Grant's First Lost Tooth

Grant FINALLY lost his first tooth! After all the drama of it becoming wiggly, it came out without much pomp and circumstance. I wish I could put the video in here, but you can check with America's Funniest Videos (I'm hoping to be the $100,000 winner) to see it. Here are some pics from after the dramatic crying spell, and after the tooth fell out.

Thanksgiving - and Thankfulness

Thanksgiving has ALWAYS been my favorite holiday. ALWAYS. Time with family. No pretenses. No gifts. No trying to outdo or be better than anyone else. Just thankfulness and family. This year changed all that. Oh, don't get me wrong - this Thanksgiving was filled with cousins playing together, having fun, but it was overrun with other crap too. So, as I sit and think over my (used-to-be) favorite holiday, I wonder how thankful we really are. By we, I mean all of us. I have recently mentioned to a lot of people that if we looked at things through other people's perspective (thank you Mr. T), we could alleviate a lot of our problems. When we chose to look at things only through our own perspective, we become selfish. We think what "we" want, what "we" would do, how "we" feel, and not at all about what the intent is/was.

I spent some time with some really GREAT kids this weekend. And I love them all so much. Each one has amazing traits and characteristics, and is irreplaceable. Without each and everyone of them, our family would be incomplete. As you can see from these pictures, they all love each other so much and long to be together.

We did have to take a detour to the ER/Urgent Care, as Grace was under the weather. Coughing, sore throat, fever, stomach ache, head ache. The doctor said it was a virus and sent us away, but I believe that this poor kid really does have strep throat. We will see. Everyone is a little down/under the weather, but I am guessing that a good part of this is emotional exhaustion. Hopefully, Thanksgiving can be redeemed. Maybe next year will be better. Maybe next year will be at home. Heaven only knows. But I sure hope it does.

The End of Volleyball Season

Today was Jadyn's last volleyball games. The team struggled, and by struggled I mean REALLY struggled, through the season. But they ended up winning 2 of their games, including their final game of the season. Jadyn totally surprised me. She has always been a little clumsy, but oh so cute, so I wasn't sure how she would do. But she rocked it!!!! Her serves were AMAZING! Totally impressed and proud! She even had the game winning serve in this last game! Super exciting!!!

Spook and Shine (Grace's Gymnastics Meet)

What a Good Kid!!

When I got home from work today, my card tables and chairs were in the kitchen. It was kinda weird. I asked around to the kids and no one claimed to have done it. Jacob had already left with his friend, so I called him to ask. He told me that he brought them up. I asked him why and he said that he was trying to get all the stuff on the list I left him done. I told him I did not leave him a list. He told me there was a list on the counter that said "TO DO:" on it. I said, "That's my list of things I need to do!" What a good kid! I didn't even ask and he took the initiative to do whatever he thought I needed done. Love that!!!

The Perfect Gift!

I was talking with Jadyn this morning about a gift for her friend's birthday party. This was the conversation:

Me: What do you want to get Skylee for her birthday?
Jadyn: I don't know. I have to go to the store to see what there is.
Me: Well, you are her friend - don't you know what she likes?
Jadyn: She likes ME!

Well then, you it is! Can I just stick a bow on you and call it good? Silly Jadyn. 

My First Work Award!!!!