Day Eleven: I am thankful for...

Happy Veteran's Day!

Well, I guess this is an obvious post for me of thankfulness, I am thankful for all the veterans that have served our country. My very own dear hubby is a veteran having served six years in the Air Force. And I had the pleasure of being a "dependent" during those years and spending our first few married years on Hurlburt Field, FL and Goldsboro, NC. Both wonderful places, so different from NY but they had their pluses.

But you so easily forget about those serving in the military, either here in our country or overseas. We get in our day-to-day routines enjoying our freedoms not evening thinking for a minute about all those who have served and serving our country for us to be able to enjoy those freedoms.

And it seems now more than ever, that we need to remember that as our government and laws are taking over those freedoms, inch by inch, slowly and slyly, but we must not forget those present and past that fight to keep us free.

Brad's Air Force Boot Camp Graduation July 1999. 
Boy, we both look so young and skinny.

Thank you each and every veteran
for your sacrifices and courage.

Day Nine: I am thankful for...

I enjoy apples, all kinds of apples, so it's great living right in the middle of apple country. I actually craved them and ate one everyday when I was pregnant with Chase.

My commute to work involves all country roads adorned with apple orchards. It's so pretty and yummy to look at. Plus Brad's mom grew up on an apple orchard so he is an apple boy too, but will only eat them in the fall, he only likes fresh apples.

And with apples come of course all the delicious apple desserts and fixin's including apple pie. Yes, yummy warm apple pie. I am, I guess you would say, the apple pie maker in the family besides Brad's mom and Gram but I am right up there with them.

When Brad and I first started dating I made him an apple pie, probably my only second or third, and of course it was from scratch. I was so proud, it looked delicious and it smelled delicious. Now I don't recall how long we had been dating for but apparently long enough that he felt comfortable saying, are you ready for this? "This is very good but not as good as my mom's." Yes, yes he did. He actually said that right to me. I didn't know what to say or do, smack him and cry. But I handled it like a real woman and said, "Well, get me her recipe and I will make one like your mom's." And after 10 years of marriage and numerous apple pies, I think he finally agrees that mine are just as good as his mom's and Grandma (who the recipe originated from). Well his dad thinks so anyway. I get a request or demand I should say for an apple pie.

Day Nine: I am thankful for all the yummy apples. 

Day Eight: I am thankful for...Chase being potty trained

They never said it would be easy, potty training that is, well goodness raising kids actually. But thankfully Chase seemed to potty train pretty easy, as far as I know, having never done this before. But overall it's been an o.k. experience. I actually totally forgot about potty training Chase amid the excitement and lack of sleep from a newborn. And then one day I don't recall what struck me but I was like.....Goodness Chase is two and we should start potty training. So that we did.

I don't recall the exact day, maybe sometime in August I think, we started and I had no idea what I was doing. I just started putting him on the potty.  It was actually the most frustrating thing I've had to do. He was definitely smart enough to understand but would still just go in his diaper. After a few days of continuously putting him on the potty, I took off his diaper and let him go commando. Well that didnt' end so well, he would yell out "Mommy I have to go potty." And I would say excitedly, "Ok hurry up to the bathroom!" And to my dismay he had already gone on the floor. Why? I have no idea, he knew what he was doing. One of life's mysteries I guess.

Again I don't know how many days or weeks it was before he just got it. I think it was at least a month for peeing and another two weeks or so for pooping and that is just guessing, I really don't remember. But we are now only in underwear and diapers at nap and bedtime and even at nap time he's been doing good at not peeing his diaper.

But those days of training were a pain, especially pooping. We tried rewarding with suckers and money to put in his piggy bank, the suckers won out since he didn't get money totally at the time. But M&M's and suckers did the trick.

And here we are successfully peeing and pooping on the potty. And when he first started in just underwear and said he had to go pee, I stopped no matter where we were or what we were doing...driving-peed alongside the road; outside playing-peed on the tree; in the store with no potty, as they said, outside in the parking lot next to the car. What was I expected to do? He's two and they didn't have a "potty", so we if you have to go, you have to go. It's definitely easier, I'm sure with a boy though.

However, I am not thankful for the many times I have to clean the toilets. I always heard little boys were messy peeing, but oh my goodness, really? I guess I get it now, I have a long 18+ years ahead of me of cleaning pee off and around the toilets. Fun.

Oh and the his newest "stall mechanism" before bed time...I have to go potty but now it's escalated to "poopy". So we drag him out of bed and to the bathroom where he sits on the potty to go poopy but just chats the entire time. We had to tell him to be quiet don't touch anything and poop. Only 2 1/2 and he knows how to manipulate and use the system, amazing.

But here we are all potty trained except for sleeping. It's actually quite nice and wasn't to horribly painful. Well, except now that he has big boy underwear he only wants to wear one pair, his blue Thomas ones. Thankfully the Thomas pack came with 6 pairs so if the blue is dirty, I can convince him to wear another Thomas one.

Buying his first package of big boy underwear. We hadn't taught him how to wear them yet.

Day Eight: I am thankful that potty training 

is done and out of the way, for the most part.

