Sisters - Day 30

Today, I am thankful for my sister, Amanda. She's almost 3 years younger than I am and has always been the shy one. She used to call me Sissy as a kid, which always drove me crazy. Now, I think that it was sweet and kind of miss it! :-) I talked for her a LOT when we were younger. First because I could understand her when a lot of other people couldn't, then because she wouldn't talk for herself because I had talked so much for her in the beginning.

Now, as an adult, she's lost a lot of her shy qualities. She's a store manager at our hometown McDonalds and seems to run the place pretty well! It's the busiest store in the area and she just seems to go with it and do what needs to be done. I know the job drives her crazy most of the time (she DOES work with teenagers!), but she's good at what she does and this is probably a good stepping stone for her to get into other areas of management in the future.

She is a saver by nature. Amanda is the kind of person who can walk into a store, carry around some article of clothing she wants, then return the shirt or pants back to the racks and walk out of the store empty handed. This is good when you didn't really need whatever it was that you were carrying around, but not so good when you really needed a new pair of jeans because all your other ones are old or not the right size anymore! However, this thought process has allowed her to become a homeowner already!!! She scrimped and saved as much as she could so that she could stop paying rent to someone and own her own home instead.

Right now, Amanda's dealing with a lot of stuff that I won't get into. As her older sister, I want to step in and make it all better. However, I just have to let things run their course and let her control what she can. Me stepping in won't do any good in some of the situations anyway...in fact, it could probably make it worse. So for now, I try to be a sounding board and person she can vent to. I am so proud of the person she has become and I hope she knows just how thankful I am to have her!

Yesterday's Weather - Day 29

Today I am thankful for the beautiful weather we had yesterday! There's nothing like an incoming cold front to make you wish you had taken better advantage of the nicer weather! Sure, Brian put up Christmas lights, I tossed a baseball with Austin, and we had a great fire while watching the Razorback game out on the patio, but I think we could have done a little more with the kids outside. We won't have too many more days like that soon and the kids will want to play outside anyway. I'm just not a fan of the cold and sitting out in it is something I despise even more.

Sure, I love a snowy day where you can sled and build snowmen and angels and snowballs to throw. However, I want it gone in the next day or so with NO slush. Not a very practical way of thinking, but a girl can wish! I miss the "winter" days in Hawaii...you know, sitting out on the beach taking in the sunset. :-) Who cares if it rains a lot during that time!

So, today as the temperature outside got colder and colder while the day went on, I was thankful for the day we had before. I was thankful that we DID take advantage of it in some ways. Oh how I look forward to another day like that soon! :-)

7 Hours - Day 28

This is an easy one...today I am thankful for the 7 straight hours that Colten slept last night! Now, I only got to sleep 6 of those since I went to bed a little late, but it was really nice to not have to schlep down the hall at 2 or 3 in the morning to put a little boy back to bed. :-)

While 6am came early this morning, I wasn't as tired as I usually am (even while sick!). I wasn't the least bit disappointed when I couldn't get Colten to cuddle on my chest for just a little bit longer and it was fun to see him check out the fully decorated Christmas tree for the very first time. He was just in awe of this sparkly thing in the middle of our living room with toys hung all over it!

Oh, and one more thing I am thankful for...going to the grocery store WITHOUT kids! I don't enjoy going in the first place, but taking kids is even worse. So, it goes so much better when I can get away during Colten's nap and leave them both back with Brian. I made better choices and can get through the aisles without any extra stuff because a certain 4 year old just HAD to have it!

I think that this post shows that the little things make a big difference for me. :-)

Traditions and Granddad

I am so thankful for holiday traditions! It is so much fun to show our kids all of the things that we do around the holidays. This year, we started a new tradition with our new friend, Bernard, the elf. Austin is LOVING Bernard. You can learn more about Bernard from yesterday's post.

We also set up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving (or as close to that day as possible for those years we are traveling). It is so much fun to get all the ornaments out that we have accumulated over the years (and even childhood ones that our parents have saved). Austin looks at each and every one of them as he puts them on the branches. This year, he showed a real talent for picking the perfect spot for each and every ornament. This is the first year that I didn't have to move ornaments around after he went to bed because he bunched them all up in the one spot! He's growing up so much! Colten got to get in on the tradition this year by putting an ornament on the tree as well. He only got to do one because he was up past his bedtime, was really cranky and really didn't know what to think of those pokey branches and needles.

A tradition that Brian's parents have is to give us all ornaments on Thanksgiving night. It usually has some significance from over the last year for each person. It's always fun to see hwat ornament was picked out for you! This year, we didn't get to do this because Granddad fell right before everyone was leaving from their house after dinner. After making sure he was bandaged and pretty much ok. Brian, Bill and the kids and I went ahead and left so the kids could get back and get ready for bed. Mary stayed with the others to see how he was doing and ended up taking him to the ER that night to make sure he didn't have an fractures or anything wrong with his head (he hit his head pretty hard on the pavement). Thankfully, everything checked out ok and he got to come home that night.

However, Mary ended up staying the night and didn't get to give out the ornaments. No one remembered and we ended up going home before she got back to her home. While we didn't get to do this tradition, I am SO THANKFUL Granddad is ok! He's definitely sore, but shouldn't have any lasting effects from this fall. It was funny though, as he was being helped into the house and onto the couch to sit down, he was still cracking jokes and making light of it all!

We have many more traditions that we do throughout the holidays, but I'm sure I'll blog about them as they happen.

Family and a Holiday Visitor - Day 26

Today, of all days, we have SO much to be thankful for! It's so easy to get caught up in "what's for dinner" that we all need to just sit down and remember all that God has given us.

I am thanking God for my husband and two beautiful children. I was reminded today of my goals of being an athletic trainer for a high school. When choosing my career path, I didn't even DREAM of how soon God would give me my husband and children. I figured I'd get my degree, get certified as an athletic trainer, and then work those long hours looking after high school atheletes as they work towards their goals. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I realize I would get married before I even graduated. Some might say I gave up my dreams, but in reality, being a wife and a mom was always the ultimate goal. The athletic training gig was just something to pass the time until I was blessed with a family of my own. God knew what he was doing and I'll still use the knowledge I obtained, just in a different way. Remember, I have two boys and there will always be booboos to bandage, wounds to ice, and probably broken bones or stitches to attend to. :-)

I am also thankful for the rest of our family. Each member of our family holds a special place in my heart. Oh how I wish all of our family was close enough to visit with more often. I want our kids to know their grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins and have the same memories that I have of the holidays with family. Being military can keep us far away sometimes, but we always try to come "home for the holidays."

