Independence Day

How does one write a blog again? I seem to have forgotten.

I think it has to do with entering words and phrases and sentences on certain days, consistently throughout the year.

Yeah, I must have forgotten.

...

Moving on.

It's the Fourth! I have to say, the way my little town celebrates this holiday of freedom and independence is just the best ever. I would gladly pit my town against yours in a "Which-town-celebrates-the-date-our-Founding-Fathers-declared-themselves-free-from-Britain best" contest, and know that my town would win. Yeah, it's that good. It has all sort of feel good Americana stuff goin' on all day that does make you proud to be an American.

There's the annual 5K in the morning, parade before noon, Rotary Club chicken grill out in the village square afterwards, and general good fun the rest of the day through. (I will say, though, that there is a little too much good-natured fun leading up to the Fourth and on the days following. Seriously. People like their fireworks. All. The. Time. I like my quiet and am a rather crotchety old women when it comes to fireworks not actually on the Fourth.  If you see a crazy lady in her lawn shaking her fists and her neighbors every time one goes off on July Ninth, that would be me. True story- I am listening to them now as I type this. Not okay.)

Here's how my family does it:

Don't mess with the one pullin' the wagon. 

I physically want to eat. her. up. 

And bless my heart this picture gets me. Can time stop just a little? Please?

My Delby. 

Watch out for this one, if you know what's good for you...

This girl. On my lap. Definitely makes my top ten list of best feelings ever.  

Parade lovers. And lovers of mine. 

And this is how we do Red, White and Blue!

Exquisite horseshoe toss form demonstrated by one strapping young male.  

Pickin' some mulberries

Lickin' some mulberries

That pretty red, white, and blue dress didn't last too long once we got home. I think underwear is more patriotic though, right? Our Founding Fathers would be so proud. 

The boys and their toys. 

Backyard fireworks. 

Bloggity Blog

So I sorta forgot I had  a blog. That if I want to keep this blog up to date, I am actually going to have to write stuff, post stuff, put up pictures, and so on. My secretary that I had hired to do the job just left, I guess. Well, we will see if I can remember from now on!

Breaking the Fast

Yeah, no White Chrismas for us...

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, filled with love, family, and peace. Seeing as Christmas has come and gone, that means two things for me. One, my favorite season of the year is over with (So sad. But I will not be taking my Christmas decorations down for a while. Noooo. I am going to stretch out this time of holiday cheer as long as I can....). Two, that I am officially done with my internet fast, Lentmas. I'm going to say, it was really nice. I was expecting to experience some sort of withdrawls or sadness with not having Facebook be a regular part of my life, but in all honesty, it was just, nice. I didn't feel this constant pull to be at the computer at all hours of the day or the incessent need to check it at regular intervals. I noticed that I was happier and not as, I don't know, down on myself or whatever, as I normally am when it is a part of my life. I'm thinking that this might be a more permanent part of my life, instead of a momentarily break for a small group assignment.

Moving on...

Christmas was wonderful and nice and sweet to be with my small little family. There's really nothing more that my heart could wish for during this time. Cue the photo montage....

Dear Sweet Kiddos

Christmas Eve

Clara, wearing her pretty Christmas Eve dress, asked where her wand was. Obviously, she's a princess....

My handsome boys

Christmas Eve night, complete with cookies for Santa

Santa came!

Coming down Christmas morning

Stockings

Present Mass Destruction

Tea Time

Diesel Works

There you have it! Now getting ready to bring in 2012!

One last post

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Though I didn't blog much of the many wonderful things that I am thankful for, my heart was at it's fullest-thankfulness-capacity that it possibly could be this past Thanksgiving. We had a quiet day spent preparing for the meal, complete with parade watching, flag football playing (okay, that was only my husband, but it sounds festive if I add it to my list, right?) and turkey eating. I made my first ever turkey and succeeded in completing my two goals- a. having it fully cooked and b. not burnt. It's a fine line, right? With these two things accomplished, I count it as a success. After dinner we scooted off to watch "The Muppets" which filled my heart up even more. (If you ask Dave, he'll give you a different story, but I thought the movie was sweet and dear). I can't really ask for more than that- a lovely, peaceful day spent with my little family. I am blessed. Here is the day in pictures:

We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on TV. As you can tell, my kids are doing their own parade complete with giant floating balloons. This went on for quite some time....

