I'll start with our fun trip to Monterrey. The kids and I went to Monterrey with my parents and had a wonderful time. Daddy had to work :0( ... We spent time at the Aquarium, stayed over night, and played on the beach. The beach was the best part...
The kids loved running in the waves and Liam enjoyed the sand until a huge wave got him wet. He was sad for a good 40 minutes.
And then calmed down and made me a Birthday cake out of sand and sang happy birthday to Mommy. This is something the girls have been playing since Holly's Birthday. And Liam loves to sing the song and then ends by saying; " Smell Mommy!! Smell Mommy!!"...what he really means is blow. I have yet to correct him because it's so cute.
The kids had fun in the hotel...
Now everyone started to calm down with a brownie and the movie "Up" for Grandmas Birthday.
Our trip was such a blessing. It was a time for Grandma and Grandpa to bond with the kids without all the regular everyday distractions. I'm so thankful for my parents and the joy that God has brought through their relationship. It's been a real blessing to have them so close because of Daddy's crazy schedule it helps me out in so many ways. We are blessed to have so much of our family close. ( We do miss the ones who live in Texas and Oregon... Now it's time for Thanksgiving!!
The night before Thanksgiving the kids made Turkey's with their hands to give to family the next day. As we prepared for everyone to come over for Thanksgiving the kids and I made a Turkey out of fruit. It was lots of fun and the kids seemed to like it. We had a potluck style dinner which made things so much easier. One of the biggest things we where thankful for was having Daddy home for Thanksgiving.
Daddy came home one night and just slept on the floor with kids playing around him. I think he had just gotten off from a day and night shift back to back. I'm so thankful for the hard work that he does to provide for us. And Rascal thinks so too.
A simple but rare picture of everyone playing with the same toy.
Sunday we enjoyed going to Church as a family and then stopped by the store to pick up some vegetables and fruit for our new juicer. It was such a fun but simple afternoon. The kids and I watched as Daddy thought up a crazy juice with pears, spinach, apples, oranges, tomatoes and carrots. Holly and Liam drank theirs down fast while Ayla and I took our time. I'm even more thankful for the time that I have had with my husband alone and time as a family. In the past I have taken it for granted and have been so quick to think about myself. Now I'm so quick to celebrate the time that we have together and treasure the memories even more. Just even thinking back about Sunday warms my heart. Going to Church as a family was the greatest part and then spending time together. What also encouraged me this last Sunday was the bonding that I have seen between my husband and I. Usually when he drives I am more fearful because I'm such a causious driver so I hold on more or add funny sounds to his turns and stops. ( This drives him nuts) I've noticed that I haven't felt the need to react in those ways, because the Lord has faithfully opened my eyes to my own selfish ways and how they have discouraged my husband from leading. I become so independant in my thinking that I can do it all myself...what an ugly attitude...I'm thankful for the answered prays and how the Lord has opened up my eyes to see the ugly sin so I can turn from it and find joy in him and then see it blossom into my marriage.