Tonight, I am also thankful for a little holiday visitor we will have in our home this year (and hopefully every year!). A little Elf appeared on our Shelf tonight and shared a book with us. We named him Bernard (from The Santa Clause). He is the eyes and ears for Santa. He appears in our house in the morning and watches the boys all day long, then leaves for the North Pole after they have gone to bed to tell Santa how good they have been today. Then, in the morning he appears in a different place for the kids to find him. They can't touch him or he'll lose his magic and won't be able to get back to the North Pole. They can talk to him and tell him what they want for Christmas, but he won't talk back.

Austin was in disbelief when he saw the book on the table when we got back from Pine Bluff after our Thanksgiving meal. We asked him if he put that there and when he said no, we asked everyone else. No one put that book there. So, we read it to see what it was about and then he looked for the elf that the book talked about. When he found him on the fireplace mantel, he just didn't know what to do. At first, he wouldn't go near him. He did tell him what he wanted for Christmas...I think that was the easy part! He was so funny. The whole night he would look and make sure Bernard was still there. I don't think he quite knew what to think about this whole thing! He kept asking how Bernard got here and how he was going to get back to the North Pole.

When it was time to go to bed, I told Austin he needed to brush his teeth. He started to protest and all I had to do was point to Bernard. He looked up, got wide-eyed, and then said, "OH!" Then went and got his teeth brushed.

I think I'm going to like Bernard hanging around!

Sick - Day 25

Today I am thankful that I'm not sick like this more often! For some reason, I have been hit by some sinus junk and now my vocal cord dysfunction is acting up and making it very hard for me to breathe. I'm coughing all the time and my throat is raw from all that coughing. My voice is pretty much gone. I only get like this once or twice a year, so I'm glad it's not more than that!

I'm also thankful for the love that Colten has for me. Right now, he's being really clingy and cranky anytime he's not being held by me. Right when I pick him up, he lays his head on my shoulder or gives me kisses. Of course, then he can't make up his mind whether to be held, or get down to play...either is just not acceptable to him. It's frustrating during times when he's so clingy, but when I think about how much he loves me, that makes it a little easier to handle! In a few years, he won't want to cuddle and give me kisses (especially in public), so I need to remember to cherish this time even when it can be frustrating.

Daddy's Back - Day 24

Today I am thankful for Brian getting back to Little Rock. He had to go back up to NWA for a root canal and then stayed the night so he could get his homework done and not have to worry about it over Thanksgiving.

While he was gone, I got to deal with some kind of sinus stuff and sore throat, 2 kids stuck in a house, and nighttime wakings which weren't really wakings to me since I was already awake. I just don't sleep as well when he's not home (yes, that made for some very tough nights sometimes when he was deployed). It's so nice that he's usually home to help with everything...I know what it's like on the other side and I am even more thankful for his presence than I think I would be if we hadn't gone through all the seperations.

He got back right before lunch today. The surprise was that we got our list of available places to move to after he graduates in May. So, we've been looking into all of our options (which was shortened by his assignment officer because Brian will be a new Major when we move). We probably won't know where we'll go until sometime next year, but the goal is to have RFOs (Request For Orders) by January 1. We'll see if that happens...the military moves pretty slowly, so I'm not going to hold my breath.

The Grocery Store? Day 23

You won't believe it. I really can't believe it either. However, today I am thankful for a trip to the grocery store. Brian had to drive back up to NWA today for his root canal. Both Bill and Mary needed their cars for work/doctor appointments. So, the kids and I were at the house today.

It wasn't really that bad...but by the time Mary came home from work, I needed to get out and about. She had called to see how things were going and mentioned she was going to go to Kroger. She thought she'd see if I wanted to go with the kids as well...but that we probably couldn't do that since she had her car and not mine. Luckily, Brian took the carseats out of the van, just in case, and we were able to go. :-)

It was busy...Thanksgiving is only 2 days away and everyone is trying to get their Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole ingredients and rolls. It was even a little stressful with Colten's screeching and Austin constantly asking what this or that was. However, it was a trip out of the house and I was grateful.

Oh, and it helps that I picked up a bottle of Mountain Dew to get me through the rest of the night. :-)

Little Brother - Day 22

Today, I am thankful for my little brother, Jimmy. His birthday was today - Happy Birthday! He's a whole 9 years younger than me, so he's just now getting into his 20's! Doesn't that just seem so young!?!

Today I am also thankful for some shopping time without kids! I didn't buy much...only a $4 cup for Austin that I ended up giving to him when I got back, but it was nice to go through a store and not have one kid screeching and another asking for everything he sees. :-) In fact, I was just tagging along with Mary and didn't really have any agenda, so it was nice to just go through and not have a list of things to buy or return.

I'm still on the lookout for Christmas gifts, but I'm taking my time picking things out. I usually do that since I'm afraid of buying something and then finding THE perfect gift for the person I just bought something for. I hate returning things...it's just so inconvienent (especially with 2 kids in tow), so I try to get it right the first time.

I have a few things, but not much. I have an idea of what to get for some people, but am still not 100% sure on anyone! :-) I feel a little behind...does it feel like Christmas is really close this year even though we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet? I think it's because I see people putting up decorations all over the place, the stores have it all out and we went to that Christmas Party at Disney World. Oh, and the stores around here have been REALLY busy! We passed Toys R Us yesterday and the parking lot was FULL. I'm afraid to even see what it will be like on Friday!

Snuggly Boys - Day 21

Today I am thankful for snuggly boys. There is just NOTHING like having a good snuggle with your kids. NOTHING! Austin has been really snuggly (if that isn't a word, I'm making it one!) lately and it's so nice to just sit on the couch with him on your lap or laying next to you. I know there are times when he wants to snuggle and I am doing something and just don't have the time...and I feel bad telling him "not right now." Some of the time though, I will tell him that I will for "just 5 minutes" and then go back to what I was doing. That makes him happy and still gives me some snuggle time with him.

Colten also is a snuggly boy. The last week or so he's been getting up around 5:30 or 6 and laying on my chest in the morning. A few times he's even fallen back asleep like that. While I don't like the time of day he gets up, I treasure this time with him. It's quiet throughout the house, I nurse him, then we stretch out on the couch and he'll lay his head on my chest. SO SWEET!

Colten's also been laying his head on my shoulder (and Daddy's as well) even when we've been holding him other times of the day as well. He has always loved to give us kisses as well (they are those open-mouthed baby kisses), but laying his head on our shoulder in the middle of the day is just so sweet.

