Thankful Thursday

Many things to be thankful (and others not so much):

• healthy and thriving children - we were so lucky when they were born



• toddlers who are exploring their boundries with mom (not so much)



• A gracious God that loves us



• Children who want to pour their own juice all over the kitchen and living room floor because mommy is vacuuming their room (not so much)



• Children that love to read so much that they pull all the books of the shelf to bring them to mommy so she can read (isn't that so cute but oh so much work)



• The wonderful weather we are having which allows us to still be outside



• The fact that the holidays are soon upon us which means gift giving, cookies baking and a tree lit for wide eyes to look at



• The fact that the holidays hold so much traveling, running and a tree that will have to be watched so closely because there are 2 to 4 two years olds in this household on a daily basis (not so much)

It always amazes me that no matter how rough the day starts out when I look into their eyes things seem to melt away or when they come up to me and say "I wove ou" and give me a kiss. How is it that children know just what to say and when to give you luvs? It must be a gift from God because there is no other explanation.

Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin patch trip with the Hoovers was an adventure to say the least!!! We had done a little research and decided to visit Whitewater Valley Orchard because they had; a wagon ride through the apple orchard followed by picking their own apples, then they could ride on a hand-made train (from barrels that was pulled by a lawn mower) and finally the petting zoo. However, when we arrived there weren't any animals in the petting zoo and the owner wasn't there which meant none of the above. How disappointing and frustrating it was that we chose to drive that far for nothing but expensive apples and donuts. Now that the 2 year old twin boys are asking for the train and the 9 year old quadruplets are asking for the hayride; no one is happy with the lack of the promised activities. So momma Hoover and momma Kundert decide to try another orchard on the way back home. We stopped at Sekapp Orchard and they were packed which to me was a GREAT sign. While they didn't have the train ride or the hayride they had lots of pumpkins on the ground and a small maze of straw bales for the kiddos to play in. Oh what fun they all had and how how the mommas and the papas had fun watching and playing with them all. What I thought was going to be a let down of a day turned out to be one of the best days of fall; the weather was balmy, the pumpkins were plentiful, company was chaotic but cheerful. I look forward to many more trips to orchards as the boys get older.

The day was ended with a fabulous meal of venison, mashed potatoes and carrots all cooked by the Big Guy they call Daddy. The boys were all tired from playing outside and in the cool day so bedtime came and went without a peep. Mommy went to bed late but feeling like the Good Lord had blessed her for another day once again!

Picture Info:

1. The Kunderts - Josh with Will and me with Les
2. The Hoovers - Melanie and Rick (still in love after how many years?)
3. The Hoover Kids - Noah, Nathan, Alyssa & Ashley
4. All of the kiddos munchin' apples
5. Will & Les on top of the apple
6. Noah & Nathan on top of the apple
7. Alyssa & Ashley on top of the apple
8. Leslie sitting in the pumpkin patch
9. William playing hide and seek (he was found)
10. Will & Les making a game plan
11. The Big Guy they call Daddy (Will on the left and Les on the right)

What a Beautiful Day

Oh what a beautiful day. No daycare kiddos at all and it was so much fun with the boys. We ran a few errands, bought another photo frame for the picture wall (as they call it) and went to the park after a very long walk. The fall colors are amazing and the boys absolutely love the leaves when they walk through them kicking all the way.

We are recovering from the spill Leslie had on Saturday. Mom wasn't excited about it but dad didn't handle it well at all. I've posted pictures that go with the incident. He decided to be Evil Knievel with with his Hot Wheel and ride it off the deck. Needless to say the biked faired much better than he did. I've now come to terms with showing people the pictures so enjoy. OUCH!!! He looks much better now and there have been no repercussions from the spill.

I realize today how blessed I really am to have the things I have. All because of that great and wonderful God we have. It's amazing how he knows just what we need and when we need it.

We are looking forward to going to the orchard over the weekend and I can't wait to post the pictures of it.

What to do...oh what to do?

Now that I've officially been fired from a job for the first time ever it's finally sinking in. Most of us would be panic stricken but not me....I'm relieve that God has taken it upon himself to give me what I need and what I've wanted for so long. My fulltime daycare family told me on Friday that it would be their child's last day that day. They of course paid me for two weeks like the contract states and gave me a reason that I do not think is the truth (but then again they are the ones that have to live with that lie). While I was panic stricken at first I realized that it was because I wasn't in control of the immediate situation and because it hadn't happened on my terms. You see this family was quite frustrating and rude, thinking only of themselves and very inconsiderate to the rest of us.

I've gotten to be the mom that I've always wanted to be the past two days only having one daycare child in the afternoon (he fits so well it's like having another child of my own). We've taken a trip to the park, played in blankent forts today and tomorrow we're going to run some errands and go to the park again. We've played in our cars and will play in them some more. I'm relaxed when my hubby comes home and we don't fight like we were because of the stress this one little boy caused. I'm the person and the mom that I have always known that I am. I'm journaling more and complaining less, I'm laughing more and eating less, I'm chasing my boys around the house more and procrastinating less....all in all I'm a much happier person which is sometimes hard to believe because I didn't think I was unhappy.

I'm the mom I've always wanted to be but now, what do I do for me? What do I do next?

The joy God has given me through this one act of someone else's is amazingly wonderful!!! I'm the mom I've always known that I could be!!!

Followers

It's exciting today as I've learnt how I can add "folowers" to my blog spot so I encourage to stop back often. I do believe there is a way that you can have an e-mail sent to you each time I update this site so feel free to do so. I unfortunately do not have time to blog every day but I'm going to try to do it more often.

Oh How I Love My Boys

It is amazing that they are two and oh how they have changed. I remember when they were so little and so dependent on mommy for EVERYTHING but now they can do so many things by "I do it". While this brings joy to my heart it also saddens it as they are no longer "mommy's little boys". I keep reminding myself that God gives us these beautiful and wonderful children so they to can go out into the world and live a productive and healthy life continuing on the Lord plan.

Their b-day party was fa bulous and I do believe that everyone enjoyed themselves. It's getting to be more fun because I get to enjoy myself too as I don't have to be right them with them every second of every moment.

Once again the Lord hath provided a wonderful and joyous day for us to praise him during!