With gratitude

Day #2 of the thankful challenge. Today is Election Day here in the U.S. of A. I'm thankful to live in this country where we are given the right to vote. Please take some time to do your duty. We should not take that for granted!

I have to admit I'm also very thankful that election day means an end to all of the political ads that are played over and over and over. They typically get more vicious and more vicious and more vicious. So I'm happy we can all put in our two cents today and we no longer need to watch those ads. Let's see how it all turns out!

With gratitude,

With gratitude

November already. Where did the time go? Seems like yesterday it was the 4th of July and I was starting to dread (or countdown) the days until Miss A started kindergarten. Now here we are at November 1 and she's preparing (a.k.a. she needs a poodle skirt) for a 50s themed party at Kindergarten celebrating their 50th day of school.

Today I was reminded via facebook of a wonderful challenge that I did last year. Unfortunately I don't remember where I came across the idea but it was NOT born in my little brain. Here's the deal...each day until Thanksgiving post something you are thankful for. You can make it your status on facebook, blog about it, write it down on your calendar, make a post-it note, whatever floats your boat. The point is write it down somewhere and before you know it you'll be finding all kinds of things you're grateful for instead of all the little things that bug you during the course of a day.

November 1 - today I'm thankful for the sunshine. It was a beautiful day in North Dakota. I almost didn't need a jacket. That's a huge bonus when the calendar says, "November."

What are you thankful for?

With gratitude,

A new place for memories

So I've been meaning to post something on this for a long, long time. A combination of laziness and life's adventures has gotten in the way. It seems my days are relatively busy without blogging...go figure?!?!?!!!

There is a new place to make memories in my family. It's a great place on a beautiful lake. It is surrounded by trees that turned all of the wonderful fall colors you can imagine. Said trees also left a carpet of leaves that may take a couple of days to pick up and move somewhere. We'll get to that in a couple of weeks.

It has a wonderful fireplace that will be so fun to curl up in front of as the snowflakes fall this winter. We found a great dining room table that will hold our little family perfectly and will expand to fit family and friends for holidays, weekends and all the fun that comes along with that.

The girls love it there. In fact, every once in awhile Miss K will sadly say, "I miss the yake. Me yake." I'm also pretty sure we'll spend at least part of next summer teaching her that the entire lake is not, in fact, hers. On our one boat ride this summer she seemed to think that everyone else should leave as it was, "me yake."

The fact that both girls love it there is perhaps the best part of all. I am so excited to spend time there with them as they grow up. I hope they continue to love it there and will always return to spend time with us, our family and friends. Maybe they'll even bring their own little ones some day (far, far, far, far into the future!).

The lake is...

 ...funny faces

...awesome sunsets

...all about rock skipping

...a good place for hide-and-seek

...where Miss K finished picking all of the tomatoes left by the previous owners. She insisted Daddy needed them.

  

 ...has great campfires

...the appropriate place to eat a smore (note the extra large marshmallow)

...perfection in the fall

...ideal for hiding in the leaves (there are millions of leaves to rake into piles, thanks mom!)

  

   

...just plain fun!

So many, many memories to make with my family and friends for years to come. Can't wait to get started!

Wedded bliss

August was a big month at our house. Miss A started kindergarten. We found a new place to make memories for years to come (more on this one to come). Plus we got to celebrate a wedding and add a new member to our extended family.

Our girls even got to be part of the big day as flower girls. They were beyond excited to be included in the celebration.

The party started with a morning of pedis. Everyone got to pick their own color. Lots of little toes in warm, bubbly water. Lots of brightly painted toes in perfect shape for dancing the night away. So pretty!

Then it was off to IHOP. Nothing like pancakes to complete a morning of fun.

Practice makes perfect.

Wedding day. A beautiful, very warm, sun-shiny day. Off to the salon...not surprisingly Miss A was ready to jump up and get the curling started.

Miss K, on the other hand, was happy to wait until last and then not so sure she wanted anything to do with that funny looking chair. Fortunately a partly melted Kit Kat saved the day. Chocolate makes everything OK.

The smiling results.

Picture fun.

A beautiful ceremony. A beautiful location. A beautiful couple.

A little dancing. A few props.

Proof of a good night...Miss A's feet when she woke a bit sleepy eyed late the morning after.

Thank you J & D for including us in your celebration. We were all honored to witness a beautiful day. Miss K's flower girl dress still has a few sparkles on it after many days of wear including a few speech sessions. Nothing like a fuchsia flower girl dress to turn heads during a walk across campus.

With gratitude

I can't begin to describe the emotions of the past couple of days. Mr. M was recently injured while working at the farm. Fortunately we were sent to a great surgeon and all that's left is the healing. Unfortunately the timing of this injury was about as bad as it could have been. Harvest is upon us and that's tough to do with one hand.

Before Mr. M and I even got home from the hospital there was a group of friends, and fellow farmers, organizing an event. They planned to harvest our crop so Mr. M didn't have to worry about that on top of healing.

So on Tuesday (and again on Wednesday) friends came to our fields and harvested the crop. Roto-beeters, harvesters, trucks, tractors, tools and extra pick-ups arrived on a foggy morning. Another group of friends set up a grilling station at the piling site and fed everyone. Another group made enough bars, cookies and goodies to satisfy every sweet tooth.

When the girls and I arrived at the farm in the morning it was so foggy you couldn't see anything but a truck turning onto the highway once in awhile. Later when we left the farm yard, I literally turned the corner and saw this.

Only there was more of everything spread throughout a large field. I was truly, speechless and the tears filled my eyes. It was awesome, amazing, wonderful, overwhelming and so much more.