Today, BOTH boys were sitting with me on the couch and took turns laying their head on me. It was so loving. THEN, the would love on each other. I just love this! Sometimes, Brian and I worry sometimes about the age gap and hope that they are close despite the 4 year difference. These snuggly times give me hope that our boys will be best friends no matter what!

Mothers - Day 20

Today is my birthday...and how can you not be thankful for your Mom on your birthday!

So, today I am thankful for my mom. She's going through a hard time right now and it stinks that I can't do anything about it. She's strong though, so I know she will get through this and that God has something better planned for her in the future.

My mom raised my sister and I alone for some time before remarrying. She put us first and tried to give us everything we wanted or needed before she got what she needed or wanted. Even when money was scarce, she made sure we didn't notice that times were tough. I didn't even realize there were tough times until I was older. Thanks to her and my grandparents, even Christmas presents were plentiful.

My mom has shown me how to be independent at times, but to know that there are also times when you just need to ask for help...and that it's ok to ask for that help.

Mom has suffered from a chronic illness since her 20s. No matter how bad it gets for her, she keeps pushing through, trying different things and never giving up. She's so strong! I know that there are days when she's feeling crummy and doesn't feel like getting out of bed, but when we visit her, she always tries to stay upbeat and play with her grandsons. She goes and goes while she's around us. I imagine that she could probably go to bed for days after we leave, but she doesn't complain. Most of the time, she doesn't even want to tell me when she's feeling bad.

So, today, I am thankful for her. For everything she has done for me, my sister and my brother. For everything she has done for other people. For everything she does for my kids. I know better things are in store for her...and hope that it comes soon!

A Few Things Today - Day 19

Today, I am thankful for a few things (and I will include 2 pictures of the boys that I took before we went to Disney...one of Colten in an OLD chair of Mary's and the other of Austin being handsome.

The first is for this warmer weather today. The past few days have been down right cold and yucky! Today it was warm enough to go outside and play. I took the boys in the backyard and let them play on the swingset. While out there, Austin told me to watch him as he was swinging. He told me I had to watch him forever and I watched as he swung higher and higher...then JUMPED off the swing! Brian tried to get him to do this a couple of months ago and now, here he is, doing it on his own! I think someone at school must have done it and he realized he could do it too. Then, he said he could jump off even higher and did. So much fun! I'm thankful that the weather was nice enough for him to be able to show me that! Colten also had a lot of fun out there walking around and trying to climb up the slides.

I'm thankful for Colten going to the doctor and being told that he's doing and looking great and seeing him so happy to see everyone there. This is NOT a shy kid...he may act like it sometimes, but he really enjoyed all the attention today. Well, at least until his shot! Oh, he was 21 pounds, 4 ounces and 28 inches long (which may or may not be accurate since he was wiggling so much while being measured).

I am thankful for our dentist and dental insurance. Brian started getting a toothache Tuesday night. He called the dentist yesterday and got an appointment for today. They aren't sure what is causing it exactly, but x-rays showed something deep in his tooth. We don't see any cavities on the outside of the tooth, and it's not even a molar where most cavities are (it's his canine tooth). Despite not being sure WHAT is causing this pain (and it's HORRIBLE pain), Brian has pain meds, an antibiotic, and an appointment on Monday for a root canal. He'll also have to get a cap on his tooth. I'm thankful for him having FULL coverage for dental since he's active duty. We already know how much all this could cost us since I have had this kind of work done before.

I am VERY thankful for Colten's bedtime. His vaccinations today made him one cranky little boy! With Brian laying in bed because of the pain, I was with the kids all day and that little boy was just NOT happy this evening! I'm exhausted! Brian tried to help, he really did. However, with the pain from his tooth causing that whole side of his head to hurt, Colten's whining really made it all worse. I told him not to worry about it...just to go lie back down. Poor boys! The only one who wasn't feeling yucky was Austin!

Lastly, I am thankful that I have had a few moments here and there to post some Disney pictures. I still have our last day of Magic Kingdom to do as well as a few pictures of our 2-hour trip to Epcot that we did before we left on Saturday. Those will be up soon...I just need to get them off my camera and then go through them first.

Second Part of Day 4 - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

I did not take as many pictures of this as I should have. However, we were having so much fun and there was so much going on that there were some key shots that I totally missed and didn't think of until it was too late (ie. family in front of castle). However, there are times when we just have to put the camera aside and enjoy the memories as they happen and not worry about capturing them in photos.

I am SO glad we were able to go to this event. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is an event where you buy additional tickets to get into Magic Kingdom on select nights during the holiday season. Oh, and in case you didn't know, the holiday season starts in early November according to Disney! :-) While some people may not want to spend the extra money on something like this, we think it is TOTALLY worth it. Not only do you get free hot chocolate and cookies (apple slices and apple juice are also available), but the crowds are usually low and you spend more time walking through the queue lines than you do waiting to get on the ride. Actually, I think the ride is longer than the wait as well! :-) We got to go on so many prime rides in such a short amount of time that the next day was just so relaxed since we weren't rushing around trying to fit everything in.

Plus, there is just something about the Christmas spirit that fills the air when you are there! All of the cast members are in Christmasy outfits, the castle looks like a sugar cookie, there's Christmas music playing, Christmas shows you can watch, an extra Christmas parade that happens twice in those 5 hours (7pm-midnight), and Snow on Mainstreet! :-)

I can honestly say that not ONE cross thought went through my head towards either of my kids (or anyone else in our family of course!). The kids were excellent and it seemed like they were just put in a Christmas mood as well! We had such a WONDERFUL time!

The first ride we did was Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Austin loved this ride 2 years ago and this year it was the same. Although, we all agreed that the new Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios was MUCH better! Austin even remembered this photo opportunity from last time! He just ran right up to it and got right in, waiting for me to take his picture.

Austin also rode The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm. His reaction was pretty much the same. The above photo is the anxious "before" photo. Below is the "after" photo that just screams "Is it over yet?"

One ride we didn't do last time because he didn't want to was Dumbo. Don't ask me why he didn't want to; he loves rides like this (TriceraTop Spin, Aladdin's Carpets), but he just didn't want to do it. This year, he went on it with Yaya...it took her back to the time when she went on Dumbo with Austin's Daddy!

During the nights of the Christmas Party, they only do fireworks AT the party. This was going to be our only night of Fireworks since we missed Illuminations on Monday.

