Thanksgiving Blessings

I really can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. 2009 is just a blur when I think about it. It has been a good year & a difficult year. Even still, we are very blessed. When I start "counting my blessings" there are too many to name. Of course the first things that come to mind are family, friends, good health, our home, our jobs, two thriving-happy-healthy boys, a wonderful God-loving husband, and a loving God who loves me & forgives me every day. I could go on and on with blessings God provides every single day... loving parents, food, clothing, water, good schools & wonderful teachers for our boys, freedom, laughter, opportunities, nature & it's beauty, a wonderful church, cars, more "things" than we will ever need, and on and on and on the list goes. But of all these, the ones that matter most are not the "things" but family, friends, and a relationship with our loving God. I know I neglect these every day but as I get older the more precious they become. We are truly blessed beyond measure & may I always be mindful of that. So today I want to say thank you to God & all our family & friends and wish everyone a happy & blessed Thanksgiving.

Who's Who?

Everyone is always commenting on how much Samuel & John Michael look alike so I thought this would be fun. Below are two pictures. One is of Samuel in 2002 when he was 2 years old. The other is of John Michael this year at 2 years old both wearing the same Lion costume. Can you tell which is Samuel and which is John Michael?

They really do look alot alike. I better be putting names on the back of these pictures or 10 years from now even I won't be able to tell.

Random

I rarely post things of this nature but when a three hour nap is in process on a rainy day such as this, why not? And this is my third post today. WOW! Anyway, I love to decorate especially for the seasons and holidays. So here are some random shots from around the house this fall.

"Let's go to the farm." These are some of my boys favorite words to hear from their daddy and John Michael is not about to let himself not be included. Anytime he hears the word 'farm' he pipes up with "me too, me too"! Especially when there is a tractor, 4-wheeler, golf cart, ponds & streams, deer stands and deer involved, BOTH boys are all about it. My philosophy is "what happens at the farm stays at the farm" and "what momma don't know....." because I'm sure I don't want to know what all goes on while they are there. I would freak, I'm sure. One day Samuel started to tell a story that involved the golf cart and JM being launched...... stop! I don't even want to know the rest of that story. Just bring everyone back safe and sound and I don't need to know what happens in between. Lots of great memories and father- son bonding going on and that is what matters. But I do say extra prayers on "farm days". These pictures were taken bright and early this past Saturday just as they were getting ready to leave out.

Fall Fun

A fun Sunday afternoon! I remember doing this as a kid and having so much fun.

Halloween - a rock star, a lion, & a cowboy

Halloween Night the boys enjoyed being a rock star and a "cute little lion". This is what we had to call John Michael's costume to convince him that it was okay to wear. To begin with he wanted nothing to do with the lion. He ended up having a great time pretending to be a lion. Samuel started out wanting to be a werewolf to which I agreed without really thinking about. I guess I was thinking about a cutsie type of werewolf but that was not what he had in mind. So, we bought a costume of which JM was terrified. So after a week of listening to JM cry about the "scary hands" and "take it back to store" Samuel agreed to be something else and that was a rock star. Samuel wore the lion costume when he was two and I just love it.

John Michael was a cowboy at preschool the day before Halloween. I didn't think he would be too comfy in the lion all day. This he loved! He is all about cowboys and horses. So CUTE!

A Late Beach Getaway

What a nice surprise! Monday, a couple of weeks ago, a very dear friend of ours from Kentucky offered to let us use his condo at Hilton Head Island for that upcoming weekend. We decided to do it and surprised Samuel with the news as his reward for getting all A's on his progress report. He was so excited! So we left out on Thursday and had a great weekend. The weather was perfect. We rented bikes first thing and used that as our mode of transportation. I think we got in the car once the whole time we were there. What a nice change of pace! We spent the mornings riding bikes and spent the afternoons on the beach and I don't think I broke a sweat the whole time. John Michael loved the sand and the water and Samuel loved biking, "surfing", and playing football on the beach. We ate at some great seafood restaurants and Samuel loved being able to ride our bikes to dinner.