Thankful

This year has been really a very blessed year. Nothing in particular, just everything has been wonderful. I've been really blessed and I'm very thankful. I've been trying to convey that to my children so that they grow up with an attitude of appreciation as well. It's sometimes hard when you're 3 and 5 though. The boys grabbed a flyer from the BX for holiday toys and they circled ALL the toys when I asked them to find ones they wanted to ask Santa for.

My birthday boy and his brother opening gifts on Thanksgiving

So here's the main things I'm thankful for this year: Drake, Link, my wonderful husband, my supportive and loving family and friends, a loving and forgiving God, my creative outlet in the form of my business, my wonderful customers, food, shelter, and comfort. I have them all in abundance so I'm very blessed indeed.

Our Thanksgiving feast: cranberries, mashed sweet potatoes, stuffed mushrooms, devilled eggs, mac 'n cheese, turkey, and dinner rolls.. Yum!

Hope your thanksgiving (and year) were just as blessed.

Finer Things Friday

Amy over at amysfinerthings.com moved her Finer Things Friday list to Sundays, which means I've been lax about posting since I don't typically blog on weekends. But I much to be thankful for, so I'm going to continue counting my blessings.

#41. Fluffy dandelions, not in my yard, but at the park where I can photograph them and blow them in the wind!

#42. Spring!
#43. Sweet chubby baby thighs.

#44. Soccer games on-base for my husband's team. It's really fun getting out and walking around and catching whatever glimpses I can of the game in-between baby wranglings.
#45. Feeling like I don't have a set plan for my career, and finally being okay with that.
#46. Thrift store finds, especially cheap choo-choos!

#47. Graphic design! I love creating things, and it's always so much fun to come up with new ideas and themes.
#48. Photography. I've lately delved a little deeper into photography, and -gasp- taken my camera off automatic. I've had a lot of fun finding out what my camera (and I!) can do.
#49. Wild Cherry Pepsi, on sale at the commissary for 60 cents for a two-liter. My guilty pleasure!
#50. A toddler who finally goes to his own bed at night without complaining about it.

What about you? Anything you're particularly thankful for or blessed in this week?

Finer Things Friday

So here it is Friday, again, already. I had a great Friday, filled with sunshine, two sweet little boys, and a wonderful hubby who had the day off. In the spirit of Amy over at http://amysfinerthings.com/, here's some finer things that I'm counting my blessings about.

31. Yummy seasonal produce being on sale and stocking up
32. Raw potatoes...I don't know why I love them, but I do.
33. Weekend and day trips to exciting places that are literally in our backyard over here in Europe
34. Having a toddler old enough to understand and enjoy crafts projects.




35. Having a steady paycheck, atleast for the time being. I'm trying to remain calm and count my blessings over this since this paycheck isn't exactly guaranteed come tomorrow if the US government does a standstill.
36. Sweet kisses from two toddler boys who compete to see who can give their mom or their dad the most kisses and loving
37. Sunny days! I know I probably already mentioned this, but I really really love the sun!
38. Being able to expand my stay-at-home business of graphic design (check it out at www.proffittproductions.etsy.com) and having a husband who totally supports, encourages, and helps me!
39. Being in love with my husband, even after (almost) 8 years of marriage
40. Having the best mom in the world

Finer Things Friday

So apparently today is Friday, and I want to join in on Amy's Finer Things Friday. I think it's a great way to appreciate all the small blessings around you.

21. Warm weather and days spent at the park
22. The kids sleeping to 8 am so I can get a few extra minutes of sleep
23. Strawberries! On sale at the grocery store for 99 cents for a quart!
24. Sharing strawberries with my eldest, who sticks them on his fingers and gobbles them off quickly
25. Cherished memories of times spent with friends who are far away now, but each remembrance brings them closer
26. Tricycles!




27. The progress I've made in quitting regular soda (go me!)
28. A sweet husband who is kind enough to sneak into the bedroom at night when he gets home from work, rather than bursting in and waking me up
29. Time spent at home with the family
30. Having time to myself to do something crafty (see the previous post).

Finer Things Friday

Continuation from a previous post:

Things that I am thankful for this week:
11. Sixty degree weather full of sunshine, parks, and two happy boys
12. Finally having both boys over their illnesses...hopefully...maybe
13. Drake learning all his numbers, well all the way to 10, both recognizing them and saying their names
14. Spring! In particular my daffodils that are a happy spot of yellow in my landscape
15. Turkish rugs brought back by the hubby from his trip
16. Two genuinely sweet boys who sneak up and give you hugs for no good reason at all
17. Constantly being surprised at how intelligent and good at problem solving both of my boys are...even when it's something they're not supposed to be figuring out or getting into
18. Bagels with low-fat strawberry cream cheese
19. Friends, of all varieties
20. The smell of my sweet babies after their baths

What about you? Anything you're thankful for?

the Finer things in life

So the header at the top of my blog says that everyday's a blessing around here. While that's true, some days are more blissful than others. That happens when you have two little children in a household all to yourself, I suppose (the hubby is deployed).

Yesterday was one of those less blissful days. The two boys were at each other's throats all day long, tears were pretty much nonstop, and they refused everything I made them to eat...again. Not to mention the little guy's still trying to shake this illness that he's had for a bit over a week. He's on antibiotics, but they don't seem to be doing too much for him. He has these wracking coughs that eventually force him to vomit. Lovely, but atleast I know it's coming and can hold him and soothe him while he vomits all over me. I know that sounds gross, but once you're a momma (or a daddy) it's second nature.

So I think that I need to focus on my blessings this week, rather than dwell on the negative (particularly after yesterday). In the spirit of Amy at amysfinerthings.com, here are some of my blessings this week:

1. A sweet three year old that will randomly insist that you stop what you're doing RIGHT NOW THIS INSTANT to give him a hug and a kiss.
2. Circus peanuts...yummy and gross, all at the same time
3. All the cuddling that I get from the baby since he's not feeling up to par
4. My three year old making some great progress with his schooling, even tracing letters and learning, learning, learning!
5. A sweet husband who I miss like crazy when he's gone
6. My Kindle...best. invention. evar.
7. Getting to stay home with my babies full-time
8. Finally getting my oldest boy to eat something new, which he ended up LOVING
9. The smell of my kitchen and foyer area after a fresh mopping
10. The anticipation of this summer's visit from my step-daughter. I can't wait!!!

Have anything you're particularly thankful for this week? Any blessings? Feel free to share some of yours :)