The picture (not the greatest, but the only one of him in front of the castle) of Austin shows him with a sword and pirate hook. He LOVES these toys from Pirates of the Carribean and he played and played with them while waiting for the fireworks to start. The picture of Colten and Yaya is showing how he was trying to grab the fireworks. So cute!

The kids loved this. We knew Austin loved fireworks...but Colten was just in awe of them. He kept trying to reach up and grab them and would just smile. It was so sweet to watch him!

My original plan was to bring a tripod for the firework pictures. You just get MUCH better pictures since you don't have the camera shake when you are using a tripod. However, it got left in the car by accident and if you've ever been to Disney World, you know the parking lot is a PAIN to get back to (you have to take a ferry or monorail back to the Ticket office and then take a tram to your lot). So, I made due with what I had and used a trash can to help steady the camera. Worked on some shots, not so much on others. I think what I did get is pretty cool though, so I'm happy!

Overall, I think worth the money and the late night for the kids. It got us all in the Christmas spirit and now I am so ready to decorate for the Holidays! I've had to restrain myself since I just CAN'T decorate before Thanksgiving! I think it will definitely be a night to remember (even without all the pictures!).

First Part of Day 4 - Animal Kingdom

Thursday Morning, we went to Animal Kingdom. Our original plans for this week was Mon - Epcot, Tues - Hollywood Studios, Wed - Animal Kingdom, Thurs & Friday - Magic Kingdom. However, with us missing a whole day (plus half of Monday), our plans were changed a bit.

We still wanted to have a full day at Hollywood Studios since there was just SO much for Austin there. Plus, we wanted to see the Osborne Family Lights. So, we figured we'd have to sacrifice a little time from other places. Animal Kingdom closes early anyway, so leaving a little earlier than planned wouldn't be that big of a deal. Plus, we had tickets to go to Mickey Very Merry Christmas Party on Thursday night and knew we'd get a lot of rides done at Magic Kingdom then.

So, off to Animal Kingdom we went.

Our first stop was Kilimanjaro Safaris. This ride usually has a really long wait if you don't do it first thing in the morning. We knew Austin would love the animals and Bill and Mary hadn't ever been to this park, so they were open to anything.

I think Colten almost fell asleep during this ride. It was bumpy and just kind of lulled him a bit.

After the safari, we went over to Finding Nemo - the Musical and grabbed seats for that while Bill and Mary tried to track down some lattes. This show was REALLY good held Austin's attention through the whole thing. Colten slept through half of it, then woke up and loved watching it as well.

Some friends of ours that we knew at Fort Lee and Hawaii, The Olivers, were also at Disney the same week. We didn't know that until a day or two before we left, so it was a nice surprise. We had originally planned on meeting up with them on Wednesday at Animal Kingdom, but when our plans changed, we figured we'd end up missing them. Well, we coincidentally changed our plans the same as them. They were tired on Wednesday and decided to do AK on Thursday as well. :-) So, we met up with them in Dino Land for a bit to catch up and see them. It was a short, but really nice visit...maybe someday we'll be at the same place again. They were also at Campbell the same time as us, but we didn't know that until we met them at Lee. Small world, huh!

Austin loves Dino Land because they have carnival-type games (EXPENSIVE!) and the TriceraTop Spin ride that he likes. It's like Dumbo, but with dinosaurs instead of elephants. :-)

There are also a couple of the fun mirrors and Austin had a blast looking at himself in them. He thought it was just hilarious that he was SO short!

We had lunch at Flame Tree Barbeque. YUMMY! I had requested this since we had it back in 2007. They have the best smoked chicken and their portions are HUGE! The kids meal was only $5 and came with 2 chicken drumsticks, grapes, carrot sticks, apple juice (or milk or water) and a cookie. I got the kids meal and it filled me right up!

After lunch, we headed over to the Festival of the Lion King. We had seen this show back in 2007 and LOVED it. We wanted to see it again, plus Bill and Mary wanted to see it, so we walked over there and got some GREAT seats! We were right by the doors where all of the people come out onto the stage. Austin got to wave to everyone and even got asked to participate. If it had been 6 months later, I bet he would have, but he was a little too shy and declined. It was funny because at the beginning, he was asking me if he could go down to the stage and help them. Anyway, this show is just great and totally shows how awesome Disney is!

We left around 2pm and headed back to our resort for rest time and dinner. We had the Christmas party that night at 7pm and wanted the kids rested for the fun we were going to have that night.

Day 3 - Disney's Hollywood Studios

Our second day in Orlando was spent at our resort. I'll show pictures of our "room" later. It wasn't too bad since Austin started feeling better and didn't have a fever anymore. The evening/afternoon was worse because he WAS getting better and was starting to actually argue and complain. He was getting his energy back and just didn't want to nap like we knew he needed to and started getting his "spunk" back. It was welcomed, but frustrating at the same time!

We had read online that the CDC recommends seclusion for 24 hours after being fever-free without any fever-reducing medication. After that, you can go back to going out in public. We prayed that Austin's fever would stay away so we could get back to Disney on Wednesday afternoon (unless he was still feeling crummy).

Well, our prayers were answered. He felt great on Wednesday and had been fever-free for over 24 hours. So, we headed for Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly known as Disney's MGM Studios).

We had Austin take it as easy as he could, with him riding in the stroller as much as possible and drinking and eating plenty. You could definitely tell he was feeling better!

We did most of what we wanted. He got to see Lightening McQueen and Mater again like 2 years ago, as well as Buzz Lightyear and Woody (who had a new home).

This time, he had a little brother he got to show off as well!

We also got to see some new stuff that they have added since last time. They have a new area called Pixar Place where the new Toy Story Mania ride is located (AWESOME...so much better than Buzz Lightyear ride in Magic Kingdom) and they also added some fun Green Army Men who walk around and have fun with the kids.

After Pixar Place, we went over to see the characters of Up, but ended up just seeing Sorcerer Mickey instead. Austin decided he just wanted to see Mickey. Colten wasn't quite sure of Mickey, but didn't cry!

We also saw the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, the Lights Motors Action! Extreme Stunt Show, rode the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror and played at the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure (aka - playground).

When it finally got dark, we got to see "snow" at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. This was pretty neat to see and the pictures definitely don't do it justice...it is MUCH tackier in person! LOL

Overall, a VERY good day and night. We are so thankful that Austin got over the flu so quickly and that no one else got it after him (other than his poor cousin, Anna, who we saw during our two day road trip to Orlando!). Everyone had a great time and looked forward to the next day of Disney!

