a few weeks with just one and it was tough.

(We are selling the Escape if you are interested)

30 Days of Thankful - Day 15

I am thankful for Sharon.

Sharon watches the girls while James and I are working.  I am thankful that we have a safe place to send our girls.  It took a bit of getting used to, but now Annabelle and Ariel enjoy going to playgroup.  Sharon is great with the kids.  She does all kinds of fun activities and crafts with them.  

Ariel Turns Green

The other day Annabelle and I were watching Mulan.  I thought Ariel was playing nicely with her toys (I had been checking on her periodically as she was just on the other side of the couch).  When I got up this is what I found

Ariel had found a green marker.  It is also all over the side of the couch.
We were just at the doctor and she said at this age (18 months) a time out was appropriate.  I didn't think we would have to do a time out for awhile because Ariel is a pretty good listener.  Well, it turns out that we had to to a time out way earlier than I had planned.  I didn't know how to go about it with such a little one.  I put a little stool in the hallway and told Ariel that she was going to have a time out.  She burst into tears and walked (by herself) over to the stool I set out.  Annabelle and I went in the other room for a few seconds and then I told her she could be done.  After talking about what she did she went back to time out.  
I did end up taking her picture in time out.  I wasn't sure if that would make it not as effective, but Annabelle told Ariel she had to take a time out when she wouldn't get off the table.  She burst into tears and went over to the stool.  James and I tried to tell her she didn't have to be in time out, but I guess she thought Annabelle is a boss too.

Both girls wanted to try time out together.  

The scarf on Annabelle's head is her Rapunzel hair. 

30 Days of Thankful - Day 14

I am thankful for my 5 senses.

I pretty much take each of my senses for granted 100% of the time.  
I love that I can:

Touch my girls soft baby skin

Smell yummy banana break baking

Taste so many great foods
See my handsome husband
Listen to my girls' sweet laughter and I love you's

30 Days of Thankful - Day 13

I am thankful for my church.

I have been attending Immanuel for 27 years; I grew up here.

Both sets of my grandparents and my great grandma went to Immanuel.  My Grandma Rae and Grandpa Pete still go.  It is so neat that we have 4 generations at our church.

James started coming to youth group with me when we were in high school.  When we got married we tried out some other churches, but decided to stay at Immanuel.

Thanksgiving Activites

Thanksgiving is going to here before we know it.  I wanted to get a few Thanksgiving activities in before we jumped into all the fun of Christmas.


I have had these turkeys for awhile.  They are supposed to be a file folder matching game, but I thought it would be more fun to make it a memory game.  Annabelle loved the Halloween Costume Memory Game so I know she is going to love this one.  You can get the printable here.  
I cut out each turkey then Mod Podged it with a sponge brush to a circle.  I did Mod Podge because I figured it would be smoother finish.  I plan to laminate them so we can pull them out next year.

I also made this cute felt turkey.  I don't remember where I got the pattern, but you can just make your own shapes or find something online.  I only cut out 6 feather, but I think I will do more colors.  The template didn't have legs, but I think I will add those.  I really love all crafts with felt, so this was perfect for me.  This will be a fun counting activity for Annabelle and for Ariel we can talk about the colors and turkeys.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 12

I am thankful for my sister-in-law, Michal.

She is such a caring and compassionate person.  
She has a heart for those less fortunate; she goes to Guatemala every year and teaches them about Jesus, gives them food, clothes, shoes, love, and attention.

She is creative, artistic, a talented photographer, 

and a great writer. 
She loves Jesus and it shows in all areas of her life.

I am thankful to have Michal as my sister-in-law.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 11

I am thankful for our Vetrans.

I am thankful for those who served as well as those who are serving now.  

Veterans Day
By Taylor Weinman

Representing the red white and blue
The colors of our flag stand out proud and true.
The white stars on blue background with red and white stripes

Remind me of these veterans, who all risked their lives.
Just so the people of the U.S. could all live in peace and be free

These are the heroes that represent you and me.
They stood up strongly, untied as one,
And kept up the fighting until they were done.
And although some have fallen, and lost their lives in war,
We pray for each one of them.

