I did it...

It's totally out of character for me, but I did it any way.

It's something I've never done before, but I might do again.

I WENT SHOPPING ON BLACK FRIDAY!

There wasn't anything I really even needed or wanted, it just seemed like it might be fun.

So I talked my mom into going with me...

A Giving of Thanks

I am thankful for our home.

I am thankful for our vehicles.

I am thankful for the food that is on our table, and in our pantry.

I am thankful for Jake’s job and that it allows me to stay at home with our children.

I am thankful for the blessing of Wyatt being added to our family; he is such a sweet little boy and so much like his daddy! I am thankful for his continued development. I am thankful that he is messy, and loud, and stinky – just like a little boy should be.

I am thankful that earlier this year I celebrated 4, soon to be five, wonderful years of marriage to Jake. I am thankful for the fantastic weekend we just had together. I loved that it reminded me of all the reasons that I married him. I am thankful that we still have a GREAT time together and find joy in each other.

I am thankful for Cady and the beautiful, sweet little girl that she is growing to be. I am thankful for the joy of getting to celebrate her 2nd birthday this year! I am thankful that the name of Jesus is one that she already knows.

I am thankful for grandparents and aunts and uncles that help with our children and spend hours visiting with and loving on us. It is SUCH a blessing to have such a wonderful family. It makes me cry with joy when I think about the blessings my children are receiving from each member. I pray that I never lose sight of that.

I am grateful that I decided to take my children into the doctor this morning instead of waiting. What I thought was probably just a little cold, turned out to be something more serious that we were able to start taking care of sooner.

I am thankful for the new friendships that God has granted me with this year. I prayed for them for a long time, and God gave me not only what I asked for, but more. I am thankful that I have people walking beside me in the Lord everyday encouraging me.

I am thankful for the seeking heart that Jesus has put inside me and the desire that He has given me to seek Him. I am so happy that He draws me to Himself. I am thankful that He has given me an open heart and a willingness to learn new things.

I am thankful for the blessing of our new nephew, Krease. I am so happy that he is growing so big so fast. I am thankful that God allowed me to see and be a part of a miracle.

I am thankful that we are headed in to the season of family gatherings and I am thankful to have family to gather with. I am thankful that I only have one more present I need to buy, and then I am finished Christmas shopping. I am thankful that I get a chance to give gifts to others in celebration of the greatest gift ever given.

I am thankful for forgiveness.

I am thankful that I understand that everything above comes from the hand of the Lord, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Thank you to our men and women who have served and are serving.

A special thank you to their families who are willing to share them.

Band Aids

Here in the Hamilton House we are falling in love with Band Aids. It's seems as though these sticky little devices have magical powers. I'm pretty sure that Cadence could break her leg, and if we offered her a Band aid, all would be right again with the world.

Like yesterday, for example, Cady accidentally bopped Wyatt in the head with the flashlight. You can see in the picture below, how a simple Band aid made it okay...

See? Magical!

Here are a few pics from our Halloween...

Cady was a giraffe:

Aidyn was a sweet tutu princess:

And I can't find the picture of Wyatt...He was a monkey. I have better pictures of all three of them actually, but who knows what happened to them.

Over the weekend we celebrated my Momma's Birthday!

We had a wonderful time eating crab legs, steak, grilled veggies, and fresh baked bread. Delicious!

Then we finished it off with some Tres Leches cupcakes with Dulce de Leche butter cream icing. Yum!

You can see that we let Mom be 31 again (actually they were the only candles I could find except for some really big stick candles).

Happy Birthday, sweet Momma!

singing!

Tonight I am singing for joy!

SERIOUSLY!

Singing out loud, in my head, in my heart.

Why you ask?

Because tonight, for the very first time, my sweet little girl said our bedtime prayer. It was amazing!! As I sat there and listened to her words I was just so awed that my little girl is talking to the Savior all by herself. "Thank you, Jesus. I love you. Amen".

Isn't that really what we want Jesus to know?

 -that we are so grateful for all the things in our lives because each and every one comes from His hand.

-that we love Him, and our hearts belong to Him.

I wonder where God would take us if there were more prayers like that in our lives; if we stopped asking for things and spent more time thanking Him and telling him how in love with Him we are?

O.C.WHAT?

Yesterday Cady and her cousin, AA, were playing with Play Dough at the kitchen table. They were having such a good time rolling snakes, balls, and squeezing little turtles out of this little molding thing. In the middle of it all my sweet hubby looks over and starts lecturing the girls about how they can't mix the colors of the dough, because when you do that it just ruins it. I told him to leave them alone, they're two after all, and when you're 2 it doesn't matter if you mix the colors. His reply was, "It must just be my OCD kicking in."

Here is a picture of the chair by Jake's side of the bed...

 Here is Jake's bed side stand...

 Here is a picture of Jakes work bench...

"O.C.WHAT???" - yea, that's what I said too.

Here are a few other pictures from our weekend...

I'll post our costume pics later!