Day 1 at Disney - Epcot

We tried to spend the day at Epcot on Monday. We knew Austin had been running a fever the day before, but he seemed fine that morning and was running around and talking like he was normal. So, we went ahead and went to Epcot with the plans of just doing what we could IF Austin stayed feeling better. If not, we'd leave and figure out what to do from there.

The day started off great. We met our friends, The Dyers, at the park entrance so they could get their tickets from us and we all went in together and hung out doing the different rides.

Yaya and Austin with the "big golf ball."

Epcot was the the thing Austin was looking forward to the most...because of the "big golf ball." That's all he wanted to do...go in that golf ball!

Austin and Hope playing in the water area by Test Track.

First, we headed over to the Test Track area (we originally thought Soarin' was over there as well, but was wrong). We actually got Austin on the ride, although he didn't exactly like it. He came off the ride telling Jill and Yaya, "I did it, but I was freaking out!"

Yaya, Noah, and Colten waiting for us to do Test Track.

So, after Test Track, we made our way over to the other side where Soarin' was located, got Fast Passes for that ride, rode a boat ride called Living with the Land that Austin almost didn't go on because he was scared, then took the kids to the Finding Nemo ride. I think they all loved it and Colten almost fell asleep in the dark ride.

Austin loving "Living with the Land."

Our family at Finding Nemo.

Yaya and the kids being eaten by a shark.

We explored the fun stuff they have at the Nemo Ride a little. There are aquariums with all kinds of fish, some exhibits for kids to play with and we tried to go to Turtle Talk with Crush, but it ended up full and our Fast Pass time was approaching.

So, back to Soarin' we went and Austin LOVED it! He and Brian got to go on it twice since we did the Parent Swap. Colten couldn't go on it, so I had to wait out front with him, John Dyer, and Noah while everyone else went to ride. After they were done, I got to take up to 3 other people back into the ride with me, so Brian and Austin did it again. This was one of our favorite rides...it was so cool!

After Soarin, we had lunch reservations at Coral Reef. This is when the day started to go down hill for us. We get to the restaurant and get seated. Austin just crashed. He wouldn't eat and just layed in the booth with Daddy as his pillow. Colten was CRAZY in this place and it was hard to eat with him trying to get out of the highchair he was supposed to be in. We rushed through our lunch so we could get the kids out of there. We told Bill and Mary to stay and see the World Showcase since they hadn't ever had the chance to see it and we took the kids back to the resort.

Austin never recovered that day like we had hoped and we ended up taking him to After Hours Pediatric Center (HIGHLY recommend them if you are ever in Orlando with a sick kid!) instead of Illuminations like we wanted to. He ended up testing positive for the flu and to Wal-Greens we went for Tamiflu.

That night, we discussed many, many options and ultimately just decided to see how he felt over the next couple of days. Little did we know the powers of Tamiflu...and that our vacation wouldn't be so bad afterall!

What Every Mom is Thankful For! Day 18

Today I am thankful for naps. While I didn't get one today (it never happens and when it does I am always groggy when I wake up), I am SO thankful for the two naps that Colten takes!

The morning one I wasted away on the computer, drinking some coffee. It is always wonderful to have some quiet time while I'm on the computer because when I try to get online when he's awake, he wants to pull on the laptop and push all kinds of buttons.

The afternoon nap, I made the best of it and actually cleaned our kitchen and living room. Our house was a disaster after we came back from Disney. There was all kinds of things laying on the kitchen counters, things all over the living room and most of the stuff I just had no clue what to do with (or the energy to figure it out). Today, our long kitchen counter that is usually piled with stuff is clear, the dishes WERE clean (until dinner) and our kitchen table was cleaned the placemats with napkins were back in place.

The living room is getting set up for our Christmas stuff. I pulled all of Colten's toys that live in that room into the dining room. I put all of Austin's toys into a bowl and had him put those away in his room and folded the blankets we use everyday and put them in their place. All I need to do now is vacuum (which will wait until tomorrow). I even got to go into the boys room and clean the majority of that mess (the closet still needs some attention).

So, while Colten didn't nap as long as I would have liked, I got a lot done and when he DID wake up, he was in a good mood and played while I cleaned. I LOVE naps.

Back to School - Day 17

Today I am thankful for Austin's school. Creative School at First United Methodist Church in Springdale is just a great program and I can't say enough great things about his teachers, Miss Trisha and Miss Jana. Austin looks forward to school EVERY day...however, he only gets to go on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For those who don't know, Austin was resistant to ANY learning before school. The boy didn't even want to learn the ABCs. We would start to sing and he'd tell us to stop. Sometimes it was a polite, "Please stop singing." Other times, he would yell, "I don't want to do that right now!" There was a time when he loved to sing pre-school songs, but at some point around 2 years old, he just stopped and didn't want anyone else to either.

He NEVER wanted to sing. We had started doing story time at the Springdale Library when we moved here. It was a great program, but in between all the books that were read, they would do songs. Austin hated this part and would get up from the group and come sit with me while the other kids were singing. He even started saying (before I put a stop to it), "NOT AGAIN!" and then come sit with me. I think some of this was embarrassment. I'm not sure why he was so embarrassed to sing, but he was. After a couple of months, he said he didn't want to go to story time anymore. I think he got tired of the singing...he just wasn't comfortable in that setting.

A couple of months before he started school, we saw a little change in him. He started to become a little more open to counting, a few letters (his favorite was H) and a few other things. However, it wasn't until he started going to school that he just blossomed (can you use that phrase for a boy?).

Austin now breaks out in song at the drop of a hat. He knows the Alphabet Song, can count to 30 (at least) is able to pick out the sounds of letters, and is SO happy to be learning. His school has a music class and he will actually come home and start singing some of the new songs. He loves his teachers and is just so proud of everything he is doing. Right now, he is technically ready for Kindergarten (according to the checklist). We used to worry about him being behind and how he'll respond to school. Not anymore! He's doing so well and I am so thankful for everything his school has done for him!

So, today as he went back to school after our vacation, I was thankful he was able to go and be happy to learn.

Finally HOME...Day 16

I am so thankful to be in my own home. It seems we have been gone FOR.EV.R! We had our final 3 hour drive today from Little Rock. Colten threw a fit when I tried putting him in his carseat, but got settled once I got him buckled and soon fell asleep for his morning nap. He woke up about an hour later and was pretty good for a while, then I had to climb into the back and entertain him for a bit before letting him watch a Baby Einstein movie. :-) Those things are AWESOME in a pinch! He really has only seen them in the car while on trips, so he thinks they are the greatest things ever!

