Scout

Zeke was so funny with his puppy, Scout the other day. I think he just realized it says his name. Scout says "I love you, Zeke." and Zeke hugged him and said "Love you, Scout" It was so funny to hear him have a conversation with Scout!

Flop

Well, evidently my attempt at my 30 days of Thankfulness was a flop...I tried. I really did. I thought it would help me blog more regularly. It is just so hard to find uninterrupted time to sit down and type a post. It has nothing to do with the fact that I am so darn busy all the time. And it doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon!

And again, that is why I am thankful.

A short run-down of the past few weeks. Warning...completely RANDOM thoughts here.

Wrestling has started. Wrestling season is hard. But I am THANKFUL that Ben and I are both healthy and active and have the opportunity to work with students in an athletic setting. Ben and I both enjoyed sports in high school and college and it is awesome to be able to continue that.

The boys have been sick. Eli and Isaac were sick with strep throat last week. Zeke threw up the week before and now Evan is home sick today. But, I am THANKFUL that it is nothing serious and that with some antibiotics they are fine. I know that not everyone is that lucky.

I have been stressing out with Christmas. It is so hard to decide what to get the boys for Christmas. And even harder to decide what everyone else should get them...I have been busy getting everyone squared away so Ben and I can get ours taken care of. But, I am THANKFUL that my kids have such a big family and that they are LOVED.

We were crazy busy with Thanksgivings...Clarksville at noon and then Grundy at 5. Our 5:00 dinner in GC turned into a 7:30 outage...I don't know a lot about cooking turkey but I do know that you need electricity! The power went out around 3:30 and was out for about 3 hours. And, it gets dark early. So, much of our Grundy Thanksgiving was spent in the dark! It  makes for some good stories. 35 relatives sitting around in the dark waiting for the power to come back so we could have our Thanksgiving Feast. I am THANKFUL that 35 relatives placed importance on being together for the holiday and that we got to spend the time together (even in the dark).

I went shopping on Black Friday (Thursday night) with some friends. It was crazy busy. We had a blast, laughed a ton and got home around 4 a.m. I am so THANKFUL I have been blessed in my life with wonderful friends.

I have still been getting up at 4:30 a.m. to work out. I am nearing 2  years that I started. I feel great. I love the time I have for myself....even if most days it feels like the middle of the night. I get tired at night. I struggle many nights to keep going. But I am THANKFUL that I made the commitment to be healthier and do something for ME.

The kids fought almost all weekend. It was hard on Ben and I. When they fight, we fight. I hate that. I hate that I get so frustrated with them. But, I am THANKFUL that I have four boys that fight sometimes but are overall AWESOME kids!

My laundry is out of control. I swear I will never, EVER see the bottom of the piles. It just overtakes me. It is so difficult to find time to get it all done. If I have time to wash it, I have the challenge of finding time to fold it and put it away. I am less distracted at night so I am able to get it done then, but then the kids are sleeping so I can't put it away. It's never ending! But I am THANKFUL we have plenty of clothes and the issue is not that we don't have clothes to keep up warm.

Told you this is random.

But I really am THANKFUL and realize my blessings FAR outweigh my challenges.

Middle names

This morning Eli asked what Isaac's middle name was. We told him it was Benjamin and he went on to name everyone....

Eli John
Isaac Benjamin
Evan James
And Zeke-a-roony....

Guess we better start calling Zeke by his real name! Zeke thinks his name is Zeker and Eli thinks it's Zeke-a-roony!

Guess what time of year it is???

And…..

Here we go…..

It's that time of year again….

Thankful - Day 9

I am thankful for Great-Grandparents. My children are so lucky that they get to grow up knowing two of their Great Grandparents. It is such a special bond they have. Ben's Grandma and Grandpa are so proud of all their Great Grandkids and I just love it. I would have loved for them to know all their Great Grandparents.

Thankful - Day 8

Today I am thankful for our health. This week Zeke was sick. It was inconvenient for us....he got sick at daycare, I had to leave work early and miss work the next day. I had to do sub plans, figure out how to get kids to school and it was a complete change in our routine. And I am SO THANKFUL it was just a minor thing...I can't imagine having life rocked with a major illness. I am so thankful that we are all healthy! I read blogs of children and families that are dealing with serious, terminal illnesses. I am guilty of getting upset over a minor flu bug. I am so thankful that those minor inconveniences are all we have to deal with. I pray that it is always that way.

Thankful -Day 7

I'm thankful for moments like this. I was just heading in to get on the boys for not going to sleep. I walked in and this is what I found...Evan reading a book to Isaac. I am thankful for the  relationship the boys have with each other. They fight like normal siblings...but I'm so thankful that they are always going to have each other.

Thankful - Day 6

Beautiful sleeping children. Even though this particular one ends up in our bed about every night, I'm not complaining...it won't be like this for long. I am thankful our children feel most safe and comfortable in the middle of their mom and dad.

Thankful - Day 5

Today I am thankful for my education. I am thankful that I was able to challenge myself and further my education with a masters degree. That is a  point in my life that I have kind of blocked out. It was hard with small children and there were many sacrifices made - not just by me, but by our whole family.

The last two days, I have been in Des Moines at the State Counseling Convention. I am able to challenge my mind, and rejuvenate my attitude about my job. These things are always good for the heart and soul. Being a school counselor takes a lot out of a person - there are times that you carry a heavy burden. I am thankful that I have the education and opportunity to carry that burden.

And every so often, I think back to what it felt like to finally finish my degree and walk across the stage to receive my masters degree. I am thankful I took the challenge and thankful it all worked out.

4 Years Ago

Thankful - Day 4

I am thankful for our big family. Family gatherings include lots of cousins and aunts and uncles for the kids. I love that my children get to grow up and know what it means to be close to family. We are forever thankful for the love and support our family gives us.

Thankfulness - Day 3

I am thankful for a SENSE OF HUMOR. 

Seriously. I am not sure how many times I have said...if I don't laugh, I'll cry. I am thankful that I am able to laugh through the stress and chaos. And I am thankful that if I can't laugh, Ben usually reminds me to. Somedays are harder than others to laugh! 

Thankfulness - Day 2

I am thankful for my teammate, my better half. There is no way one of us could raise our family alone. I am so thankful that we make such a good team. I am thankful that Ben knows that when I am ready to throw in the towel and takes over. I am thankful that I am able to take over when he is ready to throw in the towel. He is my biggest supporter, the rock of our family, level-headed, giving, caring and patient..for that, I am thankful.

Thankfulness

I  have seen this on other blogs and I thought I would give it a shot. 30 days of THANKFULNESS...I am a few days behind, but here it goes.

Day 1
I am thankful for CHAOS.
It's the thing that frustrates me the most, but yet it is probably the thing I am most thankful for. When I am surrounded by my family, I am surrounded by family. I have many moments of my life I am not proud of and wish I could do over. Chaos is hard. Sometimes I forget that it's who we are. It's what we are and someday, we aren't going to have the chaos and I'm going to miss it.

Costumes

Pumpkin Carving

Handsome School Boys

Evan - 5th grade

Isaac - 3rd grade



















Eli - PreK

Pumpkin Patch

After taking pictures, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. They had fun riding the tractor, seeing the animals and picking out the perfect pumpkin.