Photo-A-Day Challenge: Thanksgiving Week

November 23: I'm Thankful for...Reading Time
I have fond memories of my mom reading to me as a child, and I LOVED watching her bond with my boys the same way while my parents were in town this week. :)


November 24: I'm Thankful for...Grandpa Snuggles
These boys love their grandpa, especially when he watches cartoons with them.


November 25: I'm Thankful for...First Times
Wednesday was a day of firsts for Will: a visit with Santa, petting a reindeer, and his first trip to the movie theater. There is something magic about watching him experience things for the first time.

November 26: I'm Thankful for...Family Traditions

Thanksgiving was full of family and traditional foods that hold so many memories of past holidays together, like my mom's apple sausage dressing.

November 27: I'm Thankful for...Family

My parents asked me to take a couple of pictures of them for their Christmas cards. This one especially makes me happy. At first, they just look like they're smiling, but if you look close, you can see the mischief in my dad's eyes (he was tickling my mom), and my mom's laughing eyes/exasperation at my dad's tricks. They are my constant example of the kind of marriage I want to have.

First Christmas story of the year:

November 28: I'm Thankful for...a LITTLE snow

Just enough for a mini snow man, but not enough to make the roads too dangerous.

November 29: I'm Thankful for...Christmas Tree Lights, one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season.

Photo-A-Day Challenge: November Part 3

November 17: I am thankful for...Art

I haven't done any painting in years, but I really enjoyed dabbling during nap time on my birthday.

November 18: I am thankful for...Baby Selfies

Oh how he makes me laugh!

November 19: I am thankful for...A Break in the Cold Weather

November 20: I am thankful for...Teaching Moments

It has been sweet to talk to Will about all the things he's grateful for this month and collect them on a little wreath.

November 21: I am thankful for...Doctors

A boy + a bike + a trike = 5 stitches

November 22: I am thankful for...Food

And so it begins...the turkey is thawing.

Photo-A-Day Challenge: November Part 2

November 11: I'm thankful for...Big Dreams 

He CAN be an astronaut if he wants to. Dream big, my son.

November 12: I'm thankful for...Play Dough

It kept Will busy for an hour this morning. What more could a mom ask?

November 13: I'm thankful for...Bath time

It's often a good way to get a few minutes of rest while the boys play happily (sometimes) in the tub.

November 14: I'm thankful for...Simple Joys

Who knew that being pulled around on a blanket could be so entertaining.

November 15: I'm thankful for...This Man

There are few blessings in my life as great as the man I call husband and my children call father. He sacrifices a lot for all of us, including the ability to eat his breakfast in peace.

November 16: I'm thankful for...Snuggle Time

That's Rosie. She's the stuffed animal of choice right now. 

Photo-A-Day Challenge: November is Here!

For the month of November, I'm going to try to focus all my photos around the things I'm thankful for. Here it goes:

November 1: I'm thankful for...Quiet Moments

They run around like crazy hooligans so much of the time, I'm grateful for the moments they slow down for just a minute.

November 2: I'm thankful for...Imagination

I LOVE watching my boys make up stories and playing together

November 3:  I'm thankful for...Pinterest

It's getting cold outside, and we're breaking out all the inside play ideas, mostly inspired by Pinterest.

November 4: I'm thankful for...Messes 

(especially in the tub where they can be washed away easily)

Messes mean that my boys are learning and exploring, just like they should be.

November 5: I'm thankful for...Examples

My mom was such a good example of teaching children through play. I'm trying to follow in her footsteps.

November 6: Goofy Faces

Motherhood is rough sometimes, but I love this little man and the big personality he has.

November 7: I'm thankful for...Comfort Food

If it's gotta be cold, at least I get to break out the hot chocolate.

November 8: I'm Thankful for...Reminders

I've been looking through old photos during the past week for some projects I'm working on. I found this one where my sister and I are probably not too different in ages from what my boys are now. It's made me think a little more about what I cared about when I was their age, and how it's okay to just let them enjoy being little boys. Don't grow up too fast, little buddies.

November 9: I'm thankful for...Childhood Memories Revisited

You can't go wrong with a blanket fort.

November 10: I'm thankful for...First Snow of the Season

...and children who help me see it as magical even though I'd rather be wearing flip flops.

Photo-A-Day: Halloween Week!

October 26: Homemade Root Beer and Pumpkin Carving

October 27: Jumping in Leaf Piles

October 28: Alphabet Games

I'm starting a project with the boys of going on treasure hunts around the house for items that start with each letter of the alphabet. I'm hoping to make a little book for them once we get all the letters.

October 29: Glowing

October 30: Finished Just in Time

I put the finishing touches on Will's costume just an hour before we left to go trick-or-treating at Graham's office. Whew!

October 31: Happy Halloween!

All day, Will kept asking me how many minutes until trick-or-treating. 

At 7:00 in the morning, kid? Quite a few. 

He was so excited (and I was so relieved) when it was finally time to go out in his costume!

Do you like Will's pumpkin? Without any guidance from me, he told me he wanted to make a "crying" pumpkin. Whatever you want, Buddy. :)