So, we are back in our own house, our dogs are with us and are happy to be home as well. Toby, our cat is still with John. Since we are going BACK to Little Rock this weekend for the Razorback game, he agreed to keep him. I think he even offered to keep him for good, but I don't think he's going to get his way. Strangely, I miss my kitty! LOL

Tomorrow, it is back to business as usual. Austin will go to school, it's back to eating dinner at home (not looking forward to cooking again!), bedtimes should be back to normal, and the whole house needs to be cleaned. Anyone want to come do that for me?

As much fun as I had at Disney (and I already miss that Disney Magic) I am SO glad to be home.

Day 2 of Driving...OVER!

I don't think I could be more thankful than anything else today...I am SO THANKFUL to finally be done with 10 hours of being in the car! We finally made it to Little Rock from Enterprise, Alabama. I spent the last 40 minutes or more turned around from the front seat so that Colten could hold my hand since that is the only thing that stopped him from screaming the entire rest of the way. My back isn't feeling the greatest, but my head and everyone else in the car is probably thanking me! :-) He had just HAD it with being in the car. I don't blame him...I was at that point myself!

Tomorrow we head home. It's ONLY 3 hours in the car. I am nervous about getting Colten into the carseat in the morning, but so excited about seeing my puppies! We pick them up from the kennel and then hit the road.

We had a great trip to Disney. I'll be posting more pictures soon. I just need to get my house clean and things unpacked first.

Wonderful Pit Stop with Family

Today, I am thankful for the great hospitality that Matt and Paula have had for our family (plus, Bill and Mary)! We stopped at their house on the way to Disney World (and ended up giving Anna the flu) as well as on the way back. They have fed our family and given us a place to sleep so that our trip wasn't quite as stressful with 2 small kids.

It has been wonderful to see them and Nate and Anna since we don't normally get to see them two weekends in a row. We miss seeing them often. Austin misses his cousins...they used to act more like siblings since we lived within 5 miles of each other and the kids were around each other enough to fight like brothers and sister instead of cousins.

So, we are here...enjoying the company of family. Thankful for the safe drive to Alabama. Dreading the 10 hour drive to Little Rock (and subsequent 3 hour drive back to NWA) and praying that those two trips are also safe and uneventful.

Magical Healing - Day 13

Today's thankful post was a hard one. Today, I was thankful for all kinds of things that I have already posted about! The kids were great, Bill and Mary continue to be awesome in-laws, Brian is an awesome husband, we had a blast at another Disney Park, and the weather was great!

However, I sat here and realized that all of today wouldn't have been possible without Austin getting better. I am SO thankful that my little boy is feeling 100% again! I know I was thankful for Tamiflu the other day, but I think this deserves a different post. :-)

Austin was feeling down right awful on Monday. This kid just amazes me! He is just like his old self and it hasn't even been a week yet! He cracks me up and I can't help but look back on how just a few days ago, he was feeling so bad that he didn't even have the energy to be disappointed about Disney or be bored!

Not once did I hear him complain about being sick. He only started complaining and whining when he was getting better. Which was fine since it was a true sign that he was getting back to normal. LOL.

So, today, I am thankful that we were able to continue our vacation because Austin got better quick. I'm so thankful that we didn't have to leave Florida with a kid who hadn't gotten to visit Disney after all this time looking forward to it! Plus, I am SO proud of our little guy...he truly was awesome even when he was sick! What a trooper!

Christmas Before Thanksgiving - Day 12

I am getting tired of naming these posts the same thing but with different days. So, I changed it. Now, I'm just going to put whatever day it is in the title along with some other form of description. :-)

Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to take my kids to Disney World. Specifically, the Christmas party tonight. I never got to go to Disney World growing up. It was always WAY out of my family's budget, so we did other fun things on vacation. Brian and I first took Austin 2 years ago...which was also my first time. We had a blast and I fell in love. :-) There's just something about going to Disney World that you don't get at any other theme park. I think it's that "Disney Magic."

{Colten and his new hoodie waiting for the monorail to Magic Kingdom. Isn't he just adorable?}

However, when you go to Disney during Christmas time, you multiply that magic by a hundred! Disney always does a great job with the details...and they definitely don't disappoint with the Christmas decorations either!

{The castle all lit up for the Christmas Party. We forgot the tripod, so I am very happy with the shot that I got...do you know how hard it is to take a longer-exposure shot without a tripod?}

We bought (actually Bill and Mary bought) tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Last time, Austin got to stay back with a babysitter while Brian and I had a night out. This time, we thought we'd let him enjoy the magic as well. We are SO glad we did! He had a blast. Colten had a blast. And because of a late nap in the afternoon, they were well-rested and were SO good! Therefore, the adults got to enjoy it all as well! :-)

{Austin with Minnie Mouse. This year, he really only wanted to see the main characters and wasn't interested in seeing anyone else as much.}

It was a great night, filled with Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, fun, lights, and fireworks! I am so thankful that we have the means to give our kids this opportunity.

11th Day of Being Thankful

Today I am thankful for Brian's parents. Bill and Mary, aka Bobo and Yaya to the grandkids, came to Disney World with us. We drove their van from Arkansas to Orlando and we are all staying at the same resort (different condos...I think we would have driven them crazy if we were all in one condo).

Some women have a lot of problems with their in-laws (mostly the mother-in-law). You always hear of the horror stories involving the in-laws. This is not the case in our situation. I love my in-laws...and yes, even my mother-in-law! They always try to be helpful with the kids and haven't "butted in" to our marrige.

Today was our first day back in the Disney Parks after Austin's flu. It was a LONG, exhausting, WONDERFUL day. However, I don't think it would have quite been the same without Bobo and Yaya. They helped all day long holding Colten, taking the kids to the playground so Bri and I could go on a roller coaster together, pushing the stroller, taking pictures, and even putting up with the meltdowns (yes, there was more than one!) from Austin at the end of the night. Mary even dealt with a little accident Austin had until Brian and I could get back from a ride and figure out what to do about it.

Bobo and Yaya are wonderful in-laws and grandparents. I think Brian (and the other two brothers) would chime in and say they are wonderful parents as well. I am thankful for their help and especially for our relationship!

Thankful on Day 10

Today, I am thankful for Tamiflu. :-) That miracle drug has definitely helped our little boy feel much better! You know your child is getting better when he is arguing over naps and having an attitude again! LOL. Frustrating, but great at the same time. He's still kind of cranky, but I'm hoping a good nights sleep will help that since he was wasn't getting the best of sleep when he was feeling crummy.