Day Six: I am thankful for...Callen teething easy, so far

A strange thankfulness maybe, but I am thankful that Callen has thus far been an easier teether. He had the normal "signs" that Chase did when he was teething, drooling non-stop, runny nose and a little cranky. But that's where it stops. Fortunately for all of us we didn't go through with Callen what we did with Chase. Remember this night? Thankfully Callen was nothing like that, maybe a slight fever. But overall he chewed everything in site and had about two nights of crankiness and waking up every 1.5 to 2 hours. But that was it. Last Monday, 11/1/10, I noticed something popping out and there they were....his two bottom teeth starting to make their appearance. Amen, glory to God. I was so excited that that was it.

Now let's hope the rest of them go smoothly too.

Day Six: I am thankful for Callen's 

first two teeth being a breeze, for the most part. 

(You can kind of see them, well maybe not.)

Day Five: I am thankful for...my cozy home

Oh I am so thankful for my warm and cozy home. It was a wet and cold day today and I was home with the boys. I had plans to bake apple and pumpkin pies but a little voice calls out..."Mommy play with me." So instead of cleaning, baking or cooking, I played with a two year old all day. We mainly played with blocks, I build the tower and Chase throws "rocks" at them to knock them down. I had to set him straight in the very beginning that he was not to knock them down until I said go. And if he did, I wasn't go to play. He got it.

We also played "rescue the animals", where I built blocks around a certain animal, giraffe, polar bear etc. I would build a big tower and a runway for Thomas the Train to run down and CRASH the tower to rescue the animal in the basement to take them back to their home, be it the zoo, Atlantic ocean or safari. The entire wild animals family was rescued today.

But I digress. My cozy home. Since it was a bit chilly I started a fire, which is the cozy part about our home, sometimes too cozy. I love our wood burning furnace when it's going but sometimes not so much when I have to actually start the fire. It usually takes me a few times to get in the groove again after summer but then I'm an 'ol pro. However, when I was pregnant with both boys, I surely did not enjoy getting it started. It's not the most comfortable thing squatting to put paper and wood and then watching it to get it started when your belly is huge. But it's well worth it when I'm done.

Being thankful for my cozy home. I must remind myself sometimes to be thankful for our home especially since being home more often. I mean, I notice more the more I am here, you know like all the nuisances that comes with owning a home. Fixing this, fixing that, upgrading this and that. But I will say most of them I have created such as ripping out the carpet so now I have projects created because of that. There have been some days that I have become totally overwhelmed because of my projects. This is where I must remember to finish what I start, a weakness I continue to improve on, unfortunately it runs in the family.

I am learning to be content and thankful for my cozy home. I mean this house used to hold a family of 12, yes my little house fit 10 kids and a mom and dad. When I heard this I couldn't believe it. When we first moved in I met one of our neighbors who has been here for years and is the road neighbor, meaning she knows everyone. But she knew the history of this house...her husband grew up in the house.

His parents immigrated from Holland with all the kids and they lived in our house. (He still wears his wooden shoes around, they are the most comfortable for him.) And our house was originally built as the tenant house for the house behind us in the valley that is an old farmhouse and owned many acres on our road. Our house and the house behind us in the valley are two of the oldest homes. I was so excited to hear the history, it was so interesting. I invited our neighbor over to see it now and she couldn't believe it, an addition was added in the 50's/60's and nothing was the same. Again, it was so neat to hear her tell what used to be what. So cool.

Anyway, I guess this "thankful" post was for me and to remind me of how blessed we are and to be content, nuisances and all.

Day Five: I am thankful for my warm and cozy home.

Day Four: I am thankful for...my nieces and nephews

Again so many things but today I am thankful for all my nieces and nephews, all nine of them. We had dinner at Brad's dad's house tonight and his step-sister was their with her two little ones. It was so much fun listening and watching the little ones run around and play. They are all pretty much close in age and now Chase is fun and plays too.

They were running around playing hide and go seek and just being silly. It sure was loud and you could barely talk but isn't that what family is all about? Well, for a few minutes anyway until you tell them to be quiet.

Day Four: I am thankful for all my nieces and nephews.

Day Three: I am thankful for...being a stay at home mom

I am glad I have 30 days to be thankful because I keep thinking of more and more. Some simple and some very meaningful such as I am very thankful that I am able to stay at home with my boys.

Ever since I was a young, I always knew I wanted kids and I wanted to be a stay at home mom. But by the time Chase came along, we weren't in a position for me to stay home and to be frank I wasn't ready to give up my career. But boy how becoming a mom changes everything including yourself and your priorities. 

Thankfully by the time Chase was a little over one I was able to work only three days. I was excited to have those two extra days with my boy. And then Callen came along. Obviously daycare isn't cheap even if family and friends are watching the kiddos. So when you add an extra one it costs more. Well, that's ok because I wanted to spend more time at home anyway. Now I only work two days and that is mainly for my sanity and because I really do enjoy my job.

