life is hard, but i am thankful for moments

Thanksgiving...just a LITTLE one :)

 Pop had picked out these outfits for the girls before everything happened. They were suppose to be Christmas, but we thought they looked a little Thanksgiving-ish, so that's what the girls wore! :) Precious.

 I love them! 

 Charleigh was super happy on the way to Papaw's house!

 We were being crafty :) 

 Our attempt at a family picture.  It was okay...

 :) 

 The goal was to take a family (all) picture but that never ended up happening.  And Clay and Owen were there but Lacy was with her family because her dad was sick, so it wouldn't have really been EVERYONE anyway...

 This was the result of our craftiness.  It is a bread basket but shaped like a turkey with feathers with all of our names on it! I think my sister secretly looks at Pintrest....but either way it was cute present for Nonna!

 Owen rocking the shades!

 Creighton  eating her yummy stuff! Pictures are all random but since Pop, it's really important to me to document life. So I do, even if they aren't great pictures. Real life, in motion, not set up, is just as important to me now.

 Charleigh ate like a CHAMP on Thanksgiving! She had like 5 plates full of food.

 Sarah Nicole is getting entirely too old! I can't believe she's turning 16 soon.  Oh, and there is a picture of my twice baked potatoes I made...woohoo I didn't know I had one of those! :)

  

 Not the best picture of us, but I love my mom and she did a WONDERFUL job of cooking a FABULOUS meal for all of us. She always works so very hard! She's a wonderful cook, but a great Nonna and Mom.

 My man! 

 My one and only sister! Only wish I saw her more!

 Finished product, now that the rolls are out of the oven.  Isn't it PRECIOUS!?

 Real life... :)

 There's Clay and Aaron! :) They don't love having their pictures taken so I have to steal shots :)

 Jacob and Jeff

 DOUBLE TROUBLE!

 Again...

 They had SO much fun riding these big wheels down the steep driveway!  All mess right there....:)

I walked into the office after a little while to see what my parents were doing. It appeared they were watching tv and playing on the computer....

 Till I got a little closer :)

 I'm sure they'll love me for this! :)  But oh well. Documenting REAL life and that's real.  They were WORN out.  Sleeping and snoring away....we let them rest for awhile before heading off to our traditional movie on Thanksgiving evening.  We saw The Muppets.  Jeff and the kids loved it.  I didn't care for it and was up and down at least 3 different times so I think I missed some, but really didn't care about missing it as I guess I just didn't follow the muppets when I was little enough to think it was "fun" or reminiscing in anyway :/ But whatever. :)  I love that we have a fun Little tradition and that it's awesome to look forward to each year. 

Thanksgiving was a time to reflect and be thankful, and even though we were still grieving, it was good to be thankful for what we have, how we've been blessed, and have a very FRESH reminder to be thankful each day for the family, the life, the blessings and love that we have.  It was a good time with family. I needed family, time, and home. I was glad to have the opportunity to have all three at the same time.  God is good. I am so thankful! Happy Thanksgiving...

One really fun evening

Walmart had this pink cowgirl hat. I just had to pick it up for my girl.  

 Creighton striking a pose.

 Charleigh saw said pose, and attempted to recreate it herself. It was terribly funny to me. :)

 My handsome lil-man.

 Charleigh was NOT into the leaves at first. She was happy to sit on the monkey grass and watch.

 Creighton with fierceness. I have NO clue what she was doing. But with all her might, she was doing it!

 Finally a pile big enough to jump in (didn't take long, we'll be raking everyday for awhile...good thing they think it's fun!)

 Charleigh saw the stroller and decided to play in it, still wanting NOTHING to do with the leaves.

 Creighton, my dear, you are just stunning to me. I love this picture (and I'm kinda proud to say I took it) but seriously can you stop growing up and getting so gorgeous on me?! You're scaring me...:)

 Beautiful little diva tom-boy

 We attempted to get Charleigh to like the leaves...

 Much happier when I placed her by the tree instead.

 
 Love that little black hole I see peering through the leaves...love this boy!

 2 little heads, bodies you can't even see. The leaves were very fun!

 Blurry but playing together and I just love it enough to keep it!

 Precious smiles!

 Haha. Sorry Charleigh, just can't get over your face here! You crack me up. I put you back in the leaves for the 3rd time, trying for that charm, and it worked.  Only your head is on the leaves here (so maybe that was the trick) but you finally smiled and laid there.

 And of course, you are precious!

 Fun throwing leaves in the air, wish it wasn't so blurry. But I love action shots where you can literally almost HEAR the giggles.

 And Charleigh liked that part too!

 After a ton of time in the leaves we headed for a yummy Taco Soup (love Crock Potting) that everyone devours. After dinner we had a fun time of art dessert.

 I found it on Pintrest

 The kids all loved it (and I did too)

 Charleigh actually only liked the "teeth" but oh well, I ate her apple and peanut butter!

 Oh I know this is embarassing but whatever, life is too short to care and not have fun with my kids.  So I put it in my mouth to take a picture and my "teeth" went everywhere. We laughed and said I'd be rich from the tooth fairy! :) I love memories...last forever.

It was Family Night and the "key kid" was Dad. He chose to do building projects we've been holding on to for awhile. The kids were VERY excited!

 Charleigh didn't have an actual project but she looked cute and helped and Daddy gave her some blocks of wood to pretend with!

 I helped Creighton and took pictures.

 Jackson's was way more complicated!

 He LOVED using the drill for the first time. We talked about how Pop loved to do woodworking and use his drill and he said Pop would be so proud of him for using the drill by himself! He is I know it!

 Sweet babies! Not so little anymore, but always my babies.

 LOVE my sweet husband, who wins the coolest and best Daddy in the world award.

 I mean, really, does life get better than a smile like that?!

 Creighton and I finished hers earlier than the boys so we decided to paint it. One of her favorite things is painting, and with her favorite color, she was a happy camper too.

 Charleigh was gladly "helping" by this point and since the paint was out I decided she could do HER favorite thing and watch a video on my iphone. This kid seriously has an Apple product addiction.

Family time is so precious to us. It's always been, but more than ever now we know the quickness of life and that tomorrow is most definitely unpromised. We cherish these times and I am thankful for the renewed perspective we have and reason to celebrate and to love well. We will celebrate life, real life, non-occasions and big ones, the little and the big. It's good to be together as a family and love each other well. I am SO blessed and SO very thankful for my family.  Thank you Jeff for being a wonderful Daddy, Husband and friend. I am so honored to do this with you. I love you.
To my sweet family, I love you more than words can describe. I know I don't have all my stuff together all of the time, but I adore you and care for you and love you the very best that I can. I am honored to be considered worthy to be your Mommy/Wife/Friend. It's a high calling. I don't take it lightly. Thank you for your forgiveness when I am less than I should be, and your encouragement to be better each step of the way. Your graciousness and love get me through the toughest of days. I am so blessed.