Tomorrow afternoon, as long as his fever stays away, he will be allowed to go out in public again. Yay! The recommendation is fever-free for 24 hours. We are laying low in the morning, taking it easy, and eating lunch, then hopefully heading to Hollywood Studios in the afternoon. This is all dependent on how Austin is feeling and making sure his fever is completely gone.

I don't think I can really discuss how much I want him to be better so he can have fun. When we were at the pediatric urgent care and got the diagnoses, I was definitely upset. The nurse and doctor just didn't get why I was upset...I was so disappointed for Austin! He has been looking forward to this trip for so long...and we have scrimped and saved for this trip since we decided to go (it wasn't exactly in our budget, but we made it work). For it to be in jeopardy because of the flu was just very disappointing for us...but moreso because we knew how much he had looked forward to it. It would have been a little different if he was younger and just didn't understand what Disney was and wouldn't have really missed what he didn't know. These people just didn't understand because Disney is right down the road for them. They don't have to save and plan for a long time to go. It's like going to the mall or something for them!

So, I am praying that he's good to go tomorrow. Right now, he's still fever-free and I am so thankful for that! I hated seeing him so crummy and he didn't even have the comfort of home. I will have to say that being at a resort with an apartment-type layout has been WONDERFUL! It would have been SO much worse if it was as regular hotel room. For that I am also thankful!

So many things to be thankful for...and this post only covered 3 things. I'll let it stay at that.

Day 9 - Thankful (plus Epcot)

I figured that there would be at least one or two days when I would struggle to find something I am thankful for. Today is SORT OF like that. I'll explain in the end.

We woke up and Austin still had a LOW grade fever, but was all over the place and talking like normal. He still didn't look 100%, but we figured he just had a cold and that sometimes, those cold bugs were just hard to get over. He wanted to go to Epcot and since he was feeling so good, we went ahead and decided to go and then see how he feels at the park and either stay the day or go back if he starts feeling bad again.

We get to Epcot, met our good friends, the Dyer's, and stand in line to enter the park. When the park opened, we made our way (by mistake) to Test Track. We thought Soarin' was over in the same area, but were wrong. We decided to just do Test Track (those who wanted to) and then head over to Soarin' after that. Austin had been looking forward to so many rides and Test Track was one of them. However, when we got there, the noise was just really loud and he said he didn't want to go. We talked him into walking up to the ride with us and then deciding then. He looked at the car you ride in and decided to try it. It was a fun ride...but the sounds were loud and the car jerked at times and Austin didn't like it as much as he thought he would.

In the end, he went and told Yaya and Jill, "I did it, but I was freaking out!"

After Test Track, we went and got Fast Passes to Soarin', rode a neat Boat ride that showed how Disney was experimenting with crops and, then made our way to the Finding Nemo ride. The kids LOVED this...even Colten. We looked at all the aquariums and had the kids climb up into a shark for a picture (not a real one, of course!) and then went back to Soarin'.

I think Soarin' was Austin's favorite ride today. He and Brian got to ride it twice since we used the Parent Swap (I stayed with Colten the first time they rode it with Yaya and Bobo).

After Soarin', we went to our reservations at Coral Reef Restaurant. This is where finding something to be thankful for got really hard! Austin wilted pretty dramatically once we were at the restaurant. The more we were there, the worse he felt. We took him and Colten back to the resort while Yaya and Bobo got some alone time. We thought that maybe if Austin took a nap, he'd feel better and be back to normal in no time. We were wrong.

After a 4 hour nap, and a trip to a pediatric urgent care center, we found out that Austin has the flu. We have no clue if it's the regular flu or H1N1. They don't test for the strain anymore since H1N1 is so rampant now. Needless to say, he is supposed to stay "at home" for 5-7 days.

I cried...I am so disappointed for our little boy who has looked forward to this trip for so long! We got Tamiflu to try to lessen the symptoms...we'll see how that helps. When his fever is lowered by Motrin, he looks like he's almost back to normal. He is talkative and his fever goes down and he get more like "Austin." We are hoping that the meds help him feel better soon.

So, back to my "sort of" finding it hard to be thankful for something...at first, I was so disappointed that I just couldn't be thankful for anything. I am still extremely disappointed for him...and for us...that our vacation has been changed. BUT, in the grand scheme of things, I am SO thankful that is isn't something worse. My baby ONLY has the flu. He could have been admitted into the hospital or have a heart condition or cancer or something else equally devestating. I am SO thankful that he ONLY has the flu.

Never in my life would I have thought that I would be thankful that a child of mine has the flu...but there you have it. I am THANKFUL that Austin ONLY has the flu. Oh, and I am thankful that he ate something tonight! He hasn't has much to eat the last two days and tonight he ate lunch meat and cheese (basically a sandwich without the bread) and chips.

Lastly, please pray for us. We have some decisions to make and have no clue what path to take. I'm just glad none of them are life-threatening or changing!

Thankful - Day 8

It's been a LONG day! Actually, yesterday was longer, but today just felt really long because it was day 2 of our road trip to Florida. Anyway, today I am thankful that we made it to Orlando. Sometimes, the little things are really the most important...and getting to Orlando is really important right now! :-)

The kids did great...despite Austin waking up with a fever and cough. They did great in the car and I am SO proud of them! Again, Colten was just DONE with being in his carseat about an hour and a half from our resort. However, he wasn't unbearable and we were able to entertain him enough to keep him from completely losing it!

Tomorrow is supposed to be Epcot. Austin is still feeling crummy and running a fever. We are going to see how he's feeling in the morning and what his fever is like and decide what to do from there. Hopefully, he had made a full recovery and be able to enjoy Epcot!

Thankful - Day 7

Today I am VERY thankful to have 2 kids who travel WONDERFULLY!

We drove 10 hours today from Little Rock to Enterprise, Alabama and our kids did great! We only had a little bit of crankiness from Colten at the end, but by that point, I was ready to be done as well, so I couldn't really blame him a bit! I really couldn't have asked for a better trip with a 4 year old and a 9 month old!

Tomorrow we drive 6-7 more hours, but it will all be worth it when we finally get to Orlando for our Disney vacation! I just hope our kids continue their awesome travel behavior and make tomorrow's trip easy as well.

As far as this week goes for the blog, I may or may not be able to post my Thankfulness posts. I'll try, but we might not have internet access except one day for Brian's homework. If I don't get to them while in Florida, I'll catch up when we get back.

Giving Thanks on Day 6

Today, not only am I thankful, but I am prayerful as well. Yesterday, our Army Community was rocked by the horrible actions of a man that was one of our own.