Being home means so much more.. It means raising my children, molding their character, teaching them about life and its great wonders and so much more. Making memories everyday whether it be playdates, trips to the park or going for a walk. Even though these early days will most likely not be remebered but they will be by me. So today I am thankful that God has blessed our family and has afforded me the blessing of staying home, albeit going crazy some days.

Day Three: I am thankful I can be a stay at home mom.

The early days, July 13, Callen is just a few days shy of two months.

Brotherly Love

Day Two: I am thankful for...my privlidge to vote.

Today was Election Day, a very historical day for this country, a day that House will be ruled by Republicans, I pray. Even though not all Republicans believe in my Conservative views, they are better than the alternative.

So today I am thankful for Susan B. Anthony who got the ball rolling for woman's rights, which ultimately led to my having the privilege to vote today. And I made sure to exercise that right. But not only am I thankful that I was able to vote, but today I was so excited and privileged to help my dad vote. You see my dad is 55 years old and has never voted. Now he might not want this bit of information broadcast but I am so proud that I was the one that helped him. My mom hasn't voted in a long time either and I made sure they both got out and voted tonight.

Now more than ever, we need to express our freedom that was fought for us and get out there and vote. Vote for our freedom. Vote for our future and our children's and grandchildren's future.

Day Two: I am thankful for the privilege to vote.

 

 Proudly wearing the "I Voted Today!" sticker

Day One: I am thankful for...beautiful fall

November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving isn't it? So why just save one day to be thankful, why not be thankful everyday. Everyday of the year would be ideal but I am going to take baby steps and start with every day in November.

Not only should we be thankful but we should also be giving. ..."It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35. Something I am striving to do more often. I love to give and be thoughtful but have to remember those acts of thoughtfulness and giving don't always have to "cost" such as buying things. Kind words, a little note, etc. are all ways of giving. Speaking of a little note, I really need to write my special Aunt a little note and thank her and bless her day with pictures of the boys.

But that is besides the point. Being thankful....

Day One:  I am thankful for the beautiful colors that fall brings.

A hayride we go...

Last Sunday after church we headed home for lunch and then packed up again to go to the Apple Shed for a hayride. We attempted a hayride the day before at Wickam Farms but they had stopped for the day. But this was way more fun since we joined the D's. They planned on going and we tagged along. 

He is too cute.

 Callen really was happy, just not at that moment.

 Poppy Lee, Gracie and Grandpa D.

 The D's

 All the D's and Poppy Lee.

Isn't this the cutest picture with barn background.

Well, the below picture is my failed attempt to get ALL of us. I set the camera on a nearby table and attempted to get a picture with the timer. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of time to finagle with it and well, as you can see, it didn't turn out. But I love it anyways...Granpa D got chopped, as well as Gracie but you can see her legs, and well, Poppy Lee is blocking Clayton and Mary too.

A trip to the farm, fruit farm that is...

It seems like every fall I forget how much I love fall in NY. I am so excited for spring and summer to roll around after such a cold, long winter that I forget my favorite time of year. How can you not love the cool, crisp air, and the beautiful red, yellow and orange leaves that adorn the trees before they fall to the ground. Then we get to rake the leaves to make a big pile to jump in. And of course apples galore, oh the smell of apples and leaves just makes everything seem so homey. 

I feel so spoiled sometimes to be able to be home most days during the week to spend with my boys and sometimes fellow mommies too. I am truly blessed to have this privilege.

Last Wednesday we had to go grocery shopping so we went across town with the plans to stop at a fruit farm to have some outdoor fun. They had a jumping pillow, animals, pumpkin patch, playground, sandbox, tractor, pretend apple picking farm and so much more. I was so excited to take Chase there. We invited Katie and the kids too.

 

I was trying to get the both of them together for a nice fall pumpkin picture but Callen wouldn't sit up, well he can't yet and Chase was too excited to do everything else, not pose for a picture for mommy. This is the best I got. But I love it anyway.

 

Second attempt while Callen was eating the grass.

How tall are you Chase?

They had this cutest little area where they made "apple" trees out of wood and painted them to look like trees. Instead of entering through the fence he decided to jump the fence. Hey, he wanted an apple.

Getting ready to eat his freshly picked apple.

 Chase loved the jumping pillow. Everyone had to take off their shoes to play, which Chase gladly did. After a few minutes he had the entire jumping to himself. He loved it. Unfortunately the pictures aren't the best because I was getting ready to feed Callen and not in the best spot, but they capture the moment. 

 

At one tumble down the side, he took a face plant right into the sand with his mouth wide-open, and yes a mouthful of sand pursued as did spitting.

These two are too funny. They are getting ready to get their HUGE cookie. The idea when we bought the cookies was for them to split with Katie and I. Well, as you can see they both got the whole cookie.

 Love this picture, notice Chase has only one sock on. He managed to take the other off to play on the jumping pillow before I called him to come over.

 How's your cookie Chase?

And they didn't get to eat it all, they were made to share with their mommies.

And on a sad note...an old wives tale says that you can tell how long the winter is going to be based on the below caterpillar. If the orange is real long that means we are in for a loooonnngg winter. Boo hoo.