I am SO Thankful...

I LOVE this time of year! I LOVE Fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a time that I realize how blessed we are. And we're thankful. I do believe the more thankful you are in life, the happier you are. Thankfulness is something that I've really been thinking A LOT about lately. It's not something that I should only do around the Holidays. I want to be more thankful and for it to be something that I feel more ALL the time not just around the Holidays.

I'm thankful for the "regulars"...the givens. You know, our house, our clothes, our car. So thankful. But this year I've been thinking a lot about all the "little" things I'm thankful for.

Like how Gabe pats my back whenever I pick him up.

Or how he'll grab a book and walk over to us, turn around and back up into our laps.

I'm thankful that my mom makes us a huge wonderful dinner on Thanksgiving and I want her to know that I appreciate it so much.

I'm so thankful that my dad drives me to work 3 days a week and I don't have to ride public transportation.

I'm thankful for my sisters.

I'm thankful for times with friends like getting up early and waiting in line with a warm coffee to shop the morning away with Marcia and Sara. Dinner tonight with Michael and Kara and time with Teresa tomorrow afternoon.

I'm so thankful for the little hand that reaches for mine when he's not sure about something. (Gabe is already so independent and there might be a day that he won't need my hand as he goes through new adventures in his life.)

I'm thankful for disposable diapers.

I'm so thankful for how Gabe knows to pray before eating and before bed. How we'll sit down to eat or set him in his crib for the night and we hear his little voice say "ray ray".

I love how we'll be at the store, the park, a restaurant and Gabe will say hi to strangers as they walk by or sit next to us.

I loved how the other day I was out in the garage putting in a load of laundry and as I walked in the door I heard this little "HIIIIIIEEEEE" as he sat in Bryan's game chair like he was waiting for me to come back in.

I love how excited Gabe and Jaden get when they see each other and how last night Gabe was making Jaden laugh hysterically.


I'm so thankful that even though Bryan talks the big talk about how tough he is, Gabe's got him wrapped around his finger...he's such a great Dad.

I'm so thankful that even though Bryan and I had a disagreement yesterday that we were able to sit and work it out like ADULTS and totally enjoy our Thanksgiving day together.

I'm so thankful I get to be a mom.

Look at those eye lashes

I'm thankful for my testimony of what I know is true....we have a loving Father in Heaven who wants us to return to live with him again some day. I'm thankful for the example of Jesus Christ in my life and that I can share all this with my kids.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

~Our Family tree of Gratitude~

Gabeynese

"Hell-OOOO"

It's amazing that this simple word, that we use so nonchalantly everyday, can totally bring a huge smile to our face and amazing joy to our life.

Bryan and I love the way that Gabe says this word.

2 flats in one week, come on

What a week...seriously though we have actually had a pretty boring week. SameO SameO stuff...get up, go to work, come home, make and eat dinner, play, bathtime, bed...

A few things that have made this week not so boring:

1.) Flat tire Tuesday!
I rode Max transit to my truck and drove away to meet Jenny and Gabe. I was minding my own business when the guy behind me was waving at me. That's Weird I thought. Stopped at a stop sign and he got out of his car and ran up to mine. "you have a flat tire!"
DANG now what?? I drove a little ways down the street and parked in Papa's Pizza parking lot. Called Bryan...called Jenny...called Teresa (since I was supposed to be going over to watch K that night). Jenny said that her dad and Nate (her husband) were right by me and that they would come help me change it. What a blessing. Jenny and Gabe met us there too. Jenny got right in there and started helping. I kind of felt stupid but as Bryan said later that night, he married a prissy girl. YEP!
To Do: Get AAA

Gabe and I made it to Nate and Teresa's on our lovely spare tire and had fun playing with K while Nate and T went out. PHEW

2.) Flat tire Friday!
Yesterday we all piled into the car to take Gabe over to my mom. Curchunk Curchunk Curchunk Brayn: "WE HAVE A FLAT TIRE!" What the heck is going on? I get out of the car....no the tires look fine except I hear this loud hisssssssssing sound. Bryan moves forward and I see this HUGE piece of metal sticking out of the right back tire. SIGH
Back home we go to switch to the truck and try and get to work before 9.

This morning Bryan changed the flat and took the car in. He got an oil change while there (thanks dad) and while the car was up Bryan looked at all the tires and all but one had screws in them?
I think we have someone throwing screws out their windows in front of our house as they drive by. Seriously...
Also we have a leak of somesort? They cleaned it up and are going to check it next time we go to see if it has leaked again.

AH Car problems MY FAV (((rolling eyes)))

Some good news though they were able to patch up every tire...the holes weren't that big and damaging that we had to buy new tires. (((thumbs up)))

And now for some cute and funnies of Gabey Monster!

Gabe's new sitting position when watching cartoons. HA

Daddy taught Gabe to throw up his hand and yell "CHARGE" when he whistles na nana na nana

Deals

Ok, I'm starting to get into this.
I have never been a very patient shopper. I never take time to look for cool deals or get the best price on something. When I see something I like I usually just got it.
That is before I had Gabe and am desprate to get home to be with him. I will pay less for something...look for deals...cut coupons...walk away and not buy something that I SO would have before.

I'm actually loving saving the money and getting GREAT deals too.

So speaking of a GREAT deal...Kate came over a couple Sundays ago and she showed me this deal on Commen Sense with Money.

AWESOME DEAL!!!

I got 2 bras and a pair of panties for $15.99.
I got them this morning and they fit just right and I actually like them. You know how somtimes you buy something online and when you get it they aren't that nice or what you thought they would be like. Well these are nice bras! I can now throw out my bra's that are poking me under my arms because the wire has snuck through the fabric. HA

Thanks Kate!

What a day

Yesterday was probably one of the hardest day's I have ever had to go through at work. We had a layoff yesterday and it was so sad! 18 people in our office and 80 firm wide.
I am so tired and sad for those that lost their jobs. :o(

I have never been so thankful that I have a job.