Since I'm teary-eyed I'll collect myself as you look as these pictures.

   

There are no words for all that I've seen these last few days. Thank you seem to be the most appropriate words. They don't seem to be enough though. We are grateful for such a wonderful group of neighbors and friends, a community that doesn't hesitate to help and family who are around to pick up the pieces when other things come up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

While we will never be able to say 'thank you' enough or truly show our gratitude to all please know that we will 'pay it forward' as best we can. If ever there is something we can do to help we will.

God bless you all!

With more gratitude than I'll ever be able to express,

With gratitude

I was listening to the radio today and caught a chat about gratitude. Apparently people who practice gratitude are healthier in mind, body and spirit. It just so happens that I have many, many things to be grateful for. Makes complete sense to me.

Today my 3 year-old decided it was just fine to head to a drop-in childcare center for awhile...all alone. I will admit it shocked me when she said, "Shooooe." (sure in Miss K-speak). See she hadn't gone there alone before. We pulled up and she happily ran in, took off her shoes, sanitized her hands and let me lift her over the gate. Off she went directly into the Dora the Explorer playhouse. She was happy as a clam.

I returned a couple of hours later, errands and appointment finished, to pick up a very happy little girl holding a beautiful picture she couldn't have possibly colored by herself. It was just for me though!

I'm also grateful for the lovely outfit the previously mentioned little girl wore outside to play after dinner. Picture this:

Fuchsia flower girl dress

Light pink cowboy boots

Dora's lavender backpack

Bright pink swimming hat (tied under her chin)

Target plastic shopping bag in hand

I'm sure it's exactly what I'd wear to look at the trees, climb up to the playhouse and 'gallop' on a play horse.

What are you grateful for today? Post a comment!

With gratitude,

Kindergarten

My dear Miss A has begun kindergarten. It is so amazing to think she is already old enough especially since I'm still 24 or so (you are free to laugh here!).  She began the countdown to the first day around #25. Each day, usually several times, she would announcement the new number with a smile on her face. She would happily share it with anyone we encountered as well.

Mr. M and I decided to take her out for a special evening of school supply shopping and dinner. Fortunately we had grandparents waiting in the wings to take Miss K for a special evening. Younger sisters are not allowed on these special shopping excursions for kindergartners. Really, they are but it was nice to have some one-on-one time. So we hit Target for the essentials.

4 boxes broad tip Crayola washable markers - check
3 boxes 16 count crayons - check

8 No. 2 pencils - check

1 bottle Elmer's glue (not gel!) - check

1 6 pack dry erase markers - check
school box - check (a cardboard version complete with Ally-applied Toy Story stickers)
tablet/doodle pad, no lines for free time - check
1 box snack or sandwich size zipper bags - check
1 box Kleenex - check
1 bath towel for rest time - check*
backpack - check**

*double check, this item has been purchased since early summer when on a shopping trip with Grandma Miss A decided it was just the right pink polka dot beach towel for Kindergarten rest time.

**surprisingly she decided it was OK to use the backpack we have had for a few years. It made a trip to Disney World with us so its bound to hold good luck!

After shopping we headed to Space Aliens for dinner and lots of game playing. We finished the night and had enough tickets (when added to our stash at home) to get not one but two 'disco ball' light things. They are arcade-fabulous and perfect for a dance party when the mode strikes you!

Someone who had been growing her hair out for a year decided that she was going to cut her hair off 'after two days of school'. Then the weekend before school as we were headed to the salon to get "flower girl ready" she said she wanted to get it done tomorrow. Needless to say before we left the salon the Saturday before school started Ally had arranged an appointment for Monday morning to get her hair cut!

   

Next off to a lunch at Paradiso. Gotta love the statues there.

We packed up all the school supplies and headed out. We found Ally's room, dropped off all of her supplies in her desk and found everything on her teacher's scavenger hunt list. Off to the gym to deposit some lunch money into her account (to which she needed to memorize the 6-digit number so she'll be able to eat!).

Little sister had to help out as well.

We met Mr. M and my brother for dinner following the open house. One last chance for a night out before we all had to start getting up early.

Now onto school. Miss A got out of bed all on her own and got dressed in the outfit she had chosen the evening before. After a breakfast of champions (fruit loops and milk), she got shoes on and we headed to the front porch for the traditional first day of school pictures.

We decided to walk to school the first day. So off we went. A few minutes later we were standing at the doorway. I think she struggled to contain her excitement while I struggled to contain a few tears.

That was that! She happily began to color at her desk (markers, not crayons!) and I headed out the door. Mr. M, Miss K and I walked back home. I kept the few tears I shed in until we were a good 20 feet down the sidewalk. Thankfully Miss K and I had a play date to head off to. It was a great distraction and a good way to get through the morning. After a couple of errands it was time to get home for an early nap.

I have to say while it was quiet at home I knew Miss A was having a wonderful time at school and Miss K seemed to enjoy her alone time with me. I certainly did!

All of a sudden it was time to head back to school so off we went to get Miss A. This picture was taken as Miss A headed over to us in the hallway. She even bent down to give Miss K a hug and squeeze in the stroller. Ahhhhhh...gotta love that!  

Miss A,

May your day be filled with blessings,

like the sun that lights the sky,

and may you always have the courage

to spread your wings and fly.

You've heard that a thousand times from me and while its a bummer our all-day time at home is over you are more than ready to spread those wings. I can't wait to hear your stories and see what you learn. I'm so glad I can be there at the end of the day and look forward to our after-school time together. Enjoy kindergarten! 

Love, Mom