And now that their souls live on forever more,
Above in God’s hands.They watch over our nation,
And give us strength to triumph over others with strong anticipation.

So every year, when this day comes by,
Think of all the veterans that while fighting, had to die.
And remember that they were people
With fire and passion embedded inside.
They die for this country, So remember and honor them with pride

30 Days of Thankful - Day 10

I am thankful for my Grandmas and Grandpas.

I have been blessed with wonderful grandparents.  
My grandma Ada passed away 6 years ago today, my great grandma Potts passed away almost 4 years ago.

I have my grandpa Harvey who is quite exceptional for a man in his mid-eighties.  He always seems to know the right things to say in difficult situations, he has all (and I mean all) the latest technological gadgets, he bounces back from surgeries like nobody you've ever seen, and he loves all 5 of his children and their spouses, all 17 of his grandchildren, and all 10 of his great grandchildren (although he may have a hard time keeping all those kiddos straight).  Our family is so blessed to have him as our example of Godly man.  

I also have my grandma Rae and Grandpa Pete.  They have been such a blessing to our family  My grandma has been available to watch the girls on a weekly basis.  My grandpa will stop anything to play with my girls when we stop by for a visit.  They help us out with all kinds of things - from helping me with my sewing machine to putting a bed together.  My girls love them so much.  It is so adorable to watch them run to be swooped up into a hug when they see them.

I love that my girls have so many godly examples to watch as they grow up.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 9

I am thankful for my camera.

I am so thankful that I have a camera so that I can take all the pictures I want.  I am glad that I can capture my girls sleeping together, Annabelle with 10 bows in her hair, Ariel doing gymnastics.  I am glad that I can capture these memories and be able to look back on them.  As much as I think I will remember things, the reality is that they get harder to recall as time goes by.  Just looking back at photos reminds me of so much that I have already forgotten.

Now I will just be thankful if I can keep this camera (without breaking or losing it) for more than a year.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 8

I am thankful for my nephew Caden.

He is such a cool kid.  He learns things so quickly and wants to tell you about it right away.  
He loves playing the Wii, reading (not even kidding) and listening to Harry Potter, Legos, and baseball.

He and my girls have such a great time together.  
When Ariel was born he said he was getting a new sister.  When I asked Annabelle who Caden was, she said her brother.  He is so good with Ariel.  He helps her do things she can't do yet, he talks to her, he plays with her.  Caden and Annabelle love to play together and could for hours. 

I'm so glad that he is my nephew.

Love you Caden!

Fairy Friday

Friday was Fairy Tale Friday on Nick Jr.  

Since I had the day off of work, I thought it would be 
fun to do fairy activities all day long.

We started the day with Apple Cinnamon Cheerios with Fairy Dust (colorful sprinkles)

We made Fairy Wands.  Caden decided to make a sword instead.

 

  

We decorated Fairy Cookies

We had Fairy French Toast and Fairy Orangies with Fairy Dust

Annabelle played with her Fairy Wand

The girls enjoyed a Fairy Cookie after supper.

For an extra special treat we went out for Fairy Shakes

Erica even dressed up as a Fairy


We also read this really cute book
            Rainbow Fairies by Nicola Baxter

I thought Fairy Friday had come to an end, but they wanted to continue into
Saturday with Cheerios with Fairy Dust and fairy outfits.

We had a lot of fun on Fairy Friday.
I am sure we will do it again!!!

30 Days of Thankful - Day 7

I am thankful for my job.
Even though I would rather stay home with my girls, I am thankful that I have a job with great house (9:00-2:30) and that I enjoy.  I love that I am helping children learn how to read.  I love that I can be an encouragement to them when they are feeling frustrated.  I love that I have been at this job for awhile (this is my 5th year) so the migrant children know that when they come back to school in the fall and return in the spring from Mexico or Texas I will be there.  I remember their names, their needs, and what they like.
I am thankful to be a part of these kids' lives.