Family Christmas Photos

I don't want to spoil the surprise from our Christmas cards, so I won't post the one we are using, but here are a few of the great pictures Beth got when she was here in October:

I don't have enought time to do a real post.  I am behind on my thankfulness posts!  Here's a brief catch up:

November 16:  I am thankful for my cousin Lauren and her daughter Suzanna's visit.  They came down from DC just to see us!  It was a wonderful time.

November 17:  I am thankful simply for Saturday.  We went to a Touch a Truck event, had lunch together and went to an oyster roast.  Then Lauren and I got to go out to Coquette for wine, just us.  It was a wonderful day.

November 18:  I am thankful for my friends.  Abby and I got to spend a little time together while the girls played and I got to catch up with Jodie.  I'm thankful for all of my friends, but those two events made me especially thankful on Sunday.

November 19:  I am thankful for modern medicine.  I have pink eye!  Yuk!  Such is the life for the mom of a toddler and a baby.

November 20:  I am thankful for my lunch breaks.  Today I will be cramming in as many errands as possible prior to the holiday.

Also, I'm thankful for Quincy making me breakfast this morning.  Yum.

Thankfulness--November 15

Well, I am a few days behind.  I rarely get behind a computer unless I am at work and I have been too busy at work to take a break and blog.  We also headed down to the Outer Banks with friends this past weekend and while a ton of fun, packing/unpacking and travel really does take time!

November 9:  I am thankful for good friends that invited us to the beach.  And for the beach itself.  My New Year's Resolution this year was to make mom friends in Raleigh and I have made a few really good ones that I have a lot in common with.  We went down to the beach with Erica, Andy & Sophia and Megan, Jeremy & Evan.  Amazing time.

November 10:  I am thankful for good food.  Doughnuts from Duck Doughnuts for breakfast and a giant meal of braised brisket, mashed turnips, green beans and fresh bread and moist chocolate cake for dessert.  Happy birthday Andy!  Also, I'm thankful for dance parties.  Clara and her friends had the most hilarious dance party after dinner.

November 11:  I am thankful for our military today and thankful that our freedom is protected.  I am also thankful for the families of soldiers that sacrifice so much so that their husbands and wives, mothers, fathers and children can serve and protect.  From my personal perspective, I can't imagine being a mother with small children whose husband was called to active duty.  I admire and respect those that have been through it.

November 12:  I am thankful for my job.  Although I don't love going to work every day and miss being with my girls, I know that financial freedom is worth it.  Quincy and I have no debt other than our house,

November 13:  I am thankful for making too much chili two weeks ago and freezing half.  It was a really long, tough day and it was nice not to have to cook.  Plus, it was delicious!

November 14:  I am thankful for my work Thanksgiving meal.  It is my favorite thing that we do at work every year.  This year I brought PK's Macaroni & Cheese.  It was pretty good, but not as good as it is when she makes it.

I am also thankful for Mrs. Lynetta, Clara's 2s teacher, whose last day before maternity leave was the 14th.  We will miss her between now and February!

November 15:  I am thankful for coffee.  Because otherwise I would not get through this day.

November 7 & November 8

November 7:  I am thankful for Clare at Sherwin Williams paint and the 40% off paint sale this weekend.

Remember this?

The boxing was done quickly.  Over the next couple of months we got the roof replaced (needed it), replaced the siding on the whole house (probably needed it), replaced all of the windows (needed them and totally unrelated to the tree), and we are (today) getting the masonry fixed.

Next step, paint the whole house.  YAY!!  But, we need a paint color.  It needs to have enough gray to tie in the new roof, but not so much that it looks dirty.  Clare has been so helpful in assisting us in picking out a paint color.

November 8:  Today I am thankful for Bright Horizons.  Clara is finally back to school today and she ran and hugged all of her teachers and was so happy to see her friends.  They were serving up a breakfast of whole wheat pancakes and turkey sausage, so I can be sure she won't get filled up with junk.

Thankfulness--November 6

Today I am thankful for my right to vote, obviously, and the time to do it.

Clara has been sick since Saturday night.  It is just a virus and there is nothing the doctor can do about it, it just has to pass.  My mom kept her yesterday and is keeping her again today so that we can work.  I am so thankful for this, but I really didn't know how I was going to fit in voting with two drop offs.  On a whim, after dropping Clara off I rolled by our precinct.  There were only a few cars, so I put Julia in the Ergo and ran on in.  No line!  Here we are, moments after finishing up.  I got her a sticker to put in her baby book, it was really sweet to have her with me.

It's so crazy to me to live at a time where people actually remember black people and women not being able to vote.  Most days I take for granted my right to vote, access to higher education and ability to have whatever career I please.  Today I am especially thankful for those things.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness

There's a meme going around on Facebook where each day of November you post a reason why you are thankful.  I'm not crazy over detailed Facebook posts, so I thought I would do it here.  Obviously I'm late to the party, so I'll do five days now.

November 1.  My marriage.  I would not be where I am without the love and support of Quincy.

November 2.  My beautiful, healthy, happy children.  I am so incredibly happy that God blessed us with two wonderful girls.

November 3.  Beautiful fall football Saturdays, even if the game score was terrible.

November 4.  Antibiotics and an extra hour after the girls went to bed to catch up on laundry and grocery shopping.

November 5.  Having a mom that lives in town who is willing to take care of my sick toddler.

And here's a picture from the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago for good measure.