End of 2011

The end of the year makes me a little sad, a little happy, a little cranky, a little excited...

I have always been that way.  I try not to be a person of regrets.  I usually try to be an optimist.  I really try to focus on today, and not the past or tomorrow.  I want to be someone who lives in the moment.

The end of the year just always brings to my mind everything from the year, good and bad. 

There were so many wonderful things about this year, 2011.
There were some heart-wrenching, bad moments too.

This post isn't about any of them. 

Today I am looking forward, but also living in the moment.  I have so very many things to be thankful for.  I am incredibly blessed. 

I am thankful for my husband, my love and best friend.
I am thankful for my children, my joy and pure delight.
I am thankful for extended family, support and guidance.
I am thankful for friends, fun and laughter.
I am thankful for a roof over my head and nutritious food to eat.
I am thankful for the opportunities that have presented themselves in our lives.
I am thankful for all my abilities.
I am thankful to God, creator and protector.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Love & Laughter,
Blessings for 2012,
abby

Christmas Program

Cooper was in the Christmas program at our church a few Sundays ago.

It was ridiculously cute.

I would have been a bundle of nerves at his age.  Not him.  Very cool.  Very collected.
I am so thankful my "crazy" has NOT rubbed off on him.  There were so many things I didn't do as a child, that I should have.  Oh-well.

He was a sheep.  The production was called A Lamb's Tale.  There were some pretty cute sheep...

Christmas time is so fun, so cheerful.  Especially from the perspective of children.  What a blessing.

Love & Laughter,
abby

Merry Christmas

Some photos from the weekend!

It was a really blessed, really busy, really wonderful Christmas!

Love & Laughter,
abby

Scrooges

Anyone else think this would make a funny Christmas card???

This is what you would call "not cooperating".



Love & Laughter,
abby

Sick Day

Over night, Cooper decided to come down with a cough/sore throat/fever.

I hate to see my kids sick.  Kills me.  However, a sick day allows us to slow down, for which I am thankful.  Everything else can wait and we can just snuggle and rest.  (Getting Cooper to hold still for too very long is challenge, trust me.)

In honor of my sick boy, here are some Cooper-isms.  Enjoy!


"Mom, I feel like an earthworm." 
Me- "huh?!?"
"You know, cruddy.  Like dirt."
Ah.

"I want hair like Elvis."
"Why?"
"You know.... (shyly, but with confidence) The LADIES love Elvis hair."
Hahahaha. (I was thinking, only if they are baby-boomers!)

"Check out my back muscles!"
mmm... k.
(Pretty sure I was praising his shoulder blades.)
"That's AdvoCare, baby!"
Hahahahaha!  He is definitely on-board.

"I really want bonk-beds."
"You mean BUNK-beds."
"No, I like bonk.  Sounds funner."

A mom at his school approached me recently, saying her little girl could spell Cooper's name and was excited.  She chants it like a cheer.  C.O.O.P.E.R. That spells COOPER!
I was giggling about it, and Cooper looks at me and says...
"Well, I guess that makes me famous."  With a look on his face like, "ho-hum, I am pretty amazing."
Then I was belly-laughing, tears pouring out of my eyes.

And some recent photos...

With his glowing Rudolph nose.

THE back "muscles".

And, the gingerbread house I let him decorate
entirely on his own.  I kept my "crazy" in check and didn't
fix anything.  :)

Love & Laughter,
abby

Giving Thanks...

Sometimes as a Mom, you wish you could have a report card of sorts.  "Am I teaching the right things?"  "Do they hear what I am saying?"  "Do my children think of others?"  "Am I messing up royally??"

It is so, so good to hear when our children "get it", when they have done something that makes you well up with pride.

Yesterday I picked Cooper up from school and 2 of his teachers expressed the sweet kindness of my eldest.  They are, of course, discussing the things to be thankful for this week.  Cooper has always had a heart for those less fortunate.  Always.  He let them know how thankful he was for his family, his friends and his home.  And then went on to tell how much he wants to help those with less. 

He wants to give food.

Money.

Time.

Love.

HE IS 5.

His teachers expressed just how passionately he expressed this, how sweet and kind it was to see.

At dinnertime, he said the blessing and expressed again, his worry over those with less.  How he wants to help provide food, homes and money for those with less.

Can I tell you how proud this momma is??!??!

He gets it.  He is compassionate.  He is kind and giving and wonderful.

We should all take note. 

I know I am.

A little holiday cheer...

Love & Laughter,
abby

Thursday

Anyone else remember as a child thinking time was literally standing still?  Some hours felt like days.  Some days felt like weeks.  Time did not ever rush by. 

Why, WHY can't life be like that a little bit as an adult?  There is no way to accomplish everything in a day right now.  We are abundantly, abundantly blessed.  We are spending time doing the things that we love doing.  But is is whizzing by.

Thanksgiving is next week.  NEXT WEEK!  As in, a week from today.  (For anyone else completely lost in time, like me.)

I have already begun putting Christmas decorations up.  My hope is if I put a few things up each week, it might all be up by Christmas.

I love this time of year.  As a child, it took an eternity to get through all the days between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Double that, for the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Oh, it would drag.

What am I saying???
I guess, I just wish it didn't feel so rushed.  I wish I had some of the childhood innocence and carefree time of my youth.  Anyone else not appreciate it as much as you should have??

I love watching my boys.  And all the other kids around that age.  Just soaking it all up.  The decorations, lights, time together, the real REASON we celebrate...

Wait!  I can do all of that...  It just goes so fast.  Poof.  It will be January.   Sigh....

I will leave you with a Cooper-ism for the day.
Yesterday he was helping me wash windows.  Midway through, he asks, "Mom, do you do this for a living or something??"
Yes.  Yes, I do. 
And I love and cherish every stinkin' moment of it.

Love & Laughter,
abby