On the first day of December...

...we brought out the decorations, and let Rory flip the switch!

We also did some crafting, well Rory and I did since she spent day 3 home from school.  We made a countdown to Christmas frame, so easy!

During the month of December I try to do something special everyday, and don't worry it doesn't always happen, but I try!  So December 1 brought the lighting of the decorations, the decorating of the inside of the house, and the anticipation of the events to come!

So much to be Thankful for..

We were so thankful that our family was under the same roof to celebrate Thanksgiving together this year, although it was a little sad that we didn't have some of our "Army family" that we had around our table for past few years.  We did welcome some new members of our "Army family" to our table, Matt and Mandy, and we did a little throw back with Rory wearing her "pilgrim" outfit which has some strong family ties for me!

While we had so very much to be thankful for, I knew that there was an empty place at another table and we wished that we could have been there, and in some way I feel like we were, and I know that Uncle Larry was too.  The painting that he made for my mom hangs in the living room where the Thanksgiving tables are always set up, so he had a prime seat.

Mom and Uncle Larry with the painting he made for her.

I also made a family recipe for sticky buns for the first time this Thanksgiving for no particular reason, just trying something new.  I found out later that those were one of my uncles favorite things.  Coincidence, maybe, but I like to think that it was his quiet way of being there.

Three Word Thursday

Grateful = Chosen Attitude

Thankful Tree

You never know the treasures you will find at a school Fall Festival!

A little over 2 weeks ago was the Fall Friend-zy carnival at Rory and Brendan's school.  As a fundraiser, each class made a "craft" that was up for auction.  I have been in the position before of being one of the parents who spends so much time and effort making a great class gift that includes all the kids as well as being something that people would want to bid on.  So I stepped up and made a bid on both kids class projects...and whoa...lucky us..we got both of them!

Rory's class made a FABULOUS pumpkin/fall wreath.  It's HUGE, as it would have to be to accomodate 20+ students art! 

It hangs above our mantel, and Rory is oh so proud of it!

Brendan's class made the "Thankful Tree" which is made up of all the students handprints as the leaves and included pictures from the kids of the their families, homes and pets.  Now this project is HUGE as well, and what the heck were we going to do with it...and then it hit me!

It is now hanging in our main hallway, and everyday we add a tag that has what we are thankful for that day.  I LOVE it, and I think this might become our new November/Thanksgiving tradition!

Thankful for...

..our three children.   In their own ways they have opened our eyes to so many different things, and have made us want to be better people, and make this a better world.

We are Thankful for....

Rory is thankful for "our family","angry birds" and "God and Jesus"

Jack is thankful for "Lightning McQueen"

Brendan is thankful for "Dino Dan"

Stay tuned...hopefully I'll do a better job at this months project than last months...a girl can dream!

October went by too fast...

Well, Down Syndrome month came and went and I didn't blog anything in between.  Since I started the month off with a video about Brendan now and I would like to end the month with a video that I though captured what I would like to look forward too.  I want people to think of what the future holds for Brendan the same way that they would think of it for Rory and Jack, and their own children.  The world is yours for the taking, it is what you make of it...