I am thankful that we are not stationed there. I did not have to experience the anxiety of wondering if my Soldier was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or if he was safe. I pray for those who experienced that fear.

I am thankful that Brian is safe in Little Rock with me. I pray for the families of the fallen and the wounded. They are living a nightmare that no one wants to live.

I am thankful that I did not have to figure out where to take my kids during the hours of lockdown because we couldn't go home to our on-post housing. I pray for those who couldn't go home when all they wanted to do was lock themselves in their home and hug on their family.

I am thankful for the swift actions of the police who stopped the man responsible for this. Without our police (both military and civilian), more people could have been hurt or killed. I pray that they get any help they may need to deal with this tragedy.

Lastly, I am thankful for our Army. The Army is not only a job for Brian...it is our lifestyle and our family. When events like this happen, it affects all of us...even if we are not directly involved. I pray for our Army Family. I pray for the Soliders - those who lived through this tragedy. I pray that they also get the help they need to deal with this.

Finally, I pray for our Fallen Soldiers...may they rest in peace.

Day 5 of Thanks

Today I am thankful for this beautiful weather! Soon, it will be cold and windy and just yucky. Austin will probably ask numerous times (too many to count) if we can move back to Hawaii and I will worry even more about Colten and if he's too cold or not.

But for now, we will enjoy this gorgeous weather. We went outside in the back yard and played today. I picked up the yard, getting things cleaned up before we leave for Disney World and the boys just had a lot of fun. Colten is LOVING the slides. He tries to climb up them, gets about half-way up and then ends up sliding back down. Yes, he gets about half-way up! :-)

Austin loves his playground. What he is really loving right now is sliding down his spiral slide with Colten in his lap. They both giggle and smile and Austin wants to do it over and over again because Colten just enjoys it so much! They love each other so much...and that's just the best thing in the world to me!

Thankful - Day 4

Today, I am thankful for my Mom's Bible Study. However, it's not the typical study that you'd think...we haven't even studied the bible since I've joined. The last two sessions have been over Christian-based parenting books. The first one, The 5 Love Languages of Children, is out of a series I just LOVE. Brian and I have been to a marriage retreat based off of the adult version and it is make total sense when you read it and apply it to your relationship. I knew I would love the Children's version and learn a bit about why certain kids do certain things.

This session is over the book, Boundaries With Children. It's a great book and I am learning so much! There's also an adult version that sounds like everyone should read! :-)

While I have learned a lot about parenting from the books, nothing can replace the group aspect! There is just nothing like talking with the other moms and having your fears of screwing up your children put to rest! I get to drop off my kids in the nursery (which they LOVE) and go spend an hour talking about the book and the different parenting styles we each have. There are moms to kids of ALL ages, so it helps to see how they dealt with the struggles I am dealing with now as well as to see what I have to look forward to in the coming years!

Giving Thanks - Day 3

Today I am thankful for Friends. Our family has so many different kinds of friends. We appreciate and love every single one of them....even if we don't keep in touch as often as we should!

Being an Army family, we often make friends quickly and then have to leave them quicker than the average person as well. We've made friends in each of the places we have lived. We had a great group of friend in Hawaii that all lived in the same neighborhood...we knew most of them for all of 6 months before we moved, yet that group will always hold a special place in our heart.

We also have a great group of friends that I "married into." Most of them live in Little Rock, although a few have moved to other places. They all accepted me into their group from the beginning and now I am happy to call them MY friends as well. We always enjoy getting together with our friends when we visit Little Rock!

There is also a group of friends that are mine alone. My playgroup friends. It's a bunch of women who all come from different backgrounds that have major thing in common...having the greatest job on Earth - a MOM. I love getting together with these friends. We talk about all sorts of things...including some things that you never would have DREAMED of talking about before having kids!

Brian also has his own friends...people from his various units. Some of these are the people who have been to Iraq and back with him. There's no other bond like the bonds our Soldiers form during wartime. Again, keeping in touch is often hard, but the Army is a small world, so he'll probably see some of them a time or two again!

God put each of these friends in our life for a reason.

We are so thankful for all of YOU! You know who you are!!!

Thankful - Day 2

Today, I am thankful for the internet. I probably spend more time on here than I should...but I am so glad we are able to afford internet and the ability to stay in touch with people easier. Between this blog, e-mail and Facebook, I feel that no matter where the Army takes us, we are still able to let our friends and family know what we are up to...and allow them to show us what they are up to as well!

For example, just today, an old friend from our first duty station, Fort Campbell, gave birth to her first baby boy. Without wonderful Facebook, I wouldn't have known this...and soon I'll even be able to see pictures of the 9lb 9 oz baby!

Sometimes, the internet tends to suck me in and I can spend FOREVER on here reading blogs that I'm interested in, looking at Facebook, checking e-mail and browsing Ebay. Those days, I tend to think we would be better off without it. It can be such a time drainer...time that could be better used to play with our kids or making a snack for them or cleaning the house (yeah, right!). However, without the internet, I wouldn't have been able to keep in touch with Brian during his 2 deployments. I wouldn't have founds some friends from high school that I have lost touch with. Our family wouldn't have this blog to look through when we are thousands of miles away.

For our family, the internet is more of a postive thing than a negative...and I am so thankful to have access to this wonderful tool!

30 Days of Thanks

I am jumping on the blogging bandwagon and doing the 30 Days of Thanks as part of NaBloPoMo. I'm taking the idea from my friend, Jill, who always knows about things WAY before I do! I don't know how she finds out about things, but she has introduced me to so many things from baby items to blogging events like this!

30 Days of Thanks means exactly what it say...blogging every day of this month with something you are thankful for. Blogging everyday will probably not be easy. It might sound easy, but I know it isn't since I have tried to do it on our exercise blog and it hasn't happened recently (even though we HAVE exercised since I last updated it, I just haven't gone over there to update it!).

So, to start off, I am thankful for Brian. He is the love of my life, the most caring, giving, and forgiving person (and I DO need forgiving sometimes!) and the best Daddy 2 boys will ever have!

However, today, if I had to say one reason why I am thankful for him...it would be that he takes turns with me on getting up with the kids and today was MY turn to sleep in. :-) What made it all more impressive is that Colten's schedule was a little messed up this morning because of the time change and got up at 5:30am instead of 6:30. So, I'm sure you can see exactly WHY I am thankful for him today!

Brian, I know you'll read this in the morning, so I just wanted to let you know I love you...and for so many more reasons than I have listed here! :-)