Operation Turkey begins....

My little turkeys.

Clara's thoughts on turkeys (doodle doo....)

Operation Turkey complete. You were a good friend, little bird, and very yummy in our tummies.

 

Let's eat!

Cheers!

Throwin' it back, apple cider style.

As you can see, it was a very lovely day. I am so thankful for so many things, and I know I didn't even get to complete my whole list of thankfulness. I'll give it a go now....I am thankful for my dear hubby, whose patience and grace toward me exceed anything I deserve...my sweet little Clara, for blessing my life with such joy and laughter and snuggles...Harry Potter....my health, which often I take for granted....my church for encouraging me in my walk with God in ways that I haven't been motivated in years...whipped cream....my family, including the one I was born into and the one I married into....dear, dear friends both from the West Coast and Mid West who are so treasured in my heart...and that's all for now.

My heart really is so full of gratefulness this year.

The small group that Dave and I are apart of is doing a "Lentsmas" or "Lentsgiving" or "I really forgot what they called it on Saturday night..." Basically, it's like Lent, but between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Each person in the group, as a couple, family, or individual, has to give up something beginining at Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas Day. Each person's thing to give up is an individual decision, and for myself, I decided to give up the internet. Well, I mean, most of the internet. I still am going to check my email, because in this day and age, how can you not? It does mean, however, that there will be no more brilliantly clumsily written posts from me until December 25. I know, it's a hard blow. But really, I think it will be good for me, to be more family focused than computer focused, because let's be honest, it is embarrassing how much time I spend on here.

So happy holidays, God bless, and I'll be seeing you soon!

(Four bonus pictures....)

Seriously kids, seriously? You melt my heart...

What? You've never seen a girl with a backwards football helmet, no pants, and big shoes push a stroller with a snowman in it before? You're weird.

Thanks to Dave (my brother) and Karly for getting me the last HP. You guys rock. I tried to get a picture with Dave and Harry together, but this was the best I could do. For some reason, Dave didn't want a picture with greatness. I don't understand it.

Speaking of...

The Spousal Wars continue...

Poor Harry. He's stuck in a hole in our wall in our walkway. Magic must get him out!

More thankfulness

And the list goes on...

10. Parks and Recreation. Seriously. This show makes me so happy. It's leaps and bounds above any other show on television right now and can't seem to go wrong. Tonight's episode was no different, and it looks like things are finally going in a good direction for Leslie and Ben. That makes me even happier. I think in some alternate universe Leslie and I are best friends because she loves whipped cream just as much as I do.

11. My sisters in laws. (Sisters in law? Sister in laws? Guh. I'm confused). I love my brother dearly and wouldn't trade him for the world, don't get me wrong. Yet adding these ladies to my life and family has been so wonderful. They have become some of my closet friends and I am so grateful for them in my life. Karly, Corie, Susie, and Sam (I mean, you're practically one, right?) I love you so!

12. The basics. You know, food, shelter, clothing. And by saying it that way, I am not taking any of those things lightly. God has seriously blessed my family with more than enough in those departments, but sometimes I forget that. Even when times have been tighter and we've been struggling in one of those areas, God has always taken care of us, more often than not in cool and unexpected ways.

That's were we stop tonight. Just a few more to add to my list.

While we are on the topic, what are you thankful for?



(Oh, and one more totally shallow thing to be thankful for...When we moved into our new house and got our internet and TV setup, the company somehow messed up and we have cable for a bit now. Yes, that's right, now I can watch Wizards of Waverly Place to my hearts content and Dave has ESPN. Can that could for like 12b?)